THE    HISTORY 


THE     CIVIL 


IN 


THE  UNITED  STATES: 


ITS 


CAUSE,  ORIGIN,  PROGRESS  AND  CONCLUSION. 

CONTAINING  FULL,  IMPARTIAL  AND   GRAPHIC  DESCRIPTIONS   OF  THE  VARIOUS 

MILITARY    AND    NAVAL     ENGAGEMENTS,    WITH    THE    HEROIC    DEEDS 

ACHIEVED  BY  ARMIES  AND  INDIVIDUALS,  TOUCHING  SCENES 

AND     INCIDENTS     IN    THE     CAMP,    THE    CABIN, 

THE     FIELD     AND     THE     HOSPITAL. 


AND 

BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  ITS 

BY 

SAMUEL    M.    SCHMUCKER,    LLJ). 

AUTHOR  OF    "LIVES  OF  THE  FOUR    GEORGES,   KINGS    OF    ENGLAND,"   "HISTORY    OF   NAPOLEON 

III.,"     "ARCTIC     EXPLORATIONS    AND    DISCOVERIES,"     "  LIFB     OF    ALEXANDER 

HAMILTON,"  "HISTORY   OF   NICHOLAS  I.,"  "THE  CRIMEAN  WAR,"  ETC. 

EEVISED  AND  COMPLETED  BY 

DR.      L.     P.     BKOCKETT, 

AUTHOR     OF     "OUR    GREAT     CAPTAINS,"     "PHILANTHROPIC    RESULTS    OF    THE    WAR,"    "THE 
LIFE   OF   ABRAHAM   LINCOLN,    ETC.,    ETC. 


Illustrated  with  over  One  Hundred  and  Fifty  Fine  Portraits  of  Generals  Battle  Scenes,  Maps  and  Diagrams. 


PHILADELPHIA,  CINCINNATI  AND  BOSTON: 

JONES     BROTHERS     &     CO. 

CHICAGO    AND   ST.  LOUIS: 

ZEIGLER,     McCURDY     &    C  0. 


LOAN  &TACK 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1865,  by 
BRADLEY   &  CO., 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and  for  tho 

Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


S.    A.    GEORGE. 

STKREOTTPER,  ELECTROTY t'JStt  AND  PRINTER, 
U*  N.  SEVENTH  STREET,  PHILADELPHIA. 


GIFT 


04- 


This  work  will  be  beautifully  illustrated  with  groups  of  the 
following  Naval  and  Military  Heroes,  distinguished  civilians^ 
prominent  Rebels,  military  and  civil;  and  will  contain  elegant 
full-page  portraits  of  President  Lincoln  and  Lieutenani>General 
Grant,  besides  numerous  fine  steel  engravings  of  battle-scenes,  etc. 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


1.  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN,  FRONTISPIECE. 

32. 

GENERAL  SIGEL. 

2.  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  GRANT. 

33. 

"            FREMONT. 

3.  GENERAL  MEADE. 

34 

ORD. 

4.           «            HANCOCK. 

35. 

HUNTER. 

5.           "           WARREN 

36. 

SHERIDAN. 

6.          «            WRIGHT. 

37. 

KILPATRICK. 

7.          «            "BALDY"  SMITH 

38. 

"            CUSTER. 

8.          "            SICKLES. 

39. 

"            MERRITT. 

9.           "            HEINTZELMAN. 

40. 

"            AVERILL. 

10.          "           SHERMAN. 

41. 

*           BUFORD. 

11.          "           ROSECRANS. 

42. 

"           TORBERT. 

L2.          «            LOGAN. 

43. 

"           THOMAS. 

13.          "            HOWARD. 

44. 

JEFF.  C.  DAVIS, 

14.          "            SLOCUM. 

45. 

"            CURTIS. 

15.          "            ROBERT  McCOOK. 

46. 

COX. 

16.          "           McCLERNAND. 

47. 

"           GORDON  GRANGES. 

17    LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  SCOTT. 

48. 

"            PALMER. 

18.  GENERAL  McCLELLAN. 

49. 

M            WALLACE. 

19.          "           HALLECK. 

50. 

"           GARFIELD. 

20.           «            CASEY. 

61. 

"            CAN  BY. 

21.           "           DIX. 

52. 

"            SCIIOFIELD. 

22.          «            BUELL. 

53. 

"            NEGLEY. 

23.          «            SYKES. 

54. 

"            FOSTER. 

24.          "            SHIELDS. 

55. 

"           SEDGWICK. 

25.          "           FRANKLIN. 

56. 

McPIIERSON. 

26.          "           GILLMORE. 

57. 

"            REYNOLDS. 

27.          "            TERRY. 

58. 

"           WADS  WORTH. 

28.          «           BURNSIDE. 

59. 

SUMNER. 

29.           "            HOOKER. 

60. 

KEARNEY. 

SO.          «            BUTLER. 

61. 

LYON. 

SL          "           BANKS. 

62. 

"           BIRNEY. 

936 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


63.  GENERAL  MITCHELL.                                                   86   QENKF 

64. 

RENO. 

87. 

65.          « 

GRIERSON. 

88.  COLON 

66. 

ROUSSEAU. 

89.  GEN  EH 

67.           " 

\VILSON. 

90. 

68.           « 

KAUTZ. 

91.           " 

69. 

CTONEMAN. 

92.  LIEUT 

70. 

PLEASONTON. 

93.  MAJ01 

71. 

GREGG. 

94.           " 

72.  VICE  ADMIRAL  FARRAGUT. 

95.           « 

73.  REAR 

"          PORTKR. 

96. 

74.       « 

J'OOTE. 

97.           " 

75.       « 

"          DU  PONT. 

98.  ANDRP 

76.       '« 

"           DAIILGRKN. 

99.  WILLI 

77.       " 

"           GOLDSHO  ROUGH. 

100.  SALMO 

78.  COMMODORE  WINSLOW. 

101.  E.  M.  SI 

79.  LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER  CUSIIINO. 

102.  GIDEOI 

80.  GENERAL  R.  E.  LEE. 

103.  JEFF.  E 

81. 

"STONEWALL"  JACKSON. 

104.  A.  n.  SI 

82.          " 

EWELL. 

105.  J;  P.  Bli 

83. 

BEAUREOARD. 

106.  JAMES 

84. 

LONG  STREET. 

107.  JOHN  S 

85. 

BRECKINRIDGE. 

FITZIIUGII  LEE. 
MOSEBY. 

GENERAL  JOSEPH  E.  JOHNSTON. 
HOOD. 
BRAGG. 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  KIRBY  SMITH, 
:NEKAL  PRICE. 
A.  S.  JOHNSON. 

HARDER. 
FORREST. 
JOHN  MORGAN. 


SO 

108.  BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  SUMTER, 

109.  ATTACK  ON    THE    SIXTH   MASSACHUSETTS 

REGIMENT  IN  BALTIMORE. 

110.  VIEW  OF  HARPER'S  FERRY  AFTER  THE  DE 

STRUCTION  OF  GOVERNMENT  BUILDINGS. 

111.  BOMBARDMENT  OF  PORT  ROYAL. 

112.  DASHING  CHARGE  OF  GENERAL  FREMONT'S 

BODY-GUARD,  UNDER  MAJOR  ZAGONYL 

113.  GENERAL  BURNSIDE'S  EXPEDITION  ENCOUN 

TERING  THE  TERRIFIC  GALES  OFF  HAT- 
TERAS. 

114.  THE  "  CARONDELET"  RUNNING  THE  GAUNT 

LET  AT  ISLAND  NO.  10. 

115.  DEMAND  FOR    THE    SURRENDER    OF    NEW 

ORLEANS. 


E1TES,    ETC. 

116.  BATTLE  OF  MALVERN  HILL. 

117.  BATTLE  OF  ANTIETAM. 

118.  THE  ATTACK  ON  FREDERICKSBURG. 

119.  BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG. 

120.  CAPTURE  OF  LOOKOUT  MOUNTAIN. 

121.  BATTLE  £>F  CHAPIN'S  FARM. 

122.  ENTRANCE  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC 

INTO  RICHMOND. 

123.  SURRENDER  OF  GENERAL  LEE. 

124.  INTERVIEW  BETWEEN  GENERALS  SHERMAN 

AND  JOHNSTON. 

125.  PRISONERS'  CAMP  AT  ANDERSON VILLE,  GA. 

126.  CONTRABANDS    COMING    IN   TO    FORTRESS 

MONROE. 

127.  VIEW  OF'THE  UNION  VOLUNTEER  REFRESH 

MENT  SALOON,  AT  PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


It  is  also  illustrated  with  twenty-four  maps,  and  diagrams  of 
batt4e  scenes. 


PREFACE. 


No  event  has  occurred  on  the  American  continent  since  the  glorious 
Revolution  of  1776,  equal  in  magnitude  and  interest  to  the  contest  which 
has  taken  place  between  opposite  and  hostile  portions  of  the  Federal 
Union ;  and  which  all  true  patriots  stigmatize  by  the  unequivocal  and 
significant  epithet  of  the  Southern  Rebellion.  So  important  was  this 
struggle,  that  it  not  only  enlisted  the  most  vigorous  energies  of  the  National 
Government,  and  summoned  its  armies  into  the  field,  but  it  became  the 
paramount  topic  in  every  mind.  All  classes  and  professions  regarded  it 
with  intense  interest,  and  watched  the  progress  of  events  with  profound 
anxiety.  For  this  purpose,  scholars  suspended  their  studies  in  recondite 
and  learned  subjects  of  inquiry  ;  synods  and  general  assemblies  discussed 
the  issues  involved  with  solemn  earnestness ;  the  ordinary  pursuits  of  the 
community  seemed  in  a  great  measure  to  be  modified  and  controlled  by 
the  novel  and  startling  aspect  of  the  times.  This  universally  prevalent 
feeling  was  amply  justified  by  the  immense  interests  and  the  vital  prin 
ciples  which  were  to  be  disposed  of  by  the  conflict.  Nor  is  it  singular 
that  the  war  should  ultimately  engage  the  attention  of  mankind  in  all 
civilized  countries,  and  that  it  should  be  regarded  as  the  event  of  chief 
importance  then  transpiring  on  the  globe. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  a  reliable  history  of  the  incidents  con 
nected  with  this  memorable  drama,  and  even  more  than  one  such  histor}^, 
would  be  acceptable  to  the  public.  In  the  following  work,  therefore,  the 
writer  has  undertaken  to  describe  its  thrilling  and  marvellous  scenes.  He 
has  set  forth,  at  some  length,  the  most  potent  of  the  causes'  which  gave  it 
birth.  He  has  introduced,  from  time  to  time,  biographical  sketches  of 
those  soldiers  and  statesmen  who  distinguished  themselves  by  their  hero 
ism,  or  by  their  patriotism,  during  its  progress.  He  has  followed  the 
march  of  the  Federal  armies,  as  they  achieved  one  victory,  or  suffered 
one  temporary  reverse  after  another ;  and  the  narrative  will  be  continued, 
Deo  voknte,  until  the  record  is  complete,  and  he  has  described  how  the 
Republic  was  conducted,  by  firm  and  skilful  hands,  through  all  the  storms 
which  have  assailed  it,  to  the  attainment  of  a  permanent  and  honorable 
peace. 

The  general  rule,  according  to  which  the  following  work  has  been 
written,  was  to  describe  events  with  more  or  less  minuteness  of  detail, 
according  to  the  proportion  of  their  historical  importance.  Many  incidents 

5 


6  PREFACE. 

necessarily  happen  in  such  a  struggle — spreading,  as  it  does,  over  so  vast 
an  area — which  may  possess  an  intense,  though  momentary  interest,  and 
greatly  excite  the  public  mind  at  the  period  of  their  occurrence,  which 
are,  nevertheless,  insignificant  in  their  essential  nature,  and  trivial  in  their 
ultimate  consequences.  As  it  was  the  design  of  the  present  writer  to 
prepare  a  history  of  the  war  within  a  convenient  and  moderate  compass, 
it  became  necessary  to  omit  all,  or,  at  least,  any  extended  allusion  to  such 
events,  so  that  the  necessary  space  might  remain  in  which  to  dwell,  with 
appropriate  fulness,  upon  the  really  decisive  incidents  of  the  contest.  For 
the  same  reason,  no  reference  is  made,  in  the  biographical  sketches  which 
are  introduced,  to  those  ephemeral  and  factitious  reputations,  which  were 
created  from  time  to  time;  which,  going  up  suddenly,  and  glaring  porten 
tously,  like  rockets,  descended  again  as  quickly,  and  relapsed  into  their 
legitimate  oblivion.  An  effort  has  thus  been  made  throughout  the  work 
to  do  justice  to  those  events  and  persons  to  whom  a  genuine  and  per 
manent  immortality  appertains ;  at  the  same  time  to  realize  and  exemplify 
the  excellent  maxim,  Parva  sed  apta,  not  voluminous,  but  condensed  and 
comprehensive. 

The  author  has  been  assiduous  and  careful  in  regard  to  the  materials 
from  which  the  contents  of  the  work  have  been  derived.  He  has  applied 
to  his  use  every  attainable  source  of  information  which  was  worthy  of 
confidence  and  attention.  Official  reports  of  eminent  commanders,  and  the 
narratives  of  intelligent  and  truthful  eye-witnesses  of  the  scenes  described, 
together  with  various  other  depositories  of  facts,  have  been  thoroughly 
examined,  compared,  and  appropriated.  The  author  has  not  the  presump 
tion  to  imagine  that  he  has  in  all  cases  attained  perfect  accuracy ;  but  he 
does  not  hesitate  to  assert,  that  he  has  left  no  effort  or  expedient  unem 
ployed  to  avoid  error  and  misstatement  in  every  part  of  the  work.  An 
historical  narrative  of  events  of  recent  date  labors  under  some  disadvan 
tages,  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  may  possess  facilities  and  merits  of  which 
the  record  of  more  remote  and  unfamiliar  transactions  will  be  destitute. 
It  has  been  affirmed  that  a  correct  history  of  a  war  like  that  against 
Secession  could  not  be  written  until  after  the  lapse  of  many  years.  We 
believe  this  statement  to  be  erroneous.  If  the  writer  be  impartial,  labori 
ous,  and  possessed  of  the  necessary  literary  skill,  he  will  have  all  the 
qualities  essential  to  the  elaboration  of  a  satisfactory  history  of  such  a 
series  of  events ;  and  these  qualities  he  may  possess  immediately  after 
their  occurrence,  as  well  as  at  a  more  distant  period.  At  the  same  time, 
he  will  enjoy  a  superior  advantage  in  the  vividness  and  strength  of  the 
impression  which  the  events  have  made,  both  upon  his  own  mind,  and 
upon  the  minds  of  those  whose  productions  he  consults  in  the  preparation 
of  his  work. 

S.  M.  S. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Origin  of  the  Southern  Rebellion — Classification  of  its  several  causes — The  Act 
of  1816  respecting  a  tariff — Agency  of  Henry  Clay  and  John  Quincy  Adams — 
Position  of  John  C.  Calhoun — He  first  conceives  his  project  of  Nullification — 
His  memorial  to  Governor  Hamilton — The  operation  of  a  High  Tariff — The 
Legislature  of  South  Carolina — Outbreak  of  the  Nullification  movement — 
Vigorous  measures  of  President  Jackson — Mr.  Calhoun  in  the  United  States 
Senate — A  memorable  debate — Final  settlement  of  the  difficulty — American 
slavery — Its  origin — The  proposition  of  Thomas  Jefferson — Slavery  in  the 
Territories — The  Compact  of  1787 — Compromise  of  Henry  Clay — Annexation 
of  Texas — The  Wilmot  proviso — Compromise  of  1850 — Slavery  in  Kansas — 
Rise  of  the  Republican  Party — Its  principles  and  policy — Administration  of 
James  Buchanan — Treason  in  the  Federal  Cabinet — Preliminary  operations  of 
the  Conspirators — Policy  of  Mr.  Buchanan  respecting  Secession — Presidential 
Campaign  of  1860 — Election  of  Mr.  Lincoln — The  doctrine  of  State  Sovereignty 
as  opposed  to  Federal  centralization — Discussion  of  the  subject 33 


CHAPTER  I. 

Effect  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  election  in  the  South — Political  movements  in  South 
Carolina  and  Georgia — Excitement  in  Charleston — Preliminary  acts  and  events 
— Resignation  of  Federal  officers — Election  of  members  to  the  State  Conven 
tion — Opponents  of  Secession — Alexander  H.  Stephens — Federal  property 
seized  in  Charleston — Conventions  summoned  in  Georgia  and  Alabama — As 
sembling  of  the  Convention  of  South  Carolina — The  first  act  of  Secession  from 
the  Union  passed — A  pathetic  statement  of  grievances — Secession  logic — Re 
flections  on  the  result — Popular  feelings  at  this  time  in  Georgia,  Alabama, 
Mississippi  and  Florida — Levity  and  recklessness  of  the  Secession  leaders 57 


CHAPTER  II. 

Treasonable  Proclamation  of  Governor  Pickens — Resignation  of  the  Representa 
tives  of  South  Carolina  in  Congress — The  Crittenden  propositions  of  Com 
promise — Their  provisions — Scramble  for  Federal  property — Commissioners  of 
South  Carolina  to  the  Federal  Government — Major  Anderson — The  removal  of 
his  command  to  Fort  Sumter — Mr.  Secretary  Floyd — His  resignation — De 
meanor  of  the  Rebel  Commissioners  at  Washington — The  Convention  of  the 
Slaveholding  States — Important  events  at  Savannah — Secession  of  Mississippi 
— Pernicious  influence  of  Jefferson  Davis — Resignation  of  his  seat  in  the  United 
States  Senate — The  secession  of  Alabama — Of  Florida,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  and 

Texas 68 

£7) 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Various  efforts  made  for  compromise  and  settlement — Conciliatory  meetings  held 
in  the  Northern  States — Their  ultimate  failure — Apostacy  of  Alexander  H. 
Stephens — Resignation  of  the  Southern  Representatives  in  the  Federal  Con 
gress — The  Rebel  Congress  convened  at  Montgomery — Its  organization — 
Adoption  of  a  Provisional  Constitution — The  organization  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy — Jefferson  Davis  elected  President — A.  H.  Stephens  chosen  Vice 
President — Prophecies  of  Senator  Wigfall — Biographical  sketches  of  Jefferson 
Davis,  of  Stephens,  of  the  Cabinet  Ministers  of  the  Southern  Confederacy, 
Memminger,  Toombs,  Mallory,  Walker,  Benjamin — The  personal  qualities  and 
characteristics  of  these  officers 75 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Assembling  of  the  Peace  Congress  at  Washington — Their  proposals  of  com 
promise — Their  rejection  and  failure — Attitude  of  President  Buchanan — 
Public  sentiment  respecting  Fort  Sumter — Mission  of  the  "  Star  of  the  West" — 
Final  establishment  of  the  Confederate  Government  at  Montgomery — Inaugu 
ration  of  Jefferson  Davis  as  President — His  address — Inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln — His  address — His  Cabinet  Officers — The  famous  oration  of  A.  H. 
Stephens  at  Savannah — Its  historical  importance — His  first  position — He  refutes 
Jefferson,  Hamilton,  and  Madison — His  second  position — The  foundation  stone 
of  the  Southern  Confederacy — Absurdity  and  fallacy  of  that  foundation — The 
future  condition  and  destiny  of  the  negro  race 83 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  mission  of  Mr.  Yancey  and  his  associates  to  Europe — Their  representations 
to  the  French  and  English  people — Events  at  Charleston — The  Rebel  Commis 
sioners  at  Washington — Their  absurd  deportment — General  Beauregard  de 
mands  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter — Major  Anderson  respectfully  declines — 
Preparations  for  the  bombardment  of  the  fort — Size  and  strength  of  the  works 
— Sketch  of  Major  Anderson — Sketch  of  General  Beauregard — Commencement 
of  the  bombardment — Heroism  of  the  garrison — Incidents  of  the  first  day's 
attack — Events  of  the  ensuing  night — The  continuance  of  the  bombardment 
during  the  next  day — Sufferings  of  the  garrison — Ex-Senator  Wigfall — A 
deputation  from  General  Beauregard — Propositions  of  surrender — They  are 
accepted  by  Major  Anderson — Exultation  of  the  Rebels — Why  the  garrison 
was  not  reinforced — Proclamation  of  Governor  Letcher — Proclamation  of 
President  Lincoln 89 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Enthusiasm  of  the  Rebel  States — Projected  conquest  of  Washington — Proofs 
that  it  was  contemplated — Why  it  was  not  accomplished — Seventy-five  thousand 
Federal  troops  ordered  out — Davis  issues  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal — Pro 
clamation  of  Governor  Letcher — Secession  of  Virginia — Blockade  of  the 
Southern  ports — Aspect  of  the  loyal  States — First  in  the  field — The  attack  on 
Federal  troops  in  Baltimore — Fury  of  the  Rebel  mob — Results  of  the  attack — 


CONTENTS.  9 

Its  infamy The  Federal  Forts  are  garrisoned — Secession  of  Missouri — Rapid 

march  of  Federal  troops  to  Washington— The  Chicago  Zouaves— The  gallant 
Ellsworth— Origin  of  the  term  Zouave— History  of  the  French  Zouaves  in 
Algeria,  in  the  Crimea,  in  Italy — Their  peculiar  characteristics — American 
Zouaves 98 


CHAPTER   VII. 

The  Secession  of  Tennessee — Parson  Brownlow — Declaration  of  War  by  the 
Confederate  Congress— Skirmish  near  St.  Louis— Secession  element  in  Balti 
more — Fort  McHenry — Secession  of  North  Carolina — Adjournment  of  the 
Rebel  Congress  to  convene  at  Richmond — Assembly  of  Federal  troops  at 
Washington — The  occupation  of  Alexandria — Assassination  of  Colonel  Ells 
worth — Sketch  of  his  career — His  life  in  Chicago — Famous  tour  of  the  Chicago 
Zouaves — Ellsworth's  military  tastes  and  talents — His  personal  appearance 
and  characteristics — His  peculiarities  as  a  speaker — He  organizes  the  New 
York  Fire  Zouaves — His  death  a  loss  to  the  cause  of  the  Union — General 
Robert  Patterson's  campaign  in  Virginia — Crossing  the  Potomac  at  Williams- 
port — Battle  of  Falling  Waters — Pursuit  of  the  enemy  to  Hainsville — To 
Martinsburg — The  march  to  Bunker  Hill — To  Charlestown — Occupation  of 
Harper's  Ferry — Results'of  the  Campaign 106 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

The  encounters  with  the  Rebel  troops  at  Fairfax  Court  House,  at  Aquia  Creek, 
at  Romncy,  at  Phillippi — Gallantry  of  Colonel  Kelley — Battle  of  Great 
Bethel — Causes  of  the  disaster — General  Pierce — Death  of  Lieutenant  Greble — 
Sketch  of  his  career — Union  sentiment  in  Western  Virginia — The  new  State  of 
West  Virginia — Harper's  Ferry  devastated  by  the  Rebels — The  Ohio  troops 
fired  on  near  Vienna — Results  of  the  attack — Operations  of  General  McClellan 
in  Western  Virginia — His  admirable  plans — The  Battle  of  Rich  Mountain — 
General  Garnett — Colonel  Rosecrans — Results  of  the  engagement — Sketch  of 
General  McClellan — His  conduct  during  the  Mexican  War — His  reconnoissance 
of  the  Cascade  Mountains — His  secret  mission  to  the  West  Indies — His  journey 
to  the  Crimea — His  official  report  as  commissioner — His  subsequent  move 
ments — He  becomes  Commander  of  the  Department  of  Ohio 115 


CHAPTER   IX. 

The  extraordinary  Session  of  Congress  in  July,  1861 — Message  of  President 
Lincoln — Its  characteristics — Its  demands — Sketch  of  Thaddeus  Stevens — His 
political  career — His  personal  qualities — His  action  as  chairman  of  the  Com 
mittee  of  Ways  and  Means — Important  bills  passed  by  Congress — Opposition 
of  Messrs  Vallandigham  and  Burnett  to  the  policy  of  the  Administration — 
The  civil  war  in  Missouri — The  Grand  Army  equipped  at  Washington — Com 
plaints  of  its  prolonged  inactivity — Order  given  to  General  McDowell  to 
advance  toward  Manassas — Arrangement  of  the  Army — The  advance  reach 
Bull  Run— The  preliminary  conflict  at  that  place— Repulse  of  General  Tyler's 
division — Position  of  the  Rebel  Army  at  Manassas — General  Beauregard — The 
impending  contest — Temper  of  the  Rebel  troops — The  arts  employed  to  inflame 
them..  .  123 


10  CONTENT  S. 

CHAPTER   X. 

The  Federal  Army  at  Centreville — General  McDowell's  plan  of  attack — The 
Divisions  of  Generals  Tyler,  Hunter  and  Heintzelman — Their  several  duties — 
The  March  from  Centreville — Interesting  spectacle — General  Tyler  first  reaches 
the  Battle-field — He  commences  the  engagement—  Movements  of  Generals 
Hunter  and  Heintzelman — The  gallant  Sixty-ninth  New  York — The  engage 
ment  becomes  general — Vigorous  cannonading — The  Rebels  gradually  over 
powered — The  Federals  victorious  at  mid-day — Rebel  admissions  to  that  effect — 
General  Johnston's  troops  from  Winchester  arrive  on  the  battle-field — They 
reverse  the  tide  of  victory — Sudden  panic  in  the  Federal  Army — A  general 
retreat  ensues — Incidents  of  the  flight — Individual  instances  of  heroism — 
Results  of  the  battle — Failure  of  the  Rebel  commanders  to  improve  their 
victory — Ultimate  consequences 131 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  impression  produced  on  the  public  by  the  Battle  of  Manassas — Various 
causes  of  the  Federal  defeat — The  preceding  march — Inferiority  of  numbers — 
Effect  of  masked  batteries — Incompetent  or  inexperienced  officers — Remote 
position  of  the  Reserves — Pernicious  presence  of  spectators — The  coup-de- 
grace — Arrival  of  General  Johnston's  troops  on  the  field — Immense  losses  of 
the  Rebel  Army — Was  the  defeat  in  reality  a  misfortune  to  the  Union — Its 
immediate  effects — Its  influence  on  the  Army — Its  influence  on  the  Adminis 
tration — It  became  the  means  of  averting  greater  calamities — It  was  the  cause 
of  subsequent  successes  to  the  Federal  forces 140 


CHAPTER  XII 

Increased  energy  of  the  Federal  Government — Events  in  Missouri — Important 
battle  at  Carthage — Retrograde  movement  of  General  Lyon  to  Springfield — 
Pursuit  of  the  Rebels  under  Generals  McCullough  and  Price — Condition  of 
their  Army — Reasons  why  General  Lyon  engaged  the  enemy — The  great 
Battle  of  Wilson's  Creek — Disposition  of  the  Federal  forces — Temporary  suc 
cess  of  the  Rebels — Incidents  of  the  contest — Heroism  of  General  Lyon — His 
last  effort  against  the  enemy — Its  success — General  Lyon's  death — Discomfiture 
of  Colonel  Sigel — Results  of  the  Battle — Sketch  of  General  Lyon— His  rare 
merits — General  Fremont  made  Commandant  of  the  Department  of  Missouri — 
His  policy  and  measures — His  Anti-Slavery  Proclamation — It  is  modified  by- 
President  Lincoln — The  war  against  Secession  not  a  war  against  Slavery 147 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  Federal  expeditions  against  the  Rebel  forts  at  Hatteras — The  forces  appro 
priated  to  this  enterprise — Importance  of  Hatteras  and  its  possession — Sailing 
of  the  expedition — The  bombardment — The  surrender  of  the  forts — Commo 
dore  Barren — Commodore  Stringham — Sketch  of  his  career — Results  of  the 
victory  at  Hatteras — Operations  of  Rosecrans  in  Western  Virginia — Battle  at 
Carnifex  Ferry — Defeat  and  flight  of  Floyd — Results  of  the  victory — Events 
in  Missouri — Colonel  Mulligan's  forces  at  Lexington — He  is  attacked  by  General 


CONTENTS.  ii 

Price — Incidents  of  the  Battle  of  Lexington — Surrender  of  Colonel  Mulligan — 
Sketch  of  his  career — Battle  on  Bolivar  Heights — Sketch  of  its  hero,  Colonel 
Geary — The  Battle  of  Ball's  Bluff — General  Stone— Apprehensions  of  Colonel 
Baker — Incidents  of  the  engagement — Defeat  and  rout  of  the  Federal  troops — 
Death  of  Colonel  Baker — National  sorrow  at  his  fate — Sketch  of  his  remarkable 
career— Results  of  the  disaster  at  Ball's  Bluff 155 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

Peculiarities  of  the  war  against  Secession — Federal  expedition  under  Commodore 
Dupont  and  General  Sherman — Its  departure  from  Annapolis — Its  destination 
— Terrible  storm  near  Cape  Hatteras — The  expedition  reaches  Port  Royal — 
Rebel  forts  on  Bay  Point  and  Hilton  Head — Their  bombardment — Their 
strength — Incidents  of  the  attack — Surrender  of  the  forts — Results  of  the  en 
gagement — Sketch  of  its  hero,  Commodore  Dupont — Naval  disaster  below  New 
Orleans — Captain  John  Pope — Events  in  Missouri — Bold  achievement  of  Col 
onel  Zagonyi  near  Springfield — The  battle  of  Belmont — General  U.  S.  Grant — 
Incidents  of  the  engagement  at  Belmont — Its  results — Dismissal  of  General 
Fremont  from  his  Department  of  the  West — Causes  of  his  removal — His 
admirable  demeanor  on  this  occasion — His  subsequent  appointment  as  com 
mander  of  the  Mountain  Department  of  Virginia  and  Tennessee 165 


CHAPTER  XV. 

European  recognition  of  the  Southern  Confederacy — Efforts  made  to  obtain  it — 
Mission  of  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell — Their  arrest  on  board  the  Trent — Legality 
of  that  arrest — The  British  Government  demand  them — They  are  surrendered — 
Reasons  of  their  surrender — Diplomatic  note  of  Mr.  Seward  on  the  subject — 
Argument  of  Mr.  Sumner  in  the  Senate — The  battle  of  Dranesville — Incidents 
of  the  engagement — Its  results — General  McCall — Sketch  of  his  career — Dis 
missal  of  Mr.  Cameron  from  the  Federal  Cabinet — The  war  in  Kentucky — The 
battle  of  Mill  Springs — Incidents  of  the  conflict — Bayonet  charge  of  the  ninth 
Ohio  regiment — Defeat  of  the  Rebels — Death  of  General  Feliz  Zollicoffer — His 
character — Results  of  the  battle  of  Mill  Springs — Subsequent  flight  and  dis 
persion  of  the  Rebel  troops 173 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Burnside  expedition — Its  strength  and  secret  destination — Its  departure  from 
Annapolis — It  reaches  Fortress  Monroe — Another  gale  off  Cape  Hatteras — Its 
results — Loss  of  the  steamer  City  of  New  York — Heroism  of  General  Burn- 
side — The  expedition  enters  Pamlico  Sound — It  steers  for  Roanoke  Island — 
Rebel  works  erected  on  that  Island — The  Federal  troops  disembark — Plan  of 
the  attack — Incidents  of  the  engagement — The  final  charge — Defeat  and  flight 
of  the  Rebels — Capture  of  their  forts — Their  strength — Results  of  the  victory — 
Death  of  Colonel  De  Montreuil — Sketch  of  General  Burnside — Attack  on  Fort 
Henry — Strength  of  the  fort — Number  of  the  Federal  gunboats — Incidents  of 
the  bombardment — Surrender  of  the  Rebel  works — Trophies  of  the  victory — 
Loss  on  both  sides — Skill  and  heroism  of  Commodore  Foote — Sketch  of  his 
career — Further  operations  of  the  Burnside  expedition 181 


12  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XYII. 

Position  and  strength  of  Fort  Donelson— General  Grant  and  Flag-Officer  Foote 
prepare  to  attack  it — Commencement  of  their  operations — Repulse  of  the  gun 
boats — The  assault  from  the  land  side — Incidents  of  the  bombardment — Propo 
sition  of  General  Buckner  to  surrender — The  flight  of  Generals  Floyd  and  Pil 
low — The  capitulation  of  the  fort — Results  and  trophies  of  the  conquest — 
Sketch  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant — Sketch  of  General  Charles  Ferguson  Smith — 
General  Lander's  attack  on  the  Rebels  at  Bloomery  Gap — Its  results — 
Sketch  of  General  Lander — Re-election  of  Jefferson  Davis  as  President  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy — His  Inaugural  Address — Occupation  of  Columbus, 
Kentucky,  by  Federal  troops — Desertion  of  Nashville  by  the  Rebel  forces — 
Unexpected  attack  and  success  of  the  Rebel  battering  ram  Merrimac — Inci 
dents  of  the  engagement — Opportune  arrival  of  the  Monitor  in  Hampton 
Roads — Battle  between  the  Monitor  and  the  Merrimac. . .  .  190 


CHAPTER   XYIII. 

Battle  of  Pea  Ridge  in  Arkansas — General  Curtis — Attack  of  the  Rebels  on  the 
rear  of  the  Federal  Army — Gallantry  of  General  Sigel — Continuance  of  the 
battle  on  the  second  day — Incidents  of  the  contest — It  is  renewed  upon  the 
third  day — Complete  rout  of  the  Rebels — Results  of  the  victory — Sketches  of 
Generals  Curtis  and  Sigel — President  Lincoln's  orders  to  the  Federal  Armies 
to  move  on  the  twenty-second  of  February — General  McClellan's  address  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac — Sudden  evacuation  of  Manassas  by  the  Rebels — Move 
ment  of  Federal  troops — Bombardment  of  Island  Number  Ten — Incidents  of 
the  contest — Reduction  of  the  Rebel  works — Operations  of  General  Pope — Ar 
tificial  channel  cut  through  James  Bayou — General  Pope  attacks  the  Rebels 
at  Tiptonville — Consequences  of  the  capture  of  Island  Number  Ten — Sketch 
of  General  Pope — General  Burnside  attacks  Newbern — The  Rebels  surrender — 
Consequences  of  this  victory 201 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Movements  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac — Its  subdivisions — The  battle  of  Win 
chester — Incidents  of  the  battle — Its  results — The  killed  and  wounded — Sketch 
of  General  Shields — Concentration  of  the  Rebel  troops  near  Corinth — Approach 
of  the  Federal  Army  under  General  Grant — Disposition  of  the  Rebel  Army — 
Commencement  of  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  or  Shiloh — Attack  and 
capture  of  General  Prentiss's  troops — Efforts  of  Generals  Sherman  and  Mc- 
Clernand — The  engagement  becomes  general — Desperate  fighting  on  both 
sides — Gradual  repulse  and  retreat  of  the  Federal  Army — Terrific  scenes — In 
terposition  of  the  Federal  gunboats — End  of  the  first  day's  battle — Arrival  of 
General  Buell — Disposition  of  troops  during  the  ensuing  night — The  second 
day's  conflict — Incidents  of  this  day — Skill  and  energy  of  General  Buell — The 
tide  of  victory  is  gradually  reversed — Ultimate  defeat  of  the  Rebels — Their  re 
treat  to  Corinth— Sketch  of  General  Buell— Results  of  the  battle  of  Shiloh 212 


CONTENTS.  13 


CHAPTER    XX. 

The  Federal  Army  under  General  McClellan  approach  Yorktown — Collision  on 
Howard  Creek — Attack  on  detached  Rebel  intrenchments — Establishment  of 
the  Federal  camp,  and  erection  of  Federal  batteries — Preparations  for  a  great 
conflict  at  Yorktown — Brilliant  operations  of  General  Mitchell  in  Alabama — 
Results  of  his  rapid  movements — Sketch  of  General  Mitchell — Events  in  Georgia 
--Capture  of  Fort  Pulaski — Strength  of  the  Rebel  works — Incidents  of  the 
bombardment  of  that  Fort — Results  of  the  capture — The  conquest  of  New 
Orleans— Federal  armament  under  Commodore  Farragut — Bombardment  of 
Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip— An  engagement  of  six  days — Reduction  of  these 
Forts — Impression  produced  by  it  in  New  Orleans — The  Federal  fleet  approach 
that  city — The  Rebel  troops  evacuate  it— The  summons  to  surrender — Imper 
tinence  of  Mayor  Monroe — New  Orleans  occupied  by  Federal  troops — Sketch 
of  Commodore  Farragut — The  bombardment  of  Fort  Macon — Incidents  of  the 
assault — Strength  of  that  Fort^-Results  of  its  capture  by  the  Federal  troops. .  223 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

Operations  of  General  McCl.iian  at  Yorktown — Battle  of  Lee's  Mill — Disaster  and 
retreat  of  the  Federal  troops — Evacuation  of  Yorktown  by  the  Rebels — Motives 
of  that  movement — Pursuit  by  the  Federals — Engagement  between  cavalry 
near  Williamsburg — Second  conflict  near  Williamsburg — Incidents  of  the  battle 
— General  Hooker's  division — Brilliant  charge  of  General  Hancock — Federal 
victory — Sketch  of  General  Hancock — Battle  at  West  Point — Incidents  of  the 
contest — Efficiency  of  the  Federal  artillery — Rout  of  the  Rebels — Bombardment 
of  Sewell's  Point — Its  results — Expedition  of  General  Wool  against  Norfolk — 
Its  surrender — Operations  of  General  Fremont  in  the  Mountain  Department — 
McDowell's  division  atFredericksburg — Rout  of  Colonel  Morgan  in  Tennessee — 
Incidents  of  the  chase — Bombardment  of  Fort  Wright  commenced — Engage 
ment  of  the  Federal  gunboats  at  Fort  Darling,  on  James  River — Its  Incidents 
and  results — Steady  advance  of  McClellan's  Army  toward  Richmond — It  crosses 
the  Chickahominy — Various  skirmishes — Decisive  engagement  anticipated — 
General  Hunter's  Abolition  Proclamation — President  Lincoln's  policy  respect 
ing  it  233 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

The  Corps  d'Armee  of  General  Banks — Imprudent  reduction  of  its  numbers — The 
Rebels  under  Jackson  attack  the  advance  at  Front  Royal — Design  of  the  Rebels 
to  overpower  Bank's  division — The  latter  orders  a  general  retpeat  toward  Win 
chester — Various  engagements  on  the  route — Battle  of  Middletown — Action 
on  the  march  to  Winchester — Battle  at  Newtown — The  battle  of  Winchester — 
Its  results — Continuance  of  the  retreat  to  Williamsport — Adventures  of  the 
Zouave  d'Afrique — Federal  losses  during  the  retreat — Sketch  of  General  Banks 
— Attitude  of  the  Federal  and  Rebel  Armies  at  Corinth — A  great  battle  antici 
pated — Commencement  of  the  attack  by  General  Halleck — Its  results — Evacua 
tion  of  Corinth  by  the  Rebels — Causes  of  this  event — An  extraordinary  spec 
tacle — Pursuit  of  the  retreating  foe — A  reconnoissance  on  the  Chickahominy 
— Skirmish  at  the  Pines — The  Battle  of  Hanover  Court  House — Destruction 
of  the  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  Railroad — Gallant  exploit  of  Lieutenant 
Davis..  .  244 


U  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

Approach  of  the  Federal  Army  to  Richmond — The  corps  of  General  Keyes  cross 
the  (Jhickahominy — Their  exposed  position — Hostile  purpose  of  the  Rebel 
leaders — The  battle  of  Seven  Pines — Position  of  the  Federal  troops — Com 
mencement  of  the  attack — Disposition  of  troops  made  by  General  Casey — 
Incidents  of  the  battle — Rout  of  Casey's  division — General  Couch's  troops 
become  engaged — Desperate  fighting — Victory  of  the  Rebels — The  Federals 
reinforced — The  engagement  of  June  1st,  General  Heintzelman  in  chief  com 
mand — Incidents  of  this  battle — Heroism  of  the  Irish  regiments  and  of  Sickles' 
Excelsior  Brigade — The  victory  of  Fair  Oaks — Its  results — Popular  impatience 
for  the  occupation  of  Richmond — Rebel  forces  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shenaridoah 
— Their  brief  occupation  of  it — General  Fremont  ordered  to  expel  them — They 
abandon  Winchester — Their  retreat  through  Strasburg  and  Woodstock — Battle 
of  Cross  Keys — Gallantry  of  theBucktails — Results  of  the  engagement — Battle 
of  Port  Republic — Incidents  of  this  engagement— ^-Its  results — Retreat  of  Gen 
eral  Jackson  toward  Richmond — Appointment  of  General  Pope  as  Commander 
of  the  Department — Withdrawal  of  General  Fremont — His  military  achieve 
ments — His  true  renown .  256 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

Prominence  of  the  Mississippi  River  in  the  events  of  the  war — Fleet  of  gunboats 
commanded  by  Commodore  Davis — Evacuation  of  Fort  Pillow — The  naval  battle 
before  Memphis — Relative  strength  of  the  combatants — Incidents  of  the  engage 
ment—Defeat  of  the  Rebel  Fleet— Colonel  Ellet— Results  of  the  victory— Gen 
eral  Negle^s  expedition  against  Chattanooga — Colonel  Hambright — Incidents 
of  the  expedition — Its  results — General  Morgan  expels  the  Rebels  from  Cum 
berland  Gap — Disaster  to  the  Federal  Arms  at  James  Island — Description  of 
the  Rebel  works — Arrangements  for  the  attack — Incidents  of  the  engagement 
— Ultimate  defeat  of  the  Federal  troops — Their  retreat — Federal  loss — Gallantry 
of  the  Rebel  Commander  Lamar — Expedition  of  Colonel  Fitch  up  the  White 
River — Ttye  engagement  at  St.  Charles — Horrible  accident  to  the  Mound  City — 
Execrable  cruelty  of  Captain  Fry — Capture  of  the  Rebel  Forts — Final  success 
of  the  expedition — Excursion  of  Colonel  Howard  from  Newbern  to  Swift  Creek 
— Its  results — Bombardment  of  Vicksburg  commenced — Perilous  passage  of 
Commodore  Farragut's  fleet — New  Channel  of  the  Mississippi 268 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

The  intrenchrnents  of  the  Federal  Army  before  Richmond — Their  extent — Inac 
tivity  of  the  Federal  forces — Concentration  of  Rebel  troops  in  Richmond — 
Glowing  expectations  of  the  loyal  community — Their  Disappointment — The 
transfer  of  McClellan's  base  of  supplies  and  operations  to  Harrison's  Landing 
— First  attack  of  the  Rebels  on  his  troops  at  Mechanicsville — Incidents  of  the 
battle — Commencement  of  the  march  toward  the  James  River — Battle  of  Games' 
Mills — Desperate  Fighting — Heroism  and  valor  on  both  sides — Vicissitudes  of 
the  struggle — The  retreat  continued  toward  James  River — Disposal  of  the  sick 
and  wounded — Pertinacious  pursuit  by  the  Rebels — Singular  caravan  of  wagons, 
cattle,  and  fugitives — Battle  of  Peach  Orchard — Its  results — Battle  at  Savage's 
Station — Resolute  assaults  of  the  enemy — Appalling  scenes — Important  results 
— The  race  to  White  Oak  Swamp — The  Federal  troops  win  the  race 280 


CONTENTS.  15 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

The  Battle  of  White  Oak  Swamp — Position  and  order  of  the  Federal  troops — Tem 
porary  panic — Desperate  fighting — Fortunate  assistance  of  the  gunboats  on 
the  James  River — Heroism  and  skill  of  General  Heintzelman — A  general 
bayonet  charge  on  the  Rebels — Its  result — First  engagement  at  Malvern  Hills 
— Incidents  of  the  fight — The  Irish  Brigade — Complete  defeat  of  the  Rebels — 
The  Federal  Army  removes  to  Harrison's  Landing — Results  of  the  several 
Battles  before  Richmond — Artrllery  duel  on  the  James  River — General  Hooker 
sent  to  reconnoitre  and  occupy  Malvern  Hill — The  march  thither — Engagement 
with  the  enemy — Their  defeat — Immense  reinforcements  ordered  from  Rich 
mond — Return  of  the  Federal  troops  to  Harrison's  Landing — Final  evacuation 
of  their  camp  by  the  Federal  Army — Its  future  destination — Federal  losses 
during  the  Peninsula  Campaign 291 


CHAPTER    XXYII. 

Return  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  from  the  Peninsula — Spirit  and  purpose  of 
the  Federal  Government — Appointment  of  General  Halleck  as  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  land  forces — Operations  of  General  Pope — Messages  of  President  Lin 
coln  in  favor  of  emancipation  of  the  slaves  and  confiscation  of  the  property  of 
Rebels — Reconnoissance  of  General  King  to  Beaver  Dam — Battle  of  Bayou 
Cache,  in  Arkansas — Engagement  on  the  Mississippi  with  the  ram  Arkansas — 
Boldness  and  determination  of  the  Rebels — Engagement  near  Memphis,  Missis 
sippi — Operations  of  the  Rebel  John  Morgan  in  Kentucky — Contest  at  Cynthiana 
— Morgan  abandons  Kentucky — Additional  Anti-Slavery  Message  of  Mr.  Lin 
coln — Expeditions  sent  from  Newbern  to  Trenton  and  Pollocksville — Their 
results — Attack  made  on  the  Arkansas  by  Colonel  Ellet — Incidents  of  the 
engagement — Defeat  of  the  Queen  of  the  West — Causes  of  the  disaster — Crea 
tion  of  new  grades  in  the  Federal  Navy — President  Lincoln  orders  a  draft  of 
three  hundred  thousand  men 299 


CHAPTER    XXYIII. 

Designs  of  the  Rebel  Generals  in  Virginia — Measures  taken  to  counteract  them — 
The  Armies  of  Banks  and  Jackson  approach  each  other — Battle  of  Cedar  or 
Slaughter  Mountain — Position  of  the  combatants — Commencement  of  the  en 
gagement — Incidents  of  its  progress — Its  termination  and  results — Loss  on  both 
sides — Heroism  of  General  Banks — Subsequent  movements  of  the  Rebels — 
Skirmishes  along  the  line  of  the  Rappahannock — Designs  of  the  Rebel  Generals 
— Arrangements  of  General  Pope — Engagement  at  Catlett's  Station — Federal 
loss  of  baggage  and  stores — The  Rebels  cross  the  Rappahannock— Battle  with 
the  troops  of  General  Sigel— Approach  of  Rebels  toward  Manassas— Conflict  at 
Kettle  Run— At  Bristow's  Station— The  great  Battle  at  Manassas  on  August 
29th— Incidents  of  the  struggle— Engagement  renewed  on  the  30th— Its  inci 
dents  and  results— Retreat  of  the  Federal  Army— Battle  of  Chantilly— Death 
of  Generals  Kearney  and  Stevens— Return  of  the  Federal  Army  to  Washington 
— Losses  during  the  campaign  of  General  Pope  in  Virginia — Sketches  of  Gen 
erals  Kearny  and  Stevens — A  Court-Mar tial  summoned  at  Washington  to  in 
vestigate  charges  against  General  Porter— Its  verdict 312 


16  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 


Battle  of  Baton  Rouge— Situation  of  the  place— Federal  troops  posted  there- 
Movements  of  General  Breckinridge — Incidents  of  the  engagement — Death  of 
General  Williams — Assistance  of  the  Federal  gunboats — Final  defeat  and 
repulse  of  the  Rebels — The  Rebel  ram  Arkansas — Its  destruction — Indian  mur 
ders  and  devastations  in  Minnesota — Causes  which  led  to  them — Incidents 
connected  with  them — Their  suppression  arid  punishment — General  Sibley — 
Battle  fought  near  Richmond,  Kentucky — Federal  troops  engaged — Federal 
advantage — Federal  repulse — Union  troops  are  re-formed  in  line  of  battle  three 
times — General  Nelson — Federal  losses — Battle  at  Tazewell — Expedition  of 
Colonel  Ellet  on  the  Mississippi  and  up  the  Yazoo — Capture  of  the  transport 
Fair  Play — Results  of  the  expedition — Battle  near  Denmark,  Tennessee — Inci 
dents  of  the  engagement — Heroism  of  Captain  Frisbie— Federal  victory — 
Apprehensions  of  an  invasion  of  Ohio  by  the  Rebels — Proclamation  of  Governor 
Tod — Preparations  made  to  receive  the  enemy — General  Lewis  Wallace — Re 
treat  of  the  Rebels — Termination  of  the  popular  excitement — Summary  of  un 
important  events  in  August,  1862 325 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

The  Battle  of  South  Mountain — Position  of  the  combatants — Troops  of  General 
Reno— Incidents  of  the  engagement — Heroism  of  General  Hooker — Victory  of 
the  Federal  Army — Retreat  of  the  Rebels — Death  of  General  Reno— Sketch  of 
his  career — Attack  of  the  Rebels  on  Harper's  Ferry — Forces  commanded  by 
Colonel  Miles — Incidents  of  the  bombardment — Surrender  of  the  works  to  the 
enemy — Death  of  Colonel  Miles — Retreat  of  the  Rebels  toward  the  Potomac — 
The  great  Battle  of  Antietam — Positions  assigned  the  Federal  forces — Desperate 
fighting  of  Hooker's  division — Incidents  of  the  battle  on  the  right  wing — Opera 
tions  of  Burnside  on  the  left — Events  in  the  Federal  centre — Conclusion  of  the 
engagement — Retreat  of  the  Rebel  Army  across  the  Potomac — Sketches  of  Gen 
erals  Hooker  and  Sumner — Battle  at  Mumfordville,  Kentucky — Its  results — 
Federal  troops  engaged — Battle  at  Washington,  North  Carolina — The  Rebels 
defeated — Explosion  of  the  gunboat  Picket — Civil  aspects  of  the  war — President 
Lincoln's  Proclamation  of  September  22d,  1862 — Its  contents — Its  influence 

•  upon  Slavery  and  upon  the  Rebel  Government — Mr.  Lincoln  suspends  the 
Habeas  Corpus  Act,  on  September  24th,  1862 338 

» 
CHAPTER    XXXI. 

The  battle  at  luka— Dispositions  made  by  General  Grant— Incidents  of  the  en 
gagement — Victory  of  the  Federal  troops — Rebels  repulsed  at  Boonsborough — 
Convention  of  the  Governors  of  Loyal  States  at  Altoona,  Pennsylvania — Their 
address  to  President  Lincoln — His  reply — Proposal  of  Peace  discussed  in  the 
Confederate  Congress — Argument  of  Mr.  Foote — Fate  of  the  proposition — 
Battle  of  Augusta,  Kentucky — Engagement  at  Corinth,  Mississippi — Position 
of  the  Rebels — First  day's  fighting — Incidents  of  the  second  day — Desperate 
charges  made  by  the  Rebels— Their  final  defeat  and  flight— Sketch  of  Major- 
General  Rosecrans — Invasion  of  Pennsylvania  by  the  Rebel  General  Stuart — 
His  route — Incidents  which  occurred  at  Chambersburg — Stuart's  safe  return  to 
Virginia — Skirmishes  on  the  Potomac — Results  of  his  raid 353 


CONTENTS.  17 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

The  Federal  victory  at  Lavergne,  Tennessee — General  Negley — Battle  on  the 
Hatchie  River — Expedition  of  General  Brannan  up  the  St.  John's  River — Its 
results — The  Battle  of  Perry  ville — Heroism  of  General  Rousseau — Incidents  of 
this  engagement — Its  consequences — Final  escape  of  General  Bragg  and  his 
Army  from  Kentucky — Inefficiency  of  General  Buell — His  removal  from  the 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio — Appointment  of  General  Rosecrans  as  his 
successor — Fruits  of  General  Bragg's  invasion  of  Kentucky — Summary  view  of 
minor  events  which  occurred  in  September  and  October,  1862 361 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

Exploits  of  the  Confederate  cruiser,  the  Alabama — Her  peculiar  structure — 
Efforts  made  to  capture  her — Their  failure — The  expedition  sent  by  General 
Mitchel  against  the  Charleston  and  Savannah  Railroad — Incidents  of  the  t 
undertaking — Battles — Their  results — Return  of  the  expedition — Various  recon- 
noissances  made  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac — Important  results  accomplished 
by  them — Occupation  of  Snicker's,  Ashby's  and  Thoroughfare  Gaps  by  the 
Federal  troops — Brilliant  engagement  near  Maysville,  Arkansas — Flight  of  the 
Rebels — Successful  reconnoissance  of  Captain  Dahlgren  to  Fredericksburg, 
Virginia — Skirmishes  at  Philomel  and  New  Creek,  Virginia,  and  at  Williams- 
ton,  North  Carolina — Abortive  attempt  of  the  Rebels  under  Morgan  and  Forrest 
to  capture  Nashville,  Tennessee — Federal  expedition  to  Thibodeauxville,  Louis 
iana — Reconnoissance  of  General  M'Pherson  toward  Holly  Springs,  Mississippi 
— Approach  of  the  Federal  Army  under  Burnside  to  Fredericksburg — The  city 
summoned  to  surrender — The  refusal — Embarrassing  delay  of  Burnside's 
operations 370 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

Assembling  of  the  Federal  Congress,  December  1st,  1862 — Annual  Message  of 
President  Lincoln — Its  Characteristics — Its  discussion  of  the  National  Finances 
— Of  the  Emancipation  of  the  Slaves — Plan  proposed  by  the  President — Official 
Report  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury — Its  leading  features — Financial  details 
• — Skirmish  at  Franklin,  on  the  Blackwater,  Virginia — Capture  of  Union  troops 
at  Hartsville,  Kentucky — General  Geary's  Reconnoissance  to  Charlestown  and 
Winchester — Surrender  of  Winchester — Stuart's  raid  on  the  towns  of  Dumfries 
and  Occoquan — Expedition  of  General  Washburne  from  Helena  to  Coffeeville, 
Mississippi — Its  results,  and  return — The  capture  of  the  Steamship  Ariel  by  the 
pirate  Alabama — Incidents  connected  with  it — Her  final  release — Departure  of 
the  Banks  expedition  from  New  York — Infamous  frauds  perpetrated  upon  the 
Government — Arrival  of  the  expedition  at  New  Orleans — General  Banks  suc 
ceeds  General  Butler — Effect  of  Butler's  Administration — Results  of  the 

Blockade  of  the  Southern  Ports 382 

2 


18  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

The  Battle  of  Fredericksburg— The  laying  of  the  Pontoon  Bridges— The  Pontoniera 
driven  away— Renewal  of  the  attempt— Its  second  and  third  failure— Bombard 
ment  of  Fredericksburg — The  bridges  are  constructed — The  Federal  troops  cross 
the  Rappahannock — Preparations  for  the  conflict — Strength  of  the  works  of 
the  Rebels — Superior  advantages  of  their  position  and  numbers — Commence 
ment  of  the  engagement  by  General  Franklin — Incidents  of  the  Battle  on  the 
left  wing — The  results — The  contest  on  the  right  and  the  centre — Movements 
of  Generals  Meade  and  Gibbon — Heroism  of  Sumner — Impregnable  position  of 
the  enemy — A  gallant  charge — Heavy  losses  of  the  Rebels — Operations  in  the 
centre  under  General  Hooker — Plan  of  Wilcox  and  Burns — General  results  of 
the  engagement — Federal  and  Rebel  losses — Sketch  of  General  Franklin— Of 
Generals  Jackson  and  Bayard — Events  subsequent  to  the  Battle — Resignation 
of  Mr.  Seward — Popular  Censure — General  Burnside  assumes  the  responsibility 
— The  Cabinet  remains  unchanged — Battle  at  Cave  Hill,  Arkansas — Federal 
victo-y 393 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

The  expedition  of  General  Foster  from  Newbern  to  Kingston  and  Goldsboro — 
Commencement  of  the  march — Skirmish  at  Southeast  Creek — Its  results — The 
Federals  continue  their  march  to  Kinston — Battle  at  that  place — Incidents  of 
this  engagement — Its  results — Operations  of  the  Federal  Fleet  which  accompa 
nied  the  expedition — Skirmish  at  Whitehall — Battle  at  Goldsboro — The  return 
of  the  expedition — Skirmishing  with  the  enemy — Exploits  of  Major  Garrard 
and  Fitzsimmons — Arrival  of  the  expedition  at  Newbern — Its  results — Federal 
losses — Sketch  of  General  Foster — Capture  of  Holly  Springs — Battle  of  Davis's 
Mills  in  Mississippi— Heroism  of  Colonel  Morgan— Defeat  at  Van  Dorn — Posi 
tion  of  affairs  toward  the  close  of  the  year  1862 — President  Lincoln's  Emanci 
pation  Proclamation — Its  provisions — Feelings  with  which  it  was  regarded  by 
different  classes  of  the  Community — Its  influence  upon  the  future  events  of  the  . 
war..  .  404 


CHAPTER   XXXVII. 

Conclusion  of  the  year  1862 — The  armies  of  Rosecrans  and  Bragg  approach  each 
other  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee — Position  of  their  respective  forces — Number 
of  troops  engaged — Beginning  of  the  Battle — Incidents  of  the  first  day — The 
Federal  right  wing  driven  back — Pursuit  by  the  Confederates — The  retreat 
stopped— End  of  the  first  day's  combat — The  engagement  resumed— Artillery 
duel— Furious  charge  by  the  Rebels— Heroism  of  Generals  Negley  and  Davis— 
The  Rebels  finally  overpowered— A  general  charge  on  their  lines— Its  result- 
Complete  defeat  of  the  Rebel  Army — Revolt  of  the  Anderson  Cavalry — Its 
alleged  causes — The  Loyal  Three  Hundred — Federal  loss  in  the  Battle  at  Mnr 
freesboro — Losses  of  the  Confederates — Field  Order  of  General  Rosecrans  re 
specting  the  Anderson  Cavalry 416 


CONTENTS.  19 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

The  loss  of  the  Federal  Iron-clad  Monitor  at  sea — Her  peculiar  structure — Her  de 
parture  fromHampton  Roads — A  rising  storm — The  Monitor  becomes  disabled — 
Cause  of  the  misfortune — Her  situation  becomes  desperate — Removal  of  her 
crew  to  the  Rhode  Island — Her  final  disappearance — The  Federal  Army  under 
General  Sherman  attack  Vicksburg,  Mississippi — Landing  of  the  troops  at  John 
son's  Ferry,  on  the  Yazoo — The  attack  commenced  on  the  27th  of  December — 
Partial  success  of  the  Federal  forces — The  assault  resumed  on  the  28th — Des 
perate  fighting — The  first  line  of  works  carried — Sherman  orders  a  general 
charge— The  Federals  repulsed  and  defeated— Terrible  slaughter— The  Union 
Army  withdrawn — General  Sherman  superseded  by  M 'demand — Federal 
losses — Causes  of  their  defeat — Minor  engagements  at  Springfield  and  Harts- 
ville,  Missouri 424 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 

A  peculiar  feature  of  the  History  of  this  Civil  War— The  Battle  of  Hunt's  Cross- 
Roads  in  Tennessee — Gallantry  of  General  Sullivan  and  the  Indiana  troops — 
Defeat  of  Forrest — His  flight  to  the  Tennessee  River — The  expedition  of  Gen 
eral  Carter  into  East  Tennessee — Its  objects — Its  success — Difficulties  and 
merit  of  the  undertaking — Skirmish  near  Moorefield,  Virginia — Attack  of  the 
Rebels  on  Galveston — Their  success — Capture  of  the  Harriet  Lane — Explosion 
of  the  Westfield — Federal  losses  on  this  occasion — Address  of  the  Workingmen 
of  Manchester,  England,  to  President  Lincoln — His  reply — The  bombardment 
of  Arkansas  Post — Land  and  naval  forces  detailed  to  this  service — The  location 
and  importance  of  Arkansas  Post — Commencement  of  the  assault  by  Admiral 
Porter — Co-operation  of  the  land  troops  under  General  M'Clernand — Incidents 
of  the  conflict — Surrender  of  the  fort  and  of  the  Rebel  troops — Losses  on  both 
gides — Value  of  the  conquest — Sketches  of  Admiral  Porter  and  General 
M'Clernand 432 


CHAPTER   XL. 

General  Burnside  resigns  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac — He  is  suc 
ceeded  by  General  Hooker — The  Army  in  winter  quarters — Importance  of  the 
question  of  negro  troops  in  the  Army — Policy  of  different  parties  respecting 
it — Exploits  of  the  Rebel  Steamer  Oreto — Destruction  of  the  Steamboat  Hat- 
teras — Expedition  of  General  Weitzel  up  the  Bayou  Teche — Death  of  Commo 
dore  Buchanan— Skirmish  at  Woodbury,  Tennessee — Second  siege  of  Fort  Don- 
elson — Its  result — Federal  victory  over  General  Pryor  on  the  Blackwater, 
Virginia— Triumph  of  Confederate  Rams  in  the  Harbor  of  Charleston,  South 
Carolina— Sketch  of  Commodore  Ingraham — The  passage  of  the  National 
Currency  Bill— The  Conscription  Law— Loss  of  the  Federal  Steamer  Queen  of 
the  West — Capture  of  the  Federal  Iron-clad  Indianola — Destruction  of  the 
Rebel  Steamer  Nashville— Attack  on  Fort  ;M'Allister— Resolutions  of  Congress 
Denouncing  Foreign  Intervention — Remaining  Military  Events  of  February 
and  March,  1863 — Engagements  at  Strasburg,  Virginia — At  Hartwood  Church, 
Virginia — At  Bradyville,  Tennessee — At  Thompson's  Station.  Tennessee 443 


20  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XLI. 

Minor  Military  Operations  during  March,  1863— Expedition  from  Mnrfreesboro 
under  Colonel  Hall— He  engages  and  defeats  the  Rebels  at  Milton,  Tennessee— 
Expedition  of  General  Prince  from  Newbern— Its  results— Attack  by  the  Rebels 
on  Union  troops  at  Deep  Gully— Their  repulse— Desperate  cavalry  fight  near 
the  Rappahannoqk  between  Generals  Averell,  Stuart,  and  Lee— Its  result — The 
passage  of  the  Federal  Fleet  past  the  Rebel  batteries  at  Port  Hudson— Co 
operative  movements  of  General  Banks — Incidents  of  the  engagement  at  Port 
Hudson — Death  of  Commander  Boyd  Cummings — His  heroism — Loss  of  the 
Steamer  Mississippi — Success  of  the  Hartford  and  Albatross — Conflagration  of 
Jacksonville,  Florida — Victory  of  General  Gillmore  at  Somerset,  Kentucky — 
Report  of  the  Congressional  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War — Its  pecu 
liarities  and  contents — Its  exposition  on  the  conduct  of  Generals  McClcllan, 
Patterson,  and  Stone — Impression  produced  by  it  on  the  Public  mind — End  of 
the  winter  campaign  of  1862-3— Skirmishes  in  Carroll  County,  Arkansas— At 
Woodbury,  Tennessee — Abortive  expedition  of  General  Sherman  up  the  Black 
Bayou  hi  Mississippi 457 

CHAPTER    XLIL 

Preliminary  Reflections — Rise  of  the  Anti-War  Democrats,  or  the  Peace  Party — 
Its  avowed  opinions  and  opposition  to  the  National  Administration — Suspense 
of  the  Writ  of  Habeas  Corpus — The  course  of  President  Lincoln  sustained  by 
Congress  and  the  Loyal  portion  of  the  Nation  as  Constitutional,  Wise,  and 
Patriotic — Precedent  of  the  British  Parliament — Factious  opposition  of  the 
Peace  Party  to  the  Conscription  Act  and  to  the  Prosecution  of  the  War — Their 
proffered  friendship  spurned  even  by  the  Confederates  themselves — Their 
alleged  but  groundless  fears  of  designed  Centralization  by  the  National  Admin 
istration — Their  hostility  to  the  President's  Emancipation  Proclamation — The 
existence  of  Negro  Slavery  and  determination  to  perpetuate  it  the  source  of  our 
greatest  National  difficulties,  and  the  ultimate  cause  of  the  present  Rebellion — 
The  judicious,  gradual,  and  progressive  course  of  the  Government  on  this  sub 
ject  vindicated — Objections  of  the  Peace  £artyto  the  Financial  Measures  of  the 
Government — Their  vindictive  but  futile  attempts  to  detract  from  the  personal 
character  of  the  President 470 

CHAPTER    XLIII. 

The  preparations  for  another  attack  on  Charleston — Formidable  character  of  the 
fortifications — The  crossing  of  the  bar — Order  of  Battle  prescribed  by  Admiral 
Du  Pont — The  attack — Obstructions  in  the  harbor — The  terrible  storm  of  fire — 
The  New  Ironsides  unmanageable — Gallantry  of  the  Commander  of  the  Keokuk, 
and  of  the  Commanders  of  the  Monitors — The  Keokuk  riddled  and  sinking — 
Three  of  the  Monitors  disabled— Withdrawal  of  the  Fleet— Return  to  Port 
Royal — Admiral  Du  Pont's  action  justifiable — Other  naval  actions  on  the  Atlan 
tic  Coast,  and  in  the  Gulf  and  Mississippi  River — Battles  and  skirmishes  on  land 
— In  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland,  at  various  points  in  Tennessee  and 
Kentucky ;  in  the  Department  of  Missouri,  the  attack  on  the  Sam  Gaty  ;  in  the 
Department  of  the  Frontier,  at  Fayetteville,  Arkansas,  and  its  vicinity,  and  in 
the  Department  of  the  Gulf— Expedition  to  Pascagoula— The  Battles  on  the 
Teche — Destruction  of  three  Rebel  Iron-clads,  and  capture  or  destruction  of 
eleven  transports,  and  two  thousand  prisoners— Complete  rout  of  the  Rebels...  482 


CONTENTS.  21 


CHAPTER    XLIY. 

Raids  in  both  Armies — Marmaduke's  expedition  for  the  capture  of  Cape  Girardeau 
— Colonel  Carter's  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  town — General  M'Neil's  reply 
— Marmaduke's  demand — The  result — Flight  of  Marmaduke,  and  pursuit  by 
Yandever  and  M'Neil — Colonel  Streight's  raid — Difficulties  and  disasters — 
Penetrates  nearly  to  Rome — Is  compelled  to  surrender — Rebel  treatment  of  the 
Officers  of  the  expedition — Colonel  Grierson's  raid — Its  continued  and  wonder 
ful  success — His  Brigade  reaches  Baton  Rouge — Results  accomplished  by  the 
expedition — Colonel  Clayton's  raid — Meets  Marmaduke — Clayton  with  two 
hundred  and  thirty  men  fights  and  repels  Marmaduke's  Division — Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Jenkins's  fight  with  Carter's  Texas  Brigade — The  expedition  reaches 
Helena  in  safety — Skirmishes  in  Western  Virginia — The  affair  at  Greenland 
Gap— Capture  of  Alexandria,  Mississippi — Skirmish  at  Monticello,  Kentucky..  498 


CHAPTER  XLY. 

The  siege  of  Washington,  North  Carolina — Attempts  to  raise  it — The  Steamer 
Escort  runs  past  the  Batteries  with  reinforcements  and  supplies — General  Fos 
ter  escapes  in  her  and  prepares  to  raise  the  siege — The  Rebels  abandon  it — 
Siege  of  Suffolk,  Yirginia — Longstreet  abandons  it  to  reinforce  Lee — Hooker's 
management  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac — His  plans  for  attacking  Lee — Move 
ments  of  his  troops — Ruse  below  Fredericksburg — The  concentration  of  six 
Corps  in  the  vicinity  of  Chancellorsville — The  counterplot  of  Lee — Jackson's 
attack  on  the  right  wing— Panic  in  the  Eleventh  Corps— Their  flight — The  ad 
vance  of  the  Rebels  checked  by  Berry's  Division — Battle  of  the  Wilderness — 
Jackson  mortally  wounded — Hooker  re-forms  his  lines — Battle  of  Chancellors 
ville,  on  Sunday  morning — Hooker  again  changes  his  lines — Movements  of 
Sedgwick's  Corps— Battle  of  Marye's  Hill— Battle  of  Salem  Heights— The 
Rebels  recapture  Fredericksburg — Battle  of  Banks'  Ford — Sedgwick's  Corps 
cross  the  Ford — General  Hooker  calls  a  Council  of  War — Recrosses  the  Rap- 
pahannock  at  United  States  Ford — Review  of  the  Campaign 515 


CHAPTER  XLYL 

Stoneman's  expedition — The  plan  of  it  substantially  that  of  General  Burnside — 
Biographical  sketch  of  General  Stonernan — Starting  of  the  expedition — Its 
adventures — Detachments  sent  in  different  directions  from  Thompson's  Cross 
Roads — Colonel  Wyndham's  raid  to  Columbia — Colonel  Kilpatrick's  adventures 
— Lieutenant-Colonel  Davis's  expedition  to  cut  the  two  railroads — Results  of 
the  expedition— The  Army  of  the  Potomac  after  the  Battel— Lee's  determina 
tion  to  invade  Pennsylvania — Pleasonton  sent  to  attack  Stuart's  Cavalry — 
Biographical  sketch  of  General  Pleasonton — Success  of  his  attack — His  subse 
quent  skirmishes  and  fights  with  Stuart's  Cavalry — Lee's  positions  discovered — 
Movement  of  Hooker's  Army — The  Rebel  Army  cross  the  Potomac — Hooker's 
follow — Hooker  relieved  of  the  command  of  the  Army — Meade  appointed  his 
successor — Position  of  the  two  Armies — Only  two  Union  Corps  near  Gettys 
burg — A  Battle  impending 532 


22  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XLYII. 

Sketch  of  General  Meade — Topography  of  the  Battle-field — The  beginning  of  the 
Battle — Death  of  General  Reynolds — Sketch  of  his  life — Coming  up  of  the 
Eleventh  Corps — The  position  on  Cemetery  Hill  procured — Retreat  of  the  First 
and  Eleventh  Corps  to  Cemetery  Hill — Great  loss  of  prisoners — The  state  of 
feeling  in  the  two  Armies — Depression  of  the  Citizens  of  Gettysburg — Rein 
forcements  of  the  Union  Army — Position  of  the  two  Armies  on  the  morning  of 
July  2 — Opening  of  the  second  day's  Battle — The  attack  on  Sickles'  Corps — 
The  Ninth  Massachusetts  Battery — The  charge  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves — 
The  enemy  beaten  back — Ewell's  attack  on  the  Eleventh  Corps  and  on  Green's 
Brigade — He  penetrates  to  Spangler's  Spring — The  Third  Day's  Battle — Attack 
on  the  Union  right — The  repulse — Terrible  artillery  duel  on  the  Left  Centre 
— Assault  by  Pickett's  Division — Terrible  slaughter — Longstreet's  attack  on 
Round  Top — Thte  too  repulsed — The  Battle  over — Retreat  of  the  Rebels — " 
Crossing  of  the  Potomac — General  Meade's  error — The  losses  on  both  sides — 
General  orders  of  the  two  Commanders — Beneficial  result  of  the  invasion  to  the 
Union  cause 550 


CHAPTER    XLVIII. 

General  Grant  takes  command  in  person  of  the  Army  for  the  reduction  of  Yicks- 
burg — His  Canal  projects — The  Canal  across  the  Peninsula — Route  by  Round- 
away  Bayou — Lake  Providence  Canal — Yazoo  Pass— Steele's  Bayou — Succes 
sive  failures — He  resolves  to  attack  from  below — The  running  of  the  Batteries 
— Excitement  among  the  spectators — March  of  the  Army  to  Hard  Times, 
Louisiana — Attack  on  Grand  Gulf — Repulse  of  the  Gunboats — They  run  past 
the  Batteries — Landing  at  Bruinsburg — Battles  of  Shaiffer's  Plantation  and  Port 
Gibson — Evacuation  of  Grand  Gulf — Skirmish  at  Fourteen  Mile  Creek — Battle 
at  Raymond — Capture  of  Jackson,  Mississippi,  and  destruction  of  Rebel  property 
there— March  of  the  Army  Westward— Battle  of  Champion  Hill— Battle  of 
Black  River  Bridge — Yicksburg  invested — Assaults  of  the  nineteenth  and 
twenty-second  of  May — Siege  of  the  City — Its  capitulation  on  the  Fourth  of 
July — Terms  of  the  surrender — The  results  of  the  Campaign — Rebel  and  Union 
losses — Sherman's  pursuit  of  Johnston — Capture  of  Jackson  and  defeat  of  the 
Rebels — General  Ransom's  expedition  to  Natchez — General  Herron's  capture 
of  Yazoo  City — Operations  of  the  Gunboats  on  the  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi 
—The  Battle  of  Milliken's  Bend— Bravery  of  the  Colored  Troops— Attack  on 
Lake  Providence ..  .  566 


CHAPTER    XLIX. 

The  investment  of  Port  Hudson— Battle  fought  by  General  Auger— The  arrival 
of  additional  forces— The  assault  of  the  twenty-seventh  of  May— The  brilliant 
attack  of  General  Weitzel's  Division— Partial  success  of  the  assault — The 
assault  of  the  fourteenth  of  June— Its  failure— The  closeness  of  the  siege- 
Suffering  of  the  garrison— Their  surrender— The  Rebel  attacks  on  Brashear 
City  and  Terribonne — Inhuman  massacre  of  infirm  Contrabands  and  women  and 
children— The  murder  of  negroes  at  St.  Martinsville — The  attack  of  the  Rebels 
on  Helena,  Arkansas— Their  signal  defeat — Review  of  the  progress  of  the  War 
during  the  last  eleven  months — JThe  beginning  of  the  end 583 


CONTENTS.  23 


CHAPTER    L. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  at  rest — The  overthrow  of  the  Rebel  power  in  Arkan 
sas—The  Guerrillas  and  Bushwhackers  of  Arkansas  and  the  Indian  Territory 
— Quantrel  and  his  band— The  sacking  of  Lawrence— Attempt  to  murder  Gen 
eral  Blunt— Cabell,  Marmaduke,  Shelby,  and  Coffey,  make  a  raid  into  Missouri, 
and  are  defeated  and  routed — Morgan's  raid  into  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and  Ohio 
— His  capture  and  imprisonment — His  escape — Sketch  of  his  life — His  death — 
The  riots  of  the  summer  of  1863 — The  great  riot  in  New  York— Its  causes  and 
objects— The  reign  of  terror— The  mob  subdued— The  loss  of  life  and  property 
by  it 


CHAPTER    LI. 

Department  of  the  South— Capture  of  the  Atlanta — General  Gillmore  succeeds 
Hunter,  and  Dahlgren,  Du  Pont — Gillmore's  strategic  plan — Reasons  for  be 
lieving  it  an  error — Folly  Island — Gillmore's  Batteries  there — Capture  of  the 
southern  portion  of  Morris  Island — Feints  in  other  directions — The  first  as 
sault  on  Wagner — Repulse — Erection  of  Batteries — Bombardment  and  second 
assault — A  costly  failure — The  siege  pressed — Other  Batteries  erected — The 
"  Swamp  Angel"  located — Bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter — Its  substantial  re 
duction — Gillmore  demands  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter  and  the  Forts  on 
Morris  Island,  and  threatens  to  bombard  Charleston  in  case  of  refusal — Beau- 
regard  replies  haughtily  and  insolently — Gillmore's  rejoinder — The  approaches 
to  Fort  Wagner  completed — The  garrisons  of  Fort  Wagner  and  Battery  Gregg 
evacuate  those  Works — Gillmore's  despatch  announcing  the  capture — Other 
events  in  the  Department — Sketch  of  General  Gillmorc — Sketch  of  Admiral 
Dahlgren 611 


CHAPTER    LII. 

The  Department  of  the  Cumberland — Army  of  the  Cumberland  in  motion — The 
strength  and  position  of  the  two  Armies— Topography  of  the  country  of  Middle 
Tennessee— General  Rosecrans'  tactics— The  movement  by  the  left  flank— Its 
complete  success — Manchester,  Decherd,  Cowan,  Shelbyville,  and  Tullahoma 
taken— Bragg's  Army  driven  eastward  to  University  and  Sweden's  Cove,  and 
thence  to  Chattanooga — The  movement  of  the  Union  Army  toward  Chatta 
nooga— Rosecrans  determines  to  outflank  Bragg's  position— Route  of  the 
several  Corps— Peril  of  McCook's  Corps— The  concentration  of  troops  at 
McLamore's  Cove— Preparations  for  Battle — The  first  day  of  the  Battle  of 
Chickamauga — The  second  day — The  line  broken  and  seven  Brigades  cut  off 
— General  Rosecrans  at  Chattanooga — General  Thomas  fights  till  sunset  and 
repulses  the  enemy — Sketch  of  General  Thomas— Results  of  the  Battle— 
McCook  and  Crittenden  relieved,  and  their  Corps  consolidated — General  Thomas 
succeeds  General  Rosecrans — Perilous  condition  of  the  Army — General  Grant 
put  in  command  of  the  Grand  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi — Reinforce 
ments  ordered  up - 628 


24  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    LIIL 

Sketch  of  General  Grant — He  is  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Military  Division 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  arrives  at  Chattanooga — The  capture  of  Brown's  Ferry — 
Movements  of  Hooker's  command — Battle  of  Wauhatchie — The  results  gained — 
Attempts  of  the  Rebels  to  break  Grant's  communications — Bragg  sends  Long- 
street's  Corps  to  besiege  Knoxville — General  Grant's  instructions  to  General 
Burnside — Fighting  and  retreating — Longstreet  arrives  before  Knoxville  and 
invests  it — Topography  of  the  Chattanooga  Yalley  and  its  surroundings — 
Bragg's  Message — Grant's  plan  for  the  defeat  of  his  Army — The  capture  of  the 
Rebel  Batteries  on  Bald  Knobs — Sherman's  movements — The  pontoon  bridges 
• — The  Bastion  taken — Hooker's  attack  on  the  Rebel  left  wing  on  Lookout 
Mountain — The  surprise — The  "  Battle  above  the  Clouds" — The  fighting  on 
the  east  side  of  Lookout — Evacuation  of  their  positions  by  the  Rebels — 
Hooker  follows  them  to  Mission  Ridge — Sherman's  persistejit  and  repeated 
attacks  upon  Fort  Buckner — Repulse  of  his  attacking  columns — Their  object 
gained,  in  drawing  the  Rebel  troops  from  Fort  Bragg — The  assault  on  the  centre 
by  the  Fourth  Corps — Difficulties  of  the  attack — Capture  of  the  Crest  and  Fort 
Bragg — Flight  of  the  enemy — Pursuit  to  Ringgold — Fight  at  Ringgold  Gap — 
Sherman  marches  to  Knoxville  and  raises  the  siege — Battle  of  Bean's  Station 
— Results  of  the  Chattanooga  Campaign — General  Grant's  congratulatory  order 
— General  Halleck's  estimate  of  the  Campaign 644 


CHAPTER    LIV. 

Department  of  the  Northwest — Indian  troubles  in  Minnesota — Death  of  Little 
Crow — General  Sibley's  expedition  against  the  Indians — He  defeats,  pursues, 
and  routs  them — General  Sully's  Battle  at  Whitestone  Hill — Escape  of  the 
Indians — General  Conner's  Battle  with  the  Indians — Department  of  West  Vir 
ginia — General  AverelFs  raid  into  Southwestern  Virginia — His  capture  at  Salem 
and  destruction  of  Commissary  and  Quartermasters'  stores — His  escape  from 
the  six  Generals — Sketch  of  General  Averell — Other  operations  in  West  Vir 
ginia — Army  of  the  Potomac — Lee's  flanking  movement — Its  extent — General 
Meade's  excessive  caution — The  Cavalry  Battle  at  Brandy  Station — General 
Warren's  Battle  with  Hill's  Corps  at  Bristow  Station — Hill  repulsed — Ouster's 
attack  on  Stuart's  Cavalry — Lee's  return  to  the  Rapidan — Imboden's  attack  on 
Charlestown,  Virginia — Lee  removes  to  the  Rappahannock  and  fortifies  his  po 
sition — Meade  drives  him  back,  taking  over  two  thousand  prisoners — Sedgwick's 
assault  at  Rappahannock  Station — Its  success — The  left  wing  at  Kelly's  Ford 
and  Brandy  Station — Meade's  coup-de-main — His  plans  unmasked — His  with 
drawal  across  the  Rapidan — Results 660 


CHAPTER    LV. 

The  "Anaconda"  Policy — Reasons  why  it  could  not  succeed  in  crushing  the  Rebel 
lion — Department  of  the  Gulf — The  occupation  of  Texas  determined  upon — 
The  reasons  assigned  for  it — General  Franklin  ordered  to  Louisiana, — Expedi 
tion  of  Generals  Banks  and  Franklin  to  Texas — The  great  preparations  made 
for  it — The  troops  and  their  commanders — The  disastrous  attack  on  Sabine  Pass 
and  City — Advance  of  the  Army  to  Vermillionvillo — The  coast  expedition  to 


CONTENTS.  25 

Texas — Reconstruction  in  Louisiana — The  starting  of  the  advance  of  the  Grand 
Army — Capture  of  Simmsport,  Bayou  Glace,  and  Fort  de  Russy — Alexandria 
captured  and  occupied — Battles  of  Teachoes  and  Cane  River — The  Army  too 
much  scattered — Arrival  at  Grand  Ecore — The  advance  toward  Mansfield — The 
Battle  of  Mansfield— Rout  and  panic— Battle  of  Pleasant  Hill— The  retreat 
down  the  Red  River — Grand  Ecore — Jumping  the  sand-bars — Alexandria — The 
Rapids — Colonel  Bailey's  Dams — Escape  of  the  Gunboats — Rear-Admiral  Por 
ter's  Report — The  retreat  to  Simmsport  and  Morganzia — General  Steele's  re 
treat  to  Little  Rock — General  Canby  in  command  of  the  Trans-Mississippi 
Division — Department  of  the  South — Political  aspirations  of  Florida  Unionists 
— Their  pleas  for  an  expedition  into  Northern  Florida — The  expedition  ordered 
— The  plan — General  Seymour  at  its  head — Delays  and  disasters — Battle  of 
Olustee — Retreat  of  the  Union  forces — Losses — End  of  the  "Anaconda" 
Policy 672 


CHAPTER    LYI. 

Sherman's  Meridian  expedition — The  co-operative  movements  and  their  failure — 
The  movable  column — Advance  into  the  enemy's  country — Return — General 
Grant  promoted  to  the  Lieutenant-Generalship,  and  Sherman  appointed  to  com 
mand  the  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi — Sketch  of  Sherman — Other 
changes  in  commands — Reorganization  of  the  Eastern  and  Western  Armies — 
Improvement  in  discipline  and  morale — Forrest  and  Chalmers  set  out  on  an  ex 
pedition  for  plunder  and  murder — Attack  on  Union  City — On  Paducah — The 
massacre  at  Fort  Pillow — Atrocity  of  the  conduct  of  the  Rebels — The  Rebel 
Government  promote  Forrest  and  Chalmers  for  it — Buford's  demand  for  the 
surrender  of  Columbus,  Kentucky — Forrest's  retreat 689 


CHAPTER    LYII. 

Preparations  for  the  advance — General  Grant's  strategy — Simultaneous  movement 
— The  numbers  in  the  opposing  Armies — Situation  of  the  subordinate  Armies 
of  the  Union  and  their  numbers — General  Butler's  advance — The  feint  on  York 
River — Ascent  of  the  James  to  City  Point  and  Bermuda  Hundred — The  advance 
on  Fort  Darling — The  troops  driven  back — Attack  of  the  Rebels  on  Bermuda 
Hundred — They  are  repulsed — Departure  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps — The  attack 
on  Petersburg — Its  partial  failure — Army  of  the  Potomac  crossing  the  Rapi- 
dan — The  Battles  of  May  5th  and  6th — Lee's  change  of  position — Death  of 
Wadsworth— Sketch  of  Wadsworth— Fighting  of  May  7th  and  8th— Partial  lull 
on  the  9th — Death  of  General  Sedgwick — Desperate  fighting  on  the  10th — The 
results  still  indecisive — Quiet  on  the  next  day — General  Grant's  despatch — 
"  Fighting  it  out  on  that  line"— The  terrible  Battle  of  the  12th— The  charge  of 
the  Second  Corps — Desperate  fighting — Wilcox's  Division  forced  back — Success 
turning  to  the  Union  side — Losses  of  the  eight  days  on  the  Union  side — Losses 
on  the  Rebel  side — Impossibility  of  movements  during  the  storm — Sketch  of 
General  Sedgwick 704 


CHAPTER    LYIII. 

Continuation  of  Grant's  campaign — Battles  near  Spottsylvania — Reinforcements " 
— The  Battle  of  the  18th  of  May — The  repulse— Another  flank  movement  to  the 
North  Anna,  and  beyond — Ewell's  raid  upon  the  Union  rear — He  is  repulsed 


26  CONTENTS. 

with  loss — Fighting  near  the  North  Anna — Strength  of  the  Rebel  position — 
Another  flank  movement — Recrossing  the  North  Anna — March  to  Hanover- 
town— Cavalry  engagement  on  Tolopatomoy  Creek — Battle  of  Tolopatoinoy 
Creek,  or  Shady  Grove  Church — Topography  of  the  country  north  of  the  Chick- 
ahominy — Position  of  Lee's  Army — Cavalry  Battle  for  the  possession  of  Cold 
Harbor — The  Battle  of  Cold  Harbor — Desperate  fighting  of  the  Sixth  and  Eigh 
teenth  Corps — Fighting  on  other  parts  of  the  line — The  Battle  of  the  Chicka- 
hominy— Indecisive  results  of  the  gallant  and  desperate  fighting — The  opposing 
lines  very  near  each  other — Losses  of  both  sides  since  the  Battles  of  the  Wil 
derness — Sketch  of  General  Hancock — Sheridan's  first  raid — Richmond  threat 
ened — His  force  surrounded  at  the  Chickahominy — Rebuilding  Meadow  Bridge 
— Gallant  charge  on  the  enemy — His  escape — His  second  raid — The  Battles  of 
Trevilian  Station— Sheridan  withdraws,  after  punishing  the  enemy  severely, 
and  rejoins  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  south  of  the  James  River ' 720 

CHAPTER    LIX. 

The  troops  in  West  Virginia — Crook  and  Averell  defeat  the  Rebels  on  New  River 
— The  Battle  of  New  Market — Sigel  defeated — He  is  relieved  of  command,  and 
sent  to  Martinsburg  as  post  commandant — General  Hunter  succeeds  him — 
Battle  near  Mount  Crawford — The  Rebels  defeated,  and  their  general  killed — 
Hunter  captures  Staunton  and  Lexington,  and  burns  the  Lexington  Military 
Institute,  and  Governor  Letcher's  house,  but  fails  to  join  Sheridan, and  is  com 
pelled  by  Early  to  fall  back  from  Lynchburg  into  the  Kanawha  Valley,  after  a 
losing  fight — Early  takes  advantage  of  this  to  descend  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
to  the  Potomac — Hunter's  efforts  to  retrieve  his  blunder — Army  of  the  Poto 
mac — Crossing  the  James— Cavalry  reconnoissance  to  Malvern  Hill — The  at 
tack  on  Petersburg — Partial  success — Butler  cuts  the  railroad — The  assaults  of 
the  Second  and  Ninth  Corps  on  the  defences  of  Petersburg — Incomplete  success 
— The  Rebels  retire  to  their  inner  line  of  defences — Failure  of  the  attempt  to 
carry  these — The  attacks  on  the  Weldon  Railroad — The  disastrous  repulse  of 
June  22d — The  position  nearly  regained,  but  no  advance  made — Wilson's  and 
Kautz's  raid  on'the  Weldon  and  Southside  Railroads — Great  destruction  of  rail 
road  tracks  and  property — Heavy  losses  of  the  expedition  in  its  return  march — 
Early's  foray  into  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania — Terror  of  the  inhabitants — 
The  Battle  of  Monocacy — Wallace  defeated — The  Sixth  and  Nineteenth  Corps 
ordered  into  Maryland — General  Ord  succeeds  General  Wallace — Railroads 
broken  up  and  trains  captured  by  the  Rebels — Washington  threatened — Rebels 
defeated  by  General  Augur — Their  retreat  across  the  Potomac — Fighting  at 
Snicker's  and  Ashby's  Gaps — Averell's  Battle  near  Winchester — Defeat  of  the 
Rebels— Battle  of  Winchester,  July  24th— Crook  defeated,  and  Mulligan  killed 
— Sketch  of  Mulligan — The  panic  in  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  renewed — 
Absurd  reports — Burning  of  Chambersburg — Mosby's  little  raid — Governor 
Curtin  calls  a  special  session  of  the  Legislature — Thirty  thousand  militia  called 
out — Early's  retreat — Fighting  near  Cumberland,  Maryland — Rebels  defeated 
by  Averell  at  Moorefield,  Virginia — The  mine  at  Petersburg — Demonstration 
on  the  enemy's  left — Fight  at  Deep  Bottom — Explosion  of  the  mine — Fatal 
blundering — Repulse  and  heavy  loss 735 


CHAPTER    LX. 

Sherman's  Atlanta  campaign — Sherman's  preparations — The  force  under  his  com 
mand,  and  the  several  Armies  composing  it — The  Army  of  the  enemy — Its 


CONTENTS.  2t 

position  and  commander — Sketch  of  Johnston — The  demonstration  on  Rocky 
Faced  Ridge,  and  Battles  there — Flanking  movement  through  Snake  Creek 
Gap  on  Resaca — Battles  at  Resaca — Flanking  movement  toward  Kingston — 
Capture  of  Rome — Crossing  the  Etowah — Movement  toward  Dallas — Battles 
of  New  Hope  Church  and  Dallas — Sherman  moves  to  the  left — Occupation  of 
Allatoona  Pass,  and  Big  Shanty — The  Pass  made  a  secondary  base  of  supplies 

The  enemy  driven  from  Pine  and  Lost  Mountains — The  affair  of  "  the  Kulp 

House" — Assault  on  the  enemy  on  Kenesaw  Mountain — Repulse — Flanking 

again The  Rebels  compelled  to  fall  back  to  the  Chattahoochie — Occupation 

of  Marietta — The  Union  Army  cross  the  Chattahoochie — Burning  of  Roswell 
factories..  752 


CHAPTER    LXI. 

Rousseau's  expedition  to  Opelika,  and  the  West  Point  and  Mongomery  Railroad 
— The  position  of  the  Union  Army — First  Battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  July 
20th— Second  Battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  July  22d— Death  of  McPherson — 
Biographical  sketch  of  General  McPherson — Garrard's  expedition  to  Covington 
— Stonernan  and  McCook  undertake  cavalry  expeditions — Failure  of  Stoneman — 
Partial  success  of  McCook— Battle  of  July  28th  before  Atlanta — Siege  of 
Atlanta — Its  strength — Tenacity  of  Hood  in  holding  the  railroad  lines — Sher 
man  extends  his  line  to  the  right,  but  Hood  holds  the  railroad — Bombardment 
of  Atlanta — Wheeler's  raid  to  cut  Sherman's  communication — Sherman  sends 
Kilpatrick  to  cut  the  railroad  below  Atlanta — Partial  success — Sherman  raises 
the  siege,  and  sends  Williams  back  to  the  Chattahoochie,  while  the  main  Army 
moves  toward  Jonesboro — Battles  near  Jonesboro — Hardee  defeated  and  driven 
southward — Hood  evacuates  Atlanta — The  Union  Army  take  possession  of  the 
city — Removal  of  the  citizens  from  the  city — Results  of  the  campaign 764 

CHAPTER    LXIL 

The  Department  of  North  Carolina  and  Southeast  Virginia — Capture  of  the  Under 
writer — Attack  on  Newbern — Attack  on  Plymouth,  North  Carolina — Desperate 
fighting  by  the  garrison  of  the  Fort — Capture  of  Plymouth — The  Albemarle's 
first  appearance — She  drives  the  Union  Gunboats  from  the  river — The  Battle 
between  the  Albemarle  and  the  Sassacus — Daring  conduct  of  Commander  Roe 
—The  Albemarle  crippled — Explosion  of  the  boiler  of  the  Sassacus — The  hero 
ism  of  the  crew— The  Sassacus  disabled— Retreat  of  the  Albemarle— Her  subse 
quent  fate — Daring  exploit  of  Lieutenant  Gushing — Morgan's  last  raid  into 
Kentucky — Capture  of  Cynthiana,  and  surrender  of  General  Hobson's  troops — 
Defeat  of  Morgan  by  General  Burbridge — The  gunboat  disaster — The  Rebel  trap 
— Retreat  of  Sturgis — The  train  in  a  slough — Complete  rout  and  disorder,  and 
loss  of  train  and  guns — Bravery  of  the  negro  troops — Forrest's  raid  on  Mem 
phis — The  Forts  at  the  entrance  of  Mobile  Bay — Farragut's  anxiety  for  their 
capture— The  attack  on  the  Forts— The  Battle  with  the  ram  Tennessee— Her 
surrender— Results  of  the  Battle — Surrender  of  the  Forts — Sketch  of  Comman 
der  Craven — Sketch  of  Farragut 781 

CHAPTER    LXm. 

The  Middle  Military  Division  organized,  and  General  Sheridan  appointed  its  com 
mander — Organization  of  the  new  Army  of  the  Sbenandoah — Sheridan  concen 
trates  his  troops  on  the  line  of  the  Potomac — Advancing  and  retreating — 


8  CONTENTS. 

"  Harper's  Weekly" — Early's  misconception  of  Sheridan's  character — His  move 
ment  to  Berryville — The  cavalry  fight  at  Darkesville — The  Battle  of  Opequan 
Creek,  or  Winchester — Early  "  sent  whirling"  up  the  Valley — Battle  of  Fisher's 
Hill — Early  again  defeated  and  routed — "  Settling  a  new  Cavalry  General" — 
Rosser's  defeat — Early  defeated  again  at  Little  North  Mountain,  on  the  12th  of 
October — Sheridan  visits  Washington — Early  creeps  up  on  the  left  flank  of  the 
Union  Army — The  Union  troops  defeated  badly,  and  driven  to  Middletown — 
Sheridan  comes  up,  makes  the  fugitives  "face  the  other  way,"  reorganizes  the 
Army,  attacks,  defeats,  and  routs  Early,  and  sends  him  once  more  "  whirling" 
up  the  Valley,  with  the  loss  of  his  artillery,  wagons,  etc. — Subsequent  opera 
tions  in  the  Valley,  in  the  Autumn — Desolating  the  <Valley  to  repress  the 
guerrillas — Early  sends  a  part  of  his  force  to  Lee,  and  Sheridan  returns  the 
Sixth  Corps  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac — Biographical  sketch  of  Sheridan. . .  795 


CHAPTER    LXIV. 

Political  parties,  and  their  influence  during  the  War — "  The  era  of  good  feeling" 
— Its  speedy  termination — Fernando  Wood's  somersaults — The  professions  of  the 
Pro-Slavery  Democratic  leaders — Their  desire  for  a  "  more  vigorous  prosecution 
of  the  War" — "  The  great  unready" — Opposition  to  emancipation  nominally  re 
linquished — The  suspension  of  the  Habeas  Corpus  Act,  and  arbitrary  arrests — 
The  conscription — Their  objections  to  it — Their  hostility  to  the  Financial  Policy 
of  the  Government — Secret  organizations  opposed  to  the  Government — The 
Peace  Party  and  its  leader — Sketch  of  Vallandigham — His  treasonable  address 
and  his  arrest — Judge  Leavitt's  refusal  to  grant  a  Writ  of  Habeas  Corpus,  and 
his  opinion  of  treasonable  utterances — Vallandigham's  trial  and  sentence — The 
President  commutes  it  to  transportation  beyond  the  Union  lines — Protest  of 
the  Albany  Committee — The  President's  reply — Protest  of  the  Columbus 
Committee — The  President's  propositions — The  object  of  these  demonstrations 
— Vallandigham  nominated  for  Governor  and  defeated — His  escape  to  Canada 
and  return  to  Ohio — Character  and  conduct  of  his  associates  in  Canada — He 
attends  the  Chicago  Convention — The  proceedings  of  this  Convention — Its 
platform — Its  nominees — General  McClellan's  letter  of  acceptance — He  accepts 
the  nomination,  but  repudiates  the  platform,  while  Mr.  Pendleton  accepts  both 
—Utter  defeat  of  the  Peace  Party  at  the  November  election— Efforts  at  Nego 
tiations  for  Peace — The  Jacques  and  Gilmore  mission — A.  H.  Stephens'  appli 
cation  to  go  to  Washington  in  a  Rebel  War  Steamer — The  Greeley  and  Sanderb 
correspondence — "  To  whom  it  may  concern" — The  pretended  indignation  ot 
Clay  and  Holcombe — Subsequent  revelations  of  their  character  and  purposes — 
Lee's  announcement  to  Jeff.  Davis — F.  P.  Blair's  mission — Rebel  Commissioners 
appointed — Mr.  Seward  and  Mr.  Lincoln  meet  them — The  conference  at  Hamp 
ton  Roads — The  demands  of  Davis — Impossibility  of  conceding  them — Failure 
of  the  conference ..  ....* 809 


CHAPTER    LXV. 


The  Navy  of  the  United  States  at  the  commencement  of  the  War — Its  inadequacy 
for  the  work  to  be  done — The  duty  required  of  the  Navy — The  purchase  and 
construction  of  vessels  for  the  Navy — The  number,  character,  and  armament  of 
the  vessels  of  the  Navy  during  the  War  and  at  its  close — The  Iron-clads — 
Preference  of  the  Government  for  the  Monitors — Their  efficiency  in  Naval  Bat 
tles — The  River  Iron-clads,  Turtle-backs  and  Tin-clads — What  was  accomplished 


CONTENTS.  29 

by  the  River  Squadrons — The  work  of  the  Blockaders  of  the  Atlantic  Coast — 
The  Rebel  Navy — Stolen  vessels — Their  Privateers — Their  Iron-clads — Fate  of 
their  vessels — The  Anglo-Rebel  Privateers — Their  names  and  character — The 
attempts  to  build  armored  ships  for  the  Rebels  in  England  and  France — Their 
failure — The  history  of  the  Alabama — Her  perfidious  attack  on  the  Hatteras — 
She  enters  the  Port  of  Cherbourg,  and  finding  escape  -without  a  fight  impossi 
ble,  her  commander  challenges  the  Kearsarge  to  a  Battle — The  comparative 
size,  armament,  and  crews  of  the  two  vessels,  and  their  means  of  resistance — 
Captain  Semmes's  "  preparations" — The  Deerhound — The  Battle — Despicable 
conduct  of  the  owner  of  the  Deerhound — Semmes  receives  ovations — Rage  of 
the  English  at  the  sinking  of  the  Alabama — Causes  of  it — The  capture  of  the 
Georgia — History  of  the  Florida — Her  capture — Commander  Collins  censurable 
for  seizing  her  in  a  Neutral  Port — Action  of  the  United  States  Government — 
Brazil  satisfied — Lieutenant  Reed's  adventures  as  a  Pirate — Capturing  fishing 
smacks  and  coasters — Cutting  out  the  Gushing — Capture  of  the  Lieutenant  and 
his  crew — The  seizure  of  the  Chesapeake — Her  recapture — Career  of  the  Talla 
hassee,  the  Olustee,  and  the  Chickamauga — The  Shenandoah  and  her  piracies 
— She  comes  to  Liverpool  and  delivers  herself  up  to  the  British  Government — 
Course  adopted  by  that  Government — The  career  of  the  Stonewall  or  Olinde — 
Her  surrender  to  the  Spanish  Government,  and  final  transfer  to  the  United 
States — Losses  of  the  Mercantile  Marine  by  the  Rebel  cruisers 825 


CHAPTER    LXYI. 

Disturbances  in  Missouri — The  small  number  of  troops  in  the  Department — Gen 
eral  Rosecrans  in  command  there — Price  thinks  the  opportunity  favorable  for 
another  invasion  of  Missouri — Marmaduke  sent  to  test  its  feasibility — He  is 
repulsed  and  driven  back  toward  Arkansas — Price's  expedition  in  September — 
The  number  of  his  troops — The  Union  force  collected  to  oppose  him — The  Battle 
of  Pilot  Knob — Fight  at  Harrison's  Station — Skilful  management  of  General 
Ewing — Rolla  securely  garrisoned — General  Pleasonton  takes  command  of  the 
cavalry — Condition  of  St.  Louis  and  Jefferson  City — Price  makes  a  fatal  delay 
— He  threatens  Jefferson  City,  but  finding  it  too  strongly  defended  turns  aside 
to  Booneville — Sanborn  follows  and  harasses  him — Pleasonton  joins  in  the  pur 
suit — The  Battles  of  the  Big  Blue — Little  Osage  Crossing,  and  Marais  des  Cygnes 
— Price  completely  routed — He  is  defeated  once  more  at  Newtonia — Results — 
Indian  troubles  on  the  Frontier — The  league  among  the  tribes  of  the  Sioux 
Nation — General  Pope's  ideas  of  the  best  method  of  breaking  their  power — 
General  Sully  sent  with  a  large  cavalry  force  to  attack  them,  and  Posts  estab 
lished  along  the  Frontier — His  campaign — The  Battle  near  the  Little  Missouri 
— The  defeat  and  flight  of  the  Indians — Sully  falls  back  to  his  trains  and  pursues 
them  to  the  "  Bad  Lands" — Description  of  the  "  Bad  Lands" — He  attacks  and 
defeats  the  Indians  again — They  are  completely  scattered  and  broken — General 
Pope's  plans  for  Peace  with  them  in  future — The  massacre  of  the  Cheyennes 
by  Colonel  Chivington — Details  of  the  surprise  and  slaughter — Investigation 
by  the  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War — Chivington  ordered  arrested — 
Rebel  Plots  against  the  citizens  of  the  Northern  States — The  scheme  for  the 
release  of  the  Johnson's  Island  prisoners,  and  the  burning  of  Buffalo,  Cleve 
land,  etc. — How  baffled — Blackburn's  plan  for  disseminating  Yellow  Fever  and 
Small  Pox — John  T.  Beall's  raid  upon  Lake  Steamers — His  capture,  trial,  and 
execution — The  raid  on  St.  Albans — Arrest  and  discharge  of  the  robbers — The 
Plot  for  releasing  the  prisoners  and  destroying  Chicago — How  discovered 


30  CONTENTS. 

— Attempt  to  burn  the  Hotels  in  New  York — Arrest,  trial,  and  execution  of 
Kennedy 841 


CHAPTER    LXVIL 

Hood  attempts  to  cut  Sherman's  Line  of  Communication,  and,  moving  fromMacon, 
first  goes  to  Dallas,  and  then  falls  back  upon  the  railroad  at  Big  Shanty — 
Sherman  follows,  and  witnesses,  and  directs  the  Battle  at  Allatoona  Pass,  where 
the  Rebel  troops  are  defeated  by  General  Corse — Description  of  Battle  of 
Allatoona — Hood  captures  Dalton,  but  is  compelled  to  abandon  it,  and  retreats 
before  Sherman  to  Gadsden,  Alabama — Sherman  pursues  to  Gaylesville,  and 
then  detaching  Thomas  to  Nashville,  and  sending  him  two  Corps,  returns  to 
Kingston — Destruction  of  the  railroad — Return  to  Atlanta — Its  destruction — 
Sherman's  Telegraphic  Despatch — His  general  orders  to  his  Army — The  march 
— The  enemy  deceived  and  confused — The  reorganization  of  his  Army — Sketches 
of  the  leaders  of  the  two  wings,  Generals  Howard  and  Slocum — Disposition  of 
the  troops — Foraging — The  route  of  the  troops  veiled  by  the  Cavalry — Union  of 
the  columns  at  Milledgeville — Rest  and  collection  of  supplies — Skirmishing  and 
fighting  at  Buckhead  Creek  and  Waynesboro — The  attempt  to  rescue  the  Union 
prisoners  at  Millen — It  is  foiled  by  their  removal — Approach  to  Savannah — 
The  position  of  the  troops — Assault  and  capture  of  Fort  McAllister  by  Hazen's 
Division — Communication  opened  with  the  Fleet — Sherman  summons  Hardee 
to  surrender,  but  he  declines — Preparations  for  a  siege  of  the  City — Hardee 
evacuates  it  and  escapes  to  Charleston — Savannah  occupied  and  governed  by 
General  Geary— The  quiet  and  good  order  of  the  City— Sherman's  Christmas 
Present  to  the  President — Sherman's  encomiums  on  his  generals  and  troops — 
The  results  of  the  capture  of  Savannah,  and  of  the  campaign — Sherman's  Gen 
eral  Orders — His  interview  with  the  leading  men  of  the  colored  people — The 
assignment  of  the  Sea  Islands  to  the  negroes  during  the  War 854 


CHAPTER    LXYin. 

The  Nashville  Campaign — Sherman's  resolve — Davia's  boast — Hood  tries  to  fulfil 
it — The  offer  to  give  Hood  his  rations— Movements  of  General  Thomas's  com 
mand — The  Fourth  and  Twenty-third  Corps  assigned  to  General  Thomas — 
Sherman's  order — His  instructions — A  part  of  Hood's  force  crosses  the  Tennes 
see — The  number  of  Hood's  troops — Effective  force  of  Thomas — Cheatham's 
Corps  crosses  the  Tennessee — Forrest's  raid  on  Johnsonville — Schofield  passes 
through  Johnsonville  to  Pulaski — Hood  advances  on  Pulaski — Schofield's  and 
Thomas's  measures — Falling  back  to  Columbia — Calling  in  the  garrisons — The 
crossing  of  Duck  River— Hood  attempts  to  flank  Schofield  at  Spring  Hill,  but 
fails  to  do  so — Causes  of  the  failure — The  race  for  Franklin— Schofield  wins — 
The  importance  of  the  stake — Schofield  keeps  the  Rebels  at  bay  till  his  men 
have  thrown  up  temporary  defences — Hood's  address  to  his  troops — His  plan — 
Its  partial  success — Heroism  of  General  Stanley — Results  of  the  Battle — Sketch 
of  General  Stanley — Schofield  falls  back  to  Nashville,  and  Milroy  to  Murfrees- 
boro — Thomas's  reinforcements  come  up — Position  of  the  two  Armies — Hood's 
blunder — The  expedition  against  Murfreesboro — Its  failure — Thomas  prepares 
to  attack  Hood's  left,  at  the  same  time  demonstrating  upon  his  right — The  Battle 
of  Nashville — First  day — Results — Hood's  condition  and  hopes — Second  day — 
Disposition  of  the  troops — Cavnlry  attack  on  the  rear — The  general  advance — 
The  assault — Repulse — Advar^ng  again — The  enemy's  lines  broken,  and  he 


CONTENTS.  31 

compelled  to  fly  in  the  utmost  disorder — The  retreat — The  pursuit — Its  relent 
less  character — Kesults — Gallant  conduct  of  Colonel  Palmer — The  campaign 
in  East  Tennessee  and  Western  Virginia — Battles  of  Kingsport,  Abington  and 
Marion— Capture  of  Wytheville  and  Saltville— Burbridge's  return  to  Kentucky.  871 

CHAPTER    LXIX. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  the  Army  of  the  James — Grant  strikes  the  Weldon 
Railroad — Sharp  fighting — After  a  desperate  engagement  Reams's  Station  falls 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy — Fort,  or  Battery  Harrison  captured — Battle  of 
Chaffin's  Farm — Capture  of  Fort  McRae — Battle  of  Peebles'  Farm — Kautz's 
Cavalry  defeated — Attempt  to  turn  the  right  flank  of  the  Union  Army — It  fails 
— Repulse  of  the  Union  troops — The  Battle  of  Hatcher's  Run — Mahone  inter 
poses  between  the  Second  and  Fifth  Corps — Failure  of  the  entire  movement — 
The  first  expedition  against  Fort  Fisher— General  Butler's  management — The 
powder-boat — General  Butler's  debarkation,  reconnoissance,  and  re-embarkation 
— He  is  relieved  of  his  command — The  second  expedition,  under  command  of 
General  Terry — Furious  bombardment — The  Fort  carried — Sketch  of  General 
Terry— Sketch  of  Admiral  Porter 893 

CHAPTER    LXX. 

The  Goldsboro  campaign — Sherman  determines  to  march  through  the  Carolinas 
— Movement  of  the  Fifteenth  and  Seventeenth  Corps  to  Hilton  Head — Capture 
of  Pocotaligo  Bridge — Movement  of  the  left  wing — Delayed  by  floods — Grover's 
Division  garrisons  Savannah — Savannah  and  its  defences  transferred  to  Major- 
General  Foster — The  Rebels  adopt  the  Salkahatchie  as  their  defensive  line — 
Movements  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee — Slow  progress  of  the  left  wing — 
— The  advance  upon  Orangeburg — Evacuation  of  Charleston — The  approach 
to  Columbia— Surrender  of  the  City — Destructive  fire — The  advance  to  Winns- 
boro — Kilpatrick's  movements — The  speculations  of  the  Rebels  as  to  Sherman's 
objective — They  compel  Davis  to  give  Johnston  the  command  of  their  Armies 
in  North  and  South  Carolina — Crossing  the  Wateree — The  approach  to,  and 
capture  of,  Cheraw — Advance  on  Fayetteville,  N.  C. — Hardee  abandons  it — The 
Battle  of  Solomon's  Grove — Kilpatrick  surprised,  but  rallies  and  defeats  the 
enemy — Sherman's  letter  to  the  Lieutenant-General — His  correspondence  with 
"Wheeler  and  Wade  Hampton — Pusillanimity  and  cowardice  of  South  Carolina 
— The  horrors  of  War  dealt  out  to  her  in  full  measure — North  Carolina  spared 
— The  last  stage  of  the  campaign — Hardee's  attack  on  the  left  wing  at  Averys- 
boro — The  Battle  of  Bentonville — The  advance  to  Goldsboro — Mowers'  daring 
flank  movement — Goldsboro  reached,  and  the  Army  resting  and  receiving  sup 
plies — General  Sherman's  summing  up  of  results 913 

CHAPTER    LXXI. 

Surrender  of  Rebel  Fortifications  at  the  entrance  to  Wilmington  Harbor — Gen 
eral  Schofield  put  in  command  of  the  Department  of  North  Carolina--*The 
advance  upon  Fort  Anderson — The  Rebels  abandon  the  Fort — The  operations 
of  the  Fleet — General  Cox  crosses  Town  Creek,  bombards  Eagle  Island — 
Crosses  Brunswick  River,  and  drives  the  enemy  out  of  Wilmington — Results 
— The  movement  on  Kinston  and  Goldsboro — Battle  at  Southwest  Creek — 
Capture  of  Union  troops — Kinston  evacuated,  and  occupied  by  Schofield — 
General  Terry  moves  from  Wilmington  to  Goldsboro — General  Grant  determines 
to  cut  Lee's  communications  on  the  Northwest — Sheridan's  raid  on  Lynch- 
burg — General  Grant's  instructions  to  Generals  Meade,  Ord,  and  Sheridan — 
Gordon's  attack  upon  Fort  Stedman — He  captures  the  Fort,  but  it  is  retaken 


32  CONTENTS. 

— General  Meade's  Congratulatory  Order — The  general  advance  upon  Lee's  lines 
— General  Grant's  instructions  to  General  Sheridan — General  Warren's  repulse 
— His  Corps  put  under  Sheridan's  command — Sheridan's  Battle  at  Dinwiddie 
Court  House — The  Battle  of  Five  Forks — Attack  on  the  Fortifications  of 
Petersburg — Petersburg  and  Richmond  evacuated — Pursuit  of  Lee — Battles 
of  Jetersville,  Farmville,  High  Bridge,  Deatonsville,  and  Appomatox  Station 
— Correspondence  between  Grant  and  Lee — Surrender  of  Lee — Sketch  of  Gen 
eral  Lee 986 

CHAPTER    LXXII. 

The  Assassination  of  the  President — The  circumstances — Attempt  to  murder 
other  High  Officers  of  the  Government — Arrest  and  punishment  of  the  Assas 
sins — Sketch  of  Lincoln — The  stability  of  the  Government  demonstrated — 
The  advance  of  Sherman  to  Smithfield  and  Raleigh— Dispositions  made  to 
compel  Johnston's  surrender — Johnston  asks  an  interview — The  "memoran 
dum  drawn  up  and  sent  to  "Washington — Its  terms — Its  rejection  by  the 
Cabinet — General  Grant  bears  the  news,  and  is  authorized  to  take  command — 
Sherman's  prompt  action — Johnston  surrenders  on  the  same  terms  as  Lee — 
Sherman  marches  his  Army  to  Richmond  and  Washington — Disbanding  of 
the  forces — Stoneman's  expedition — Canby's  siege  and  capture  of  Mobile — 
Surrender  of  the  Rebel  Fleet — General  Dick  Taylor's  surrender — Wilson's 
Cavalry  expedition — Capture  of  Montevallo  and  Randolph — Croxton's  separate 
expedition — The  Battle  and  capture  of  Selma — Capture  of  Montgomery, 
Wetuinpka,  Ala.,  and  Columbus,  Ga. — Battle  at  West  Point,  Ga. — Its  capture 
— La  Grange,  Griffin,  and  Forsyth  captured — Sherman's  Armistice — Capture 
of  Macon — Detention  at  Macon — Croxton's  return  to  the  Main  Army — His 
achievements — The  surrender  of  all  the  Rebel  troops  East  of  the  Chatta- 
hoochie — Distribution  of  troops — Pursuit  and  capture  of  Jefferson  Davis — 
"  The  poor  old  mother"  and  her  boots — Disposition  made  of  the  prisoner — Re 
sults  of  Wilson's  campaign — Kirby  Smith's  surrender — Sheridan  on  the  Rio 
Grande 958 

CHAPTER    LXXIIL 

Finances  of  the  War — Unpromising  state  of  affairs  when  Mr.  Chase  became  Secre 
tary  of  the  Treasury — His  measures — The  confidence  of  capitalists  and  the 
people  secured — The  first  Seven-thirties — The  Five-twenty  bonds — Bonds  of 
1881— Compound  Interest  notes— Ten-forties— The  Seven-thirties  of  1864,  and 
1865— Their  immense  sale — The  early  Gold  Demand  Notes— The  Legal  Tender 
Notes — Fractional  Currency — Certificates  of  Indebtedness — Statistical  table 
of  the  debt — Taxation — Customs — Internal  Revenue — Income  Tax — Amount 
of  Revenue  collected — The  National  Banking  System — Suspension  of  Specie 
Payment  and  rise  of  Gold — Comparison  of  our  National  Debt  and  that  of  Great 
Britain/in  1815 — Probable  tune  of  payment  of  the  Debt — Rebel  losses  of  Slave 
Property — Losses  by  Cavalry  expeditions  and  raids — Union  losses  by  raids  and 
by  Rebel  Privateers — Grants  made  for  Bounties  and  aid  of  Soldiers'  families — 
The  contributions  for  the  Sick  and  Wounded — The  United  States  Sanitary 
Commission — The  Western  Sanitary  Commission — The  Christian  Commission 
—The  Freedmen's  Aid  Commission— The  Union  Commission— Other  donations 
—The  effect  of  this  liberality  on  the  Nation 989 

CHAPTER    LXXIV. 
Review  of  the  War . .  .....  1002 


THE 


CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


INTRODUCTION. 

ORIGIN    OF  THE    SOUTHERN    REBELLION — CLASSIFICATION  OF    ITS    SEVERAL  CAUSES — THE  ACT 

OF    1816    RESPECTING    A    TARIFF AGENCY    OF    HENRY   CLAY   AND    JOHN    QUINCY  ADAMS 

POSITION  OF  JOHN  C.  CALHOUN HE    FIRST    CONCEIVES    HIS    PROJECT  OF  NULLIFICATION 

HIS  MEMORIAL  TO  GOVERNOR  HAMILTON THE  OPERATION  OF  A  HIGH  TARIFF THE  LEGIS 
LATURE  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA OUTBREAK  OF  THE  NULLIFICATION  MOVEMENT — VIGOROUS 

MEASURES    OF    PRESIDENT    JACKSON MR.    CALHOUN    IN    THE     UNITED    STATES    SENATE A 

MEMORABLE    DEBATE FINAL    SETTLEMENT  OF  THE    DIFFICULTY AMERICAN  SLAVERY ITS 

ORIGIN TEE    PROPOSITION  OF  THOMAS   JEFFERSON SLAVERY   IN    THE    TERRITORIES THE 

COMPACT  OF  1787 COMPROMISE  OF  HENRY  CLAY — ANNEXATION    OF    TEXAS THE  WILMOT 

PROVISO COMPROMISE  OF  1850 SLAVERY  IN   KANSAS RISE  OF  THE    REPUBLICAN    PARTY 

ITS   PRINCIPLES  AND   POLICY ADMINISTRATION  OF  JAMES    BUCHANAN TREASON   IN  THE 

FEDERAL     CABINET PRELIMINARY    OPERATIONS    OF    THE    CONSPIRATORS POLICY    OF    MR. 

BUCHANAN  RESPECTING  SECESSION — PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN  OF  1860 — ELECTION  OP 
MR.  LINCOLN THE  DOCTRINE  OF  STATE  SOVEREIGNTY  AS  OPPOSED  TO  FEDERAL  CENTRALI 
ZATION — DISCUSSION  OF  THE  SUBJECT. 

FROM  the  period  of  the  establishment  of  the  Federal  Government,  the 
people  of  South  Carolina  have  been  remarkable  for  their  restive  and  trouble 
some  temper.  They  were  among  the  most  tardy  and  reluctant  of  the 
States  in  announcing  their  approval  and  acceptance  of  the  Federal  Con 
stitution.  They  have  always  entertained  a  false  and  exaggerated  estimate 
of  their  own  importance  in  the  Union ;  and  in  all  the  troubles  which  have 
disturbed  and  alienated  the  opposite  portions  of  the  country,  in  all  the 
conflicts  in  tfye  National  Legislature  which  have  endangered  the  per 
petuity  of  the  Union,  they  and  their  leading  statesmen  have  had  an  un 
enviable  prominence.  Their  pernicious  influence  has  been  extended  on 
various  occasions  to  the  communities  immediately  around  them ;  and  in 
some  instances  their  disloyal  example  has  been  followed  by  not  a  few  of 
the  Southern  States.  Thus  it  was  that  they  were  gradually  instrumental 
in  fomenting  a  feeling  extremely  hostile  to  the  Federal  Government, 
which  at  length  culminated  in  the  outbreak  of  the  Southern  Rebellion. 
Although  the  censure  due  to  the  originators  and  chief  perpetrators  of 
that  great  crime  does  not  belong  exclusively  to  the  people  of  South 
Carolina,  it  is  but  justice  to  ascribe  to  their  agency  a  predominating 
(3)  (33) 


34  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN    THE   UNITED   STATES. 

share  of  it.     We  may  arrange  all  the  controversies  which  contributed 
to  the  birth  of  this  Rebellion,  under  the  three  following  general  heads : 

I.  The  Free  Trade  Policy,  which,  under  the  influence  of  Mr.  Calhoun, 
led  to  the  experiment  of  Nullification. 

II.  The  Advocacy  of  Slavery,  both  as  already  existing  in  the  Southern 
States,  and  as  proposed  in  the  new  territories  of  the  Federal  Union. 

III.  The  Doctrine  of  State  Sovereignty  and  Supremacy,  in  opposition 
to  the  policy  of  Federal  Centralization  and  Power. 

In  discussing  the  various  causes  which  led  to  the  Southern  Rebellion, 
we  will  treat  of  them  as  comprised  under  these  three  general  topics,  and 
in  the  order  of  their  historical  sequence. 

I.  In  the  year  1816  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Federal  Congress,  by 
which  a  reduction  of  five  per  cent,  was  made  on  imported  woolen  and 
cotton  goods.  The  people  and  the  statesmen  of  the  country  who  were  in 
favor  of  the  policy  of  protection,  were  opposed  to  this  reduction,  and 
determined  as  soon  as  possible  to  secure  the  adoption  of  a  higher 
tariff.  Accordingly,  in  1824,  Henry  Clay  and  John  Quincy  Adams  suc 
ceeded  in  obtaining  the  passage  of  a  law,  by  which  the  profits  of  certain 
kinds  of  manufactures  were  greatly  increased.  It  was  soon  discovered 
that  the  manufacturers  of  the  Eastern  States,  those  engaged  in  the  iron 
trade  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  producers  of  wool  and  hemp  in  the 
Northern  and  Western  States,  who  constituted  the  most  important  por 
tions  of  the  mercantile  community  in  the  nation,  were  not  sufficiently 
protected  by  this  tariff.  Accordingly,  in  the  session  of  Congress  of 
1827-8,  after  a  long  and  desperate  conflict  with  the  advocates  of  the 
interests  of  the  single  staple  of  the  South — cotton — a  bill  was  passed 
imposing  a  tariff  of  duties,  the  average  rate  of  which  was  nearly  fifty  per 
cent,  on  imports.  This  act  received  the  votes  of  all  the  Representatives 
of  the  nation  except  those  of  the  more  prominent  Southern  States.  The 
latter  condemed  it  in  the  most  violent  terms :  stigmatized  it  as  a  "  bill  of 
abominations;"  and  began  to  mutter  threats  of  future  resistance  and  ven 
geance. 

At  that  period  the  most  distinguished  member  of  Congress  from  the 
South,  with  the  single  exception  of  the  patriotic  Henry  Clay,  was  John 
Caldvvell  Calhoun,  of  South  Carolina.  No  man  excelled  him,  among  that 
high  and  brilliant  galaxy  of  genius,  in  logical  acuteness,  in  his 
power  of  close,  clear,  demonstrative  reasoning,  in  his  general  knowledge 
of  the  principles  of  international  and  municipal  law,  and  in  the  boldness 
and  fearlessness  of  his  character.  He  was  even  then  the  Alagnus  Apollo 
of  Sectionalism  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  tariff  of  1828  was  passed,  in  spite  of 
his  opposition  and  that  of  his  confederates,  by  which  the  interests  of  the 
cotton  States  were  made  secondary  to  the  welfare  of  the  whole  nation,  he 
commenced  to  revolve  in  his  mind  the  desperate  scheme  of  Nullification. 
If  the  National  Government  would  not  become  subservient  to  the  promo- 


CLASSIFICATION   OF   ITS   CAUSES— THE   ACT  OF   1816.  35 

tion  of  the  interests  of  the  South  could  it  not  be  possible  to  resist  and 
overpower  that  government,  within  the  limits  of  the  offended  states? 
Calhoun's  answer  to  this  inquiry  was  an  affirmative  one. 

Immediately  after  the  adoption  of  this  high  tariff,  meetings  were  held 
in  several  portions  of  South  Carolina,  in  which  the  policy  of  Nullification 
was  introduced,  discussed,  and  finally  commended.  At  the  request  of 
Borne  of  his  constituents,  Mr.  Calhoun  prepared  a  document,  in  July,  1831, 
which  defended  this  policy  under  the  existing  state  of  affairs.  This  pro 
duction  was  styled  "  The  South  Carolina  Exposition  and  Protest  on  the 
subject  of  the  Tariff,"  and  was  addressed  to  the  Legislature  of  the  State. 
That  body  ordered  a  large  number  of  copies  to  be  printed  and  distributed, 
and  afterward  passed  a  resolution  which  declared  the  Tariff  Acts  of  Con 
gress  for  the  protection  of  the  manufacturers  of  the  North  and  East  un 
constitutional  ;  asserted  that  they  ought  to  be  resisted,  and  invited  other 
States  of  the  South  to  unite  with  South  Carolina  in  opposing  the  execution 
of  those  acts  within  their  respective  limits. 

At  that  period  Andrew  Jackson  and  Mr.  Calhoun  were  personal  and 
political  friends.  But  soon  the  latter  became  dissatisfied  with  the  admin 
istration  of  the  former,  and  was  gradually  alienated  from  him.  The 
President  did  not  condemn  the  high  tariff,  as  Mr.  Calhoun  believed  it 
his  duty  to  do ;  and  from  the  year  1831  Mr.  Calhoun  took  the  position  of 
an  open  enemy  to  his  policy  and  his  person.  One  cause  of  the  hostility 
which  thenceforth  existed  between  these  remarkable  men,  was  the  fact, 
that  at  that  period  General  Jackson  discovered  that  Mr.  Calhoun  had, 
while  a  member  of  Mr.  Monroe's  Cabinet,  advised  that  he  should  be  rep 
rimanded  for  his  conduct  during  the  Seminole  war,  in  putting  Arbuthnot 
and  Armbruster  to  death.  Thenceforth  there  was  a  bitter  and  implacable 
hostility  between  them,  which  endured  without  abatement  till  the  end  of 
their  lives. 

Mr.  Calhoun  continued  his  active  agency  in  preparing  tue  people  of 
South  Carolina  for  forcible  resistance  to  the  Federal  Government,  and  in 
preparing  the  way  for  practical  Nullification.  In  August,  1832,  he 
addressed  a  memorial  of  great  length  and  marked  ability  to  James  Ham 
ilton,  at  that  time  Governor  of  South  Carolina,  presenting  all  the  arguments 
which  could  be  devised  in  favor  of  that  policy.  In  this  production,  which 
the  people  of  South  Carolina  regarded  as  their  Magna  Charta,  he  assumed 
and  defended  the  position  that  the  Federal  Constitution  was  a  mere  compact, 
which  had  been  made  and  ratified  by  the  several  States  which  had  adopted 
it,  and  that  they  had  done  so  in  their  capacity  as  sovereign  and  indepen 
dent  governments.  He  further  contended,  that  in  adopting  the  Federal 
Constitution,  the  several  States  regarded  the  General  Government  merely 
as  their  agent  in  the  exercise  of  certain  powers  and  functions  which  they 
had  delegated  to  that  government,  of  the  extent  and  nature  of  which  the 
States  themselves  were,  and  always  must  remain,  the  final  and  supreme 


36  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

judges.  He  concluded  by  endeavoring  to  prove,  that  when  the  General 
Government  abused  the  powers  thus  delegated  to  it  by  the  several  States, 
in  the  opinion  of  all  or  any  of  them,  the  State  or  States  so  regarding  it, 
possessed  the  right  to  resist  and  nullify  the  illegal  acts  performed  by  the 
Federal  Government,  each  within  its  own  particular  limits. 

These  positions  Mr.  Calhoun  defended  with  great  vigor  of  thought  and 
force  of  reasoning.  His  views  were,  however,  in  opposition  to  those  of 
Washington,  Hamilton,  and  nearly  all  the  founders  of  the  Federal 
Government.  They  were  condemned  by  the  whole  Whig  party  through 
out  the  nation ;  and  even  the  majority  of  the  Democratic  party  through 
out  the  South,  with  the  exception  of  South  Carolina,  withheld  their 
approval  of  them. 

The  results  produced  by  the  existence  and  operation  of  a  high  tariff 
were  found  to  be  most  beneficial.  The  surplus  of  the  revenue  constantly 
increased.  The  public  debt  was  rapidly  melting  away  from  the  ample 
resources  furnished  by  the  duties  on  imports.  President  Jackson  stated, 
in  his  annual  message  of  December,  1831,  that  soon  the  public  debt  would 
by  this  process  be  entirely  liquidated ;  and  recommended  that,  inasmuch 
as  so  high  a  tariff  would  then  be  no  longer  necessary,  it  should  be  after 
ward  reduced.  Accordingly  the  act  of  1832  was  passed  by  Congress, 
which  was  declared  by  its  supporters  to  be  the  ultimatum,  the  permanent 
proportion,  of  imposts  which  ought  to  exist  and  be  retained  in  the  country. 

But  this  wise  policy  did  not  satisfy  Mr.  Calhoun  and  his  confederates. 
He  and  they  insisted  that  if  the  public  debt  had  been  liquidated  by  the 
public  revenue,  then  there  was  no  longer  a  necessity  for  any  tariff  what 
ever;  and  that  the  reduced  tariff  just  adopted  was  entirely  too  high  to 
remain  as  the  permanent  law  of  the  land,  after  the  exigencies  of  the  nation 
and  of  the  government  had  been  met. 

As  no  one  except  the  people  and  representatives  of 'South  Carolina 
could  discover  the  force  or  the  conclusiveness  of  this  reasoning  they  stood 
alone  in  the  advocacy  of  their  position.  The  rest  of  the  nation  contended 
and  believed  that  the  machinery  of  the  National  Government  involved 
other  expenses,  and  required  other  resources  besides  those  connected  with 
the  public  debt;  and  consequently  they  insisted  that  there  should  still 
remain  a  reasonable  tariff,  which  might  furnish  a  sufficient  revenue  to 
meet  other  inevitable  expenditures.  They  therefore  refused  to  adopt  the 
free  trade  policy,  as  contended  for  by  the  people  and  the  politicians  of 
South  Carolina. 

This  determination  was  the  signal  for  an  immediate  resort  to  desperate 
measures  by  the  disaffected.  The  Representatives  in  Congress  from  South 
Carolina  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  that  State,  informing  them 
that  the  Federal  Government  had  at  last  adopted  the  protective  system 
as  its  permanent  and  unalterable  policy ;  asserting  that  no  hope  of  future 
relief  could  be  entertained  from  that  source,  and  urging  them  to  adopt 


OUTBREAK   OF  THE  NULLIFICATION   MOVEMENT.  31 

such  measures  as  would  effectually  remedy  the  evil.  An  election  for 
members  of  the  State  Legislature  was  about  to  take  place,  aud  the  issue 
was  at  once  formed  for  or  against  Nullification,  among  the  candidates 
voted  for.  A  violent  contest  ensued.  Although  the  great  majority  of 
the  electors  in  the  State  were  in  favor  of  the  policy  of  Mr.  Calhoun,  there 
was  another  party  in  existence,  small,  but  highly  respectable,  and  very 
determined,  headed  by  the  distinguished  statesman  Joel  R.  Poinset,  who 
supported  the  measures  of  the  General  Government.  But  their  efforts  in 
behalf  of  law  and  order  were  unavailing,  and  the  struggle  terminated  in 
the  election  of  a  large  majority  of  Nullifiers  to  the  Legislature. 

That  body  assembled  in  October,  1832,  and  chose  delegates  to  a  State 
Convention,  which  met  at  Columbia  on  the  19th  of  November.  On  the 
24th  of  the  month,  the  Convention  passed  the  famous  order  of  Nullifica 
tion.  That  ordinance  declared  the  acts  of  Congress  of  1828  and  1832  to 
be  wholly  null  and  void  within  the  limits  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina. 
It  forbade  any  appeal  to  be  made  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States  in  any  case  involving  the  validity  of  the  ordinance  itself.  It 
prohibited  the  authorities  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  or  of  the  Fede 
ral  Government,  from  executing  the  acts  of  Congress  aforesaid  within  the 
State,  from  and  after  the  first  of  February,  1833  ;  and  it  declared  that  any 
attempt  made  by  the  Federal  Government  to  enforce  the  revenue  laws 
otherwise  than  through  the  civil  tribunals,  which  would  of  course  be 
abortive,  would  be  an  outrage  so  great  as  to  "justify  the  State  in  seceding 
from  the  Union,  and  in  establishing  a  separate  and  independent  government" 
The  Legislature  of  South  Carolina  was  still  in  session,  and  that  body 
immediately  passed  resolutions  which  approved  of  this  ordinance,  and 
gave  it  greater  effect.  It  did  more.  It  ordered  the  State  to  be  placed  in 
a  position  of  defence ;  it  organized,  armed,  and  equipped  the  number  of 
troops  which  were  deemed  necessary  to  resist  the  General  Government  in 
its  efforts  to  enforce  the  collection  of  the  revenue;  and  it  encouraged  the 
citizens  to  maintain  their  position  and  to  defend  their  invaded  rights 
until  the  last  extremity. 

As  soon  as  the  action  of  the  Nullifiers  of  South  Carolina  became  known 
to  the  inflexible  hero  and  patriot  who  then  sat  in  the  chief  executive 
chair  of  the  nation,  he  took  the  most  vigorous  measures  to  crush  them. 
He  issued  a  proclamation  declaring  the  ordinance  of  the  State  Convention 
treasonable,  and  subversive  of  the  Federal  Constitution ;  he  announced 
his  determination  to  enforce  the  collection  of  the  national  revenue  at  all 
hazards;  and  he  cautioned  the  people  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina  against 
the  ruinous  policy  which  they  were  tempted  to  adopt.  This  proclamation 
was  answered  by  another  from  Mr.  Hayne,  at  that  time  Governor  of  the 
State,  in  which  the  policy  of  Nullification  was  justified.  At  the  same 
time  the  latter  summoned  twelve  thousand  volunteers  to  take  arms  in 
opposition  to  the  Federal  troops. 


38  THE  CIVIL   WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

During  the  progress  of  these  events  Mr.  Calhoun  had  remained  in 
South  Carolina,  and  had  been  the  prime  mover  in  the  rebellion.  In 
December,  1832,  he  was  chosen  to  succeed  Mr.  Hayne  in  the  United 
States  Senate,  and  to  defend  the  conduct  of  his  native  State  in  the  Na 
tional  Legislature.  At  that  moment  President  Jackson  was  undecided 
whether  it  was  not  his  duty  to  arrest  Mr.  Calhoun  before  he  reached 
Washington,  on  the  charge  of  treason  ;  and  the  general  impression  was, 
fchat  such  an  event  would  take  place.  Beyond  the  limits  of  South  Caro 
lina  Mr.  Calhoun  was  generally  regarded  with  distrust,  sometimes  with 
abhorrence,  as  being  in  heart  a  traitor  to  the  government ;  and  on  his 
way  to  AVashington,  he  was  repeatedly  assailed  by  the.  clamors  and  in 
sults  of  the  indignant  people.  But  he  was  at  that  time  Vice  President 
of  the  United  States,  and  he  remained  invested  with  that  office  until  he 
took  his  seat  in  the  Senate.  That  fact  and  other  prudent  considerations, 
induced  Jackson  to  refrain  from  the  extreme  measure  which  he  had  once 
contemplated.  But  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  stern  hero  of  New 
Orleans  afterward  bitterly  regretted  his  lenity  on  this  occasion,  and  con 
tinued  to  do  so  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Shortly  after  Mr.  Calhoun  took  his  seat  in  the  Senate,  he  introduced 
a  resolution  requesting  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  lay  before 
that  body  the  documents  connected  with,  the  Nullification  ordinance,  cer 
tified  copies  of  which  had  been  transmitted  to  him  by  Governor  Hayne. 
Immediately,  and  before  his  request  could  be  complied  with,  General 
Jackson  addressed  a  message  to  the  Senate  bearing  date  January  16th, 
1833,  in  which  he  condemned  the  conduct  of  "South  Carolina  in  reference 
to  the  question  of  Nullification.  This  message,  and  all  the  documents 
having  reference  to  the  matter,  were  referred  to  the  Committee  on  the 
Judiciary  for  consideration.  Daniel  Webster  was  a  prominent  member 
of  this  committee,  and  exerted  himself  to  procure  the  adoption  of  such  a 
report  as  should  effectually  crush  the  scorpion  head  of  Nullification. 
Under  his  guidance  the  committee  reported  the  famous  Force  Bill,  which 
invested  the  President  with  additional  powers  in  reference  to  the  matter, 
and  extended  and  increased  the  jurisdiction  of  the  courts  of  the  United 
States  in  cases  arising  under  the  revenue  laws.  The  acknowledged  pur 
pose  of  this  bill  was  to  enable  and  encourage  the  President  to  put  down 
Nullification  by  force  of  arms. 

At  this  crisis  Mr.  Calhoun  came  forward,  and  enacted  the  most  distin 
guished  and  important  achievement  of  his  life.  He  addressed  the  Senate, 
and  proposed  that,  before  the  discussion  of  the  provisions  of  this  bill 
should  be  commenced,  the  important  abstract  questions  of  constitutional 
law,  which  were  involved  in  the  issue,  should  be  debated ;  and  in  order 
to  bring  about  that  result,  he  introduced  a  number  of  resolutions,  which 
included  the  topics  at  issue.  These  resolutions  contained  the  substance  and 
the  germ  of  the  whole  policy  of  southern  resistance  to  the  Federal  Gov 


MR.  CALHOUN    IN  THE  UNITED  '  STATES  SENATE.  39 

ernment,  and  they  have  been  since,  and  still  remain,  the  creed  and 
catechism  of  secession  politicians.  The  overwhelming  majority  which 
was  arrayed  against  Mr.  Calhoun  in  the  Senate,  soon  laid  those  resolutions 
upon  the  table;  and  the  bill  reported  by  the  committee  was  then  taken 
up  for  consideration.  A  memorable  debate  ensued.  Mr.  Calhoun  deliv 
ered  on  this  occasion  his  ablest  effort,  known  as  his  "  speech  against  the 
Force  Bill."  But  his  logic  and  e]oquence  were  useless.  The  bill  passed, 
after  one  of  the  most  magnificent  displays  of  forensic  power  and  genius 
ever  witnessed  in  that  hall,  which  has  been  the  arena  of  so  many  masterly 
and  consummate  orators.  The  bill  became  a  law  on  the  28th  of  February, 
1833. 

Immediately  afterward,  General  Jackson  adopted  the  most  vigorous 
measures  to  crush  the  power  and  the  life  of  the  hydra  of  Nullification. 
He  dispatched  General  Scott  with  a  body  of  troops  to  Charleston.  Forts 
Pinckney  and  Moultrie,  which  have  been  since  invested  with  an  unfortunate 
celebrity,  were  strongly  garrisoned.  When  the  rebels  discovered  that 
they  had  no  time-serving,  imbecile,  pusillanimous  supreme  magistrate  to 
contend  with ;  when  they  saw  that,  if  they  persisted  in  resisting  the  pro 
cesses  and  the  writs  of  the  Federal  Government,  Charleston  would  be 
bombarded,  and  they  would  feel  the  full  weight  of  the  just  indignation  of 
the  government,  they  retraced  their  steps,  their  ardor  died  out,  they 
approved  of  more  prudent  measures;  and  eventually  the  same  State 
Convention  which  had  adopted  the  infamous  Ordinance  of  Nullification, 
repealed  it,  and  ceased  their  opposition  to  the  authority  of  the  United 
States. 

Such  was  the  termination  of  the  first  attempt  of  the  politicians  of  South 
Carolina  to  resist  the  execution  of  the  laws,  and  to  destroy  the  unity  of 
the  National  Government.  Nor  can  we  forbear  here  to  indulge  the  re 
flection  that  if,  on  the  more  recent  outbreak  of  rebellion  which  has  oc 
curred  in  that  State,  so  thoroughly  infected  with  treason,  a  chief  execu 
tive  officer,  possessing  the  same  energy,  sagacity,  and  patriotism,  had 
occupied  the  highest  seat  of  power,  measures  of  the  same  effective  nature 
would  have  been  adopted,  which  would  have  speedily  led  to  the  accom 
plishment  of  the  same  glorious  and  felicitious  results.  The  seed,  how 
ever,  which  Calhoun  and  his  associates  sowed,  fell  into  productive  soil, 
took  deep  root,  sprang  up,  and  brought  forth  deadly  and  noxious  fruit, 
some  sixty,  some  even  a  hundred  fold.  His  memorable  saying  was  not 
forgotten :  "  If  you  should  ask  me  the  word  that  I  would  wish  to  have 
engraven  on  my  tombstone,  I  answer,  it  is  NULLIFICATION." 

II.  The  second  cause  which  led  to  the  Southern  Eebellion  was  the  con 
test,  often  characterized  by  extreme  bitterness  and  malignity,  which  has 
been  progressing  during  many  years  between  the  opposite  portions  of 
this  Union,  in  reference  to  the  extension  and  restriction  of  slavery,  its 
perpetuity  in  those  States  in  which  it  already  existed,  and  its  introduction 


40  THE   CIVIL  WAK  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

into  those  new  Territories  which  have  been,  and  which  might  hereafter  be, 
from  time  to  time,  organized  by  the  Federal  Government. 

In  March,  1830,  John  C.  Calhoun  declared,  in  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States,  that  he  had  believed  from  the  first  that  "  the  agitation  of  the  sub 
ject  of  slavery  would,  if  not  prevented  by  some  timely  and  effective 
measure,  end  in  the  dissolution  of  the  Union."  His  prediction  was  veri 
fied.  The  "  agitation"  of  so  important  an  institution  can  neVer  be  pre 
vented  or  suspended,  even  on  the  part  of  prudent,  moderate,  and  con 
servative  statesmen,  and  hence  the  expedient  of  disunion  was  at  last  re 
sorted  to.  We  will  present  a  brief  survey  of  the  facts  connected  with  the 
past  history  and  discussion  of  this  irrepressible  subject  in  our  country. 

On  the  22d  of  December,  1620,  a  Dutch  trading  vessel,  a  slave  ship, 
sailing  directly  from  the  coast  of  Africa,  passed  up  James  river,  in  Yir- 
ginia,  and  landed  twenty  negroes,  who  were  immediately  sold  to  the 
chief  inhabitants  of  Jamestown.  They  were  the  first  slaves  of  African 
origin  who  ever  existed  on  the  American  continent.  The  purchasers 
were  English  adventurers,  aristocratic  cavaliers,  who,  at  home,  had  been 
accustomed  to  idleness  and  luxury,  but  having  become  reduced  in 
wealth,  had  emigrated  to  the  new  world  to  improve  their  broken  fortunes. 
To  men  of  such  habits  and  tastes  the  presence  of  such  chattels  as  slaves, 
compelled  to  obey  all  their  whims  and  minister  to  all  their  caprices,  was 
a  very  acceptable  and  novel  addition  to  their  means  of  enjoyment.  The 
example  of  this  Dutch  slave  dealer,  whose  name  has  passed  into  an  igno 
minious  oblivion,  was  soon  followed  by  others;  and  in  a  short  time 
vessels,  crowded  with  the  manacled  and  helpless  children  of  Africa, 
sailed  into  every  port  of  the  American  continent,  and  freely  sold  their 
human  cargoes  to  the  inhabitants  of  every  colony  which  had  then  been 
planted. 

By  this  means,  and  by  the  natural  increase  of  the  negroes,  slavery 
became  gradually  established  in  all  the  thirteen  colonies.  Immediately 
after  the  conclusion  of  the  Eevolutionary  War,  and  while  the  several 
States  were  still  governed  by  the  Articles  of  Confederation,  Thomas  Jeffer 
son  introduced  a  resolution  into  the  Continental  Congress  to  the  effect  that, 
after  the  year  1800,  no  slavery  should  exist  in  any  of  the  Western  Terri- 
tories  or  on  any  soil  not  included  within  the  established  and  ancient  limits 
of  the  States  themselves.  This  proposition  was  made  in  April,  1784. 
But  it  was  overruled  because,  though  sixteen  delegates  voted  for  it,  and 
only  seven  against  it,  the  Articles  of  Confederation  required  that  the 
votes  of  nine  /States  should  be  given  in  favor  of  any  resolution  to  give  it 
the  validity  of  law.  When  the  Federal  Constitution  was  discussed 
previous  to  its  adoption,  this  subject  was  the  most  difficult  with  which 
the  immortal  sages  and  statesmen  who  composed  that  instrument  were 
called  upon  to  deal.  Already  had  this  institution  become  closely  inter 
woven  with  all  the  customs,  interests,  and  associations  of  the  citizens  of 


AMERICAN   SLAVERY— ITS   ORIGIN.  41 

the  Southern  States ;  and  whatever  might  be  the  abstract  opinions  which 
the  people  of  those  States  entertained  in  reference  to  the  subject  of 
human  liberty,  and  the  equal  rights  of  man,  their  personal  feeling  and 
their  individual  interests  had  become  identified  with  negro  bondage,  as 
an  essential  feature  of  their  social  and  political  existence.  All,  there 
fore,  that  could  be  done  by  the  advocates  of  the  discontinuance  of  this 
institution  was,  to  obtain  the  introduction  of  a  clause  in  the  amendments 
to  the  Constitution,  somewhat  ambiguous  in  its  meaning,  which  enacted 
that  "No  person  shall  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without 
due  process  of  law,  nor  shall  private  property  be  taken  for  public  use 
without  just  compensation." 

As  this  provision  amounted  to  little  or  nothing  in  restricting  the  diffu 
sion  of  slavery,  when  new  Territories  were  occupied  and  settled  in  the 
South,  and  were  afterward  elevated  to  the  dignity  and  invested  with  the 
prerogatives  of  sovereign  States,  slavery  invariably  went  hand  in  hand 
with  that  process.  Thus,  when  Kentucky  was  formed  out  of  the  limits 
of  Virginia,  when  Tennessee  was  carved  out  of  those  of  North  Carolina, 
when  Alabama  and  Mississippi  were  created  from  those  of  Georgia,  this 
institution  constituted  a  component  element  of  their  political  and  social 
existence.  When  first  these  regions  were  ceded  to  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  as  Territories,  it  was  with  the  express  understanding,  that  Congress 
should  not  attempt  by  any  law  or  statute  to  abolish  slavery  within  their 
boundaries ;  and  they  even  stipulated,  by  an  express  condition,  that  when 
these  Territories  had  acquired  the  requisite  number  of  white  inhabitants 
to  entitle  them  to  admission  to  the  Union  as  States,  they  should  be  thus 
admitted  with  the  institution  of  slavery  as  it  then  already  existed  in  them, 
fully  recognized,  allowed,  and  protected. 

The  sixth  article  of  the  compact  made  in  1787,  between  the  United 
States  and  the  people  and  States  west  and  northwest  of  the  river  Ohio,  pro 
hibited  the  introduction  of  slavery  in  those  immense  regions.  An 
attempt  was  made  in  January,  1807,  in  the  American  Congress,  to  sus 
pend  this  article  for  ten  years  throughout  the  vast  "Indiana  Territory," 
of  which  General  Harrison  was  then  the  Governor.  It  failed,  and  thus 
those  States  and  Territories  have  ever  since  remained  exempt  from  the 
presence  and  the  incubus  of  negro  slavery. 

On  three  several  occasions  a  desperate  struggle  occurred  in  Congress, 
in  reference  to  the  existence  of  slavery  in  the  territory  comprised  within 
the  State  of  Missouri.  The  first  was  in  1817,  when  she  was  admitted  as 
a  Territory.  Then  an  effort  was  made  to  have  a  clause  forbidding  the 
existence  of  slavery  in  her  limits  inserted  in  her  constitution.  After  a 
long  and  angry  debate  that  clause  was  expunged.  The  second  contest 
occurred  in  1819,  when  Missouri  presented  her  claim  to  admission  to  the 
Union  as  a  State.  Henry  Clay  was  then  Speaker  of  the  House,  and  the 
committee  appointed  by  him  to  report  on  the  subject,  were  all,  with  a 


42  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

single  exception,  Representatives  from  the  South.  They  reported  in  favor 
of  the  recognition  of  slavery  in  the  Territory.  Their  recommendation, 
after  another  protracted  and  vigorous  conflict,  was  supported  by  both 
Houses ;  and  slavery  was  recognized  by  an  express  clause  of  the  Constitu 
tion  of  the  State.  The  third  combat  on  this  subject  occurred  in  1820.  It 
was  called  forth  by  an  attempt  of  the  pro-slavery  advocates  to  amend  the 
Constitution  of  the  State,  so  as  to  prevent  free  negroes  from  entering  and 
residing  within  the  limits  of  Missouri ;  and  asking  the  approval  of  Con 
gress  to  the  measure.  On  this  occasion,  after  a  lengthy  discussion,  Henry 
Clay,  who  may  justly  be  termed  the  Napoleon  of  Compromises,  came  for 
ward  with  his  famons  Missouri  Compromise,  as  the  best  possible  settle 
ment  of  a  difficulty  which  became  apparently  more  complicated  and  more 
pernicious  from  hour  to  hour.  He  proposed,  in  the  report  of  a  committee 
of  which  he  was  the  chairman,  that  a  pledge  should  be  required  of  the 
Legislature  of  Missouri,  that  the  Constitution  of  that  State  should  not  be 
interpreted  to  authorize  the  passage  of  a  law,  by  which  any  of  the  citizens 
of  either  of  the  States  should  be  excluded  from  the  enjoyment  of  all  the 
privileges  and  immunities  to  which  they  were  anywhere  entitled,  under 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  The  meaning  of  this  proposition 
was,  that  as  negroes  were  then  recognized  by  the  constitutions  of  several  of 
the  States,  as  citizens  possessing  certain  rights ;  and  as  the  Federal  Con 
stitution  recognized  the  validity  of  those  State  constitutions,  therefore,  the 
State  of  Missouri  should  not  pass  any  law  which  deprived  the  free  negroes 
residing  within  her  limits  of  the  rights  which  they  might  elsewhere  have 
possessed. 

The  measure  introduced  and  advocated  by  Mr.  Clay,  was  eventually 
passed,  and  became  the  law  of  the  land  in  February,  1821. 

The  Territory  of  Texas  was  originally  a  province  belonging  to  the 
Vice-royalty  of  Mexico,  while  that  State  was  yet  a  portion  of  the  Spanish 
monarchy.  After  the  deliverance  of  Mexico  from  Spanish  power  and 
tyranny,  Texas  remained  a  part  of  the  Mexican  Republic.  In  1835 
her  inhabitants  revolted  from  the  authority  of  that  Republic,  and  estab 
lished  an  independent  government.  In  1836  the  decisive  victory  of  San 
Jacinto  secured  the  perpetuity  of  their  liberties,  by  delivering  the  Texans 
from  the  authority  of  their  former  rulers.  In  1844  the  new  Republic 
applied  for  admission  to  the  Federal  Union  ;  and  as  slavery  already  ex 
isted  within  her  limits,  that  difficult  and  eternally  obtrusive  theme 
became  a  prominent  element  of  the  discussions  which  ensued  in  conse 
quence  of  her  application.  Texas  was  finally  admitted  to  the  Union  in 
1845,  with  a  clause  in  her  constitution  fully  recognizing  the  existence  of 
slavery  within  her  borders. 

The  war  with  Mexico  whose  government  had  protested  against  the  ad 
mission  of  Texas,  immediately  followed.  The  armies  of  the  United  States, 
under  the  generalship  of  the  gallant  Scott  and  Taylor,  marched  into  the 


SLAVERY    IN   THE  TERRITORIES.  43 

territory  of  the  enemy,  and  carried  the  Stars  and  Stripes  in  triumph  from 
one  field  of  glory  to  another,  until  they  were  unfurled,  and  waved  in 
majestic  splendor,  from  the  summit  of  the  towers  and  spires  of  the  city 
of  Montezuma.  During  the  progress  of  this  memorable  war,  the  Federal 
Congress  voted  liberal  supplies  to  our  armies  in  Mexico;  but  in  August, 
1846,  when  President  Polk  demanded  an  appropriation  of  thirty  thousand 
dollars  for  immediate  use,  and  two  millions  more  for  subsequent  exigen 
cies,  a  number  of  the  Representatives  from  the  North  determined  to  em 
brace  the  opportunity  to  place  some  restriction,  as  the  price  of  their  votes, 
upon  the  extension  of  slavery  in  the  territory  which  had  been  the  cause 
of  the  war. 

Hon.  David  Wilmot,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  chosen  as  the  representa 
tive  of  this  faction,  and  he  offered  in  the  House  his  famous  proposition, 
known  as  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  That  Proviso  set  forth  :  "  That  as  an  ex 
press  and  fundamental  condition  to  the  acquisition  of  any  territory  from 
the  Republic  of  Mexico  by  the  United  States,  by  virtue  of  any  treaty 
which  may  be  negotiated  between  them,  and  to  the  use  by  the  Executive 
of  the  monies  herein  appropriated,  neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servi 
tude  shall  ever  exist  in  any  part  of  said  territory,  except  for  crime, 
whereof  the  party  shall  first  be  duly  convicted."  This  proposition,  after 
being  adopted  by  the  House,  was  rejected  by  the  Senate.  It  was  subse 
quently  revived  in  various  forms,  and  under  different  disguises.  Mean 
while  the  war  progressed  to  a  glorious  conclusion,  and  other  topics  of 
grave  and  absorbing  interest  occupied  the  attention  of  Congress  and  the 
nation.  But  the  peculiar  circumstances  under  which  the  Wilmot  Proviso 
happened  to  have  been  originally  proposed,  gave  it  a  prominence  in  the 
annals  of  American  political  affairs,  to  which  it  was  not  entitled  by  any 
inherent  importance  or  merit  of  its  own. 

After  the  triumphant  termination  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  a  grateful 
nation  elevated  Zachary  Taylor  to  the  Presidential  chair.  It  became  the 
duty  of  the  Congress  which  immediately  afterward  convened,  to  determine 
whether  or  not  slavery  should  be  admitted  into  the  newly-acquired  Ter 
ritories  of  California  and  New  Mexico.  This  topic  elicited,  as  was  usually 
the  case,  a  discussion  of  extreme  duration  and  violence.  At  length,  in 
January,  1850,  Henry  Clay  proposed  his  resolutions  in  the  Senate  known 
as  the  Compromise  of  1850. 

The  most  important  propositions  contained  in  this  remarkable  docu 
ment  were  these :  That  it  was  inexpedient  for  Congress  to  provide  by 
law,  either  for  the  introduction  of  slavery  into,  or  for  its  exclusion  from 
any  of  the  territory  acquired  by  the  United  States  from  Mexico ;  that  ter 
ritorial  governments  should  be  provided  by  Congress  for  all  those  new 
acquisitions,  without  adopting  any  provision  whatever  respecting  slavery ; 
that  it  was  inexpedient  to  abolish  slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  as 
long  as  slavery  existed  in  Maryland ;  that,  however,  it  was  expedient  to 


44  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

prohibit,  within  the  District,  the  sale  of  slaves  which  should  be  brought 
into  it  from  other  States,  either  for  the  purpose  of  being  sold  in  it,  or  of 
being  transported  through  it  to  slave  markets  elsewhere.  In  support  of 
this  compromise  Mr.  Clay  exhausted,  for  the  last  time,  all  the  resources 
of  his  marvellous  and  matchless  eloquence, — an  eloquence  whose  persua 
sive  power  and  pathos  the  heavy  burden  of  years  had  been  unable  to  di 
minish  or  enfeeble.  The  venerable  statesman  presented  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  on  that  occasion,  one  of  the  sublimest  spectacles  evei  ex 
hibited  by  pure  patriotism,  by  exalted  genius,  and  by  dauntless  hero 
ism,  in  the  annals  of  mankind.  He  believed  that  the  safety  and  perpe 
tuity  of  the  Federal  Union,  to  whose  power  and  glory  he  had  himself 
contributed  so  much  and  so  long,  depended  upon  the  adoption  of  the 
measures  which  he  then  proposed ;  and  he  acted  and  spoke  accordingly. 

One  of  the  most  memorable  debates  which  ever  occurred  in  the 
National  Legislature  ensued,  in  the  discussion  of  these  propositions. 
Eminent  Senators  delivered  some  of  their  most  elaborate  and  masterly 
arguments.  Among  those  who  opposed  them  with  great  zeal,  was 
Jefierson  Davis,  then  honored  as  the  Senator  from  Mississippi.  During 
the  long  period  of  two  months,  the  subject  occupied  the  exclusive  atten 
tion  of  Congress.  Mr.  Clay's  propositions  gradually  became  modified  by 
so  many  amendments,  mutilations,  and  addenda,  that  they  were  finally 
termed,  with  considerable  show  of  propriety,  the  Omnibus  Bill.  As  the 
Omnibus  Bill,  they  were  eventually  passed  by  both  Houses ;  but  when 
thus  adopted  they  retained  very  little  of  the  spirit  and  of  the  purposes 
which  characterized  them  when  they  first  proceeded  from  the  gifted 
mind  and  the  patriotic  heart  of  the  Sage  of  Ashland.  Another  impor 
tant  feature  of  this  act  was  the  adoption  of  a  more  efficient  fugitive  slave 
law,  by  which  the  slave  property  of  the  South  was  protected  still  more 
zealously  and  efficiently  than  before. 

All  these  struggles,  to  which   the  institution  of  slavery  had  thus  far 
given  rise,  were  mere  impalpable  conflicts  of  words.     A  time  now  ap 
proached,  in   the   history  of  this   controversy,  when    it    assumed   more 
tragical  and  desperate  aspects,  and  became  invested  with  more  formida 
ble  and  repulsive  features. 

In  the  session  of  Congress  of  1852-3,  Stephen  A.  Douglas  introduced 
a  bill  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  Territory  of  Nebraska  out  of  the 
region  lying  immediately  west  of  Missouri.  It  is  evident  that  this 
Territory  was  included  within  the  limits  of  that  tract  from  which 
slavery  was  forever  to  be  excluded,  and  to  which  exclusion  the  Southern 
States  had  themselves  consented,  by  the  terms  of  the  Missouri  Compro 
mise,  in  order  that  they  might  obtain  the  admission  of  Missouri  as  a 
slave  State.  In  1852  the  National  Conventions,  both  of  the  Whig  and 
the  Democratic  parties,  indorsed  and  accepted  the  Compromise  of  1850, 
which  implied  that  the  Territory  of  Nebraska  should  not  be  made  a  slave 


SLAVERY   IN   KANSAS.  45 

region.  In  January,  1854,  Mr.  Douglas  reported  a  bill  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  the  Territory  of  Nebraska,  in  which  a  clause  was  intro 
duced,  which  declared  that  the  Missouri  restriction  on  slavery  in  that 
Territory  was  inoperative  and  void.  In  May,  1854,  this  bill  passed  both 
Houses  of  Congress,  was  signed  by  the  President,  and  became  a  law. 
During  the  progress  of  the  discussion,  however,  the  bill  had  been 
variously-  modified ;  and,  when  finally  adopted,  it  contained  the  following 
important  provision  :  that  it  was  the  true  meaning  and  intent  of  the  act 
of  1850,  not  to  legislate  slavery  into  any  Territory  or  State,  nor  to  ex 
clude  it  therefrom ;  "  but  to  leave  the  people  thereof  perfectly  free  to 
regulate  their  own  domestic  institution  in  their  own  way,  subject  only 
to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States ;"  and  that  such  a  policy  of  non 
intervention,  neither  protecting,  establishing,  prohibiting,  nor  abolishing 
slavery  within  the  Nebraska  Territory,  should  remain  a  fundamental 
principle  in  its  Constitution. 

Subsequent  to  the  passage  of  this  law,  and  expressly  covered  by  its 
provisions,  the  Territory  of  Kansas  was  organized.  It  unquestionably 
left  the  people,  that  is,  those  who  were  the  lawful  citizens  of  both  Ter 
ritories,  at  liberty  to  determine  for  themselves  whether  or  not  slavery 
should  exist  in  future  within  their  limits.  It  devolved  the  important 
duty  of  deciding  the  matter  upon  the  legal  authorities  of  each  Territory, 
chosen  in  a  legitimate  manner,  and  expressing  their  will  in  a  constitu 
tional  way.  Then  the  great  struggle  began  in  regard  to  the  ultimate 
decision  of  the  people  respecting  the  existence  of  slavery  in  future 
among  them;  and  then  were  enacted  all  those  horrors  and  outrages 
which  have  rendered  the  annals  of  Kansas  a  dark  and  repulsive  spot  on 
the  pages  of -American  history. 

After  the  organization  of  the  Territory,  successive  Governors,  ap 
pointed  by  the  President,  administered  its  affairs  with  different  degrees 
of  integrity  and  success,  some  of  them  being  honest,  sober,  and  capable 
men ;  others  being  knavish,  drunken,  and  imbecile.  The  legal  inhabi 
tants  of  Kansas  began  to  assemble  in  various  portions  of  the  Territory, 
to  express  their  opinions  in  public  meetings,  to  arrange  their  plans  of 
political  action,  and  to  perform  other  duties  which  devolved  on  them  as 
good  citizens.  Prominent  among  these  duties,  in  the  progress  of  time, 
were  the  adoption  of  a  State  constitution  and  the  formation  of  a  State 
government.  The  paramount  question  to  be  decided  by  them  still  was, 
whether  slavery  should  be  recognized  and  permitted  as  a  future  element 
in  the  laws  and  the  social  condition  of  the  community.  Conventions 
were  held  at  Lawrence,  at  Topeka,  and  elsewhere.  The  convention 
which  sat  at  Topeka  in  September,  1855,  possessed  all  the  sanctions  and 
forms  of  law  in  its  favor,  which  were  necessary  to  invest  its  acts  with  a 
legitimate  and  binding  authority.  It  was  summoned  by  an  express 
proclamation  of  the  Governor.  It  was  attended  by  all  the  executive 


46  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

officers  of  the  Territory,  by  the  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  by  the 
Attorney -General.  Its  members  were  chosen  in  a  legal  manner,  and 
they  represented  the  lawful  inhabitants  of  the  Territory.  They  passed  a 
resolution  providing  for  the  better  government  and  organization  of  the 
State,  designated  the  proper  qualification  of  voters,  and  appointed  the 
times  and  places  where  these  voters  should  assemble  to  determine 
whether  slavery  should  in  future  exist  within  their  limits. 

The  large  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  Kansas  were  ardently  opposed 
to  slavery.  The  Territory  had  long  been  the  scene  of  execrable  acts  of 
violence  and  disorder  which  were  perpetrated  chiefly  by  that  class  of 
depraved  and  irresponsible  persons  who  will  always  constitute  a  part  of 
the  inhabitants  of  any  new  territory.  But  at  the  period  which  now 
arrived,  these  outrages  assumed  a  more  terrible  form,  and  events  occurred 
in  that  remote  and  primitive  region,  which  make  the  citizens  of  a  well 
ordered  and  prosperous  social  State  shudder  with  horror.  This  contest 
also  assumed  importance  in  another  respect.  Kansas  became  represen 
tative  ground,  and  the  struggle  a  representative  one  between  the  whole 
North  and  South — between  the  partisans  of  slavery  and  the  advocates 
of  freedom  throughout  the  entire  nation. 

As  the  question  whether  Kansas  should  thenceforth  be  a  free  State 
was  to  be  determined  at  the  ballot-box,  the  ballot-box  became  the  centre 
around  which  many  of  these  violent  outrages  clustered.  The  majority 
of  the  opponents  of  the  freedom  of  Kansas  were  to  be  found  among  the 
desperate  and  savage  adventurers  who  lived  in  Missouri,  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Kansas  border.  Immense  crowds  of  these  ruffians,  infuriated  by 
political  rancor,  and  still  more  by  excess  in  intoxicating  drinks,  rode 
over  to  the  places  appointed  for  holding  the  elections ;  and  sometimes 
by  threats,  sometimes  by  actual  violence,  defeated  the  purposes  of  the 
law,  and  interfered  with,  and  often  entirely  suppressed,  the  rights  of  the 
citizens  at  the  ballot-box. 

The  Convention  which  was  held  at  Topeka,  in  Kansas,  adopted  a  free 
State  constitution  for  the  future  government  of  the  Territory.  That 
constitution  was  afterward  presented  in  due  form  to  Congress  for  their 
approval,  by  commissioners  appointed  for  that  purpose.  In  the  House 
the  document  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Territories ;  a  majority 
of  whom  reported  in  favor  of  the  admission  of  Kansas,  under  its  pro 
visions,  as  a  free  State.  A  desperate  contest  then  ensued  between  the 
advocates  of  slavery  and  its  opponents,  in  which  Alexander  II.  Stephens, 
of  Georgia,  afterward  the  Vice  President  of  the  Southern  Confederacy, 
especially  distinguished  himself.  At  length,  however,  on  the  3d  of  July, 
1856,  the  final  vote  was  taken  upon  the  subject,  and  the  bill  passsed ; 
thus  receiving  the  sanction  of  law,  so  far  as  the  approval  of  that  particular 
department  of  the  National  Legislature  was  concerned. 

In  this  review  of  the  causes  which  led  to  the  Southern  Eebellion,  it  is 


"1 

RISE  OF  THE  REPUBLICAN   PARTY.  47 

proper  that  a  brief  notice  be  taken  of  the  famous  "  Dred  Scott  case,"  by 
which  the  advocates  of  the  interests  of  slaveholders  succeeded  in  obtain 
ing  from  a  majority  of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States  an  opinion  which  threw  the  weight  and  the  influence  of  that  august 
tribunal  in  favor  of  pro-slavery  interests  and  pretensions.  Chief  Justice 
Taney,  while  concurring  in  the  judgment  of  the  majority  of  the  Court, 
that  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  Missouri,  had  no  jurisdic 
tion  in  the  suit  brought  by  the  plaintiff  in  error,  Dred  Scott,  on  the  ground 
that  the  latter  was  not  a  citizen  of  Missouri,  went  on  to  take  jurisdiction 
for  the  announcement  of  an  opinion,  not  growing  out  of  the  case,  nor 
justly  deducible  from  any  thing  which  had  occurred  in  it,  but  only  de 
clared  in  the  interests  of  slavery,  to  the  effect  that  for  more  than  a  century 
previous  to  the  adoption  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  negroes, 
whether  slave  or  free,  had  been  regarded  as  lt  beings  of  an  inferior  order 
and  altogether  unfit  to  associate  with  the  white  race,  either  in  social  or 
political  relations ;  and  so  far  inferior  that  they  had  no  rights  which  the 
white  man  was  bound  to  respect,"  that  consequently  such  persons  were 
not  included  among  the  "  people  "  in  the  general  words  of  that  instrument, 
and  could  not  in  any  respect  be  considered  as  citizens  ;  that  the  inhibition 
of  slavery  in  the  territories  of  the  United  States,  lying  north  of  the  line 
of  thirty-six  degrees,  thirty  minutes,  known  as  the  Missouri  compromise, 
was  unconstitutional ;  and  that  Dred  Scott,  a  negro  slave,  who  was  re 
moved  by  his  master  from  Missouri  to  Illinois,  lost  whatever  freedom  he 
may  have  thus  acquired,  by  being  subsequently  removed  into  the  Territory 
of  Wisconsin,  and  by  his  return  to  the  State  of  Missouri. 

To  the  monstrous  assumptions  of  this  ex  parts  opinion,  unsustained  as 
they  were  by  any  authorities,  and  contradicted  by  an  able  argument  of 
the  Chief  Justice  himself  in  his  younger  and  better  days,  Justices  Nelson, 
Grier,  Daniel,  Wayne,  Campbell  and  Catron  (the  last  named  with  some 
qualifications)  gave  their  sanction ;  while  Justices  McLean  and  Curtis, 
confessedly  the  ablest  members  of  the  Court,  dissented  in  able  opinions 
which  exhibited  the  fallacy  of  the  opinions  of  the  Chief  Justice. 

The  opinion  of  Chief  Justice  Tan^  was  hailed  with  great  satisfaction 
by  the  South,  which  claimed  at  once  that  it  should  be  regarded  as  having 
the  authority  of  law,  a  demand  which  the  North  never  granted.  The 
majority  of  the  people  of  the  Northern  States  regarded  this  extra-judicial 
deliverance  of  the  highest  officer  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  with 
utter  loathing  and  contempt ;  and  it  was,  perhaps,  fortunate  for  its  author 
that  no  case  came  up  to  test  its  authority  before  the  Court  was,  by  the 
death,  resignation  and  secession  of  six  of  its  members,  including  the 
Chief  Justice  himself,  completely  reorganized. 

The  events  which  had  occurred  in  Kansas  during  the  administration 
of  Mr.  Pierce,  and  the  mysterious  disappearance  of  the  Whig  party,  once 
so  powerful  and  respectable  in  the  arena  of  American  politics,  led  to  the 


48  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

sudden  rise  of  a  new  and  formidable  political  organization,  which  took 
the  not  inappropriate  name  of  the  Kepublican  party.  It  owed  its  birth, 
in  reality,  to  the  apprehensions  created  by  the  continual  and  insatiable 
aggressions  of  the  slave  power  in  the  United  States,  which  seemed  de 
termined,  by  every  expedient  which  could  possibly  be  rendered  available 
for  that  purpose,  so  to  mould  and  control  the  Federal  Government,  in  all 
its  various  branches,  legislative,  judicial  and  executive,  as  to  convert  it 
into  the  mere  tool  of  a  slave  propagandisrn.  The  new  party  was  com 
posed  of  old  Whigs,  moderate  anti-slavery  men,  some  native  Americans, 
and  some  Democrats,  who,  having  become  convinced  that  the  old  Demo 
cratic  party  had  entirely  betrayed  and  ignored  its  primitive  principles, 
felt  themselves  fully  justified  in  abandoning  it.  The  cardinal  doctrine  of 
the  Republican  party  was,  not  to  interfere  with  the  institution  of  slavery 
as  it  already  existed,  either  in  the  slave  States  or  even  in  the  slave  Terri 
tories.  Its  fundamental  principles  and  purposes,  as  set  forth  first  in  the 
Philadelphia  platform,  under  which  Mr.  Fremont  was  nominated,  and 
afterward  in  the  Chicago  platform,  under  which  Mr.  Lincoln  was  nomi 
nated,  were  simply  to  prevent,  by  legitimate  and  constitutional  means,  the 
extension  of  slavery  in  those  Territories  which  were  as  yet  untainted  by 
its  presence  and  its  power.  On  the  18th  of  June,  1856,  the  National  Con 
vention  of  the  Republican  party  nominated  Mr.  Fremont  as  their  candidate 
for  the  Presidency.  Now,  for  the  first  time,  were  the  great  issues  connected 
with  slavery-extension  in  the  Territories  placed  before  the  nation  in  such 
a  form,  that  the  voice  of  the  whole  people  could  be  heard  upon  them  with 
out  the  mixture  of  fanatical  zeal  or  ultra  partizanship.  The  contest  was  one 
of  the  most  violent  which  had  ever  taken  place  in  any  free  government,  in 
connection  with  the  strict  observance  of  law  and  order.  In  its  desperate 
throes  with  the  new  organization,  the  ancient  Democratic  party  was  shaken 
to  its  centre.  James  Buchanan,  whom  it  had  selected  as  its  candidate  for 
the  Presidency,  guided  his  confederates  through  the  storm  with  consum 
mate  skill.  The  result  of  the  contest  was  favorable  to  his  aspirations. 
Never  before  had  so  young  a  party  made  so  magnificent  a  display  of  or 
ganization  and  strength  as  did  the  Republican  on  this  occasion;  but  Mr. 
Buchanan  was  elected  President  by  an  inconsiderable  majority. 

In  March,  1857,  he  entered  upon  an  administration  which  deserves  to  be 
regarded  as  the  most  ignominious  which  has  occurred  in  the  annals  of  the 
Federal  Government.  His  election,  indeed,  postponed  the  act  of  secession 
on  the  part  of  the  South  for  a  limited  period;  for  there  is  sufficient  proof 
to  satisfy  every  impartial  mind  that  the  leading  politicians  of  the  South 
had  already  determined,  in  1856,  that,  if  the  Republican  candidate  had 
then  been  chosen,  the  act  which  disgraced  the  year  1861,  would  have  been 
anticipated  in  the  year  1857.  The  success  of  the  Democratic  party,  how 
ever,  deprived  them  both  of  the  excuse  and  of  the  motive  for  immediate 
secession.  Another  Chief  Magistrate  had  been  elected,  who,  they  thought, 


ADMINISTRATION    OF   JAMKS    BUCHANAN.  49 

would  certainly  equal,  possibly  he  might  even  excel,  all  his  predecessors 
in  subserviency  to  southern  arrogance  and  southern  interests.  This 
hope  was  more  than  realized  by  the  result. 

Nevertheless,  the  grand  enterprise  of  secession  remained  constantly 
uppermost  in  the  minds  of  the  very  same  men  who  afterward  achieved  it,. 
The  Southern  Convention  which  met  at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  in  1858, 
deliberately  contemplated  the  ultimate  and  inevitable  purpose  of  breaking 
up  the  Union  into  fragments.  Already  at  that  period  a  man  of  superior 
talents,  of  daring  spirit,  and  of  perverted  ambition,  had  devoted  himself 
to  the  attainment  of  the  bad  eminence  of  being  regarded  as  the  most 
active,  resolute,  and  indefatigable  of  the  foes  of  the  Union.  William  L. 
Yancey  was  a  prominent  member  of  that  Convention,  and  all  the  re 
sources  of  his  powerful  eloquence  were  employed  to  give  perfect  form  and 
vigorous  spirit  to  the  enterprise  of  secession.  In  order  to  prepare  the 
way  for  the  attainment  of  ultimate  success,  he  announced  the  fact  that 
the  South  were  entitled,  and  would  thenceforth  assert  their  right,  to  what 
he  termed  Congressional  Protection  to  slavery  in  the  Territories ;  and 
that  doctrine  was  announced  as  being  a  fundamental  part  of  the  future 
issue  in  party  politics.  Soon  this  idea  was  promulgated  by  those  jour 
nals  in  the  South  which  were  devoted  to  secession.  In  September,  1858, 
the  New  Orleans  Delta  proclaimed  this  doctrine  as  being  a  leading 
element  of  future  agitation.  The  Eichmond  Enquirer,  then  under  the 
control  of  Henry  A.  Wise,  took  the  same  position.  But  these  dema 
gogues  never  expected  to  achieve  so  disgraceful  a  result,  as  to  render  the 
Federal  Government  subservient  to  that  measure.  Their  real  purpose 
was  to  make  the  demand  in  Congress,  knowing  that  it  would  be  rejected ; 
thus  to  create  a  fresh  hostility  between  the  Northland  the  South,  and  by 
the  assistance  of  that  hostility  to  commence  the  agitation  of  secession 
with  the  greater  probabilities  of  success. 

The  disunion  chiefs  took  time  by  the  forelock,  and  provided  for  dis 
tant  emergencies.  In  September,  1858,  Jefferson  Davis  alluded  in  a 
speech  delivered  at  Jackson,  Mississippi,  to  the  possibility  of  the  election 
of  a  Republican  President,  and  made  the  following  declaration :  "  If  an 
abolitionist  be  chosen  President  of  the  United  States,  you  will  have  pre 
sented  to  you  the  question  whether  you  will  permit  the  government  to 
pass  into  the  hands  of  your  avowed  and  implacable  enemies.  Without 
pausing  for  an  answer,  I  will  state  my  own  position  to  be,  that  such  a 
result  would  be  a  species  of  revolution,  by  which  the  purposes  of  the 
government  would  be  destroyed,  and  the  observance  of  its  mere  forms 
entitled  to  no  respect.  In  that  event,  in  such  manner  as  should  be  most 
expedient,  I  should  deem  it  your  duty  to  provide  for  your  safety  outside  of 
the  Union,  from  those  who  have  already  shown  the  will,  and  would  have 
acquired  the  power  to  deprive  you  of  your  birthright,  and  reduce  you  to 
worse  than  the  colonial  dependence  of  your  fathers."  This  sentiment 
4 


50  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

uttered  in  1858,  increased  in  intensity  and  strength  until  it  was  realized 
in  1861.  As  the  administration  of  Mr.  Buchanan  progressed,  it  became 
evident  that  he  regarded  the  interests  and  the  demands  of  the  South  with 
a  partial  eye.  Probably  unaware  of  the  desperate  extremes  to  which 
their  leaders  were  capable  of  going,  and  unable  to  penetrate  the  ultimate 
purpose  of  their  designs,  he  aided  them  whenever  it  lay  in  his  power 
EC  to  do. 

One  important  act  of  this  description  was  the  President's  agency  in 
reference  to  the  Lecompton  Constitution.  The  Senate  not  having  approved 
of  the  instrument  which  had  been  adopted  by  the  Topeka  Convention, 
excluding  slavery  from  Kansas,  a  subtle  scheme  was  contrived  by  south 
ern  Representatives  for  the  purpose  of  forcing  Kansas  into  the  Union  as  a 
slave  State,  from  a  knowledge  of  which  scheme  even  the  Governor  and 
Secretary  of  the  Territory  were  carefully  excluded.  A  new  constitution 
was  prepared  at  Washington,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Administration, 
the  ultimate  effect  of  which  was  to  secure  the  admission  of  slavery  into 
the  future  State.  A  convention  was  summoned  to  meet  at  Lecompton, 
for  the  express  purpose  of  approving  and  adopting  that  constitution  ; — at 
the  same  time,  the  provision  made  to  exclude  the  Free  State  men  from  an 
equal  share  of  influence  at  the  ballot-box ;  the  use  of  United  States  troops 
to  overawe  citizens  in  the  exercise  of  their  legitimate  rights ;  and  other 
arbitrary  acts,  clearly  demonstrated  the  perverted  feelings  which  animated 
the  Chief  Executive.  When  infamous  frauds  were  committed  at  the 
ballot-box  in  Kansas,  and  returns  of  the  elections  were  made  to  the  Federal 
Government,  which  were  known  and  demonstrated  to  have  been  illegal, 
Mr.  Buchanan  refused  to  go  behind  those  returns,  and  insisted  on  receiving 
the  voice  of  one  fifth  of  the  population  of  the  Territory  as  the  fairly  uttered 
sentiment  of  the  legal  majority.  Fortunately  there  was  a  formidable 
power  in  the  legislative  department  of  the  Government,  which  was  able 
to  overrule  the  perversity  of  the  Executive.  The  result  was,  that  the 
people  of  Kansas  escaped  the  misfortune  of  having  an  institution  forced 
upon  them  which  was  repugnant  to  their  feelings,  to  their  principles,  and 
to  their  interests.  Kansas  was  eventually  admitted  to  the  Union  as  a 
free  State,  in  spite  of  the  opposition  of  the  southern  politician's,  and  in 
spite  of  the  compliant  artifices  of  the  President.  This  event  was  another 
heavy  grievance  to  the  South  ;  and  it  confirmed  the  foregone  conclusion 
of  their  leaders  in  favor  of  secession. 

The  politicians  and  statesmen  of  the  South  were  now  convinced,  from 
various  indications,  that  the  probabilities  in  favor  of  the  success  of  the 
candidate  of  the  Republican  party  in  1860  were  overwhelming.  They 
accordingly  commenced  to  take  the  preliminary  steps  which  were  neces 
sary  to  accomplish  their  favorite  project.  Unfortunately  for  the  Union, 
the  Cabinet  of  Mr.  Buchanan  was  infested  with  men  unworthy  of  their 
high  trust.  In  the  formation  of  that  Cabinet  the  South  had,  as  usual,  ob- 


PRELIMINARY   OPERATIONS   OP   THE   CONSPIRATORS.  51 

tained  an  undue  and  exaggerated  proportion.  When  the  chief  conspira 
tors  sounded  Mr.  Floyd,  the  Secretary  of  War,  they  found  him  a  willing 
and  ready  tool.  He  prostituted  all  the  influence  and  resources  of  his 
office  to  their  designs.  Quietly  and  gradually,  so  as  not  to  excite  public 
suspicion,  an  immense  number  of  muskets,  belonging  to  the  Federal 
Government,  were  transported  by  that  traitor  to  places  in  the  Southern 
States,  where  they  could  be  of  no  possible  service  in  time  of  peace,  but 
would  be  ready  at  hand  in  the  event  of  war.  During  the  year  1860,  a 
hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  stand  of  arms  were  sent  southward 
from  the  armory  at  Springfield  alone.  During  that  year,  not  a  single 
musket  was  sent  to  any  fort  or  arsenal  in  the  Northern  or  Western  States. 
Twenty  thousand  muskets  were  sold  to  the  South  at  a  merely  nominal  price. 

Thus  munitions  of  war  were  plundered  from  their  rightful  owners,  and 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  secret  enemies  of  the  government,  for  the  ex 
press  and  anticipated  purpose  of  destroying  it ;  and  this  was  done  by  one 
who  himself  held  a  distinguished  post  in  that  government,  and  had  sworn 
to  support  the  Federal  Constitution.  Mr.  Cobb,  Secretary  of  the  Treasu 
ry,  assisted  the  infamous  enterprise,  as  far  as  the  functions  of  his  office 
permitted  him.  Mr.  Thompson,  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  was  also  a 
particeps  criminis.  A  large  proportion  of  the  Cabinet  being  in  the  secret 
service  of  the  enemies  of  the  Union,  they  commenced  their  treasonable 
purposes  with  decisive  advantages  in  their  favor.  It  is  not  probable, 
however,  that  Mr.  Buchanan  suspected,  much  less  that  he  approved  of, 
the  designs  of  these  traitors.  No  reasonable  motive  can  be  assigned,  or 
imagined,  which  could  have  induced  him  so  to  do.  He  had  attained  the 
highest  honor  known  to  exist  in  any  free  government.  He  had  occupied 
the  seat  which  had  been  adorned  by  the  genius  and  virtues  of  Washington, 
Jefferson,  and  Adams ;  and  no  Southern  Confederacy,  however  successful 
and  powerful  it  might  become,  could  give  him  any  glory  or  profit  as  great 
or  greater  than  that  which  he  had  already  attained.  The  loftiest  aspira 
tions  of  his  ambition  had  been  realized.  He  had  likewise  gratified  some 
of  the  less  noble  instincts  of  his  nature,  for  he  had  rewarded  his  worst 
enemies,  and  had  punished  his  best  friends,  to  a  monstrous  and  marvellous 
extent.  Why  should  he  desire  to  see  the  Union  broken  into  fragments, 
and  his  own  name  descend  to  posterity  surrounded  with  the  execrable 
distinction  of  having  contributed  to  destroy  that  government  which, 
while  it  had  accomplished  many  better  and  more  commendable  things, 
had  also  rendered  him  so  illustrious  and  distinguished  ?  The  supposition 
is  extremely  improbable  and  absurd. 

The  Presidential  campaign  of  1860  presented  several  very  remarkable 
features.  It  was  a  four-sided  conflict,  in  which  almost  every  shade  of 
political  opinion  was  represented  by  a  separate  candidate  for  the  Presi 
dency.  The  old  Democratic  party  nominated  John  C.  Breckinridge  of 
Kentucky  for  that  office ;  against  whom  the  friends  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas 


52  THE   CIYIL    WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

pitted  that  talented  and  ambitious  statesman.  An  organization  which 
took  the  name  of  the  Union  party,  selected  John  Bell  of  Tennessee  as 
their  champion ;  while  the  great  Kepublican  party,  buoyant  with  confi 
dence  and  hope,  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  of  Illinois  as  their  standard 
bearer.  It  cannot  be  denied  that  the  ultra  pro-slavery  faction  in  the 
South,  found  greater  sympathy  with  their  own  views  in  the  sentiments 
and  policy  of  Mr.  Breckinridge,  than  in  those  of  any  other  candidate ; 
and  had  he  been  chosen,  it  is  probable,  perhaps  it  is  certain,  that  as  in  the 
case  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  election,  the  act  of  secession  would  have  been 
postponed  for  a  brief  period.* 

But  such  was  not  destined  to  be  the  result.  The  Republican  party 
entered  into  the  struggle  with  the  resolute  determination  to  leave  no  fair 
means  untried  to  attain  success.  In  vain  was  it  urged  against  them  that 
they  were  a  sectional  party,  that  they  were  an  abolition  party,  that  they 
were  a  disunion  party.  To  the  first  charge  they  answered  that,  to  call 
them  sectional  was  merely  a  petitio  principii ;  because  it  yet  remained  to 
be  demonstrated  at  the  ballot-box  whether  they  were  sectional :  if  they 
elected  their  candidate  by  a  constitutional  majority,  they  could  not  be  a 
sectional  party,  but  the  party  of  the  majority  of  the  whole  nation.  To 
the  second  charge,  that  they  were  an  abolition  party,  they  answered  by  a 
direct  traverse  or  denial ;  and  they  supported  that  denial  by  the  assertion 
that  no  abolition  sentiment  could  be  found  in  the  Philadelphia  or  Chicago 
platform,  and  that  no  representative  man  of  the  party,  who  was  authorized 
to  speak  for  them,  was,  or  could  be  called,  an  Abolitionist.  Because  in 
deed  a  few  Abolitionists  chose  to  vote  for  their  candidate,  that  fact  did  not 
make  the  whole  party  Abolitionists,  any  more  than,  because  some  Free 
masons  voted  for  him,  that  did  not  make  the  whole  party  Masonic.  To 
the  third  charge,  that  they  favored  disunion,  they  replied  that  they  sup 
ported  the  Constitution  and  the  laws ;  that  they  would  never  secede  from 
the  Union  ;  that  in  fact  they  would  fight  for  it  to  the  last  extremity ;  that 
if  they  gained  the  control  of  the  administration,  it  should  only  be  by  con 
stitutional  means ;  and  that  they  would  then  administer  it  only  in  accord 
ance  with  the  settled  and  lawful  machinery  of  the  government. 

The  event  proved  that  the  greater  portion  of  the  nation  was  with  the 
Republican  party.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected  by  a  decisive  majority.  lie 
was  a  person  every  way  worthy  of  the  high  position  to  which  he  was 
elevated.  He  was  a  man  of  the  people;  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune ; 
accustomed  to  hardship,  to  vicissitude,  to  triumph  ;  familiar  with  the  laws 
and  Constitution  of  his  country;  eminent  as  a  prudent  and  practical 
statesman ;  with  a  character  not  only  free  from  every  stain,  but  adorned 

*  The  division  of  the  Democratic  party  by  the  friends  of  Mr.  Douglas,  and  his 
nomination  to  the  Presidency,  thereby  insuring  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  may  be 
regarded  as  having  exerted  a  powerful  influence,  though  innocently  and  indirectly,  in 
precipitating  the  outbreak  of  this  pre-destined  Rebellion. 


THE   DOCTRINE   OF  STATE   SOVEREIGNTY.  53 

Dy  many  great  and  rare  virtues.  Ills  election  to  the  Presidency  at  once 
capped  the  climax  of  that  long  train  of  unspeakable  wrongs  and  outrages 
which  the  chivalrous  South  had  suffered  with  such  exemplary  patience 
during  so  many  years,  from  the  Northern  portion  of  the  Union !  There 
was  an  extreme  and  an  excess  of  injury,  however,  which  transcended  the 
limits  of  even  Southern  patriotism  and  endurance,  and  that  extreme  had 
at  last  been  perpetrated  ! 

III.  We  stated  at  the  beginning,  that  the  third  cause  which  led  to  the 
Southern  Kebellion,  was  the  assertion  of  the  supremacy  of  State  Rights 
in  opposition  to  the  policy  of  Federal  Centralization.  Before  concluding 
this  Introduction,  it  may  be  proper  to  dwell  briefly  on  that  point. 

The  seceding  States  affirmed  their  privilege  to  withdraw  from  the 
Union  on  the  ground  that  each  individual  State  possesses  the  right  to  take 
back  and  recall  from  the  National  Government  those  powers  which  it 
delegated  to  it  when  the  Union  was  formed,  thus  resuming  its  own  isolated 
position  and  sovereign  functions ;  and  that  each  State  possesses  this  right, 
separately,  at  any  time  when  it  may  think  itself  aggrieved.  Never  was 
a  greater  absurdity  uttered.  If  indeed  the  separate  States  possessed  any 
such  right,  then  each  State  would  in  reality  be  paramount  to  the  Federal 
Government,  and  the  idea  of  Federal  consolidation  becomes  an  impalpable 
phantom  and  a  visionary  myth.  But  that  no  State  which  once  formed  a 
part  of  this  Union  possesses,  or  can  possibly  possess,  any  such  prerogative, 
is  evident  from  the  following  considerations : 

The  Federal  Government  was  established,  not  by  the  States  as  such, 
individually,  but  by  the  people,  of  the  whole  collection  of  States.  The  Con 
stitution  was  framed  and  adopted  by  those  who  expressly  called  them 
selves  "  The  People."  Therefore  it  is  the  people  of  the  entire  Union  only 
who  possess  the  right  to  dissolve  the  Federal  Government,  if,  in  any 
case,  they  feel  disposed,  for  good  and  sufficient  reasons,  so  to  do.  This 
cardinal  doctrine  was  plainly  acknowledged  by  the  very  men  who 
adopted  the  Federal  Constitution.  Among  other  declarations  of  a  similar 
character,  we  may  cite  the  language  of  Virginia,  uttered  when  she  gave 
her  adhesion  to  the  General  Government.  She  then  declared  that  "the 
powers  granted  under  the  Constitution,  being  derived  from  the  people 
of  the  United  States,  may  be  resumed  by  them,  whenever  the  same  shall 
be  perverted  to  their  injury  or  oppression."  In  this  statement  no  allu 
sion  is  made  to  the  reserved  and  sovereign  right  of  the  individual  States 
to  withdraw.  When  the  people  of  the  seceding  States  became  integral -^ 
portions  of  the  Federal  Government,  they  bound  themselves,  as  a  part  of 
the  grand  aggregate  of  the  people,  to  support  it,  unless,  as  a  grand  aggre 
gate,  they  should  become  convinced  that  their  interests  would  be  pro 
moted  by  its  dissolution. 

The  Federal  Government  was  established  on  this  basis,  not  only  for 
those  who  framed  it,  but  with  the  express  understanding  and  covenan* 


. 


I 


\ 


54  THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

that  its  provisions  should  benefit  and  should  bind  with  equal  force  those 
who  came  after  them.  The  makers  of  it  declared  that  they  established 
it  "  for  themselves  and  their  posterity."  Whatever  obligation,  therefore, 
bound  the  party  of  the  first  part  attached  inevitably  to  the  party  of  the 
second  part.  Both  live  under  the  same  conditions,  and  are  controlled  by 
the  same  duties.  If  the  separate  States  which  established  the  National 
Government  could  not  as  Slates  secede,  neither  could  their  descendants 
or  legal  representatives  secede;  for  the  latter  could  inherit  and  possess  no 
prerogatives  which  the  former  did  not  possess.  That  those  who  framed 
the  Constitution  never  intended  that  any  individual  State  as  such  should 
claim  the  right  to  withdraw  from  the  Union  is  evident  from  the  signifi 
cant  fact  that  they  made  no  provision  in  the  Constitution  itself  for  such  a 
process.  There  is  no  clause  in  that  instrument  which  designates  the  way 
in  which  a  State  shall  secede.  If  those  who  framed  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  intended  that  either  themselves  or  their  descendants  should  possess 
the  right,  as  separate  States,  to  withdraw,  they  would  undoubtedly 
have  provided  for  the  exercise  of  so  important  and  so  fundamental  a 
function. 

Those  who  established  the  Federal  Government  expressly  condemned 
this  doctrine  of  State  supremacy.  They  say,  "  This  Constitution  shall  be 
\  the  supreme  law  of  the  land,  any  thing  in  the  constitution  or  laws  of  a 
State  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding."  No  assertion  could  possibly  be 
plainer.  This  clause  declares  in  substance  that  the  people  who  estab 
lished  the  Federal  Government  organized  it  for  themselves  and  for  their 
posterity ;  that  they  went  into  the  Union  for  the  purpose  of  forming  com 
ponent  parts  of  one  grand  organic  political  structure,  intended  for  perma 
nent  and  perpetual  duration ;  and  they  teach  that,  should  any  State 
undertake  to  pass  laws,  or  even  to  adopt  a  constitution,  which  shall  in  any 
way  conflict  with  the  provisions  already  contained  in  the  Federal  Con 
stitution,  and  in  opposition  to  this  purpose,  they  shall  be  null  and  void. 
Thus,  therefore,  if  any  State,  as  a  State,  or  the  people  of  a  single  State,  shall 
pass  a  law  in  favor  of  secession,  and  against  the  supremacy  of  the 
National  Government,  that  law  is  ipso  facto  null  and  void.'  Now,  those 
States  which  seceded  approved  of  this  clause  in  the  Federal  Constitution 
by  their  own  Representatives  in  Congress  assembled  at  that  time.  It 
therefore  binds  them  and  their  descendants  forever;  and  the  act  of  seces 
sion  by  any  State  is,  by  their  own  provisions  and  solemn  stipulations, 
a  fraud  and  a  violation  of  the  law  which  they  themselves  had  sanctioned. 
Those  who  asserted  that  the  Southern  States,  or  any  other  portion  of  the 
Union,  have  a  right  to  secede  on  the  ground  that  the  Union  is  a  mere 
compact  or  partnership  between  the  several  States,  may  be  answered  and 
condemned  out  of  their  own  mouths.  Let  us  admit,  for  the  sake  of 
argument,  that  the  Federal  Government  is  a  mere  partnership,  what  then? 
It  necessarily  follows  that,  in  order  to  dissolve  it  legally  and  rightfully, 


STATE   SOVEREIGNTY— DISCUSSION   OP  THE  SUBJECT.          55 

the  process  must  be  accomplished  precisely  as  all  other  partnerships  are 
dissolved.  According  to  the  established  principles  of  municipal  law 
there  are  four  processes  by  which  a  partnership  may  be  dissolved.  The 
first  is  by  the  death  of  one  of  the  contracting  parties.  The  second  is  by 
the  expiration  of  the  time  for  which  the  partnership  was  entered  into. 
The  third,  where  no  definite  period  was  specified,  during  which  the  part 
nership  should  continue,  by  the  mutual  consent  of  all  the  parties  to  the 
contract.  The  fourth  is,  where  such  general  consent  has  not  been 
obtained,  by  giving  previous  notice  to  all  the  parties  in  interest  of  an  in 
tention  to  withdraw,  and  by  making  a  full  and  final  settlement  of  all  the 
accounts  existing  between  those  involved  in  the  partnership. 

Now,  in  the  present  instance,  none  of  these  essential  conditions  were 
complied  with.  No  one  of  the  parties  who  formed  the  alleged  partner 
ship  of  the  Federal  Government  was  extinct.  The  period  of  time  for 
which  the  alleged  partnership  was  entered  into  had  not  expired,  because 
no  particular  period  had  ever  been  specified.  There  remained,  therefore, 
the  third  condition — the  unanimous  consent  of  all  the  parties  to  the  com 
pact.  But  that  consent  was  not  given ;  it  was  refused  pertinaciously  and 
clamorously  by  twenty-three  partners  out  of  thirty -four,  and  those  twenty- 
three  were  the  parties  who  had  furnished  nine-tenths  of  the  capital,  who 
had  borne  three-fourths  of  the  expense  of  the  concern,  and  who  had 
always  derived  the  least  profit  from  its  operations.  Lastly,  no  previous 
legal  notice  had  been  given  of  an  intention  to  withdraw ;  nor  had  any 
provision  been  made  for  a  full  and  final  adjustment  of  the  accounts 
and  interests  existing  between  the  various  members  of  the  alleged  part 
nership.  If  then  the  Federal  Government  were  a  mere  compact,  where 
was  the  right  of  the  Rebel  States  to  secede  as  they  did?  By  their 
own  showing,  their  act  was  illegal ;  it  was  a  public  and  national  fraud ; 
it  was  a  violation  of  law  and  order.  It  was  as  unjustifiable  as  their 
subsequent  repudiation  of  the  debts  which  they  owed  the  citizens  of 
the  North,  for  almost  every  commodity  which  promotes  the  comfort, 
refinement,  and  civilization  of  human  society. 

The  secession  of  one  or  more  States  from  the  Union,  in  this  illegal 
manner,  was  unjustifiable  in  another  point  of  view.  When  the  people 
who  established  the  Federal  Government  ceded  certain  sovereign  powers 
to  it,  which  they  would  otherwise  have  enjoyed  and  exercised  under  their 
separate  State  governments,  they  did  it  with  the  implied  pledge  that 
thay  should  receive  in  exchange  therefor  the  benefits  of  a  permanent 
nationality,  which  would  result  from  the  greater  power  and  influence  in 
vested  in  and  exercised  by  a  General  Government.  That  nationality  is 
destroyed,  and  the  benefits  once  conferred  by  it  are  lost,  by  the  secession 
of  a  single  State.  Therefore  the  State  which  thus  secedes  inflicts  an  in 
calculable  injury  on  the  rest  of  the  community.  What  nation  was  more 
respected  throughout  the  world,  what  flag  was  more  honored  as  it  floated 


5G  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

majestically  in  every  clime  under  heaven,  than  that  of  the  "United  States 
of  North  America?"  There  was  a  grandeur  and  glory  associated  with 
that  name;  bright  recollections  of  the  past,  glowing  visions  of  the  future, 
inspiring  thoughts  of  freedom,  prosperity,  enterprise,  clustered  around  it, 
which  invested  it  with  deathless  interest.  Despots  trembled  in  the  re 
cesses  of  their  palaces,  the  people  everywhere  shouted  with  exultation 
and  joy,  when  they  heard  it  repeated.  "What  was  the  cause  of  this? 
It  was  because  the  nation  was  then  a  unit.  Bunion  fait  la  force.  But 
now,  because  the  nation  was  divided,  its  glory  departed ;  it  became  a 
laughing  stock  to  tyrants;  and  the  friends  of  humanity  and  rational  free 
dom  in  every  land  sighed  with  regret  at  the  lamentable  spectacle.  This 
result  was  produced  by  the  act  of  secession,  which  inflicted  an  incalcula 
ble  injury  upon  those  who  were  entitled  to  benefits.  But  the  seceding 
States  had  also  themselves  enjoyed  advantages  fr^om  the  same  source  in 
a  preeminent  degree ;  they  were  bound,  therefore,  both  by  gratitude  and 
by  interest,  to  preserve  the  Union  intact  and  perpetual. 

There  was  but  one  answer  to  these  arguments,  and  that  answer  is  an 
absurdity.  It  was  asserted  by  the  advocates  of  secession  that,  having  no 
longer  the  majority  in  Congress,  they  could  no  longer  mould  the  laws  so 
as  thereby  to  promote  their  own  interests ;  and  especially  that  they  could 
not  obtain  the  admission  of  new  Territories  into  the  Union  with  slavery 
expressly  protected  and  allowed  in  them.  People  from  the  free  States, 
they  said,  could  convey  their  various  kinds  of  property,  to  those  new  Ter 
ritories,  and  could  have  their  titles  thereto  protected ;  but  emigrants  from 
Southern  States  could  not  remove  their  slaves  thither  and  retain  posses 
sion  of  them  ;  hence,  it  was  high  time  to  secede.  The  answer  is  :  that  the 
Southern  States  themselves  assisted  in  establishing  those  very  laws  by 
which  a  certain  definite  majority  rules  in  the  National  Legislature.  They 
approved  of  those  laws  and  obeyed  them,  as  long  as  they  operated  to  their 
own  benefit  and  promoted  their  own  aggrandizement.  But  if,  in  the 
course  of  time  the  South  lost  the  majority  which  the  Constitution  requires 
and  with  that  majority  the  controlling  power,  were  they  justified  in  re 
pudiating  the  government  which  they  had  helped  to  construct,  and  had 
sworn  to  support?  On  the  contrary  they  were  obligated,  as  men  of 
honor,  honesty  and  veracity,  to  accept  the  legitimate  consequences  of 
their  own  free  and  deliberate  acts. 


POLITICAL  MOVEMENTS   IN  SOUTH   CAROLINA,  ETC.  57 


CHAPTER   I. 

EFFECT    OF    MB     LINCOLN'S     ELECTION     IN     THE     SOUTH — POLITICAL     MOVEMENTS     IN     SOUTH 

CAROLINA  AND  GEORGIA EXCITEMENT  IN    CHARLESTON PRELIMINARY  ACTS  AND  EVENTS 

RESIGNATION  OF  FEDERAL  OFFICERS — ELECTION  OF  MEMBERS  TO    THE    STATE    CONVENTION 

OPPONENTS     OF     SECESSION ALEXANDER     H.  STEPHENS FEDERAL     PROPERTY     SEIZED     IN 

CHARLESTON — CONVENTIONS  SUMMONED  IN    GEORGIA    AND   ALABAMA — ASSEMBLING    OP    THE 
CONVENTION     OF     SOUTH     CAROLINA — THE     FIRST    ACT     OF      SECESSION     FROM     THE     UNION 

PASSED — APATHETIC  STATEMENT  OF  GRIEVANCES SECESSION    LOGIC REFLECTIONS    ON    THE 

RESULT — POPULAR  FEELINGS  AT  THIS  TIME  IN  GEORGIA,  ALABAMA,  MISSISSIPI  AND  FLORIDA 
LEVITY  AND  RECKLESSNESS  OF  THE  SECESSION  LEADERS. 

ON  the  6th  of  November,  1860,  Abraham  Lincoln  was  chosen  President 
of  the  United  States,  receiving  the  votes  of  seventeen  States,  or  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty  electors  out  of  three  hundred  and  three.  As  soon  as 
the  unwelcome  intelligence  was  conveyed  by  telegraphic  flashes  to  South 
Carolina  and  Georgia,  an  ebullition  of  intense  indignation  and  disgust 
instantly  burst  forth  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  those  ancient 
communities.  How  quickly  and  promptly  they  were  prepared  to  assume 
the  attitude  of  rebels  against  the  Federal  Government,  was  demonstrated 
by  the  significant  fact,  that,  on  the  very  da}'  after  the  one  on  which  the 
general  election  was  held,  resolutions  were  adopted  by  both  branches  of 
the  Legislature  of  South  Carolina,  then  assembled  at  Columbia,  in  favor 
of  calling  a  convention  of  the  people  of  the  State  to  act  upon  the  question 
of  secession,  to  re-organize  the  militia,  and  to  prepare  for  military  oper 
ations.  There  seemed  to  be  so  settled  a  determination  among  the  politi 
cians  and  representatives  of  that  State  to  assume  the  part  which  they 
afterward  enacted,  that  very  little  preliminary  deliberation  was  necessary 
to  fit  them  for  decisive  measures. 

Nor  were  the  leaders  of  popular  opinion  in  South  Carolina  much  in 
advance  of  their  confederates  in  the  neighboring  State  of  Georgia.  On 
the  8th  of  November  a  large  meeting  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Savan 
nah  was  held  in  that  city,  who  adopted  resolutions  admitting  the  necessity 
and  commending  the  policy  of  secession.  Great  enthusiasm  prevailed  in 
the  assembly,  which  passed,  without  a  dissenting  voice,  a  series  of  resolu 
tions  which  set  forth,  that  the  election  of  Lincoln  and  Hamlin  was  an 
outrage  which  "ought  not  and  will  not  be  submitted  to;"  that  a  petition 
be  sent  to  the  Legislature,  then  in  session  at  Milledgeville,  desiring  them 
to  co-operate  with  the  Governor  of  the  State  in  calling  a  convention  of  the 
people  to  determine  on  measures  of  redress ;  that  the  Legislature  be  re 
quested  to  pass  laws  to  meet  the  commercial  crisis  which  impended,  and 


58  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

organize  and  arm  the  forces  of  the  Commonwealth ;  and  that  the  Senators 
and  Eepresentatives  of  Georgia  in  the  Federal  Congress  be  duly  informed 
of  these  transactions.  The  spirit  of  rebellion  and  disaffection  spread  with 
the  utmost  rapidity  throughout  the  State.  The  ancient  colonial  flag  of 
Georgia  was  unfurled,  and  flung  to  the  breeze  at  Savannah ;  and  an  im 
mense  assemblage,  convened  at  Augusta  on  the  same  day,  commenced 
active  operations  by  enrolling  a  corps  of  minute  men. 

Notwithstanding  these  spirited  measures  elsewhere  the  city  of  Charles 
ton  seemed  determined  to  achieve  and  to  retain  the  first  place  in  the  in 
glorious  enterprise  of  secession.  On  the  8th  of  November  the  time- 
honored  Stars  and  Stripes,  which  had  so  long  waved  in  graceful  splendor 
over  the  Federal  edifices  in  Charleston,  were  displaced ;  and  the  Palmetto 
flag  substituted  in  their  stead.  The  leading  officers  of  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment,  the  District  Attorney,  the  Collector  of  the  Port,  and  the  Deputy 
Collector,  resigned  their  several  positions,  and  duly  notified  Mr.  Buchan 
an,  who  still  occupied  the  White  House,  of  that  important  and  calamitous 
event.  Their  example  was  soon  followed  by  less  insignificant  personages. 
On  the  10th  of  the  month  Mr.  Chesnut  resigned  his  seat  in  Congress,  as 
Senator  from  South  Carolina.  The  Legislature  then  adopted  a  resolution 
appointing  the  sixth  of  the  ensuing  December  as  the  period  for  the  elec 
tion  of  delegates  to  the  convention,  which  was  to  determine  the  future 
action  of  the  state  in  reference  to  Secession ;  and  they  designated  the  17th 
of  December  as  the  date  of  its  assembling. 

These  events  were  the  natural  and  necessary  preliminaries  to  the  great 
revolutionary  movement  which  was  destined  soon  to  follow.  But  it  is 
worthy  of  remark,  that  at  this  early  period  of  the  process,  the  politicians 
of  South  Carolina,  and  the  citizens  of  that  State  whom  they  controlled  so 
despotically,  either  by  fear,  or  by  conviction,  or  by  delusion,  were  unani 
mous  in  their  support  of  the  policy  of  rebellion  ;  whereas  no  such  unani 
mity  existed  at  that  time  in  the  other  seceding  States.  Thus,  on  the 
10th  of  November,  a  conservative  meeting  was  held  at  Augusta,  Georgia, 
composed  of  very  respectable  citizens,  and  presided  over  by  the  Mayor ; 
which  adopted  resolutions  setting  forth  that,  living  as  the  people  did  under 
a  government  of  law  and  order,  it  was  their  duty,  if  they  felt  that  they 
suffered  from  the  infliction  of  grievances,  to  seek  redress  from  them  only 
by  legal  and  constitutional  means.  But  their  words  of  prudence  and 
monition  were  like  the  voice  of  one  calling  in  the  wilderness ;  or  rather 
like  the  sound  of  a  gentle  whisper  amid  the  roar  and  thunder  of  a  furious 
tempest  sweeping  over  the  deep,  unheard  and  unheeded  by  those  around 
them.  The  feeling  in  favor  of  secession  gradually  became  predominant 
throughout  the  States  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia ;  and  it  was  confi 
dently  asserted,  that,  before  the  period  arrived  for  the  inauguration  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Florida,  and  Texas,  would  have  united 
their  fortunes  with  those  of  the  two  leading  States.  The  latter  had  already 


EXCITEMENT  IN  CHAKLESTON.  59 

gone  too  far  to  recede ;  they  felt  that  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the 
Union  were  now  lost  to  them  ;  and  they  had  but  one  course  left,  to  per 
severe  to  the  end  in  the  ignominious  career  they  had  begun. 

At  this  stage  of  the  rebellion  there  was  much  doubt  in  the  minds  of 
several  distinguished  statesmen  of  Georgia  as  to  the  propriety  and  policy 
of  secession.  The  most  eminent  of  these  was  Alexander  H.  Stephens, 
who  then  held  a  high  place  in  the  estimation  of  the  whole  nation,  for  his 
undoubted  talents,  and  his  prudent,  conservative  disposition.  At  this 
period  he  opposed  Secession  with  earnestness ;  and  stated  his  solemn  con 
viction,  that  the  act  would  be  injurious  and  pernicious  to  the  South  in 
every  respect.  He  contended  that  the  advocates  of  slavery  would  be 
able  to  protect  their  rights  much  more  efficiently  while  in  the  Union  than 
when  out  of  it ;  and  of  the  veracity  and  wisdom  of  this  opinion  there  could 
be  no  possible  doubt.  But  soon  it  became  known  that  he  had  begun  to 
waver  in  his  position  ;  and  the  hope  was  entertained  by  the  secessionists 
that  he  might  be  won  over  to  their  cause.  Whether  it  was  the  bribe  of 
the  proffered  office  of  the  Vice  Presidency  of  the  new  Confederacy  about 
to  be  created,  or  whether  it  was  the  result  of  further  and  deeper  research 
into  the  supposed  interests  of  the  South;  or  whether  he  had  become  con 
vinced  that  it  was  useless  to  resist  the  overwhelming  tide  which  he  saw 
rushing  around  him  on  every  hand,  we  pretend  not  to  say.  But  it  was 
soon  announced  that  the  ablest  statesman  of  Georgia,  who  had  spoken  so 
clearly,  decisively  and  boldly  in  defence  of  the  Union,  had  at  length  aban 
doned  that  honorable  position,  and  had  declared  himself  in  doubt  on  the 
subject  of  secession.  This  event  greatly  elated  and  encouraged  those 
who  had  at  one  time  despaired  of  his  co-operation,  and  had  feared  his 
resistance  to  their  enterprise. 

Further  acts  of  hostility  to  the  General  Government  continued  to  be 
perpetrated  at  Charleston.  On  the  13th  of  November,  a  company  of 
South  Carolina  troops  took  possession  of  the  United  States  Arsenal  near 
that  city.  At  Columbia  the  Legislature  passed  a  bill  authorizing  the  or 
ganization  of  ten  regiments,  containing  a  thousand  men  each,  for  defence 
against  the  forces  of  the  Federal  Government,  should  the  latter  attempt 
to  coerce  the  State  into  obedience  to  Federal  authority.  Soon  afterward 
a  public  meeting  was  held  in  Institute  Hall,  in  Charleston,  for  the  purpose 
of  receiving  the  members  of  the  State  Legislature  who  had  returned  from 
Columbia.  An  immense  crowd  assembled ;  resolutions  were  passed  com 
mending  these  functionaries  for  their  conduct  in  reference  to  secession ; 
and  addresses  were  delivered  by  leading  citizens  in  favor  of  the  policy 
of  withdrawing  from  the  Union.  The  enthusiasm  became  still  more  in 
tense  when  it  was  announced  that  Messrs.  Toombs,  Iverson,  Howell  Cobb, 
and  Herschel  Y.  Johnson,  of  Georgia,  had  made  known  their  determina 
tion  to  aid  the  cause  of  disunion.  Meetings  were  then  held  in  all  the 
districts  and  parishes  of  South  Carolina,  in  which  the  justice  and  necessity 


60  THE   CIVIL  WAK  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

of  secession  were  earnestly  defended  by  popular  speakers,  who  thus  im 
pressed  that  doctrine  more  fully  and  deeply  upon  the  minds  of  the  people. 

At  this  period  the  attention  of  the  citizens  of  South  Carolina,  Georgia, 
and  Alabama,  was  chiefly  occupied  in  the  selection  of  delegates  to  the 
conventions,  who  were  to  decide  the  action  of  those  States  in  reference  to 
the  subject  of  secession.  The  ablest  men  in  the  community  were  chosen 
for  that  important  function — in  South  Carolina,  Senators  Hammond  and 
Chesnut,  Messrs.  Khett,  Barnwell,  Memminger,  Keitt;  in  Georgia  and 
Alabama,  Messrs.  Toombs,  Cobb,  William  L.  Yancey,  and  T.  H.  Watts. 
The  prevalent  feeling  among  the  great  majority  of  those  chosen  by  all 
these  States  was  in  favor  of  secession  ;  so  that  little  doubt  existed  in  the 
public  mind  in  reference  to  the  policy  which  they  would  ultimately  adopt 
when  they  met  and  acted  in  an  official  capacity.  Meanwhile,  financial 
difficulties  began  to  oppress  the  mercantile  community.  As  soon  as  the 
other  portions  of  the  National  Confederacy  discovered  the  prevalence  of 
the  secession  sentiment,  they  lost  confidence  in  the  integrity  and  capabil 
ity  of  those  who  advocated  it.  No  longer  were  the  drafts  of  the  merchants 
of  the  seceding  States  honored  at  the  North;  no  longer  were  their  bank 
notes  received  as  a  circulating  medium  beyond  their  own  borders,  except 
at  a  heavy  and  ruinous  discount.  Already  did  the  secessionists  commence 
to  feel  the  injurious  effects  of  the  loss  of  public  confidence.  The  banks 
of  those  States  were  constrained  to  suspend  the  payment  of  specie ;  and 
business  of  all  descriptions  became  more  depressed  and  stagnant  than  had 
ever  been  the  case  before.  This  was,  however,  but  the  beginning  of  evils, 
which  did  not  in  the  least  degree  diminish  the  treasonable  and  suicidal 
zeal  of  the  secessionists. 

The  convention  who  were  selected  by  the  people  of  South  Carolina  to 
determine  upon  the  question  of  secession,  met  at  Columbia  on  the  17th 
of  December,  1860.  It  is  recorded  that,  at  the  moment  when  this  body 
assembled,  several  signs  of  indignant  nature  were  exhibited,  which  an 
ancient  Greek  or  Koman  would  have  asserted,  superstitiously,  to  have  in 
dicated  and  foreboded  the  wrath  of  the  gods  at  the  act  about  to  be  perpe 
trated.  A  heavy  fog  of  unusual  dampness  and  thickness  hung  over  the 
city,  enveloping  every  thing  in  gloom  and  darkness.  At  the  same  time, 
the  fearful  ravages  of  the  small-pox  struck  terror  into  the  hearts  both  of 
strangers  and  citizens.  Undeterred,  however,  by  these  sinister  omens, 
the  convention  assembled  at  noon ;  General  Jamison  was  chosen  tempo 
rary  chairman ;  the  names  of  the  delegates  were  enrolled,  and  the  con 
vention  was  organized.  At  a  subsequent  election  for  permanent  officers, 
the  same  gentleman  was  again  elected  President.  So  overpowered  was 
he  by  his  feelings  of  gratitude,  when  he  rose  to  thank  the  convention  for 
the  exalted  honor  conferred  upon  him,  that,  having  uttered  a  few  inco 
herent  and  absurd  remarks,  he  concluded  by  declaring,  with  perfect  truth  : 

I  can't  say  any  thing;  I  can't  express  my  feelings" — and  resumed  his 


PRELIMINARY   ACTS    AND    EVENTS.  61 

seat  amid  the  sympathy  of  the  audience.  One  of  the  first  and  most  pru 
dent  acts  of  the  convention  was  to  remove  its  sessions  from  Columbia  to 
Charleston,  in  consequence  of  the  prevalence  and  virulence  of  the  small 
pox,  lion.  Ilowell  Cobb  was  present  as  Commissioner  from  Alabama; 
Messrs.  Elmore  and  Hooker  were  the  Commissioners  from  Mississippi. 

When  the  convention  re-assembled  at  Charleston  on  the  18th  of 
December,  its  first  achievement  was  to  appoint  a  committee  to  prepare 
and  report  a  Secession  Ordinance,  together  with  a  Declaration  of  Indepen 
dence.  Lawrence  M.  Keitt,  one  of  the  most  violent  and  rabid  of  southern 
agitators,  was  selected  as  the  chairman  of  this  committee.  At  the  same 
time  Mr.  Rhett  offered  a  resolution,  which  wa*  adopted  with  great  unanimity, 
to  the  effect  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  provide  for  the  assembling 
of  a  convention  of  all  the  seceding  States,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a 
constitution,  and  establishing  a  new  confederacy.  It  was  on  the  20th  of 
December  that  South  Carolina  consummated  her  treason  and  her  disgrace 
by  finally  adopting  the  Ordinance  of  Secession.* 

When  the  ballot  was  taken  upon  the  passage  of  this  ordinance,  it  was 
sustained  and  approved  by  an  unanimous  vote.  Out  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-nine  members,  not  a  single  dissenting  voice  was  heard  in  favor  of 
the  glorious  and  time-honored  Union.  As  soon  as  the  action  of  the 
convention  was  communicated  to  the  populace  in  the  streets,  loud  and 
long  acclamations  rent  the  air.  It  was  ordered  by  the  convention  that 
the  momentous  and  decisive  act  which  had  just  been  performed  should 
be  communicated  by  telegraph  to  the  Representatives  of  South  Carolina 
in  Congress ;  and  provision  was  made  for  engrossing  the  ordinance,  and 
for  its  signature  by  all  the  members  of  the  convention,  with  great  pomp 
and  ceremony,  at  Institute  Hall. 

Subsequent  to  the  passage  of  this  memorable  act,  a  discussion  ensued 
in  the  convention  in  reference  to  the  new  position  and  responsibilities 
thus  assumed  by  South  Carolina.  It  was  asserted  that,  by  the  adoption  of 
that  ordinance,  no  person  within  the  limits  of  the  State  possessed,  or 
could  exercise,  any  authority  which  he  had  previously  derived  from  the 
Federal  Government.  There  was  no  collector  of  the  port,  no  postmaster, 
no  United  States  judge,  or  attorney,  or  marshal;  and  it  would  become 

*  This  document  was  as  follows  :  "An  Ordinance  to  Dissolve  the  Union  between  the 
State  of  South  Carolina  and  other  States  united  with  her  under  the  compact  entitled 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  of  America : 

"We,  the  people  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  in  convention  assembled,  do 
declare  and  ordain,  and  it  is  hereby  declared  and  ordained,  that  the  ordinance 
adopted  by  us  in  convention,  on  the  23d  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1788, 
whereby  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  of  America  was  ratified,  and  also  all 
acts  and  parts  of  acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State  ratifying  the  amend- 
ments  of  the  said  Constitution,  are  hereby  repealed,  and  that  the  Union  now  subsist 
ing  between  South  Carolina  and  other  States  under  the  name  of  the  United  States  of 
America  is  hereby  dissolved." 


62  THE   CIVIL   \VAR   IN    THE   UNITED   STATES. 

necessary  to  appoint  other  officers  in  their  stead.  One  member  boasted 
that  at  last,  after  a  struggle  of  forty  years,  there  was  no  man  in  the  State 
•who  dared  to  collect  the  revenues  of  the  Federal  Government.  It  was 
asserted  by  another,  and  the  whole  convention  seemed  to  sympathize  in 
tensely  with  the  remark,  that  great  care  should  be  taken  in  the  measures 
which  were  adopted ;  because  nothing  should  be  done  which  might  affect 
the  dignity,  honor,  and  glory  of  South  Carolina.  There  was  a  difference  of 
opinion,  however,  among  the  assembled  wisdom,  whether  the  passage  of 
the  Ordinance  of  Secession  abrogated  all,  or  only  some,  of  the  laws  of  the 
United  States  within  the  limits  or  South  Carolina.  It  was  an  argument 
which  could  not  be  answered,  that  the  legal  tender  in  the  State  must  re 
main  gold  and  silver ;  and  what  gold  and  silver  could  there  be,  except 
such  as  bore  the  stamp  and  superscription  of  the  Federal  Government  ? 
That  conclusive  consideration  settled  the  point,  that  South  Carolina  could 
not  as  yet  wholly  ignore  the  existence  of  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  of  North  America.  They  must  for  the  present  allow  that  govern 
ment  at  least  a  quasi  existence.  And  so  indeed  they  generously  did. 
They  agreed  still  to  permit  the  Federal  Government  to  spend  money  at 
the  rate  of  a  million  per  annum  in  carrying  the  mails  through  the  seced 
ing  States.  It  was  finally  settled  that  the  spirit  of  the  ordinance  must  be 
observed,  until  they  could  treat  with  the  General  Government  in  regard 
to  the  further  adjustment  of  details. 

On  the  22d  of  December,  the  committee  of  the  convention  which  had 
been  appointed  to  prepare  an  address  to  the  Southern  States,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  obtaining  their  co-operation  and  sympathy,  reported.  The  chair 
man  read  an  elaborate  declaration  of  the  causes  which  existed,  and  which 
they  regarded  as  sufficient  justification  for  secession.  It  set  forth,  inter 
alia,  that  the  Federal  Government  had  signally  failed  to  perform  its  duty 
toward  the  slaveholding  States;  especially  in  regard  to  the  matter  of 
executing  the  fourth  article  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  which  provided 
that  persons  held  to  service  and  labor  in  one  State,  and  fleeing  to  another, 
should  be  delivered  up  on  the  demand  of  the  party  to  whom  such  service 
or  labor  was  due.  It  was  declared  that  all  the  Northern,  and  many  of 
the  Western  States,  had  passed  laws  within  their  respective  limits  which 
effectually  nullified  this  provision  of  the  Federal  Constitution;  that  some 
States  had  resisted  the  right  of  transit  for  slaves  in  the  custody  of  their 
masters;  that  others  had  directly  refused  to  surrender  to  justice  fugitives 
charged  with  murder ;  and  that  in  one  or  two  States,  slaves  were  pro 
tected  by  the  connivance  of  ministers  of  the  law,  from  the  power  and 
grasp  of  their  owners,  who  had  pursued,  had  overtaken,  and  had  de 
manded  their  property.  It  added  that,  in  view  of  these  great  and  un 
speakable  outrages  on  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  on  the  rights  of  the 
South,  it  was  time  that  the  slave  States  should  withdraw  from  a  compact 
in  which  the  legitimate  ends  contemplated  by  its  establishment  were  de- 


A  PATHETIC  STATEMENT   OF   GRIEVANCES.  63 

feated.  To  incense  the  South  still  more,  it  was  asserted  that  the  free 
States  had  been  guilty  of  the  immeasurable  impudence  and  presumption 
of  assuming  to  decide  upon  the  propriety  of  their  domestic  institutions ; 
denouncing  as  sinful  the  sacred  institution  of  salvery ;  establishing  socie 
ties  among  themselves  whose  express  object  it  should  be  to  disturb  the 
peace  and  injure  the  property  of  the  South,  by  enticing  their  slaves  away 
from  their  homes,  and  by  inciting  those  who  remained  to  commit  acts  of 
rebellion  and  servile  insurrection. 

This  extraordinary  document  enumerated  other  causes  of  compliiint 
against  the  North,  which  must  indeed  deeply  move  the  sympathy  of  the 
universe.  It  declared  that  this  malignant  spirit,  so  hostile  to  the  interests 
of  the  South,  had  continued  its  restless  and  pernicious  agitations  for 
twenty-five  years,  until  at  last  it  had  secured  a  supremacy  in  the  Federal 
Government.  Aggravated,  therefore,  as  former  injuries  had  been,  the 
future  promised  others  still  more  insufferable.  At  this  stage  of  the  argu 
ment,  a  specimen  of  South  Carolina  logic  was  introduced  which  presented 
an  astonishing  instance  of  dialectical  skill.  It  was  asserted  that  a  sectional 
party  had  obtained  control  of  the  Federal  Government,  while,  however, 
it  had  observed  all  the  forms  of  the  Constitution  in  so  doing.  It  will  remain 
an  impenetrable  mystery  to  all  rational  beings  out  of  the  seceding  States, 
how  a  party  can  be  sectional  whose  operations  are  carried  on  in  striot 
accordance  with  the  forms  and  provisions  of  the  Federal  Constitution, 
and  yet  is  so  powerful,  both  in  force  and  in  numbers,  as  to  exceed  every 
other  party,  and  obtain  a  supremacy  over  all  competitors  in  strict  accord 
ance  with  the  provisions  of  that  same  Constitution.  We  may  answer, 
that  the  triumphant  party  was  either  sectional  or  it  was  not.  If  it  were 
sectional,  then  the  National  Government  must  also  be  sectional.  If  the 
government  was  not  sectional,  then  the  triumphant  party  could  not  have 
been  sectional.  But  the  National  Government  is  not  sectional,  according 
to  the  admission  of  the  secessionists  themselves.  Therefore,  the  party 
which,  by  legal  and  constitutional  means,  could  and  did  obtain  control 
of  that  unsectional  government,  could  not  possibly  have  itself  been  sec 
tional. 

But  as  South  Carolina  had  a  logic  of  its  own,  so  also  had  it  a  policy 
peculiar  to  itself.  After  the  passage  of  the  Ordinance  of  Secession,  the 
convention  resolved  that,  until  otherwise  provided,  the  Governor  of  the 
State  should  be  authorized  to  appoint  collectors  and  other  officers  con 
nected  with  the  customs  for  the  several  ports  of  the  State,  postmasters, 
and  other  necessary  persons,  instead  of  the  Federal  functionaries  who  had 
been  displaced.  The  oath  to  be  administered  to  those  persons  appointed 
for  that  purpose  was  prepared  and  enjoined.  It  was  as  follows :  "  I  do 
solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  be  faithful  and  true  in  the  allegi 
ance  I  bear  to  South  Carolina,  so  long  as  I  may  continue  a  citizen  there 
of;  and  that  I  am  duly  qualified  according  to  the  constitution  of  this 


64  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES* 

State  to  exercise  the  duties  of  the  office  to  which  I  have  been  appointed ; 
and  will,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  discharge  the  duties  of  the  office,  and 
preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the  constitution  of  this  State.  So  help  me 
God." 

Thus  the  Eubicon  was  at  length  passed,  and  secession  became  a  stern 
yet  absurd  reality.  When  the  news  of  this  event  was  conveyed  to  differ 
ent  portions  of  the  Union,  it  produced  in  different  localities  the  mosfc 
opposite  effects.  The  inhabitants  of  the  free  States,  both  in  the  East,  in 
the  West,  and  in  the  centre,  received  the  intelligence  with  mingled  sur 
prise  and  disgust.  They  regarded  it  as  an  evidence  of  the  amazing 
stupidity,  obstinacy  and  malignity  of  the  people  of  South  Carolina  ;  who, 
without  any  cause  or  excuse,  except  such  as  must  excite  the  derision  of  all 
intelligent  people,  had  dissolved  their  connection  with  a  glorious  and  benefi 
cent  government,  and  had  plunged  themselves  into  all  the  inevitable  hor 
rors  of  political  chaos  and  ruin.  It  was  evidently  a  case  illustrative  of 
the  familiar  maxim :  Quern  Deus  vult  perdere,  priusquam  dementat.  Even 
that  party  in  the  North  from  whom  the  secessionists  had  confidently 
expected  to  receive  sympathy  and  comfort,  the  former  advocates  of 
southern  interests,  disappointed  them  in  this  respect ;  and  joined  heartily 
in  the  general  chorus  of  censure  and  condemnation  which  resounded 
throughout  the  land.  The  border  slave  States  regarded  the  event  with 
suspicion  and  apprehension,  and  sent  no  message  of  encouragement  or 
congratulation.  It  was  only  in  those  States  which  had  already  expressed 
their  approval  of  secession  that  any  sympathy  with  the  policy  of  South 
Carolina  was  expressed  or  exhibited — in  Georgia,  Alabama,  Mississippi, 
and  Florida.  It  is  not  impossible  that  this  grand  and  prominent  isolation 
in  evil  and  in  ignominy,  may  have  flattered  the  vanity  and  strengthened 
the  determination  of  that  State,  which  has  always  been  so  remarkable 
and  eminent  for  patriotism,  and  for  that  extreme  modesty  which  is  inva 
riably  an  accompaniment  of  superior  merit !  They  had  already  accom 
plished  what  was  probably  the  chief  motive  of  the  movement — they  had 
attracted  to  themselves  the  attention  of  the  entire  nation  ;  and  they  flat 
tered  themselves,  doubtless,  that  soon  they  would  be  the  object  of  the 
admiring  scrutiny  of  the  whole  world.  That  eminence  would  indeed  be 
an  ample  compensation  for  all  that  they  would  be  called  upon  to  suffer 
and  to  sacrifice  in  the  future ;  and  they  therefore  might  select  for  their 
motto  that  other  maxim  Post  nubila  Phoebus. 

Nevertheless,  he  who  carefully  considers  the  circumstances  which  at 
tended  this  important  event  will  be  surprised  at  a  singular  and  anomalous 
peculiarity  connected  with  it.  He  will  observe  that,  in  this  instance,  the 
most  sacred  of  all  political  relations,  involving  in  its  embrace  other  ties 
more  tender,  other  associations  more  solemn  still,  was  ruptured  with  a 
degree  of  thoughtlessness,  of  exultation  even,  which  indicated  the  mas 
tery  of  malignant  passions,  and  the  presence  of  callous  hearts.  The  actors 


LEVITY  AND   RECKLESSNESS   OF  SECESSION  LEADERS.       65 

in  this  melancholy  drama,  as  they  went  forth  from  their  ancestral  homes 
and  their  ancient  associates,  sent  no  words  of  kind  farewell,  they  uttered 
no  parting  benediction  to  those  with  whom  they  had  been  so  long  con 
nected,  and  from  whose  society  they  thus  tore  themselves.  They  made 
no  allusion  to  past  eventual  incidents,  to  storms  which,  in  other  and 
sappier  times,  they  had  nobly  breasted  shoulder  to  shoulder  ;  to  scenes 
of  sadness,  where  their  gushing  tears  had  mingled  in  one  hallowed  stream  ; 
to  fields  of  glory,  where  they  had  joined  in  common  struggles  and  had 
achieved  united  triumphs.  In  that  dark  hour  they  seemed  unconscious 
of  the  real  extent  of  the  peril,  the  disaster,  and  the  disgrace,  which,  in  the 
impartial  judgment  of  the  civilized  world,  they  thereby  brought  upon 
themselves.  True  patriots,  disinterested  philanthropists,  and  wise  states 
men,  do  not  disport  themselves  with  such  levity  in  the  great  crisis  of 
human  responsibility  and  destiny.  It  was  indeed  a  spectacle  calculated 
to  excite  the  pity  of  the  wise  and  good  of  all  lands  and  ages. 
6 


66  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER    II. 

TREASONABLE  PROCLAMATION  OP  GOVERNOR  PICKENS — RESIGNATION  OF  THE  REPRESENTA 
TIVES  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA  IN  CONGRESS — THE  CRITTENDEN  PROPOSITIONS  OF  COMPROMISE 
— THEIR  PROVISIONS — SCRAMBLE  FOR  FEDERAL  PROPERTY — COMMISSIONERS  OF  SOUTH 
CAROLINA  TO  THE  FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT — MAJOR  ANDERSON — THE  REMOVAL  OF  HIS 
COMMAND  TO  FORT  SUMTER — MR.  SECRETARY  FLOYD — HIS  RESIGNATION — DEMEANOR  OF 
THE  REBEL  COMMISSIONERS  AT  WASHINGTON — THE  CONVENTION  OF  THE  8LAVEHOLDING 
STATES IMPORTANT  EVENTS  AT  SAVANNAH SECESSION  OF  MISSISSIPPI PERNICIOUS  IN 
FLUENCE  OF  JEFFERSON  DAVIS — RESIGNATION  OF  HIS  SEAT  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  SENATE 
— THE  SECESSION  OF  ALABAMA — OF  FLORIDA,  GEORGIA,  LOUISIANA,  AND  TEXAS. 

ON  the  twenty -fourth  of  December,  I860,  Governor  Pickens,  of  South 
Carolina,  issued  a  proclamation  setting  forth  that  the  State  having  seceded 
from  the  Federal  Union,  was  thenceforth  an  independent  and  sovereign 
community ;  and  as  such  had  the  right  to  levy  war,  to  conclude  peace,  to 
negotiate  treaties,  and  to  do  all  other  acts  whatsoever  which  appertain  to 
a  free  and  independent  government.  On  the  same  day,  the  Representatives 
of  that  State  in  Congress — Messrs.  McQueen,  Bonham,  Boyce,  and  Ash- 
more — addressed  a  letter  to  the  Speaker  of  the  House,  containing  the 
resignation  of  their  respective  posts.  That  document  was  as  follows: 
"  We  avail  ourselves  of  the  earliest  opportunity,  since  the  official  commu 
nication  of  the  intelligence,  of  making  known  to  your  honorable  body 
that  the  people  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  in  their  sovereign  capacity, 
have  resumed  the  power  heretofore  delegated  by  them  to  the  Federal 
Government  of  the  United  States,  and  have  thereby  dissolved  our  connec 
tion  with  the  House  of  Representatives.  In  taking  leave  of  those  with 
whom  we  have  been  associated  in  a  common  agency,  we  as  well  as  the 
people  of  our  commonwealth,  desire  to  do  so  with  a  feeling  of  mutual 
regard  and  respect  for  each  other — cherishing  the  hope  that  in  our  future 
relations  we  may  better  enjoy  that  peace  and  harmony  essential  to  the 
happiness  of  a  free  and  enlightened  people." 

It  was  at  this  period  that  John  J.  Crittenden  of  Kentucky  came  forward 
in  the  Senate  with  his  famous  propositions  of  compromise,  for  the  purpose, 
if  possible,  of  healing  the  difficulty.  As  these  propositions  possess  an 
historical  interest  and  importance,  it  may  be  proper  here  to  state  their 
principal  contents.  They  provided  that  thenceforth  slavery  or  involun 
tary  servitude,  except  for  crime,  of  which  the  party  should  be  duly  con 
victed  by  process  of  law,  should  be  prohibited  in  all  the  Territories  of  the 
United  States  lying  north  of  latitude  thirty-six  degrees  and  thirty  minutes ; 
that  in  all  the  Territories  south  of  that  latitude,  slavery  should  not  be  in 
terfered  with  by  Congress ;  and  that  when  the  Territories  north  of  that 


THE   CRITTENDEN  PROPOSITIONS   OF   COMPROMISE.  67 

line  were  entitled  to  admission  as  States  to  the  Union,  they  should  be  so 
admitted,  with  slavery  or  without  it,  as  their  respective  inhabitants  might 
themselves  at  that  period  determine.  They  also  provided  that  Congress 
should  possess  no  right  to  abolish  slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia; 
they  denied  the  same  right  in  the  national  dock  yards  and  arsenals ;  they 
maintained  the  right  of  the  transit  of  slaves  through  the  free  States;  and 
they  proposed,  that  States  in  which  fugitive  slaves  had  been  rescued  from 
the  possession  of  their  masters,  when  in  pursuit  of  them,  should  pay  the 
value  of  them  to  their  alleged  owners.  But  the  patriotic  efforts  of  Mr. 
Crittenden,  on  this  occasion,  were  useless ;  the  extreme  views  held  by  both 
the  Northern  and  the  southern  Senators  upon  the  questions  involved  in  hi3 
compromise,  rendered  an  accommodation  utterly  impossible. 

The  great  State  of  South  Carolina  having  withdrawn  from  the  Union, 
the  next  thing  to  be  done  was,  to  remove  all  the  monuments  of  Federal 
power,  and  take  possession  of  all  the  Federal  property,  which  existed 
within  her  limits.  It  was  beneath  her  dignity  to  permit  those  to  remain 
before  her  eyes  as  mementos  of  her  former  degradation,  as  an  humble 
member  of  the  repudiated  and  rejected  General  Government.  According 
ly,  the  assembled  convention  proceeded  to  select  commissioners  to  proceed 
to  Washington  as  their  representatives,  and  make  a  formal  demand  for 
these  various  objects  of  dispute. 

Immediately  on  their  arrival  at  the  seat  of  government,  the  commis 
sioners  announced  their  presence  to  Mr.  Buchanan.  In  a  communication 
to  that  functionary,  Messrs.  Barnwell,  Adams,  and  Orr,  respectfully,  yet 
firmly  set  forth  that  they  had  been  delegated  by  the  State  of  South  Caro 
lina  to  inform  the  Federal  Government  of  their  withdrawal  from  the 
Union ;  to  negotiate  in  her  name  upon  all  such  questions  as  necessarily 
arose  in  consequence  of  that  act ;  and  that  they  were  prepared  to  enter 
upon  these  negotiations  in  a  friendly  spirit,  with  the  desire  to  inaugurate 
their  new  relations  so  as  to  promote  the  mutual  advantage  of  both  parties. 
They  added,  however,  that  "  the  events  of  the  last  twenty -four  hours 
render  such  an  assurance  impossible.  We  came  here  the  representatives 
of  an  authority  which  could,  at  any  time  within  the  past  sixty  days,  have 
taken  possession  of  the  forts  in  Charleston  harbor,  but  which,  upon 
pledges  given  in  a  manner  that  we  cannot  doubt,  determined  to  trust  to 
your  honor  rather  than  to  its  own  power.  Since  our  arrival  here,  an 
officer  of  the  United  States,  acting  as  we  are  assured  not  only  without, 
but  against  your  orders,  has  dismantled  one  fort  and  occupied  another — 
thus  altering  to  a  most  important  extent  the  condition  of  affairs  under 
which  we  came.  Until  these  circumstances  are  explained  in  a  manner 
which  relieves  us  of  all  doubt  as  to  the  spirit  in  which  these  negotiations 
shall  be  conducted,  we  are  forced  to  suspend  all  discussion  as  to  any 
arrangement  by  which  our  mutual  interests  may  be  amicably  adjusted. 
And,  in  conclusion  we  would  urge  upon  you  the  immediate  withdrawal 


€8  THE   CIVIL  AYAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

of  the  troops  from  the  harbor  of  Charleston.  Under  present  circumstances 
they  are  a  standing  menace  which  renders  negotiation  impossible,  and,  as 
our  recent  experience  shows,  threaten  speedily  to  bring  to  a  bloody  issue 
questions  which  ought  to  be  settled  with  temperance  and  judgment." 
To  this  address  Mr.  Buchanan  replied  evasively ;  and  his  answer  elicited 
a  lengthy  and  haughty  rejoinder  from  the  commissioners.  Meanwhile, 
the  subject  and  the  destination  of  the  forts  in  Charleston  harbor  assumed 
an  increasing  importance.  At  that  period  Fort  Moultrie  was  commanded 
by  Major  Anderson,  under  whose  orders  there  had  been  placed  a  small 
garrison. 

On  the  26th  of  December  that  officer  transferred  his  command  from 
Fort  Moultrie  to  Fort  Sumter,  a  new  and  greatly  stronger  work.  This 
act  was  one  indicating  intrepidity,  sagacity  and  skill.  Major  Anderson 
thereby  gained  an  important  advantage  over  the  secessionists ;  and  he 
receive'd  the  deserved  applause  of  the  nation  in  return.  Immediately 
afterward  the  troops  of  South  Carolina  took  possession  of  Fort  Moultrie, 
and  thus  held  the  first  armed  position  against  the  Federal  Government. 
That  position  was  of  little  service  to  them,  however,  inasmuch  as  Major 
Anderson,  before  withdrawing  from  it,  had  spiked  the  cannon,  had  burned 
the  gun-carriages,  and  had  left  the  works  in  a  mutilated  and  useless  con 
dition.  Secretary  Floyd  was  greatly  incensed  at  the  conduct  of  Major 
Anderson.  Being  secretly  in  the  service  of  the  secessionists,  he  now 
began  more  openly  to  advocate  their  interests  in  the  Federal  Cabinet. 
Finding  that  the  voice  of  public  opinion  was  beginning  to  condemn  him 
with  general  and  harmonious  censure,  he  read  the  following  paper  to  the 
President  in  the  presence  of  the  Cabinet,  and  afterward  resigned  his  office : 
"It  is  evident  now,  from  the  action  of  the  commander  of  Fort  Moultrie, 
that  the  solemn  pledges  of  the  Government  have  been  violated  by  Major 
Anderson.  In  my  judgment  but  one  remedy  is  now  left  us  by  which  to 
vindicate  our  honor  and  prevent  civil  war.  It  is  in  vain  now  to  hope  for 
confidence  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  South  Carolina  in  any  further 
pledges  as  to  the  action  of  the  military.  One  remedy  is  left,  and  that  is 
to  withdraw  the  garrison  from  the  harbor  of  Charleston.  I  hope  the 
President  will  allow  me  to  make  ihat  order  at  once.  This  order,  in  my 
judgment,  can  alone  prevent  bloodshed  and  civil  war." 

The  commissioners  who  were  sent  from  South  Carolina  to  the  Federal 
Government,  conducted  themselves  at  Washington  with  such  a  degree  of 
arrogance  as  effectually  to  defeat  the  purpose  of  conciliation  between  the 
rival  Eepublics,  if  any  such  purpose  had  been  entertained.  Their  last 
communication,  addressed  to  Mr.  Buchanan,  was  a  singular  effusion  of 
combined  impudence  and  imprudence.  They  assumed  the  dictatorial  tone 
of  masters,  and  assured  the  President  that  he  had,  in  effect,  compromised 
his  honor  by  not  immediately  withdrawing  the  Federal  troops  from  the 
forts  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston.  They  reminded  him,  also,  in  language 


THE  CONVENTION   OF  THE  SLAVEHOLDING  STATES.  69 

which  was  absurd  and  ludicrous  in  itself,  that  "  gentlemen  of  the  highest 
possible  public  reputation,  and  the  most  unsullied  integrity,"  had  advised 
him  to  withdraw  those  troops  as  a  measure  due  to  the  claims  of  peace 
and  the  continued  prosperity  to  the  country.  They  added  that  the 
authorities  of  South  Carolina  were  fully  justified  in  taking  possession  of 
that  portion  of  Federal  property  which  they  had  already  seized  ;  and  that 
the  President  should  have  followed  the  counsel  of  Mr.  Floyd  in  regard 
to  the  disputed  matters,  as  that  personage  was  his  legitimate  adviser  in 
the  premises.  This  assertion  was  erroneous,  to  use  a  gentle  and  courtly 
phrase  ;  because  Mr.  Floyd  had  already  become  strongly  and  justly  sus 
pected  for  those  acts  of  treason  against  the  Federal  Government  which 
were  afterward  clearly  and  unanswerably  proved  against  him.  The 
Commissioners  also  charged,  that  by  approving  of  the  removal  of  Major 
Anderson's  command  to  Fort  Sumter,  the  United  States  virtually  com 
menced  hostilities  and  declared  war  against  the  State  of  South  Carolina, 
This  declaration  was  equally  false.;  because  the  three  forts  in  the  harbor 
of  Charleston  were  exclusively  Federal  property,  erected  by  Federal 
money,  and  therefore  the  Federal  Government  possessed  an  unquestion 
able  right  to  transfer  its  own  troops  to  and  from  its  own  fortresses  pre 
cisely  as  it  pleased,  without  involving  a  menace  to  any  one.  They 
concluded  by  declaring  that  the  Administration,  by  refusing  to  complv 
with  the  demands  of  those  whom  the  commissioners  represented,  assumed 
the  entire  responsibility  of  rendering  civil  war  inevitable ;  that  the  State 
of  South  Carolina  accepted  the  issue  ;  and  they  appealed  to  Him,  u  who  is 
the  God  of  Justice  as  well  as  the  God  of  Hosts,"  for  the  propriety  of  their 
conduct.  They  declared  that  South  Carolina  would  perform  the  solemn 
and  momentous  duty  which  devolved  upon  her,  "  hopefully,  bravely  and 
thoroughly."  They  concluded  by  informing  the  President  of  the  impor 
tant  and  calamitous  fact,  that  they  purposed  to  return  forthwith  to  Charles 
ton.  However  much  posterity  may  condemn  the  conduct  and  policy  of 
Mr.  Buchanan  in  reference  to  the  Eebellion,  he  will  deserve  their  com 
mendation  for  the  manner  in  which  he  treated  this  extraordinary  commu 
nication.  As  soon  as  he  became  aware  of  its  character  and  contents,  he 
instantly  ordered  it  to  be  returned  to  those  from  whom  it  emanated, 
without  the  undeserved  courtesy  of  an  answer. 

On  the  26th  of  December  Mr.  Ehett  introduced  an  ordinance  into  the 
Convention  of  South  Carolina,  recommending  the  assembling  of  another 
convention,  consisting  of  representatives  from  all  the  slaveholding  States. 
This  ordinance  consisted  of  six  separate  clauses.  The  first  provided  for 
the  summoning  of  the  convention  aforesaid  at  Montgomery,  Alabama, 
whose  duty  it  should  be  to  adopt  a  Constitution  for  the  government  of  a 
Southern  Confederacy.  The  second  clause  recommended  to  the  slave- 
holding  States  the  appointment  by  each  State  respectively  of  as  many 
delegates  therefrom  as  they  had  members  in  Congress;  and  suggested 


70  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

that  the  proposed  Constitution  should  be  voted  on  by  States.  The  third 
ordained  that,  as  soon  as  that  Constitution  shoud  have  been  adopted  by 
the  convention  appointed  for  the  purpose,  it  should  be  referred  to  the 
Legislatures  of  all  the  States  concerned,  for  their  ultimate  discussion  and 
approval.  The  fourth  article  affirmed  that,  in  the  opinion  of  the  State 
of  South  Carolina,  the  Federal  Constitution  would  form  a  suitable  basis 
for  the  Confederacy  of  the  Southern  States.  The  fifth  clause  declared  that 
the  Convention  of  South  Carolina  should  select  eight  delegates  to  repre 
sent  that  commonwealth  in  the  Convention  of  the  Southern  States.  The 
last  article  provided  for  the  election  of  one  commissioner  from  each 
slaveholding  State,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
people  of  his  State  respectively  to  the  duty  of  complying  with  the  pro 
visions  of  this  ordinance,  as  adopted  and  recommended  by  the  Conven 
tion  of  South  Carolina. 

This  important  document  had  been  laid  upon  the  table  of  the  Charleston 
Convention,  for  the  purpose  of  future  and  more  deliberate  discussion. 
On  the  same  day  another  ordinance  was  adopted,  whose  purpose  was  to 
gain  the  co-operation  and  aid  of  the  Federal  office-holders  in  the  Palmetto 
State  to  the  cause  of  the  Kebellion.  It  enacted,  that  all  citizens  of  South 
Carolina,  who,  at  the  period  of  the  passage  of  the  ordinance  of  secession, 
held  Federal  offices  within  the  limits  of  the  State,  were  thereby  appointed 
to  have  and  hold  the  same  offices  under  the  new  government,  and  to 
receive  the  emoluments  of  the  same  until  it  was  otherwise  ordered.  It 
also  enacted  that  "  the  revenue  and  navigation  laws  of  the  United  States 
being  abolished,  as  regards  the  Federal  Government,  they  shall,  as  far 
as  may  be  applicable,  be  adopted  by  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  and 
executed  thenceforth  as  such ;  and  that  all  moneys  which  may  thereafter 
accrue  under  those  laws  shall,  when  the  salaries  and  expenses  of  the 
officials  have  been  duly  paid  therefrom,  be  delivered  to  the  Treasurer  of 
South  Carolina,  and  not,  as  heretofore,  be  paid  to  the  Federal  Govern 
ment."  This  important  act  concluded  by  authorizing  and  commanding 
the  officials  of  the  State  to  "take  possession  of,  and  retain  in  their  custody, 
all  the  property  and  funds  of  the  United  States  which  may  come  within 
their  reach."  This  ordinance  passed  the  convention  with  general 
unanimity.  Immediately  afterward  the  Palmetto  flag  was  unfurled  from 
the  Charleston  Post  Office,  from  the  Custom  House,  from  Fort  Moultrie, 
from  Castle  Pinckney,  and  from  the  Arsenal. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  the  Charleston  Convention  proceeded  in  the 
work  of  political  organization  with  a  considerable  degree  of  sagacity  and 
ability.  They  passed  ordinances  amending  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
in  all  those  particulars  which  were  rendered  necessary  by  the  new  atti 
tude  which  she'  had  assumed  as  an  independent  sovereignty.  They 
authorized  the  Governor  of  South  Carolina  to  receive  foreign  ambassa 
dors,  to  appoint  representatives  to  foreign  courts,  to  make  treaties  "by 


SECESSION  OF  MISSISSIPPI.  71 

and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,"  to  fill  vacancies  in  the 
Senate  during  its  recess,  to  convene  that  body  under  extraordinary  cir 
cumstances  ;  in  a  word,  to  enact  a  rdk  similar  to  that  of  President  of  the 
United  States,  as  far  as  the  limited  circumstances  of  the  case  would 
permit.  The  convention  also  adopted  laws  governing  the  future  rights 
and  defining  the  future  qualifications  of  citizens  of  the  State. 

While  these  important  events  were  transpiring  in  South  Carolina,  the 
political  virus  was  being  rapidly  and  effectually  diffused  throughout 
other  portions  of  the  Union.  The  commissioners  who  had  been  pre 
viously  appointed  by  the  convention  of  that  State  to  proceed  to  each  of 
the  Slaveholding  States,  and  lay  before  the  conventions  which  might 
there  assemble  the  ordinance  of  secession,  and  solicit  their  approval  and 
co-operation,  had  been  both  diligent  and  successful  in  the  execution  of 
their  trust.  The  new  year  1861  was  inaugurated  at  Savannah  by  the 
seizure  of  the  Federal  forts  Pulaski  and  Jackson,  by  order  of  the 
authorities  of  the  State  of  Georgia.  This  example  was  immediately 
followed  by  the  Executive  of  Alabama,  by  whose  orders  the  United  States 
Arsenal  at  Mobile,  and  Fort  Morgan,  at  the  entrance  to  Mobile  bay,  were 
taken  possession  of  by  the  State  troops. 

The  first  Southern  State  which  followed  in  the  wake  of  South  Carolina 
in  the  act  of  secession  was  Mississippi.  The  convention  assembled  at 
Jackson,  on  the  7th  of  January,  and  it  soon  appeared  that  the  prevalent 
feeling  among  the  delegates  was  in  favor  of  withdrawing  from  the  Union. 
The  president,  when  assuming  the  duties  of  his  office,  delivered  an 
address,  in  which  he  advocated  that  policy  in  bold  and  unequivocal 
language.  A  committee  of  fifteen  was  immediately  appointed  to  prepare 
and  report  an  ordinance  of  secession,  providing  for  the  immediate  with 
drawal  of  the  State  from  the  Federal  Union,  with  special  reference  to  the 
establishment  of  a  new  Confederacy,  to  be  composed  of  the  seceding 
States.  That  committee  reported  on  the  9th  inst.  Their  report  was 
wholly  in  accordance  with  the  prevalent  treasonable  spirit.  It  was  read, 
briefly  discussed,  and  then  adopted  by  a  vote  of  eighty-four  yeas  to 
fifteen  nays.  By  this  precipitate  act  Mississippi  became  an  outcast  from 
the  Union.  The  fifteen  delegates  who  had  opposed  the  ordinance  made 
several  efforts  to  postpone  action  in  accordance  with  its  provisions ;  but 
in  vain.  The  torrent  of  opposition  was  overwhelming.  On  the  next 
day  those  fifteen  appended  their  signatures  to  the  ordinance,  thereby 
making  the  voice  of  the  convention  unanimous.  Then  the  demonstra 
tions  of  joy  on  the  part  of  the  populace  were  enthusiastic  in  the  extreme. 
The  city  of  Jackson  was  illuminated,  and  as  the  news  spread  from  town 
to  town,  and  from  village  to  village,  glad  shouts  of  rejoicing  resounded 
throughout  the  State. 

That  State  was  represented  at  this  period  in  the  Federal  Senate  by  an 
individual  who  has  since  achieved  an  unenviable  immortality.  Jefferson 


72  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Davis  had  long  been  known  as  one  of  the  most  violent  and  extreme 
advocates  of  Southern  and  sectional  interests  ;  and  though  a  man  of 
acknowledged  abilities,  he  had  been  too  closely  identified  with  the 
advocacy  of  disloyal  sentiments  to  have  gained  the  confidence  or  esteem 
of  the  nation.  As  soon  as  the  news  arrived  at  Washington  that  the 
State  which  he  represented  had  withdrawn  from  the  Union,  it  was 
announced  that  he  would  resign  his  seat  in  the  Senate,  and  when  so 
doing  would  deliver  a  brief  address.  The  occasion  would  be  one  of 
unusual  interest ;  and  great  curiosity  was  felt  to  ascertain  how  the 
Senator  would  acquit  himself  of  the  difficult  and  delicate  task  before 
him.  Accordingly  he  arose  at  the  first  convenient  opportunity,  and 
proceeded,  with  a  tone  and  manner  not  destitute  of  solemnity  and  pathos, 
to  announce,  that  the  State  which  he  represented  in  that  august  body 
having  withdrawn  from  the  Union,  it  became  his  duty  to  resign  his  seat 
and  his  functions  in  it.  He  continued  by  reminding  those  who  heard 
him  that  he  had  invariably  advocated,  during  the  long  period  of  his 
public  political  career,  the  right  of  each  State  to  withdraw  from  the 
Union  whenever  she  may  choose  so  to  do.  This  right  was  an  abstract 
and  paramount  one,  even  where  a  State  might  not  in  reality  possess  any 
real  ground  of  complaint  against  the  Federal  Government.  But  the 
case  became  stronger,  and  the  right  of  secession  more  undeniable,  when 
such  a  ground  of  complaint  does  exist.  Such  was  the  fact  in  the  present 
instance.  He  held  that  the  slaveholding  States,  and  Mississippi  among 
the  rest,  had  serious  causes  of  offence  against  the  Federal  Government. 
He  also  asserted  that  a  material  difference  existed  between  secession  and 
nullification.  The  former  was  a  total  withdrawal  from  the  Union ; 
the  latter  was  an  attempt  to  resist  the  authority  of  the  general  govern 
ment,  while  the  parties  so  resisting  still  formed  a  portion  of  that 
government.  After  dwelling  upon  these  general  topics  he  adverted  to 
considerations  more  personal  to  himself;  and  in  a  tone  of  sympathy  and 
cordiality  which  could  scarcely  have  been  expected  from  his  hard  and 
stern  nature,  gave  utterance  to  those  feelings  of  regret  which  naturally 
rose  within  him,  at  the  severance  of  relations  with  which  many 
pleasing  and  grateful  recollections  would  forever  be  associated  in  his 
mind. 

After  the  delivery  of  this  address  Mr.  Davis  withdrew  from  the  Senate 
chamber  amid  the  adieux  of  his  political  and  personal  friends.  The 
example  already  given  by  the  States  of  South  Carolina  and  Mississippi 
was  quickly  followed  by  Alabama.  A  powerful  and  malignant  genius 
controlled  the  destinies  of  that  State,  and  led  her  on  to  perpetrate  the 
most  unfortunate  event  in  her  history.  In  the  convention  which  met  at 
Montgomery,  William  L.  Yancey  was  the  leading  and  commanding 
spirit;  for  on  the  llth  of  January  the  secession  ordinance  was  passed 
by  that  body.  That  ordinance  was  a  singular  and  anomalous  produc- 


THE  SECESSION   OF   FLORIDA  AND   GEORGIA.  73 

tion.  It  commenced  by  asserting  that  the  "  election  of  Messrs.  Lincoln 
and  Hamlin  to  the  two  highest  executive  offices  in  the  Union  by  a  sec 
tional  party  was  an  insult  to  the  South  too  great  to  be  borne."  We 
cannot  refrain  from  remarking  here  what  a  palpable  absurdity  appears 
upon  the  very  face  of  this  declaration  ;  because  it  is  self-evident  to  every 
calm  and  clear  thinker,  as  we  have  already  asserted,  that  that  party 
which  proved  itself  at  the  ballot-box  to  be  the  most  numerous  and 
powerful  in  the  whole  nation,  whichever  party  that  might  be,  could  not 
be  called  a  sectional  one;  and  whatever  other  defects  it  ,oight  exhibit, 
it  must,  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  be  more  national  and  i  niversal  than 
any  other.  The  inhabitants  of  Alabama  generally  receive^  the  news  of 
the  secession  of  the  State  with  immense  exultation.  ID  the  towns,  the 
villages,  and  the  country,  the  wildest  excitement  prevailed.  In  Mobile 
particularly  the  enthusiasm  was  boundless.  Throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  ot  the  entire  commonwealth  secession  poles  were  planted,  seces 
sion  flags  were  unfurled  to  the  breeze,  bands  of  music  brayed  forth  seces 
sion  melodies,  secession  cannon  thundered,  and  secession  eloquence  re 
sounded,  in  honor  of  the  glorious  and  propitious  event. 

The  next  member  of  the  Union  which  followed  this  ignominious 
example  was  Florida.  Her  apostacy  was  consummated  on  the  12th  of 
January.  The  convention  of  that  State  met  at  Tallahassee,  and  after  a 
short  debate,  the  secession  ordinance  was  passed.  It  was  signed  by  each 
member  of  the  convention  in  one  of  the  porticos  of  the  capitol ;  and  it  is 
recorded  that,  as  each  delegate  appended  his  name  to  the  instrument,  he 
was  hailed  with  cheers,  and  a  salute  fired  in  his  honor.  Immediately 
afterward  the  Federal  property  at  Pensacola  was  seized  by  the  Kebels, 
with  the  exception  of  a  single  fortress.  Fort  Pickens  was  then  held  for 
the  United  States  by  Lieutenant  Slemmer,  who  presented  so  firm  and 
bold  a  resistance  to  the  demands  of  the  secessionists,  that  they  desisted 
from  any  hostile  demonstration  for  its  acquisition. 

On  the  19th  of  January,  1861,  the  ordinance  of  secession  was  passed  in 
Georgia.  The  vote  stood  two  hundred  and  eight  against  eighty-nine. 
It  is  worthy  of  note,  that  prominent  among  those  eighty-nine  who 
opposed  this  inglorious  act,  not  only  by  their  speeches,  but  by  their 
votes,  was  Alexander  H.Stephens,  afterward  elected  Vice-President  of  the 
rebellious  confederacy.  This  was  a  rare  and  extreme  instance  of  that 
inconsistency  of  conduct  and  principle  which  is  so  frequent  and  prevalent 
a  vice  among  American  politicians.  This  ordinance  was  remarkable  for 
its  brevity.  The  important  act  of  secession  was  performed  by  means  of 
an  instrument  no  longer  or  more  elaborate  than  the  following:  "We,  the 
people  of  the  State  of  Georgia,  in  convention  assembled,  do  declare  and 
ordain,  and  it  is  hereby  declared  and  ordained,  that  the  ordinances 
adopted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Georgia  in  convention  in  1788, 
whereby  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was  assented  to,  ratified 


74  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

and  adopted,  and  also  all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  of  the  general  assembly 
ratifying  and  adopting  amendments  to  the  said  constitution,  are  hereby  re 
pealed,  rescinded,  and  abrogated.  And  we  do  further  declare  and  ordain 
that  the  Union  now  subsisting  between  the  State  of  Georgia  and  other 
States  under  the  name  of  the  United  States,  is  hereby  dissolved,  and  that 
the  State  of  Georgia  is  in  full  possession  and  exercise  of  all  those  rights 
of  sovereignty  which  belong  and  appertain  to  a  free  and  independent 
State."  Immediately  after  the  adoption  of  this  ordinance  Fort  Pulaski 
was  taken  possession  of  by  the  troops  of  Georgia,  acting  under  the  order 
of  the  Goven  or  of  the  State. 

But  the  catalogue  of  Rebel  States  was  not  yet  complete.  On  the 
28th  of  January,  1861,  the  convention  summoned  in  Louisiana  passed  the 
secession  ordinance.  The  usual  process  of  plunder  against  the  propertj- 
of  the  United  States  ensued  immediately  after  the  passage  of  this  ordi 
nance  ;  and  revenue  cutters,  arsenals,  moneys,  and  other  effects  of  the 
United  States,  were  seized  by  the  orders  of  the  Governor  of  the  State. 
It  was  not  until  the  1st  of  February  that  the  last  of  the  States,  which  at 
that  time  united  their  fortunes  with  the  secessionists,  consummated  the 
act.  On  that  day  Texas  withdrew,  by  a  vote  of  her  convention,  from  the 
Federal  Union. 


EFFORTS  MADE  FOR  COMPROMISE   AND   SETTLEMENT.         75 


CHAPTER    III. 

VARIOUS  EFFORTS  MADE  FOR  COMPROMISE  AND   SETTLEMENT — CONCILIATORY    MEETINGS    HELD 

IN    THE    NORTHERN    STATES THEIR     ULTIMATE     FAILURE APOSTACY     OF     ALEXANDER     EL 

STEPHENS RESIGNATION  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  REPRESENTATIVES  IN  THE  FEDERAL  CONGRESS 

THE  REBEL  CONGRESS    CONVENED    AT    MONTGOMERY — ITS    ORGANIZATION — ADOPTION    Ol 

A  PROVISIONAL  CONSTITUTION — THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  CONFEDERACY- 
JEFFERSON  DAVIS  ELECTED  PRESIDENT — A.  H.  STEPHENS  CHOSEN  VICE  PRESIDENT — 
PROPHECIES  OF  SENATOR  WIGFALL — BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  JEFFERSON  DAVIS,  OF 
STEPHENS,  OF  THE  CABINET  MINISTERS  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  CONFEDERACY,  MEMMINGER^ 

TOMBS,  MALLORY,  WALKER,  BENJAMIN THE    PERSONAL    QUALITIES    AND    CHARACTERISES 

OF  THESE -OFFICERS. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  the  rapidity  with  which  the  act  of  secession  had  been 
consummated  in  so  many  of  the  disaffected  States,  hopes  were  entertained 
that  a  resort  to  arms  might  yet  be  averted,  and  the  schism  be  eventually 
healed.  Several  efforts  were  made  in  Congress  to  pass  resolutions  so 
amending  the  Federal  Constitution  as  to  satisfy  the  South.  But  those 
efforts  failed,  for  two  reasons :  First,  because  it  was  not  possible,  in  the 
nature  of  things,  where  such  antagonistic  interests  and  principles  existed, 
for  any  amendment  to  be  made  to  the  Constitution  which  would  meet  the 
requirements  and  conscientious  convictions  of  honest  statesmen  on  the 
subject  in  dispute.  Secondly,  because  it  was  equally  impossible,  in  such 
a  case,  to  propose  any  amendment  which  would  find  favor  with  selfish 
party  leaders,  with  mercenary  politicians,  who  flourish  by  means  of  the 
distinctions  and  strifes  of  factions,  and  whose  occupation  would  be  utterly 
gone  if  concord  and  unanimity  prevailed  throughout  the  whole  country. 
Hence  it  was  that,  during  the  brief  remainder  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  term  of 
office,  the  several  efforts  which  were  made  in  Congress  to  heal  the  difficulty 
proved  abortive. 

Other  expedients  which  were  adopted  elsewhere  were  equally  inefficient. 
One  of  these  deserves  to  be  noticed.  It  became  the  fashion  in  many  of  the 
cities  of  the  North  to  hold  public  meetings,  at  which  resolutions  were 
adopted,  setting  forth  how  much  the  inhabitants  of  the  free  States  depre 
cated  the  secession  of  the  South;  how  much  they  abominated  abolitionists 
and  fanatics  of  every  description ;  how  earnestly  they  desired  the  South  to 
draw  a  broad  and  clear  distinction  between  these  fanatics  and  the  great 
mass  of  the  conservative  people  of  the  -North ;  how  much  the  latter  valued 
the  good  will  and  the  intelligence,  which  really  meant  the  commerce  and 
the  trade,  of  the  slave  States.  These  demonstrations  instead  of  accom 
plishing  the  end  intended  by  them,  merely  excited  the  contempt  of 
Southern  fanatics,  and  gave  the  entire  population  of  the  Cotton  States  an 
undue  conception  of  their  own  importance.  If  they  had  not  been  deficient 


76  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

in  arrogance  before,  their  vanity  became  greatly  exaggerated  afteiward,  in 
consequence  of  these  pusillanimous  and  mercenary  movements  at  the  North. 

As  soon  as  the  several  States  had  seceded,  many  of  those  persons  who 
had,  within  their  respective  limits,  opposed  the  act  on  various  grounds, 
gradually  yielded  to  the  pressure  of  the  prevalent  sentiments  hostile  to 
the  North,  changed  their  position,  and  gave  in  their  adhesion  to  the  oppo 
nents  of  the  Union.  The  most  extraordinary  instance  of  such  conversion 
was  that  of  Alexander  H.  Stephens  of  Georgia.  That  able  man,  as  we 
have  already  stated,  had  at  first  opposed  secession,  and  had  refused  to 
sign  the  ordinance  when  it  was  passed  by  the  convention.  But  imme 
diately  afterward,  when  he  discovered  that  his  State  no  longer  remained 
in  any  respect  identified  with  the  Federal  Union,  and  that  there  could  be 
no  further  prospect  of  dignities  and  honors  for  him  in  that  Union,  he 
began  to  waver  in  his  position.  The  art  and  tact  with  which  he  prepared 
the  way  for  his  complete  apostacy  are  worthy  of  notice.  Noihing  could 
have  been  more  adroit  or  more  specious.  He  wrote  a  preamble  and  reso 
lution,  which  were  adopted  by  the  convention,  to  the  following  effect: 
"Whereas,  the  lack  of  unanimity  in  the  action  of  this  convention  on  the 
passage  of  the  ordinance  of  secession  indicates  a  difference  of  opinion 
amongst  the  members  of  the  convention,  not  so  much  as  to  the  rights 
which  Georgia  claims,  or  the  wrongs  of  which  she  complains,  as  to  the 
remedy  and  its  application  before  a  resort  to  other  means  of  redress ;  and 
whereas  it  is  desirable  to  give  expression  to  that  intention,  which  really 
exists  among  all  the  members  of  the  convention,  to  sustain  the  State  in 
the  course  of  action  which  she  has  pronounced  to  be  proper  for  the  occa 
sion  ;  therefore,  resolved,  that  all  the  members  of  this  convention,  including 
those  who  voted  against  the  ordinance  as  well  as  those  who  voted  for  it, 
will  sign  the  same  as  a  pledge  of  the  unanimous  determination  of  this 
convention  to  sustain  and  defend  the  State  in  this  her  course  of  remedy, 
with  all  its  responsibilities  and  consequences,  without  regard  to  individ 
ual  approval  or  disapproval  of  its  adoption."  That  is  to  say,  those  who 
voted  against  secession,  and  refused  to  sign  the  ordinance,  promised, 
nevertheless,  to  sustain  the  State  in  the  execution  of  it ;  those  who  con 
demned  secession,  and  regarded  it  as  pernicious,  illegal  and  wrong,  would 
nevertheless  support  those  to  their  utmost  who  have  pledged  themselves 
to  adhere  to  that  pernicious,  illegal  and  injurious  policy  to  whatever 
results  it  may  lead !  American  political  history  presents  many  instances 
of  profound  and  logical  reasoning,  of  consistent  and  cohesive  policy ; 
but  we  imagine  that  this  case  transcends  the  rest ! 

At  this  period  all  the  representatives  of  the  seceding  States  in  the  Federal 
Congress,  except  Mr.  Bouligny  of  Louisiana,  had  resigned  their  seats  and 
returned  to  their  constituents.  During  the  month  of  January,  1861,  a 
number  of  the  conventions  which  had  passed  the  ordinance  of  Secession 
continued  to  sit,  and  to  adopt  those  additional  measures  which  were  ren 
dered  necessary  in  consequence  of  their  withdrawal  from  the  Union.  Th« 


THE  REBEL  CONGRESS   CONVENED  AT  MONTGOMERY.          77 

Georgia  Convention  demanded  from  the  Federal  Government  possession 
of  all  the  Federal  property  within  the  limits  of  that  State  ;  and  appointed 
commissioners  to  proceed  to  the  other  apostate  States,  and  give  them 
counsel  and  encouragement.  The  convention  of  Alabama  adopted  a 
resolution  approving  of  the  action  of  the  representatives  of  the  State  in 
withdrawing  from  the  Federal  Congress.  All  the  conventions  of  the 
seceding  States  elected  delegates  to  the  Congress  which  had  been  appointed 
to  meet  at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a 
Southern  Confederacy.  The  Convention  of  Florida  commended  the  action 
of  Commodore  Armstrong,  who,  being  in  command  of  the  Pensacola 
Navy  Yard  at  that  time,  surrendered  it  to  the  authorities  of  the  State, 
without  making  the  least  effort  at  resistance.  We  fancy  that  Commodore 
Armstrong,  will  scarcely  take  rank,  in  the  history  of  this  memorable  war, 
by  the  side  of  Anderson,  Slemmer,  Ellsworth,  Lyon,  and  other  heroic 
defenders  of  the  Union. 

Thus  had  these  seven  States,  which  once  formed  a  part  of  this  benefi 
cent  Union,  persisted  in  the  suicidal  act  of  completely  destroying  their 
connection  with  it.  All  the  preliminary  steps  toward  the  establishment 
of  a  rival,  and  perhaps  a  hostile,  republic  in  the  South  had  now  been  suc 
cessively  taken.  The  foundations  of  the  new  political  edifice  had  been 
laid  with  a  degree  of  prudence,  resolution  and  harmony  worthy  of  a 
more  glorious  and  commendable  enterprise.  The  Southern  Congress  of 
Montgomery,  destined  to  achieve  an  unenviable  immortality,  was  about 
to  convene  and  to  complete  all  the  features  and  details  of  the  architectural 
monstor  which  had  been  begun. 

The  Congress  of  the  seceded  States  met  at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  on 
Monday,  February  4th,  1861.  They  assembled  in  the  Senate  chamber 
of  the  Capitol.  A  full  representation  from  every  Rebel  State  appeared 
and  took  their  seats.  The  convention  was  called  to  order  by  Mr.  Chilton, 
a  delegate  from  Alabama.  He  moved  that  R.  "W.  Barnwell,  of  South 
Carolina,  be  chosen  temporary  Chairman.  The  motion  prevailed.  Mr. 
Barnwell  took  the  chair  and  made  a  thankful  speech.  He  then  invited 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Manly  to  offer  a  prayer.  That  individual  at  once  came  for 
ward  and  prayed.  The  chairman  then  reminded  the  convention  that  the 
first  duty  which  devolved  upon  them  was  to  provide  for  their  more  per 
fect  organization  by  electing  permanent  officers.  But  it  appears  that  the 
chairman  was  precipitate  in  his  suggestion  ;  for  Mr.  Rhett  rose  and  asserted 
that  the  first  thing  in  order  was  not  that  measure,  but  to  examine  and 
approve  the  credentials  of  the  delegates.  The  chairman  admitted  the 
truth  of  the  observation,  and  the  verification  was  commenced.  That 
preliminary  process  being  completed,  the  delegates  signed  the  roll.  The 
whole  convention  consisted  of  forty-one  members,  one  delegate  only  being 
absent. 

The  Congress  being  thus  organized,  Mr.  Rhett  proposed  that  the  body 
proceed  at  once  to  the  election  of  permanent  officers ;  and  without  giving 


78  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

the  members  any  opportunity  to  express  their  approval  or  their  disapproval 
of  the  proposition,  he  proceeded  to  nominate  Howell  Cobb,  of  Georgia,  as 
President  of  the  convention.  He  also  proposed  that  the  election  be  made 
by  acclamation.  This  proposition  was  also  complied  with,  and  Mr.  Cobb 
was  chosen  by  the  acclama'tory  process.  The  result  being  announced, 
and  indeed  being  plainly  apparent  of  itself,  it  was  followed  by  "  much 
applause."  Mr.  Cobb  then  took  the  chair,  and  addressed  the  convention. 
He,  too,  was  oppressed  with  more  than  an  ordinary  and  painful  degree  of 
grateful  emotion ;  but  he  gave  utterance  to  the  best  of  his  ability  to  his 
"sincere  thanks"  for  the  honor  conferred  upon  him;  after  which  the 
remaing  officers  of  the  Congress  were  elected.  These  also  received  their 
honors  by  the  exaggerated  and  superfluous  process  of  acclamation.  Mr. 
Stephens  then  moved  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  report  rules  for 
the  government  of  the  convention.  This  proposition  was  agreed  to ;  and 
the  committee  being  appointed,  the  proceedings  of  the  first  day  terminated. 
It  is  not  pertinent  to  our  purpose  to  follow  the  details  of  the  less  im 
portant  transactions  of  this  Congress.  We  will  allude  merely  to  those  of 
leading  interest,  and  having  a  direct  bearing  upon  the  events  which 
ensued.  The  body  adopted  the  novel,  but  doubtless  commendable,  expe 
dient  of  holding  secret  sessions,  so  that  a  portion  of  their  transactions 
remains  unknown  to  the  general  public.  Resolutions  were  passed  from 
day  to  day  perfecting  the  organization  of  the  new  Confederacy.  The 
most  important  of  these  had  reference  to  the  adoption  of  a  Constitution, 
the  election  of  Executive  officers,  providing  suitable  buildings  and  accomo- 
dations  for  the  inferior  functionaries  of  the  Confederacy,  and  selecting  a 
flag  and  other  emblematical  and  official  contrivances.  On  the  sixth  day 
of  their  deliberations  the  delegates  adopted  a  Constitution,  which  had 
been  reported  by  the  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose.  This  Con 
stitution  was  termed  a  "provisonal"  one,  intended  to  govern  the  new 
Confederacy  for  one  year  from  the  inauguration  of  the  future  President, 
or  until  a  permanent  confederation  between  the  States  should  be  put  in 
operation. 

On  the  same  day  which  was  signalized  by  the  adoption  of  this  Consti 
tution,  the  chief  executive  officers  of  the  new  republic  were  chosen  by  the 
Congress  :  Jefferson  Davis  of  Mississippi  was  elected  President,  and  Alex 
ander  H.  Stephens  of  Georgia  Vice  President.  It  must  be  admitted  that 
great  sagacity  and  prudence  were  exhibited  in  the  selections  thus  made. 
Among  the  very  considerable  number  of  eminent  men  who  resided  within 
the  limits  of  the  Rebel  States,  it  is  probable  that  none  could  have  been 
chosen  so  well  adapted  to  the  peculiar  positions  which  were  then  to  be 
filled.  It  was  evident  that  the  future  President  must  needs  be  a  man 
possessing  both  civil  and  military  talents.  He  should  be  familiar  with 
the  machinery  and  principles  of  government  in  the  cabinet,  as  well  as 
with  the  command  and  conduct  of  an  army  in  the  field.  He  should  also 
be  well  acquainted  with  the  structure  and  aims  of  that  great  and  powerful 


THE  PROPHECIES   OF  SENATOR  WIGFALL.  79 

Republic  against  whose  lawful  control  they  had  rebelled.  He  must  be 
shrewd,  resolute,  firm  and  desperate.  Above  all  things,  he  must  be 
extremely  fanatical  in  his  Southern  prejudices,  and  be  thoroughly  infected 
with  secession  principles.  Such  a  man  preeminently  was  Jefferson 
Davis.  The  Vice  President  must  resemble  him  in  all  these  respects  ex 
cept  one.  He  need  possess  no  military  knowledge,  no  martial  experience. 
It  would  be  his  duty  to  carry  on  the  Government  in  the  absence  of  the 
chief  Executive ;  and  while  the  latter  was  at  the  head  of  the  victorious 
armies  of  the  Southern  Confederacy,  sacking  Washington,  driving  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  his  cabinet  in  hot  haste  from  the  Capital,  striking  terror  into 
the  inhabitants  of  the  North,  burning  cities,  blockading  ports,  capturing 
ships  upon  the  high  seas ;  during  the  progress  of  all  these  heroic  and 
magnificent  deeds,  which  it  was  confidently  and  exultingly  asserted  the 
invincible  Davis  would  soon  be  achieving,  he,  the  Vice  President,  must 
be  conducting  the  home  government  with  prudence,  harmony  and  skill. 
These  boasts  respecting  the  future  achievements  of  the  Rebel  President 
formed  a  prominent  feature,  at  this  period,  of  the  prevalent  sentiment  and 
utterances  in  the  seceding  States. 

No  person  was  more  enthusiastic  and  constant  in  giving  expression  to 
these  vauntings  than  ex-senator  Wigfall  of  Texas.  But  Wigfall's  prog 
nostications  were  liable  to  an  objection  of  a  very  peculiar  and  serious 
character.  King  Charles  II.  of  England  was  accustomed  to  assert  that 
Prince  George  of  Denmark,  who  had  married  his  niece,  the  Princess 
Anne,  afterward  Queen,  was  extremely  shallow ;  that  he  had  tried  the 
Prince  when  sober,  and  he  had  tried  him  when  drunk ;  but  that,  whether 
drunk  or  sober,  there  was  nothing  in  him.  This  was  precisely  the  defect 
of  the  prophecies  of  Senator  Wigfall.  It  did  not  produce  the  slightest 
difference  whether  the  prophetic  frenzy  came  upon  him  when  intoxicated, 
or  when  not  intoxicated ;  in  either  case  there  was  nothing  in  him ;  in 
no  case  did  his  predictions  prove  to  be  in  accordance  with  the  event. 

We  venture  to  predict  that  the  role  which  Jefferson  Davis  and  his  chief 
associates  have  enacted,  will  be  regarded  by  posterity,  when  the  passions 
and  prejudices  of  this  stormy  time  shall  have  been  lulled  to  repose  by  the 
Lethean  flood  of  years,  as  the  most  unenviable  and  execrable  which  has 
ever  fallen  to  the  lot  of  any  human  being.  We  do  indeed  read  of  that 
"  aspiring  youth  who  fired  the  Ephesian  dome,"  that  he  might  thereby 
secure  an  immortality  of  fame;  yet  we  have  never  learned  that  any — ex 
cept  the  cruel  and  infamous  Gloster,  and  such  as  he — commended  him 
for  the  rash  act.  Those  who  have  striven,  from  the  promptings  of  a  sim 
ilar  motive,  to  mar  and  desolate  the  nobler  fabric  of  the  American  Union, 
will  incur  a  condemnation  during  after  ages,  more  intense,  more  univer 
sal,  more  enduring  than  his.  Let  us  glance  briefly  at  the  personal  histo 
ries  and  characteristics  of  these  great  historic  criminals. 

Jefferson  Davis  will  occupy  in  future  ages  a  position  in  the  annals  of 
the  great  republic  of  the  New  World  not  very  unlike  that  of  Benedict 


80  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Arnold  and  Aaron  Burr.  That  he  is  a  remarkable  man  in  many  respects, 
capable  of  high  and  great  as  well  as  of  base  and  mean  achievements,  is 
an  unquestionable  fact.  His  personal  history,  which  is  full  of  variety  and 
interest,  clearly  demonstrates  the  truth  of  this  assertion.  He  was  born 
in  Christian  county,  Kentucky,  in  June,  1808.  His  father,  who  was  a 
wealthy  planter,  removed  soon  after  his  birth  to  Wilkinson  county,  Mis 
sissippi.  His  son  gave  early  proofs  of  superior  intelligence  and  talent, 
and  at  the  usual  age  was  sent  to  Transylvania  College  in  his  native  State. 
Having  completed  the  course  of  study  there,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Mili 
tary  Academy  at  West  Point  in  1824.  He  graduated  in  that  institution 
in  1828,  and  was  appointed  brevet  second  lieutenant,  and  commenced 
service  in  the  regular  army. 

Mr.  Davis  distinguished  himself  in  the  events  which  occurred  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  In  1833  he  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy  of 
dragoons,  and  in  that  capacity  made  a  number  of  expeditions  against  the 
Camanches,  Pawnees,  and  other  hostile  Indian  tribes  upon  the  frontiers. 
It  was  in  1835,  that,  chiefly  in  consequence  of  ill  health,  he  resigned  his 
commission,  returned  to  Mississippi  and  commenced  the  pursuits  of  a 
planter.  He  remained  in  retirement  and  repose  till  1843,  when  he  began 
to  take  an  active  part  in  political  life.  He  entered  the  arena  of  politics 
as  a  Democrat,  and  was  chosen  one  of  the  Electors  for  the  State  of  Mis 
sissippi  who  gave  their  ballots  for  Polk  and  Dallas  in  1844.  In  the 
following  year  he  was  chosen  to  represent  his  adopted  State  in  Congress, 
and  thus  began  a  new  and  more  pacific  career.  In  that  body  Mr.  Davis 
soon  acquired  fame,  and  assumed  a  prominent  position  as  a  public  speaker 
and  an  energetic  partisan.  His  clearness  and  force  of  thought,  his  bold 
and  impressive  delivery,  his  fluency  and  freedom  of  utterance,  always 
commanded  respect  and  attention  from  his  auditors. 

He  was  thus  winning  his  way  to  a  high  political  reputation,  when,  in 
July,  1846,  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  first  regiment  of  Mississippi 
volunteers  when  they  were  about  to  serve  in  the  Mexican  war.  He  im 
mediately  accepted  the  post,  resigned  his  seat  in  Congress,  proceeded  to 
New  Orleans,  took  command  of  the  regiment,  and  led  them  forward  to 
the  assistance  of  General  Taylor,  then  posted  on  the  Rio  Grande.  At  the 
storming  of  Monterey,  in  September,  1846,  he  acted  with  great  gallantry, 
and  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  to  arrange  the  terms  of  the 
capitulation  of  that  city.  At  the  bloody  battle  of  Buena  Yista,  in 
February,  1847,  he  won  new  laurels,  exhibited  superior  heroism  and 
bravery,  was  severely  wounded,  and  received  from  General  Scott,  com- 
mander-in-chief,  an  honorable  notice  in  his  dispatch  of  March,  1847.  In 
the  following  summer  he  returned  to  Mississippi,  and  was  immediately 
appointed  by  the  Governor  of  the  State  to  fill  a  vacancy  which  had  oc 
curred  in  the  Federal  Senate.  In  January,  1848,  he  was  elected  by  the 
Legislature  of  that  State  to  the  same  high  office ;  and  after  the  expiration 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  OF  DAVIS  AND  STEPHENS          81 

of  his  term,  in  March,  1851,  was  again  chosen  for  another  period  of  ser 
vice  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  In  1851  he  was  nominated  by 
the  Democratic  party  in  Mississippi  for  Governor,  against  Henry  S.'Foote, 
but  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority. 

After  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Pierce  for  the  Presidency,  in  1852, 
Mr.  Davis  took  a  very  active  part  in  the  campaign,  and  spoke  ably  in 
favor  of  his  old  comrade  in  arms  throughout  the  entire  State.  As  a 
reward  for  his  efficient  services,  the  new  President  appointed  him  to  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  War.  He  possessed  abilities  which  qualified  him 
for  the  duties  of  his  high  position,  and  he  conducted  its  affairs  with 
energy  and  success.  He  was  exceedingly  popular  with  the  officers  of  the 
army,  and  made  some  important  improvements  in  the  service.  He  in 
troduced  the  use  of  the  minid  rifle,  increased  the  inland  and  coast  frontier 
defences,  and  explored  the  several  routes  for  the  Pacific  railroad.  What 
the  zeal  and  ability  of  Arnold  had  been  previous  to  his  treason  to  his 
country,  the  efforts  and  services  of  Davis  were  before  the  origin  of  the 
Southern  Eebellion.  After  the  termination  of  the  administration  of 
Mr.  Pierce,  Mr.  Davis  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  of  Mississippi  to 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  for  the  term  ending  in  March,  1863 ; 
but  before  that  term  had  expired  he  had  abandoned  his  post,  left  the 
serene  haven  of  high  official  life,  and  embarked  upon  the  stormy  ocean 
of  rebellion  against  a  great  and  beneficent  government.  In  this  rash  act 
a  desperate  ambition  was  unquestionably  his  leading  motive.  He  vainly 
imagined  that  he  would  attain  still  higher  eminence,  and  that  he  would 
at  length  strike  the  stars  with  his  sublime  head — sublimi  feriat  sidera 
vertice. 

Of  the  remaining  members  of  the  Eebel  government  it  will  be  un 
necessary  to  speak  at  much  length.  Alexander  Hill  Stephens,  the 
Vice  President,  was  born  in  1818,  and  was  a  man  of  superior  natural 
talents,  a  brilliant  and  powerful  thinker,  an  able  and  effective  orator. 
He  represented  the  State  of  Georgia  during  a  series  of  years  in  the 
national  Legislature ;  and  he  attained  a  distinguished  position  in  that 
body,  so  richly  adorned  by  diversity,  profundity  and  profusion  of  talent, 
among  its  members,  at  different  periods.  Laboring  all  his  life  under  ex 
tremely  ill  health,  hovering  continually  and  feebly  over  an  open  grave, 
the  slender  and  uncertain  hold  which  he  maintained  upon  existence  did 
not  prevent  him  from  taking  an  active  part  in  the  great  debates  and 
forensic  battles  which  occurred  in  the  House  during  the  period  of  his 
presence  in  it.  When  the  project  of  secession  was  first  agitated  in 
Georgia,  he  opposed  it,  as  has  already  been  stated,  with  the  utmost  zeal. 
We  have  previously  narrated  how  he  changed  his  position,  stultified  his 
own  arguments,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Eebels.  The  reward  of 
his  services  was  the  second  dignity  in  the  new  confederacy.  As  to  his 
qualifications  for  the  duties  of  his  position,  there  could  be  no  question ; 


82  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

for  lie  was  well  adapted  to  them,  both  by  superior  natural  talents  and  by 
long  experience  in  political  life. 

The  most  remarkable  of  the  men  who  were  subsequently  appointed  to 
the  Kebel  Cabinet,  was  Charles  G.  Memminger,  who  became  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury.  This  person  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  in  1804, 
and  was  brought  to  Charleston  when  two  years  of  age  by  his  parents. 
Soon  afterward  their  premature  death  left  him  friendless  and  destitute  in 
the  world.  He  then  became  an  inmate  of  an  orphan  asylum;  but  after 
some  years  was  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain  the  patronage  of  Governor 
Bennet  of  South  Carolina.  That  gentleman  became  interested  in  his  fate, 
and  assisted  him  to  commence  a  career  which  afterward  attained  no  small 
degree  of  distinction.  Mr.  Memminger's  intellectual  qualities  were  much 
above  the  ordinary  range.  His  mind  was  clear,  strong,  sagacious.  In 
temper  he  was  ambitious,  persevering,  determined,  self-confident.  Small 
in  person,  he  compensated  for  that  deficiency  by  unusual  activity  and 
energy  of  movement.  He  was  for  a  long  time  prominent  in  political  life 
in  South  Carolina.  For  many  years  he  was  chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  Finance  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State.  He  always  opposed  the  ex 
istence  of  banks  and  the  use  of  paper  money.  In  truth,  he  had  been  to 
the  State  of  South  Carolina  what  Albert  Gallatin  was  to  the  Federal 
Government  in  the  Eevolutionary  era.  He  was,  however,  a  man  of 
details,  and  never  rose  to  grand  national  views,  nor  achieved  a  national 
fame  in  the  arena  of  politics.  By  his  zeal  and  earnestness  in  advocating 
secession,  he  invested  his  name  with  an  unenviable  and  execrable  noto 
riety,  and  forever  tarnished  the  honorable  eminence  which  he  had  pre 
viously  secured. 

Next  in  the  order  of  importance  in  the  Kebel  Cabinet  was  Mr.  Toombs, 
the  Secretary  of  State.  This  person  distinguished  himself  in  the  Federal 
Congress,  during  a  number  of  years,  as  a  zealous  advocate  of  southern 
interests.  He  was  noted  for  his  impetuous  and  declamatory  style  of 
speaking.  He  was  an  admirable  representative  of  the  peculiarities  of 
southern  eloquence — ardent,  rapid,  noisy.  Mr.  Mallory,  the  Secretary  of 
the  Navy,  formerly  occupied  a  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate.  He  was 
a  man  of  very  moderate  talents  and  utilitarian  tendencies.  General 
L.  Pope  Walker,  the  Secretary  of  War,  was  comparatively  unknown  to 
the  nation  at  large,  but  he  had  acquired  some  military  reputation  in  the 
South.  J.  P.  Benjamin,  the  Attorney-General,  had  previously  represented 
the  State  of  Louisiana  during  some  years  in  the  Federal  Senate.  He 
possessed  no  inconsiderable  attainments  as  a  jurist,  and  marked  ability 
as  a  forensic  orator ;  but  his  most  remarkable  and  prominent  characteris 
tic  was  his  acquisitiveness,  as  was  demonstrated  both  by  his  earlier  and  by 
his  maturer  history. 


ASSEMBLING  OF  THE  PEACE   CONGRESS.  83 


CHAPTER    IV. 

ASSEMBLING  OF  THE  PEACE  CONGRESS  AT  WASHINGTON — THEIR  PROPOSALS  OP    COMPROMISE — 

THEIR  REJECTION  AND  FAILURE ATTITUDE  OF  PRESIDENT  BUCHANAN PUBLIC    SENTIMENT 

RESPECTING  FORT  SUMTER MISSION  OF  THE  "  STAR  OF  THE  WEST" FINAL    ESTABLISHMENT 

OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  GOVERNMENT  AT  MONTGOMERY INAUGURATION  OF  JEFFERSON    DAVIS 

AS  PRESIDENT — HIS  ADDRESS — INAUGURATION  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN — HIS  ADDRESS — 
HIS  CABINET  OFFICERS THE  FAMOUS  ORATION  OF  A.  H.  STEPHENS  AT  SAVANNAH ITS  HIS 
TORICAL  IMPORTANCE HIS  FIRST  POSITION HE  REFUTES  JEFFERSON,  HAMILTON,  AND 

MADISON — HIS  SECOND  POSITION — THE  FOUNDATION  STONE  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  CONFEDERACY 
—ABSURDITY  AND  FALLACY  OF  THAT  FOUNDATION — THE  FUTURE  CONDITION  AND  DESTINY 
OF  THE  NEGRO  RACE. 

WHILE  the  founders  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  were  thus  complet 
ing  their  work  at  Montgomery,  a  vigorous  effort  was  being  made  by 
eminent  men  in  the  nation — beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Federal  Con 
gress — to  heal  the  difficulty,  and  avert  the  horrors  of  civil  war.  A  Peace 
Congress  was  convened  at  Washington,  whose  special  aim  and  purpose 
it  was  to  accomplish  this  desirable  result.  Ex-President  Tyler  presided 
over  its  deliberations ;  and  during  the  progress  of  its  sessions  a  committee 
was  appointed,  consisting  of  one  member  from  each  State,  for  the  purpose 
of  drawing  up  pacific  propositions,  which  might  be  acceptable  to  both 
parties.  The  chairman  of  this  committee  was  the  venerable  James  Guthrie 
of  Kentucky.  After  much  discussion,  certain  proposals  of  compromise 
were  agreed  upon. 

Having  adopted  a  number  of  elaborate  Articles,  every  word  of  which 
had  been  carefully  weighed  and  discussed,  the  Congress  provided  for  their 
being  communicated  to  the  hostile  and  rival  Governments,  for  their  con 
sideration  and  approval.  They  then  adjourned.  But  the  ultimate  fate  of 
these  propositions  was  unfortunate.  They  satisfied  neither  party,  over 
whose  minds  the  spirit  of  extreme  irritation  prevailed ;  and  thus  they  failed 
in  accomplishing  the  benevolent  and  patriotic  purpose  for  which  they 
were  evidently  intended. 

The  leaders  of  the  Southern  Rebellion  at  Charleston  were  not  disposed 
to  permit  themselves  or  their  achievements  to  disappear  from  public  view  ; 
and  although  the  attention  of  the  nation  was  chiefly  directed  to  the  events 
then  progressing  at  Montgomery,  they  managed  to  make  sufficient  com 
motion  to  be  the  subjects  of  continued  astonishment  and  general  scrutiny. 
Fort  Sumter  was  still  held  by  Major  Anderson  for  the  United  States  with 
a  small  garrison.  The  administration  of  James  Buchanan  continued  to 
drag  out  its  ignominious  length ;  and  the  sole  purpose  of  that  personage 
eeemed  to  be,  to  keep  things  as  quiet  as  possible,  and  to  avoid  decisive 
and  bold  measures  of  any  kind,  until  he  should  escape  from  the  difficulties 


84  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

of  his  official  position.  But  the  voice  of  public  sentiment  imperatively 
demanded  that  some  demonstration  should  be  made  for  the  assistance 
and  support  of  the  commandment  of  Fort  Sumter,  which  seemed  to  be  in 
greater  peril  at  that  moment  than  any  other  of  the  Federal  fortresses. 
Accordingly,  a  vessel  named  the  Star  of  the  West,  was  freighted  with 
provisions  and  ammunition,  and  dispatched  from  New  York  to  the  port 
of  Charleston.  It  was  the  hope  of  the  nation  that  efficient  relief  would  by 
this  means  be  afforded  to  Major  Anderson ;  and  that  he  would  be  so  far 
strengthened,  as  to  be  able  to  resist  with  success  any  attack  which  the 
Eebels  might  make  upon  him.  Such,  however,  was  not  destined  to  be  the 
case.  As  the  Star  of  ,the  West  hove  in  sight  off  the  bar  of  Charleston, 
she  was  greeted  with  a  discharge  of  artillery  from  the  shore.  As  she  con 
tinued  to  approach  the  salute  became  warmer  and  more  effective.  At 
length  the  fire  from  Morris  Island  assumed  a  really  dangerous  vigor  and 
fury.  Then  the  commander  of  the  vessel  gave  the  order  to  port  her  helm ; 
she  turned  her  head ;  doubled  upon  her  track ;  proceeded  out  over  the 
bar ;  and  thence  sailed  back  to  New  York.  A  more  miserable  and  abor 
tive  attempt  to  accomplish  any  purpose  could  not  possibly  be  conceived. 
This  result  excited  general  surprise  and  disgust  throughout  the  nation. 
People  of  every  class  and  every  party  inquired  why  the  Federal  Govern 
ment,  once  so  powerful  and  so  prompt  in  the  public  service,  both  civil  and 
military,  had  suddenly  become  so  utterly  imbecile  and  worthless,  that  an 
armed  rebellion  against  the  Government  could  pursue  its  insulting  and 
defiant  course,  could  plunder  public  property,  could  declare  its  intention 
to  attack  and  capture  Federal  fortresses ;  and  yet,  all  that  the  General 
Government  could  accomplish,  after  three  months  of  menace  on  the  part 
of  the  enemy,  and  of  deliberation  on  the  part  of  the  Administration,  was 
the  sending  of  a  single  unarmed  vessel,  with  a  few  men  and  some  supplies, 
to  make,  as  it  were,  a  mere  dumb  show  of  relief,  snd  then  return  again, 
without  having  accomplished  anything.  What  the  real  secret  of  this 
mysterious  policy  may  have  been,  the  future  historian  and  apologist  of 
the  administration  of  James  Buchanan  must  explain,  and,  if  possible, 
must  vindicate. 

Meanwhile,  the  establishment  of  the  Eebel  Government  was  progress 
ing  at  its  infant  seat  of  empire.  On  the  15th  of  February  the  Congress 
at  Montgomery  appointed  a  committee  to  make  suitable  arrangements 
for  the  reception  of  the  new  President,  and  for  the  ceremonies  of  his  in 
auguration.  This  committee  performed  their  duties  with  energy  and 
success ;  and  Jefferson  Davis  was  inducted  into  his  office  on  the  ensuing 
eighteenth  of  the  month,  in  the  capitol  of  the  State,  with  as  much  pomp 
and  ceremony  as  could  be  mustered  for  the  occasion.  The  speech  de 
livered  by  the  new  President  was  elaborated  with  much  care,  and  was 
well  adapted  to  the  circumstances  under  which  it  was  uttered. 

Mr.  Davis  concluded  his  address  with  pious  allusions  to  the  blessings 


THE  INAUGURATION   OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  85 

of  Providence,  and  with  devout  petitions  for  future  guidance  and  direc 
tion  from  the  Supreme  Being.  After  the  close  of  the  ceremonies, 
the  signing  of  the  Provisional  Constitution  by  the  members  of  the 
assembled  Congress  ensued.  Great  exultation  prevailed  throughout 
Montgomery  on  that  day;  and  at  night  the  general  rapture  was  dis 
played  by  fireworks,  by  melodies  from  brass  bands,  and  by  all  the  usual 
methods  of  joyful  popular  demonstration. 

Thus  at  last  the  Southern  Confederacy  was  fully  and  permanently 
organized.  Immediately  afterward  the  members  of  the  Cabinet  of  Mr. 
Davis  were  confirmed  by  the  Congress  without  hesitation.  They  imme 
diately  entered  upon  the  duties  of  their  several  offices.  One  of  the  first 
acts  of  the  President  was  to  appoint  General  Peter  G.  T.  Beauregard,  late 
a  major  in  the  United  States  engineer  corps,  to  proceed  to  Charleston,  and 
take  command  of  the  forces  assembled  there  for  the  attack  and  capture 
of  Fort  Sumter. 

While  the  attention  of  the  seceding  States  was  occupied  by  those 
events,  the  chief  interest  of  the  nation  was  engrossed  by  the  events  tran 
spiring  at  Washington.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1861,  Abraham  Lincoln 
was  inaugurated  as  President  of  the  United  States,  and  assumed  the 
functions  of  his  high  office.  No  man  ever  inherited  a  more  difficult  or  a 
more  perilous  post  than  fell  to  his  lot.  No  man  ever  left  a  government 
in  a  more  wretched  state  of  anarchy  and  confusion  than  his  predecessor 
had  done.  Mr.  Lincoln  delivered  an  Inaugural  Address  characterized  by 
great  moderation,  by  extreme  prudence,  and  by  practical  sagacity ;  and 
the  nation  derived  fresh  confidence  from  its  manly  tone  and  spirit,  in  his 
fitness  for  the  anomalous  position  in  which  he  was  placed.  He  selected 
his  Cabinet  with  equal  judgment  and  felicity.  William  H.  Seward,  one 
of  the  most  able  and  eminent  of  living  American  statesmen,  was  appointed 
Secretary  of  State.  Simon  Cameron,  an  adroit  and  experienced  man  of 
business,  became  Secretary  of  War.  Gideon  Welles,  already  favorably 
known  for  his  official  ability,  became  Secretary  of  the  Navy.  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  one  of  the  most  accomplished  and  profound  financiers  of  the  day 
was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Treasury.  Caleb  B.  Smith  took  charge  of 
the  Interior ;  Montgomery  Blair  presided  in  the  Post  Office  Department , 
Edward  Bates  became  Attorney-General. 

On  the  21st  of  March,  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  Vice  President  of 
the  Southern  Confederacy,  delivered  a  memorable  speech  in  the  city 
of  Savannah,  which  was  commended  by  his  partisans  as  a  prodigious 
achievement  of  logical  ability  and  skill.  The  professed  purpose  of  this 
oration  was  to  describe  and  to  defend  the  leading  principles  of  the  Con 
stitution  of  the  Rebel  Republic.  It  was  regarded  by  the  secessionists  as 
an  unassailable  and  impregnable  bulwark  of  their  peculiar  institutions. 
Its  delivery  was  a  prominent  event  in  the  establishment  of  the  new  gov 
ernment.  It  was  cited  as  a  representative  speech  uttered  by  a  represen- 


86  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IX   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

tative  man,  and  it  was  applauded  as  the  greatest  intellectual  monument 
erected  by  their  statesmen  during  the  progress  of  the  war.  As  it  will 
always  retain  an  historical  importance  and  significance,  we  may  be  per 
mitted  briefly  to  examine  some  of  its  leading  positions. 

Mr.  Stephens  commenced  his  oration  by  observing  in  substance,  that 
the  preeminent  and  most  valuable  ingredient  of  the  Southern  Constitution 
was  its  admirable  settlement  of  the  whole  subject  of  slavery,  by  which 
that  vexed  question  was  clearly  defined  and  practically  adjusted  forever. 
He  then  proceeded  to  say  that  the  founders  of  the  Federal  Government, 
Jefferson,  Hamilton,  Madison,  and  their  associates,  maintained  the  posi 
tion  that  slavery  was  a  violation  of  the  laws  of  nature ;  that  they  be 
lieved  it  to  be  inherently  wrong,  socially,  morally  and  politically ;  and 
that  they  indulged  the  hope  that  at  some  future  time  it  would  be  wholly 
abolished  and  removed.  This  opinion,  Mr.  Stephens  asserted,  was  false. 
The  sages  of  the  Revolutionary  era  were  in  error.  Their  views  were 
limited,  superficial,  absurd.  He  had  discovered  that  slavery  is  not  a 
violation  of  the  laws  of  nature ;  that  it  is  not  wrong,  socially,  morally  or 
politically.  Nor  was  it  destined  to  be  evanescent,  and  eventually  to  pass 
away. 

Such  was  Mr.  Stephens'  bold  and  positive  assertion.  But  where  is  the 
proof  that  the  founders  of  the  Federal  Government  on  this  point  were  in 
error  ?  None  whatever  is  adduced  in  this  speech.  Not  a  single  argu 
ment  is  advanced  by  the  orator  to  demonstrate  it.  He  makes  a  simple 
and  unsupported  declaration  to  that  effect.  It  then  becomes  a  mere 
question  of  veracity  and  authority  between  A.  H.  Stephens  on  the  one 
side,  and  those  whose  wisdom  and  sagacity  he  calls  in  question  on  the 
other.  Either  he  is  right,  and  Jefferson,  Hamilton,  Madison,  and  their 
associates  were  wrong  ;  or  their  judgments  were  correct  and  his  erroneous. 
Mr.  Stephens  having  placed  the  argument  and  the  issue  on  this  basis, 
thereby  imposed  upon  his  opponents  the  necessity  of  inquiring  who  pos 
sesses  the  greater  weight  of  authority,  he,  or  the  Federal  founders  ? 
The  real  question  to  be  decided  is :  Will  A.  H.  Stephens  outweigh  in  the 
scales  of  authority  the  vast  and  powerful  gravitation  of  those  renowned 
sages,  philosophers  and  statesmen  ?  We  imagine  that  he  will  not.  In 
any  instance  in  which  he  and  they  would  be  balanced  against  each  other, 
his  authority  would  be  as  the  weight  of  a  feather  against  the  ponderosity 
of  an  Alp.  Hence  it  was  an  act  of  weakness  on  his  part  to  put  the  argu 
ment  on  that  ground ;  and  that  weakness  demonstrated  the  folly  of  those 
who  applauded  his  speech  in  such  extravagant  terms.  He  makes  an 
issue  before  the  public,  which  issue  an  impartial  public  must,  at  a  single 
glance,  discover  to  be  so  overwhelmingly  against  him  that  an  adverse  deci 
sion  of  their  judgments  is  instantly  and  inevitably  extorted  from  them. 

Mr.  Stephens'  second  position  was  the  most  important,  and  also  the  most 
fallacious,  contained  in  his  speech.  He  asserted  that  the  Southern  Be-  * 


FOUNDATION  STONE   OF  THE   SOUTHERN   CONFEDERACY.     87 

public  was  based  upon  the  great  principle  that  the  "  negro  is  not  equal 
to  the  white  man ;  that  slavery,  subordination  to  the  superior  race,  is  bis 
natural  and  normal  condition ;  and  he  adds  with  exultation,  that  the  new 
government  "  was  the  first  in  the  history  of  the  world  based  on  that  great 
physical,  philosophical  and  moral  truth."  We  will  not  deny  that  the 
latter  part  of  this  declaration  may  be  true.  The  boundless  and  immeas 
urable  absurdity  of  a  professedly  free  government  being  based,  and  abso 
lutely  founded,  on  a  despotic  and  tyrannical  dogma  such  as  the  worst 
tyrants  who  ever  trampled  human  rights  in  the  dust,  and  defied  all  laws 
human  and  divine  would  have  approved  and  applauded ;  that  monstrous 
contradiction  we  verily  believe  has  never  before  been  perpetrated  by  any 
race  of  rational  beings.  It  is  a  glory  belonging  not  to  Turkish,  or  Eussian, 
or  Austrian  autocrats,  but  to  the  enlightened  statesmen  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy  alone ! 

But  in  itself  considered  this  declaration  of  Mr.  Stephens  set  forth  first, 
a  great  falsehood,  and  second,  if  it  were  true,  it  was  a  most  iniquitous 
and  execrable  principle  on  which  to  establish  any  government,  and 
especially  a  government  which  called  itself  a  Eepublic.  We  afiirm  that 
it  is  a  false  assertion  that  the  negro  is  essentially  and  inherently  an  inferior 
race,  as  regards  his  natural,  intellectual  and  moral  capabilities  of  culture. 
That  he  has  been  made  thus  inferior,  that  he  now  is  so,  that  he  may  for 
ages  remain  inferior,  is  unquestionable.  But  that  he  would  have  been 
inferior  if  surrounded  by  the  same  elevating  influences  which  the  white 
races  have  enjoyed  is  not  proved.  If  the  negro  be  inferior  in  the  United 
States  to  the  white  man,  is  that  fact  not  to  be  attributed  to  the  despotism 
and  prejudice  under  which  he  has  always  lived  ?  How  could  it  be 
otherwise,  when,  from  the  day  on  which  the  race  was  transported  hither  to 
the  present  time,  it  has  been  fewer  in  number  than  the  whites,  destitute 
of  means  of  improvement,  ground  into  the  dust  by  tyranny,  enervated  by 
degrading  and  exhausting  labor,  and  their  minds  shut  out  by  a  stronger 
power  from  the  genial  influences  of  education,  science,  art,  liberty  and 
social  improvement.  It  is  evident  that  if  the  relative  positions  of  the  races 
had  been  exchanged,  if  the  first  inhabitants  of  the  North  American  colo 
nies  had  been  free  negroes,  if  a  few  whites  of  the  lowest  grade  from  Ireland, 
Germany  or  England,  had  been  transported  hither  as  slaves,  and  if  they 
and  their  descendants  had  existed  for  several  centuries  precisely  as  negroes 
have  lived  during  that  interval,  they  would  now  occupy  the  same  relative 
position  in  intelligence  with  regard  to  the  rival  race  which  the  negroes 
do  at  the  present  hour. 

The  truth  of  this  conjecture  is  demonstrated  by  the  fact  that,  in  cases 
where  negroes  have  enjoyed  favorable  influences  and  opportunities,  they 
have  attained  a  degree  of  culture  and  intelligence  very  far  in  advance  of 
the  status  of  those  negroes  who  are  condemned  to  endure  a  life  of  bondage. 
This  fact  proves  the  capability  of  the  race  for  improvement.  It  is  useless 
to  adduce  many  instances  which  go  to  illustrate  that  capability  ;  because 


68  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

one  solitary  example  would  establish  the  truth  of  the  position  as  well  as 
hundreds ;  and  with  some  such  examples  all  men  are  familiar.  But  no 
absurdity  is  greater  than  the  assertion  that  in  the  abstract,  and  by  nature, 
when  living  under  equally  favorable  influences,  the  negro  is  necessarily 
and  normally  inferior  to  the  white  race.  It  cannot  be  proved,  because 
no  case  has  ever  existed  in  which  an  equal  opportunity  was  afforded  to  a 
whole  community  of  negroes ;  therefore  no  decision  against  their  equality 
as  a  race  can  be  derived  with  conclusive  certainty  from  historical  facts. 

To  meet  the  surprise  and  disgust  with  which  Mr.  Stephens  justly  sus 
pected  that  this  sentiment  would  be  received,  he  proceeded  to  argue  that 
this  great  truth  which  the  Southern  Kepublic  had  discovered  and  had 
made  the  corner-stone  of  its  structure,  might  be  very  tardy  in  gaining  the 
assent  of  mankind;  but  that  fact  would  be  no  argument  against-  its  truth 
fulness,  because  other  great  and  true  principles  had  been  equally  slow  in 
their  diffusion,  and  yet  had  at  last  attained  universal  supremacy  over  the 
convictions  of  men.  Thus  it  was,  said  he,  with  the  discoveries  of  Galileo 
in  Astronomy,  and  with  the  principles  of  Adam  Smith  in  Political  Econ 
omy.  It  was  no  argument  against  the  truthfulness  of  their  doctrines, 
that  it  required  a  long  lapse  of  time  before  the  world  appreciated  and  be 
lieved  them.  It  would  be  so,  he  added,  with  this  new  discovery  of  the 
statesmen  of  the  Southern  Confederacy.  But,  unfortunately,  the  opposition 
of  mankind  to  new  doctrines  is  no  evidence  of  their  absolute  truthfulness. 
If  men  have  long  opposed  novelties  founded  in  truth,  they  have  also  op 
posed  novelties  founded  in  error  with  equal  obstinacy.  Hence  the  opposition 
of  men  to  new  doctrines  is  no  argument  either  way.  If  it  were  an  argu 
ment  to  establish  the  excellence  of  a  principle,  then  the  opposition  which 
has,  during  many  years,  resisted  the  claims  of  the  Mormons  to  credibility, 
would  be  an  evidence  in  favor  of  their  veracity.  To  deduce  the  truth  of 
any  new  dogma  from  the  fact  that  men  condemn  and  oppose  it,  is  there 
fore  a  non  sequitur. 

This  memorable  argument  of  Mr.  Stephens  concluded,  so  far  as  the 
question  of  slavery,  was  concerned,  with  the  declaration  that  slavery,  a 
condition  of  inferiority,  was  not  only  the  natural  and  legitimate  position 
of  the  negro,  but  that  experience  had  also  taught,  •'  that  it  was  lest  for 
him?  What  a  marvelous  specimen  of  logical  absurdity  and  fallacy 
is  here  ?  The  negro  is  inferior,  degraded  and  debased ;  therefore  it 
is  right  to  enslave  him.  But  it  is  found  by  experience  that  slavery, 
which  retains  him  in  this  inferior,  degraded  and  debased  condition, 
"is  best  for  him."  Therefore  it  is  best  for  a  certain  race  of  men  to 
remain  inferior,  degraded  and  debased.  It  is  a  legitimate  inference  which 
follows  from  this  premise,  that  whatever  is  best  for  one  race  must  be  ad 
vantageous  for  all  races ;  hence,  if  it  is  best  for  the  negro  thus  to  be  infe 
rior,  degraded  and  debased,  it  is  also  most  desirable  for  all  mankind  so 
to  be.  Any  government  based  on  so  monstrous  and  absurd  a  foundation, 
carries  within  its  own  bosom  the  elements  of  its  inevitable  destruction. 


THE  MISSION  OF   MR.  YANCEY  TO   EUROPE.  89 


CHAPTEE  Y. 

THE  MISSION  OF  MR.  YANCEY  AND  HIS  ASSOCIATES  TO  EUROPE — THEIR  REPRESENTATION'S  TO 
THE  FRENCH  AND  ENGLISH  PEOPLE EVENTS  AT  CHARLESTON THE  REBEL  COMMISSION 
ERS  AT  WASHINGTON — THEIR  ABSURD  DEPORTMENT GEN.  BEAUREGARD  DEMANDS  THE 

SURRENDER    OF     FORT    SUMTER MAJOR     ANDERSON     RESPECTFULLY    DECLINES PREPARA 
TIONS    FOR    THE    BOMBARDMENT    OF    THE    FORT SIZE    AND    STRENGTH     OF     THE    WORKS — 

SKETCH    OF    MAJOR    ANDERSON — SKETCH    OF    GEN.    BEAUREGARD — COMMENCEMENT    OF    THE 

BOMBARDMENT HEROISM    OF    THE    GARRISON INCIDENTS    OF    THE    FIRST  DAY'S  ATTACK 

EVENTS  OF  THE  ENSUING  NIGHT — THE   CONTINUANCE    OF    THE    BOMBARDMENT    DURING    THE 

NEXT  DAY SUFFERINGS  OF    THE  GARRISON EX-SENATOR  WIGFALL A  DEPUTATION  FROM 

GEN.    BEAUREGARD — PROPOSITIONS      OF     SURRENDER — THEY    ARE     ACCEPTED     BY     MAJOR 

ANDERSON — EXULTATION    OF    THE    REBELS WHY  THE    GARRISON  WAS  NOT  REINFORCED 

PROCLAMATION    OF    GOVERNOR    LETCHER PROCLAMATION    OF    PRESIDENT    LINCOLN. 

SOON  after  the  organization  of  the  Southern  Confederacy,  as  has  been 
already  narrated,  an  important  step  was  taken  to  obtain  its  recognition 
as  an  independent  and  established  government  by  the  leading  sovereign 
ties  of  Europe.  A  commission  was  appointed  to  proceed  to  England  and 
France,  of  whom  William  L.  Yancey  was  the  chief,  whose  duty  it  was  to 
effect  that  desirable  result.  It  is  curious  to  note  the  grounds  upon 
which  success  in  this  enterprise,  the  importance  of  which  is  admitted, 
and  need  not  be  discussed,  was  based  by  the  Kebel  cabinet  and  their  emis 
saries. 

It  was  urged  in  the  South — and  when  the  commissioners  arrived  in 
Europe  they  repeated  the  same  representations  there — that  the  Union  was 
irretrievably  destroyed ;  that  the  seven  seceding  States  would  never  will 
ingly  return  to  the  Federal  Government;  and  that  the  idea  of  compelling 
them  so  to  do  was  absurd  and  visionary  in  the  extreme.  It  remained 
therefore  to  consider  what  the  interests  of  England  and  France  would  be 
in  reference  to  this  new  government,  whose  separate  and  permanent  ex 
istence  should  now  be  accepted  as  an  unquestionable  and  inevitable  fact. 
The  commissioners  asserted  that  "England  must  have  cotton  ;"  and  in  that 
great  overwhelming  want  lay  the  absolute  necessity  that  she  should 
recognize  the  new  government,  and  enter  into  a  treaty  of  commerce  with 
it.  Nowhere  else  on  the  globe  could  this  indispensable  staple  be  pro 
duced  in  sufficient  quantities,  except  in  the  Southern  States.  As  soon  as 
England  perceived — as  in  a  few  months  they  asserted  she  would  perceive 
— that  thousands  of  her  own  manufacturing  population  were  starving  for 
the  want  of  this  commodity,  her  ships  would  force  the  blockade  of  the 
southern  ports,  and  recommence  the  trade  which  had  been  suspended. 
The  commissioners  declared  that  the  cotton  crop  for  the  summer  of  1861 
would  be  as  abundant  as  usual,  after  making  allowance  for  the  greater 
proportion  of  corn  and  wheat  which  had  been  planted  and  sown.  A 


90  THE   CIYIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

potent  motive  would  thus  be  offered  to  England  to  induce  her  to  resume 
her  commercial  intercourse  with  the  Southern  States.  And  if  this  result 
occurred,  it  was  highly  proper  and  necessary  that  the  formal  recognition 
of  the  new  Eepublic  should  have  previously  taken  place. 

The  commissioners  furthermore  urged,  in  their  informal  interviews 
with  the  English  and  French  ministers,  that  the  seceding  States,  rather 
than  return  to  the  Federal  Government,  after  all  that  had  occurred  to 
irritate  and  alienate  them,  would  greatly  prefer  to  become  a  colony  of 
England  or  France.  If  they  were  unable  to  maintain  their  separate  atti 
tude,  rather  than  again  become  members  of  the  Federal  Union,  they 
would  be  willing  to  descend  to  the  humbler  relation  of  dependants  upon 
a  royal  or  imperial  sovereign.  In  that  view  it  would  be  prudent,  in  the 
very  beginning  of  the  contest,  for  France  and  England  to  recognize  the 
new  republic ;  because  by  so  doing  they  would  render  the  subsequent 
act  of  submission  to  either  of  their  own  monarchs  more  legitimate  and 
and  binding.  Strange  and  utterly  false  ideas  were  also  set  forth  by  the 
commissioners  in  regard  to  slavery,  as  it  existed  in  the  Eebel  States. 
They  asserted  that  the  opposition  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  North  to  that 
institution  was  based  solely  on  the  fact  that,  before  secession  took  place, 
the  whole  nation  was  held  responsible  for  it  in  the  eyes  of  the  world ; 
that  as  soon  as  the  Southern  Kepublic  was  recognized  by  European 
powers,  whereby  the  stigma  of  slavery  would  be  removed  from  the  North, 
the  latter  would  in  no  respect  interfere  with  it,  and  it  would  never  con 
stitute  any  ground  of  future  trouble  or  conflict  between  the  two  govern 
ments.  As  a  proof  of  this  position,  it  was  alleged  that  the  black  servants 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  "West  Indies,  while  sojourning  in  the  Northern 
States,  were  never  disturbed,  nor  were  any  efforts  made  to  entice  them 
from  their  masters.  To  overcome  that  repugnance  which  all  intelligent 
Englishmen  and  many  Frenchmen  feel  to  slavery,  it  was  urged  that  the 
existing  slavery  in  the  South  was  in  reality  a  patriarchal  institution ;  that 
the  negro  race  flourished  under  it ;  that  in  1808,  when  the  foreign  slave 
trade  was  abolished,  there  were  but  one  million  negroes  in  the  slave 
States ;  that  now,  after  half  a  century  of  experiment,  the  negroes  have 
increased  fourfold ;  and  that  when  English  and  French  statesmen  closely 
examined  the  institution  as  it  now  exists,  it  would  be  found  to  be  not 
only  profitable  for  the  master,  but  also  most  advantageous  for  the  slave. 

While  Mr.  Yancey  and  his  associates  were  zealously  proclaiming  and 
defending  these  questionable  doctrines  in  England  and  France,  and  were 
oscillating  between  London  and  Paris  with  alternate  hope  and  despair, 
important  events  were  transpiring  at  Charleston.  Until  the  7th  of  April, 
1861,  friendly  relations  had  existed  to  some  extent  between  Major  Ander 
son,  in  command  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  authorities  of  Charleston.  Till 
then  he  had  been  permitted  to  obtain  fresh  provisions  from  the  markets 
of  the  city ;  but  on  that  day  General  Beauregard  issued  an  order  to  the 


BEAUREGAIiD  DEMAND*  THE  SURRENDER   OF  SUMTER        91 

effect  that  no  further  intercourse  would  be  allowed  between  the  fort  and 
the  shore.  He  then  sent  a  messenger  to  Major  Anderson  apprising  him 
of  that  determination. 

The  immediate  cause  of  this  decision  seemed  to  be,  that  the  commission 
ers  who  had  been  recently  dispatched  from  the  Kebel  Government  to 
Washington  for  the  purpose  of  settling  all  questions  in  regard  to  rival 
interests,  geographical  boundaries,  and  other  issues  which  necessarily 
resulted  from  the  full  and  absolute  withdrawal  of  the  seceding  States  from 
the  Union,  sent  word  to  the  Eebel  President  that  all  their  efforts  had 
proved  abortive.  Mr.  Sew^rd,  on  the  part  of  the  Administration  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  first  refused  their  request  for  a  private  and  unofficial  interview. 
He  then  further  informed  them  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  him,  as 
Secretary  of  State  for  the  United  -States,  to  hold  any  official  intercourse 
with  them  whatever,  to  recognize  them  even  as  diplomatic  agents  of  any 
body  ;  and  he  declined  to  appoint  a  day  on  which  they  might  present 
the  evidences  of  their  authority  and  the  purpose  of  their  visit  to  the  Fed 
eral  Government.  The  commissioners,  Messrs.  Forsyth,  of  Alabama,  and 
Crawford,  of  Georgia,  received  this  intimation  as  an  insult;  flew  into  a 
passion  of  the  most  approved  southern  intensity,  informed  the  Eebel 
Government  at  Montgomer}^  of  the  treatment  which  they  had  received, 
and  left  Washington  in  high  dudgeon.  When  the  inhabitants  of  the 
seceding  States  received  the  intelligence  of  these  events,  they  caught  the 
general  and  infectious  rage ;  a  universal  outburst  of  execration  resounded 
over  the  South,  and  curses  both  loud  and  deep  were  unmercifully  heaped 
upon  the  head  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  who  had  thus  dared  to  snub  the  southern 
chivalry. 

Immediately  after  the  occurrence  of  these  events  General  Beauregard 
dispatched  Messrs.  Chesnut  and  Lee,  his  aids-de-camp,  to  Major  Ander 
son,  to  demand  of  him  formally  the  immediate  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter. 
To  this  polite  requisition  Major  Anderson  returned  an  equally  courteous 
refusal.  He  declared  that  his  sense  of  honor,  and  his  obligations  to  his 
Government,  would  absolutely  prevent  his  compliance  with  the  demand. 
On  the  12th  of  April,  about  3  o'clock,  A.  M.,  a  second  deputation  was 
sent  by  the  Kebel  general  to  the  commandant  of  the  fort,  who  were  com 
missioned  to  say,  that,  if  the  latter  would  designate  the  time,  at  some 
future,  and  perhaps  even  distant  period,  when  it  would  suit  his  conveni 
ence,  from  want  of  provisions,  or  from  any  other  sufficient  reason,  to 
abandon  the  works,  they  would  give  him  the  assurance  that,  in  the  mean 
time,  he  should  not  be  fired  upon.  The  reply  of  Major  Anderson  to  this 
proposition  was  equally  unsatisfactory  to  the  deputation ;  who  conse 
quently  left  the  fort,  giving  him  the  agreeable  assurance  that  the  batter 
ies  of  Charleston  would  open  on  him  within  an  hour. 

And  now  the  most  startling  and  momentous  event  which  had  taken 
place  since  the  commencement  of  the  Rebellion  was  about  to  occur.  For 


92  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

the  first  time  since  the  foundation  of  the  Federal  Government,  the 
alienated  children  of  the  once  glorious  Union  commenced  actual 
hostilities  against  each  other ;  and  brothers  strove  to  stain  their 
hands  with  fratricidal  blood.  Yet,  melancholy  as  was  the  spectacle 
which  was  now  presented  to  the  view  of  mankind,  it  exhibited  at 
the  same  time  some  ludicrous  features.  At  this  very  period,  accord 
ing  to  the  statement  of  the  Charleston  Mercury — a  journal  which  will  not 
be  suspected  of  injustice  to  their  own  side — there  were  seven  thousand 
men  under  arms,  and  a  hundred  and  forty  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance,  which 
were  more  guns  than  Napoleon  had  at  Wate^oo,  actually  in  position,  and 
ready  for  use,  in  and  around  the  harbor  of  Charleston ;  and  this  formidable 
armament  was  marshaled  by  the  chivalrous  and  invincible  State  of  South 
Carolina,  in  order  to  capture  a  fort  garrisoned  by  seventy  half-starved  men. 

The  fortification  which  was  about  to  become  the  scene  of  conflict,  and 
around  which  the  events  and  the  interest  of  the  whole  Eebellion  were  now 
to  cluster,  was  named  after  Thomas  Sumter  of  Eevolutionary  fame,  and 
was  one  of  the  strongest  and  largest  which  had  been  erected  by  the  Fed 
eral  Government.  In  form  Fort  Sumter  was  a  truncated  pentagon,  one 
of  the  five  sides  being  parallel  with  the  shore.  On  that  side  was  the 
landing  and  entrance  to  the  fort  from  a  wharf  which  extended  along 
the  entire  length  of  the  fortress  and  projected  toward  the  land.  The 
height  of  the  walls  above  the  water  line  was  sixty  feet,  and  they  were 
from  eight  to  twelve  feet  in  thickness.  The  whole  number  of  guns  mount 
ed  at  the  period  of  the  attack  was  seventy-five,  although  the  full  arma 
ment  was  a  hundred  and  forty.  These  were  placed  in  three  tiers.  The 
heaviest,  consisting  of  thirty -two  and  sixty-four  pounders,  were  arranged 
on  the  lowest  tier.  The  guns  next  in  size,  being  twenty-four  pounders, 
frowned  from  the  port-holes  of  the  second  tier.  From  the  lofty  parapet 
thirteen-inch  columbiads  and  heavy  sea-coast  mortars  menaced  the  foe. 
In  the  area  within  the  fort  there  were  two  furnaces  for  heating  shot. 
On  the  eastern  and  western  sides  were  the  barracks  and  mess  halls  of 
the  privates.  On  the  southern  side  were  the  quarters  of  the  officers. 
The  magazines  of  powder  were  well  supplied ;  the  only  deficiency 
under  which  the  garrison  labored  was  that  of  fuses,  men  and  provisions. 

The  fortress  was  at  this  period  under  the  command  of  Major  Robert 
Anderson.  This  meritorious  officer  was  born  in  1810,  and  graduated 
with  honor  at  West  Point.  His  first  important  service  was  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  in  which  he  behaved  with  gallantry.  His  superior  merits 
are  indicated  by  the  fact  that,  in  1838,  he  was  appointed  assistant  instruc 
tor  and  inspector  at  West  Point.  In  the  following  year  he  published  a 
work  entitled  "  Instruction  for  Field  Artillery,  Horse  and  Foot ;  arranged 
for  the  service  of  the  United  States."  He  was  brevetted  captain  in  April, 
1838.  He  afterward  was  made  assistant  adjutant-general.  In  March, 


COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  BOMBARDMENT.         93 

1848,  lie  proceeded  to  Mexico  with  the  Third  Regiment  of  Artillery,  and 
assisted  in  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  On  that  occasion  he  had  command 
of  one  of  the  batteries.  He  accompanied  General  Scott  in  his  triumphal 
march  to  the  city  of  Mexico.  For  his  gallant  services  in  the  war  he  was 
promoted  to  the  brevet  rank  of  major ;  and  in  October,  1857,  received  the 
position  of  major  in  the  First  Artillery.  Throughout  his  whole  military 
career  Major  Anderson  had  been  remarkable  for  his  bravery,  coolness, 
general  ability  as  a  soldier,  and  his  incorruptible  integrity  as  a  patriot. 

The  officer  who  commanded  the  rebel  forces  in  Charleston,  and  who 
was  about  to  conduct  the  assault  upon  the  fort,  was  not  unworthy,  in  some 
respects,  to  be  the  rival  of  so  admirable  a  soldier.  General  Peter  G.  T. 
Beauregard  was  a  native  of  Louisiana,  and  was  born  in  1817.  He  was 
descended,  on  his  mother's  side,  from  Italian  ancestors,  who  are  said  to 
trace  their  lineage  to  the  illustrious  ducal  family  of  Reggio.  He  gratuated 
at  West  Point  with  honor  in  1838,  and  was  immediately  appointed  to  the 
corps  of  Engineers.  In  January,  1840,  he  obtained  a  first  lieutenancy ; 
and  afterward  served  with  distinction  through  the  Mexican  war.  After 
the  battle  of  Churubusco  he  was  brevetted  on  the  field  as  captain,  for  his 
gallant  and  meritorious  conduct.  After  the  conflict  of  Chapultepec  he 
received  a  similar  compliment,  with  the  higher  grade  of  major.  His 
conduct  during  the  entire  war  was  distinguished  for  superior  skill  and  for 
titude  ;  and  he  had  already  attained  the  reputation  of  possessing  engineering 
talents  of  a  high  order.  It  would  doubtless  have  been  impossible  for  the 
President  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  to  have  confided  the  important 
service  of  reducing  Fort  Sumter  to  more  able  and  experienced  hands. 

Major  Anderson  had.  informed  the  deputation  from  Charleston,  which 
waited  upon  him  before  daybreak  on  the  12th  of  April,  that  his  provision 
would  be  exhausted  on  the  following  Monday,  the  15th  of  April.  This 
information  was  given  in  an  unofficial  manner ;  and  the  communication 
was  perfectly  proper  under  the  circumstances.  Accordingly,  when  the 
chivalrous  warriors  of  South  Carolina  commenced  the  bombardment  of 
the  fort,  it  was  done  with  the  perfect  knowledge  of  the  fact  that  the  siege 
must  end  in  its  capture,  if  it  were  only  continued  for  three  days.  In 
truth,  the  commandant  would  have  been  compelled  to  evacuate  at  that 
period,  whether  attacked  or  not ;  or  else  starve  to  death.  Therefore  it  is 
evident  that  the  bombardment  of  the  fort  was  in  reality  a  complete  farce, 
a  mere  dumb  show  of  unnecessary,  superfluous,  ostentatious  bravado. 
This  important  fact  should  be  borne  in  mind  when  we  contemplate  the 
events  which  ensued,  and  the  boundless  boastings  of  the  victors. 

At  length,  on  Friday  morning,  April  12th,  at  half-past  four  o'clock, 
the  commencement  of  the  attack  was  announced  by  the  discharge  of  a 
single  bombshell,  which,  after  describing  a  graceful  curve  through  the 
murky  heavens,  descended,  and  burst  directly  over  the  fort.  The  dark 
ness  of  the  early  dawn  was  suddenly  illumined,  far  and  near,  by  the  .flash- 


94  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

ing  meteor.  The  sound  reverberated  over  the  silent  fort,  over  the  watery 
waste,  over  the  adjacent  shores,  and  over  the  slumbering  city,  starting 
thousands  from  their  repose,  and  announcing  that  the  last  act  of  the  drama 
had  commenced.  Major  Anderson  instantly  ordered  the  sentinels  to 
descend  from  the  parapets,  the  posterns  to  be  closed,  the  stars  and  stripes 
to  be  unfurled  from  the  summit  of  the  flag-staff,  and  the  men  to  remain 
within  the  bomb-proofs.  After  a  short  pause  of  preparation,  the  Eebels 
commenced  to  fire  upon  Sumter  from  all  directions,  not  only  from  the 
forts  which  had  previously  existed  in  the  harbor,  but  also  from  those 
works  which  they  had  recently  erected ;  from  the  iron  masked  batteries  at 
Curnming's  Point,  at  a  distance  of  sixteen  hundred  yards ;  from  the  iron 
floating  battery  at  the  end  of  Sullivan's  Island,  distant  two  thousand 
yards ;  and  from  the  enfilading  batteries  on  Sullivan's  Island  and  on  Mount 
Pleasant.  In  consequence  of  the  smallness  of  the  garrison,  Major  Ander 
son  did  not  return  a  single  shot  until  his  men  had  breakfasted,  that  they 
might  husband  their  strength  as  much -as  possible.  At  seven  o'clock 
they  were  divided  into  three  equal  relief  parties,  with  orders  to  work  the 
batteries  by  turns  for  four  hours  each.  Then  old  Sumter  opened  her  iron 
mouths,  and  poured  forth  an  indignant  and  contemptuous  hail-storm  of 
shot  and  shell  upon  her  multitudinous  assailants,  which  told  that  the  an 
cient  vigor  of  her  garrison  had  not  degenerated.  They  displayed  the  utmost 
enthusiasm  in  working  the  guns ;  and  the  several  reserve  parties  could 
scarcely  be  restrained  from  service  till  their  proper  turns  arrived.  The 
first  relief  was  commanded  by  Captain  Doubleday,  of  the  Artillery,  and 
Lieutenant  Snyder,  of  the  Engineer  corps.  Their  compliments  were 
chiefly  paid  to  Fort  Moultrie,  whose  shattered  embrasures  soon  testified 
to  the  superior  skill  and  vigor  of  their  gunnery. 

The  immense  superiority  of  the  rebel  batteries  in  numbers  soon  began 
to  tell  effectively  upon  the  fortress.  Their  fire  was  uninterrupted  and 
vigorous.  A  deluge  of  shot  poured  into  Sumter  from  every  quarter  at 
once;  and  the  assailants  must  have  been  pigmies  in  warfare  had  they  not 
been  able  to  overpower  the  feeble  garrison  and  demolish  the  solitary  fort. 
Loose  brick  and  stone  now  flew  in  every  direction ;  portions  of  the 
parapet  were  torn  away ;  six  of  the  guns  were  disabled ;  and  it  became 
certain  death  to  undertake  to  work  the  barbette  guns  on  the  upper  un 
covered  casement.  About  one  o'clock,  on  Friday,  the  cartridges  in.  the 
fort  were  exhausted;  and  a  party  was  detailed  to  use  the  blankets  and 
shirts  in  the  magazines  to  supply  the  deficiency.  At  length  a  greater 
evil  than  the  shot  of  the  enemy  began  to  assail  the  heroic  garrison. 
During  the  first  day  of  the  siege  the  barracks  caught  fire  three  several 
times ;  and  soon  the  fort  was  filled  with  smoke,  which  blinded  the  men 
and  almost  stifled  them.  By  prodigious  exertions  the  fire  was  extinguished. 
In  the  meanwhile  the  guns  were  served  with  the  same  alacrity.  The  men 
—their  faces  begrimed  with  powder,  the  flames  roaring  within  the  works 


SUFFERINGS   OF  THE   GARRISON.  95 

and  apparently  approaching  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  magazine,  the  bat 
teries  of  the  enemy  reverberating  from  every  quarter,  and  their  red-hot  shot 
exploding  above,  around  and  near  them,  without  intermission — still 
worked  with  dauntless  resolution,  and  the  officers  gave  their  orders  with 
the  utmost  coolness.  Amid  such  a  pandemonium  the  darkness  of  night 
descended  upon  the  scene ;  and  Friday,  the  first  day  of  the  assault,  closed. 

But  the  fort  was  not  yet  reduced.  During  the  night  Major  Anderson 
ordered  his  men  to  suspend  their  fire.  Not  so  the  assailants.  Perfectly 
aware  that  after  the  third  day  the  commandant  must  evacuate  for  want 
of  provisions,  they  determined  to  make  all  the  bluster  and  display  possible; 
and  hence  they  continued  their  useless  and  superfluous  assault  during  the 
entire  night.  It  was  a  grand  spectacle  for  the  populace  of  Charleston. 
Never  before  had  they  witnessed  such  an  exhibition.  Never  before  had 
there  been  such  a  display  of  sky-rockets,  at  the  public  expense,  as  was 
made  during  that  night  in  Charleston  harbo.r.  Accordingly,  the  whole 
population  were  out.  The  wharves,  and  what  is  called  the  Battery,  were 
filled  with  a  delighted  and  astonished  multitude,  who  gazed  with  mingled 
wonder  and  exultation  at  the  countless  shells  as  they  described  their  sym 
metrical  parabolas  through  the  midnight  heavens,  and  then  descended 
upon  the  silent  fortress.  That,  however,  for  the  most  part  was  a  display 
merely  intended  to  demonstrate  the  prowess  and  skill  of  the  besiegers. 
Little  damage  was  done  during  the  night ;  Major  Anderson  spent  the 
interval  in  recruiting  his  men  and  preparing  for  the  next  day's  work. 

At  length  Saturday  dawned,  and  Sumter  began  to  respond  to  the  fire  of 
the  enemy.  The  seven  thousand  Kebel  troops  who  were  assembled  at 
the  scene  of  conflict  had  not  yet  become  exhausted ;  they  still  discharged 
their  guns  with  uninterrupted  regularity  and  frequency.  Early  in  the 
day  the  barracks  within  the  fort  were  set  on  fire  for  the  fourth  time  ;  and 
it  soon  became  evident  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  extinguish  the 
flames.  No  sooner  would  the  exertions  of  the  men  succeed  in  suppress 
ing  the  conflagration  in  one  quarter,  than  the  red-hot  balls  of  the  enemy 
would  kindle  them  with  fresh  fury  in  another.  Then  it  became  neces 
sary  to  remove  the  powder  from  the  magazine.  Ninety  barrels  were 
rolled  through  the  very  flames,  wrapped  in  wet  woolen  blankets,  to  the 
port-holes,  and  thrown  overboard.  At  last  it  was  impossible  to  accom 
plish  even  this ;  and  the  doors  of  the  magazine  were  closed  and  locked 
upon  the  remainder.  And  now  the  smoke  became  more  stifling  and 
insupportable  than  ever.  The  men  were  blinded  and  smothered  beyond 
endurance.  They  could  only  breathe  through  wet  cloths,  and  by  lying 
on  the  ground.  It  is  said  that,  at  one  moment,  had  not  a  propitious 
eddy  of  wind  lifted  the  dense  smoke  from  the  area  within  the  fortress, 
nearly  all  the  garrison  must  have  been  suffocated.  In  such  a  situation 
there  was  yet  no  thought  of  surrender  ;  but  the  guns  of  the  fort  could 
not  be  worked  with  the  usual  rapidity.  They  were  fired  slowly,  only  as 


96  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

fast  as  cartridges  could  be  made  in  the  darkness  produced  by  the  smoke, 
and  merely  to  announce  the  fact  to  the  assailants  and  to  the  admiring 
citizens  that  the  fort  had  not  yet  been  silenced. 

Amid  such  scenes  the  hours  of  Saturday  wore  away.  The  final  catas 
trophe  was  rapidly  approaching.  Seven  thousand  valiant  soldiers  would 
not  easily  desist  from  the  conquest  of  seventy  men.  Hence  the  attack 
was  kept  up  more  furiously  during  this  day  than  on  the  preceding.  A 
deluge  of  red-hot  shot  was  still  poured  upon  the  shattered  works ;  the  fire 
within  continued  its  unrestrained  ravages;  the  smoke  became  more 
intense,  and  swelled  high  up  into  the  heavens,  a  black  rolling  mass,  which 
could  be  seen  from  afar  above  the  fort ;  the  main  gate  was  battered  down ; 
the  walls  were  full  of  breaches ;  and  the  towers  had  all  been  demolished. 
These  were  the  results  of  the  second  day's  assault,  yet  the  stars  and 
stripes  still  waved  from  the  flag-staff;  their  graceful  lines  of  beauty  being 
occasionally  visible,  as  the  thick  curtain  of  smoke  would  be  wafted  aside 
by  the  breeze.  The  sun  was  beginning  to  descend  the  western  heavens, 
when  ex-senator  "Wigfall  suddenly  and  unaccountably  presented  himself 
at  one  of  the  embrasures,  with  a  white  flag  tied  to  his  sword.  Such  a 
spectacle,  at  such  a  time  and  place,  at  once  attracted  attention.  Lieu 
tenant  Snyder  immediately  approached  him,  and  demanded  his  business, 
He  received  for  answer,  that  the  stranger  was  no  less  a  personage  than 
General  Wigfall,  who  came  from  General  Beauregard  with  an  important 
message;  and  he  desired  to  know  why,  the  flag  being  down,  the  fort  did 
not  stop  firing  ?  The  truth  however  was,  that  Wigfall  had  not  come  with 
any  message  from  Beauregard,  and  that  the  flag  was  not  down.  Never 
theless  a  parley  ensued,  which  amounted  to  nothing.  The  visitor  then 
disappeared  through  the  embrasure,  and  soon  afterward  a  deputation 
arrived,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Chesnut,  Pryor,  Lee,  and  Miles,  who  had 
been  sent  by  General  Beauregard.  They  brought  propositions  of  sur 
render,  which  Major  Anderson  approved  and  at  once  accepted,  it  was 
stipulated  between  them,  that  the  garrison  should  remove  all  their  indi 
vidual  and  company  property ;  that  they  should  march  out  with  all  their 
arms,  at  their  own  time,  and  in  their  own  way  ;  that  they  should  salute 
their  flag  with  the  honors  of  war,  and  then  take  it  away  with  them. 

Thus  was  this  memorable  assault  terminated.  On  Sunday  morning,  at 
half-past  nine  o'clock,  the  garrison  withdrew,  firing  a  salute  of  a  hun 
dred  guns.  They  then  embarked  upon  a  transport  furnished  by  the 
Rebels ;  the  patriotic  strain  of  Yankee  Doodle  floating  meanwhile 
upon  the  breeze.  They  were  subsequently  transferred-  to  the  "Baltic," 
and  sailed  for  New  York.  It  is  superfluous  to  say  that  Major  Anderson 
and  his  men  behaved  during  the  bombardment  with  the  utmost  gallantry 
and  heroism.  It  would  have  been  impossible  to  have  defended  the  fort 
more  ably,  or  to  have  surmounted  the  difficulties  of  their  position  moro 
resolutely,  than  they  had  done.  The  fact  that  none  were  killed  during 


WHY  THE   GARRISON   WAS   NOT   REINFORCED.  9T 

the  assault  must  be  attributed  to  the  precautions  used  by  the  com 
mandant,  who  stationed  a  man  at  every  port-hole  who  gave  notice  of  the 
approach  of  shot  or  shell.  President  Lincoln  subsequently  expressed  to 
Major  Anderson,  officially,  his  entire  approval  of  the  manner  in  which  he 
had  discharged  his  arduous  duties  on  this  occasion. 

After  the  victory  came  the  exultation,  and  it  was  such  exultation  as 
had  never  before  convulsed  the  chivalrous  South.  Seven  thousand  men 
had  conquered  seventy  men;  and  shouts  of  joy  reverberated  throughout 
the  whole  length  and  breadth  of  the  Rebel  States.  General  Beauregard 
immediately  issued  a  proclamation,  in  which  he  congratulated  the  troops 
under  his  command  for  their  success ;  spoke  of  the  great  privations  and 
hardships  which  they  had  endured  in  the  conflict;  and  declared  that  they 
"had  exhibited  the  highest  characteristics  of  tried  soldiers."  He  took 
occasion  also  to  thank  his  staff,  the  regulars,  the  volunteers,  the  militia^ 
and  the  naval  forces  for  the  prodigious  heroism  and  gallantry  which  they 
had  exhibited. 

Much  surprise  was  expressed  at  the  time  that  President  Lincoln  did 
not  reinforce  the  garrison,  and  that  surprise  seemed  founded  in  justice. 
But  the  Executive  himself  explained  at  a  later  period  the  reason  of  this 
apparent  anomaly.  That  reason,  which  was  amply  sufficient,  was  briefly 
this  :  It  was  the  opinion  of  the  chief  officers,  both  of  the  army  and  navy, 
at  Washington,  whom  Mr.  Lincoln  consulted  on  the  subject — and  it  was 
also  the  opinion  of  Major  Anderson  himself — that  it  would  require  twenty 
thousand  men  to  defend  the  fort  successfully,  and  that  the  possession  of  it 
was  not  really  worth  so  great  an  expense  and  outlay  of  men  and  money. 
Accordingly  the  orders  given  to  the  commandant  simply  were,  that  he 
should  vindicate  the  honor  of  his  flag  by  making  such  a  resistance  as  his 
resources  enabled  him  to  make,  and  then,  if  necessary,  abandon  the  fort. 
This  he  would  have  done  at  any  rate  on  the  Monday  after  the  attack,  and 
thus  would  have  saved  South  Carolina  the  half  million  dollars  which 
her  two  days  of  empty  glory  cost  her. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  Governor  Letcher  of  Virginia  issued  a  proclama 
tion,  in  which  he  recognized  the  independence  of  the  Rebel  States,  and 
ordered  that  all  armed  volunteers,  regiments  and  companies  in  Virginia 
should  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  efficient  service.  On  the  same 
day  the  convention,  which  had  been  summoned  to  discuss  the  policy  of 
secession,  passed  an  ordinance  repealing  the  ratification  of  the  Constitu 
tion  of  the  United  States  by  the  State  of  Virginia,  and  resuming  all  the 
rights  and  powers  granted  under  said  Constitution. 

Immediately  after  these  events  President  Lincoln  issued  a  proclama 
tion,  calling  for  seventy-five  thousand  troops  to  suppress  the  Rebellion, 
and  summoning  the  Federal  Congress  to  meet  at  Washington  on  the  en 
suing  4th  of  July,  1861,  in  extraordinary  session. 
7 


98  THE  CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ENTHUSIASM  OF  THE  REBEL  STATES — PROJECTED  CONQUEST  OP  WASHINGTON — PRCOFS  THAT 
IT  WAS  CONTEMPLATED WHY  IT  WAS  NOT  ACCOMPLISHED — SEVENTY-FIVE  THOUSAND  FEDE 
RAL  TROOPS  ORDERED  OUT — DAVIS  ISSUES  LETTERS  OF  MARQUE  AND  REPRISAL PROCLAMA 
TION  OF  GOVERNOR  LETCHER SECESSION  OF  VIRGINIA— BLOCKADE  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  PORTS 

ASPECT  OF  THE  LOYAL  STATES — FIRST  IN  THE  FIELD — THE  ATTACK  ON  FEDERAL  TROOPS  IN 

BALTIMORE — FURY  OF  THE  REBEL  MOB — RESULTS  OF    THE  ATTACK — ITS    INFAMY THE  FEDE 
RAL  FORTS  ARE  GARRISONED SECESSION  OF  MISSOURI RAPID  MARCH  OF  FEDERAL  TROOPS 

TO    WASHINGTON THE    CHICAGO    ZOUAVES THE    GALLANT    ELLSWORTH ORIGIN    OF    THE 

TERM  ZOUAVE HISTORY  OF  THE  FRENCH  ZOUAVES  IN  ALGERIA,  IN  THE  CRIMEA,  IN  ITALY 

THEIB  PECULIAR  CHARACTERISTICS — AMERICAN  ZOUAVES. 

THE  fall  of  Sumter,  together  with  the  proclamation  of  President 
Lincoln  summoning  a  large  body  of  troops  to  convene  at  the  Federal 
capital,  which  followed  that  event,  appear  to  have  inflamed  the  military 
ardor  of  the  Eebel  States  to  a  prodigious  degree ;  and  gorgeous  visions  of 
extensive  conquests  rose  to  their  excited  views.  Prominent  among  these 
was  the  immediate  attack  and  capture  of  Washington. 

It  has  been  seriously  doubted  whether  the  leaders  of  the  secession 
movement  ever  really  entertained  that  ambitious  purpose,  and  especially 
at  so  early  a  stage  of  the  Rebellion.  It  has  been  asserted  that  their  views 
were  always  confined  to  the  defence  of  the  invaded  territory  of  these 
States,  which  had  become  identified  with  the  secession  movement;  and 
that  the  project  of  the  threatened  march  on  Washington  was  the  sole 
product  of  the  groundless  terrors  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  North.  This 
supposition  is  erroneous.  At  the  period  of  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Sumter,  it  was  boldly  asserted  by  the  Rebel  leaders  that  their  next  move 
ment,  after  the  reduction  of  that  fortress,  would  be  the  capture  of  the 
Federal  capital.  Mr.  Walker,  the  Secretary  of  War  to  the  Rebel  Gov 
ernment,  declared  on  the  12th  of  April,  at  Montgomery,  that  no  man 
could  prophesy  where  the  war  would  end ;  but  that  he  would  predict  that 
the  flag  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  would  float  in  splendor  over  the 
dome  of  the  capitol  at  Washington  before  the  first  day  of  May."  He 
moreover  warned  the  "  hostile  Yankees"  that,  if  they  were  not  careful 
how  they  insulted  the  chivalry  of  the  South,  they  would  ere  long  see 
that  flag  waving  in  defiant  majesty  over  Fanueil  Hall  itself. 

A  similar  sentiment  was  expressed  at  the  same  time  by  many  of  the 
leading  journals  of  the  South.  The  Richmond  Inquirer  declared  that 
nothing  was  more  probable  than  that  President  Davis  would  soon  march  a 
triumphant  army  through  North  Carolina  and  Virginia  into  Washington. 
The  Richmond  Examiner  asserted  that  Washington  was  perfectly  within 
the  power  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  and  added  that  the  whole  popula- 


PROJECTED   CONQUEST  OF  WASHINGTON.  99 

tion  of  the  South  desired,  with  the  utmost  unanimity,  the  achievement  of 
that  enterprise.  It  was  a  singular  fact  that,  when  the  troops  of  North 
Carolina  proceeded  to  join  the  Rebel  camp  in  Virginia,  it  was  with  the 
express  expectation  that  their  destination  was  an  immediate  attack  on 
the  Federal  capital.  Other  southern  journals  were  still  more  sanguine 
The  Milledgevilk  Recorder  endeavored  to  incite  the  Rebel  Government  to 
immediate  action;  declared  that  the  Confederate  States  must  possess 
Washington ;  and  insisted  that  it  was  folly  to  imagine  that  it  could  be 
permitted  to  remain  any  longer  the  headquarters  of  the  "  Lincoln  Gov 
ernment."  Southern  pride  demanded  that  that  city  should  not  continue 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Federal  Government.  The  Ckarkston  Courier 
asserted,  on  the  14th  of  April,  that  the  desire  to  capture  Washington  in 
creased  every  hour  among  the  valiant  and  patriotic  citizens  of  the  South. 

Similar  authorities  might  be  accumulated  to  a  very  large  extent,  to 
show  how  widely  diffused  and  how  intensely  ardent  this  wish  to  possess 
the  Federal  city  was  throughout  the  Southern  States.  That  the  Rebel 
armies,  therefore,  did  not  make  the  attempt,  was  evidently  the  result  not 
of  a  want  of  inclination,  but  of  a  want  of  ability ;  and  it  is  equally  plain 
that  this  achievement  formed  a  prominent  element  in  the  colossal  plan 
of  resistance,  disorganization  and  ruin,  which  their  leaders  conceived,  and 
which  they  were  able  to  some  extent  to  realize. 

Immediately  after  the  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln  calling  out 
seventy-five  thousand  men,  the  Rebel  Congress,  then  in  session  at  Mont 
gomery,  authorized  the  raising  of  an  additional  force  of  thirty-two 
thousand  men.  Of  this  number,  General  Pillow  declared  that  Tennessee 
alone  would  willingly  furnish  ten  thousand.  Alexander  II.  Stephens 
uttered  the  formidable  boast  that  it  would  require  seventy-five  times 
seventy-five  thousand  soldiers  to  intimidate  the  South,  and  that  even  then 
"  they  would  not  stay  intimidated."  Jefferson  Davis  inflamed  the  war 
like  spirit  of  the  Rebels  to  a  still  intenser  pitch  by  issuing,  on  the  17th 
of  April,  a  proclamation,  in  which  he  invites  all  those  who  might  desire, 
by  service  in  private  armed  vessels  on  the  high  seas,  to  aid  the  Rebel 
Government  in  resisting  what  he  termed  a  wanton  and  wicked  aggres 
sion,  to  make  application  for  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal,  which 
would  be  issued  under  the  seal  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  would  be 
freely  granted  to  those  who  furnished  the  necessary  securities  for  the 
observance  of  the  laws  of  those  States.  The  result  of  this  proclamation 
was,  that  an  eager  host  of  thieves  and  pirates  immediately  sprang  for 
ward  to  obtain  the  benefit  of  the  proclamation,  and  enrich  themselves  by 
plundering  under  the  cover  of  law  and  public  justice. 

The  Legislature  of  Virginia  was  at  this  period  in  session.  That  ancient 
commonwealth  had  long  hesitated  as  to  the  policy  which  she  would 
pursue  in  reference  to  secession.  Many  potent  considerations  bound  her 
to  the  old  Union,  with  which  all  her  most  glorious  and  honorable  asso- 


100  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

ciations  were  connected.  But  her  present  interests,  and  especially  the 
identity  of  her  sympathies  with  the  South  in  reference  to  slavery,  led 
her  to  cling  to  the  faction  of  the  Eebels.  In  addition  to  this,  her  people 
were  greatly  influenced  by  the  intrigues  of  a  number  of  detestable 
traitors,  of  whom  Ex-Secretary  Floyd  was  the  chief,  who  were  active  in 
their  efforts  to  alienate  the  minds  of  the  people  from  the  Union.  On  the 
18th  of  April,  John  Letcher,  Governor  of  the  State,  issued  a  proclamation, 
in  which  he  declared  that  the  action  of  Mr.  Lincoln  in  calling  for  an 
armed  force  of  seventy-five  thousand  men  was  in  effect  a  declaration  of 
war ;  that  the  President  possessed  no  power  to  issue  such  a  proclamation  ; 
that  Congress  alone  was  competent  to  declare  war ;  that  therefore  this 
act  was  illegal  and  unconstitutional ;  and  that  the  General  Assembly  of 
that  State  having  so  pronounced  it,  he,  the  Governor,  then  and  there 
ordered  all  the  armed  volunteers  within  the  State  to  hold  themselves  in 
readiness  to  enter  upon  military  duty  against  the  threatened  encroach 
ments  of  the  Federal  Government.  At  the  same  period  the  convention 
which  had  been  summoned  for  the  purpose  of  determining  whether  the 
State  would  join  the  Southern  Confederacy  or  not,  voted  in  favor  of 
secession.  There  were  but  seven  members  who  opposed  the  measure 
and  four  of  those  seven  came  from  Western  Virginia. 

It  had  now  become  evident  to  the  most  obtuse  and  the  most  unwilling 
observer  that  the  day  of  reconciliation  had  passed  by;  and  that  the 
Federal  Government  had  no  other  alternative  left,  in  order  to  vindicate 
its  own  honor  and  suppress  the  rebellion,  than  the  adoption  of  the  most 
stringent  and  hostile  measures.  The  blockade  of  all  the  southern  ports 
was  immediately  ordered  and  immediately  executed.  The  great  steam 
ship  Niagara,  the  pride  of  the  American  navy,  was  stationed  off  Charles 
ton  harbor,  where  her  heavy  guns  and  her  gallant  crew  would  effectually 
suspend  the  commerce  of  that  city,  the  virulent  hot-bed  of  secession. 
The  blockade  of  the  Chesapeake  was  maintained  by  the  steam-frigate 
Minnesota,  off  Old  Point  Comfort;  by  the  Dawn  and  the  Yankee,  off 
Fortress  Monroe ;  by  the  Quaker  City,  off  the  mouth  of  the  Chesapeake 
bay ;  by  the  Montecello,  off  York  river ;  by  the  Harriet  Lane,  off  the 
mouth  of  James  river.  Other  vessels  were  dispatched  to  Savannah,  to 
Mobile,  and  to  New  Orleans,  whose  trade  was  effectually  sealed  and  sus 
pended  by  the  terror  of  their  guns. 

At  this  period  the  loyal  States  presented  to  the  eye  of  an  observer  a 
strange  and  unaccustomed  spectacle.  Their  vast  and  rich  domains, 
usually  the  scenes  of  peaceful  pursuits,  of  manufacturing  industry,  of 
agricultural  thrift,  were  now  teeming  with  those  incidents  which  are 
connected  with  warlike  operations.  The  proclamation  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
summoning  seventy-five  thousand  men  to  the  field,  infused  into  the 
nation  a  new  spirit.  That  number  of  men,  which,  in  comparison  with 
the  more  colossal  requisitions  of  later  times,  seems  insignificant,  then 


ATTACK   ON   FEDERAL   TROOPS   IN   BALTIMORE.  101 

appeared  to  be  an  enormous  armament;  and  the  business  of  recruiting^ 
of  arming,  of  drilling,  so  unfamiliar  to  our  pacific  eyes  and  ears,  became 
visible  and  audible  on  every  hand.  In  a  very  short  time  the  necessary 
number  were  enlisted,  and  were  ready  to  march  to  the  Federal  capital. 

The  honor  of  having  responded  with  commendable  celerity  to  the 
proclamation  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  of  having  been  among  the  first  in  the 
field,  belongs  to  a  regiment  of  Massachusetts'  volunteers,  and  to  a  body 
of  troops  collected  and  enlisted  in  Philadelphia  by  Colonel  Small.  On 
Friday,  the  19th  of  April,  these  troops  commenced  their  journey  from 
that  city.  They  filled  thirty-six  cars,  and  arrived  without  any  accident 
or  detention  at  Baltimore,  on  their  way  to  Washington.  The  loyalty  of 
the  chief  city  of  Maryland  had  been  justly  suspected;  but  no  suspicions 
were  entertained  that  the  hostility  of  a  portion  of  its  inhabitants  to  the 
Union  would  be  developed  in  so  violent  and  so  tragical  a  manner  as  in 
the  end  occurred. 

When  the  cars  containing  these  troops  arrived  in  Baltimore,  an  im 
mense  assemblage  had  collected  at  the  intersection  of  Gay  and  Pratt 
streets,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  hostile  demonstration  against  them. 
The  feelings  which  animated  the  crowd  were  readily  ascertained  and 
clearly  apparent;  nevertheless  the  Massachusetts  troops,  who  occupied 
the  cars  in  the  advance,  being  well  armed  and  well  disciplined,  boldly 
confronted  the  danger,  defied  their  assailants,  and  pressed  on  through  the 
city.  The  majority  of  them  succeeded  in  effecting  their  passage  before 
the  rioters  were  able  to  barricade  the  railway  track.  This  they  effected 
by  loading  it  with  heavy  anchors  obtained  in  the  vicinity.  This  move 
ment  intercepted  the  further  progress  of  the  Pennsylvania  troops,  who, 
till  this  period,  had  remained  in  the  cars.  As  they  were  without  arms 
or  equipments  of  any  kind,  they  would  have  been  unable  to  resist  a 
hostile  force  much  superior  to  themselves  in  numbers.  After  a  period 
of  uncertainty  and  suspense,  however,  they  descended  from  the  cars  and 
formed  in  line  in  the  street  adjoining  the  depot.  Then  the  order  to 
advance  was  given.  This  forward  movement  was  the  signal  for  the 
attack  of  the  mob — a  vast  assemblage  who  filled  the  neighboring  streets 
and  spaces,  at  whose  front  was  borne  a  Confederate  flag.  They  discharged 
a  volley  of  stones  at  the  troops,  which  compelled  the  head  of  the  column 
to  fall  back.  Gradually  the  attack  became  more  general ;  and  those 
among  the  soldiers  who  were  provided  with  arms,  discharged  them  in 
self-defence.  But  the  number  of  these  was  comparatively  small ;  and 
soon  a  deluge  of  stones  and  the  discharge  of  pistols  and  guns  from,  the 
crowd  assailed  the  defenceless  troops.  The  latter,  after  a  short  interval 
of  hand-to-hand  combats,  were  collected  together  in  a  train  of  cars,  an 
engine  was  attached,  and  their  return  toward  Philadelphia  was  com 
menced.  A  number  had  been  wounded,  several  killed,  and  a  still  greater 
proportion  were  scattered  during  the  mtlee.  The  latter  afterward  effected 


102  THE   CIYIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

their  escape  with  considerable  delay  and  difficulty.  The  fact  that  the 
soldiers  were  without  uniforms,  which  the  regiment  expected  to  procure, 
together  with  arms,  at  Washington,  enabled  many  to  elude  the  fury  of 
the  populace,  who  would  otherwise  have  become  their  victims.  This 
attack  on  unarmed  men,  engaged  in  so  noble  a  service,  by  the  inhabi 
tants  of  a  prominent  city  of  the  Union,  was  one  of  the  most  despicable 
acts  recorded  in  the  annals  of  a  war  so  profusely  disgraced  as  this 
became,  by  innumerable  deeds  of  infamy,  treachery  and  cruelty. 

The  nation  was  surprised  and  alarmed  by  this  unexpected  display  of 
treasonable  sentiments  at  Baltimore ;  and  the  immediate  effect  was  to 
spread  the  flame  of  patriotic  ardor  more  widely,  and  induce  the  Adminis 
tration  at  Washington  to  adopt  more  active  measures.  Forts  McHenry, 
Monroe,  and  Pickens  were  quickly  furnished  with  stronger  garrisons  ; 
and  camps  of  instruction  were  formed  in  various  places  for  the  purpose 
of  drilling  those  troops  who,  in  answer  to  the  President's  proclamation, 
had  devoted  themselves  to  the  service  of  their  country.  It  soon  became 
evident  that  a  much  greater  number  of  these  men  were  ready  to  respond 
to  the  appeal  than  had  been  called  for  ;  and  the  large  number  of  regiments 
which  arrived  successively  at  Washington,  removed  all  apprehensions  in 
regard  to  the  immediate  safety  of  that  city  from  the  minds  of  the  President 
and  his  cabinet. 

On  the  3d  of  May  1861,  the  Legislature  of  Missouri  convened,  and  a 
message  was  received  by  them  from  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  State. 
In  that  document  Governor  Claiborne  Jackson  declared  that  Mr.  Lincoln, 
by  calling  out  troops  for  the  purpose  of  subduing  the  secession  move 
ment,  had  committed  an  unconstitutional  and  illegal  act.  He  proceeded 
to  defend  the  right  of  secession  ;  and  maintained  that  the  proceedings  of 
the  States  which  had  withdrawn  from  the  Union  had  been  performed  in 
the  exercise  of  an  undoubted  right;  that  the  interests  of  Missouri  were 
identical  with  the  other  slaveholding  States ;  and  that  the  similarity 
of  their  social  and  political  institutions  clearly  demonstrated  that  it 
was  the  duty  of  Missouri,  at  the  proper  time,  to  follow  their  example.  He 
concluded  by  recommending  that  the  Legislature  should  make  such 
appropriations  as  would  enable  the  State  authorities  to  resist  any  attempt 
which  might  be  made  by  the  Federal  Government  to  enforce  the  Federal 
laws.  This  message  was  the  commencement  and  cause  of  that  long 
series  of  desperate  and  bloody  events  which  afterward  occurred  in  Mis 
souri  in  connection  with  the  Southern  Rebellion,  and  which  increased  in 
importance  as  time  progressed. 

Among  the  large  number  of  troops  which  the  proclamation  of  President 
Lincoln  drew  forth  for  the  defence  of  the  Union,  there  was  one  peculiar 
class  of  soldiers,  whose  name,  whose  discipline,  and  whose  history  consti 
tute  one  of  the  military  novelties  of  the  present  age.  A  year  before  the 
outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  the  American  public  were  surprised  and  grati- 


ORIGIN   OF  THE  TERM  ZOUAYE.  103 

by  the  appearance  and  martial  drill  of  a  corps  of  men,  organized  in 
Chicago,  calling  themselves  Zouaves.  The  te/m  was  new  and  harsh  to 
the  majority  of  Americans ;  but  to  those  who  were  familiar  with  the 
military  events  of  recent  times  in  Europe  and  Africa,  it  conveyed  a  start 
ling  and  impressive  meaning.  The  Chicago  Zouaves  were  commanded 
by  a  youth  of  no  ordinary  spirit  and  ability ;  and  the  inhabitants  of  the 
principal  cities  of  the  Union  admired,  and  with  justice  praised,  the  pecu 
liar  qualities  and  the  soldier-like  virtues  of  the  gallant  Ellsworth.  When 
the  Rebellion  elicited  the  proclamation  of  the  President,  the  Chicago 
Zouaves  did  not  tender  their  services  to  the  country  in  a  body,  but  their 
commander  obtained  in  New  York  suitable  materials  for  another  corps, 
which  he  drilled  in  the  old  method,  and  upon  whom  he  conferred  much 
of  the  old  exactitude  and  perfection.  This  corps  now  marched  to  Wash 
ington  under  the  orders  of  Ellsworth.  As  this  peculiar  arm  of  the  ser 
vice  was  a  novelty  in  its  way — as  the  origin,  the  history,  and  the  achieve 
ments  of  the  European  Zouaves,  after  whom  they  were  named  and  mod 
elled,  are  a  topic  of  no  ordinary  interest — we  will  here  briefly  digress 
from  the  direct  current  of  events,  and  introduce  an  episode  in  reference 
to  that  subject. 

What  the  Tenth  Legion  was  to  Caesar,  what  the  Janizaries  were  to  the 
Sultans,  what  the  Imperial  Guard  was  to  Napoleon  I.,  that  the  Zouaves 
proved  to  be,  both  to  Louis  Philippe  and  to  Napoleon  TTI.  The  word 
Zouave  was  derived  or  corrupted  from  the  Arabic  Zawawah,  which  is  the 
name  of  a  tribe  of  Kabyles  in  the  province  of  Algiers.  These  people 
have  resided  for  generations  in  the  most  remote  and  mountainous  portions 
of  the  Jurjura;  and  were  remarkable  for  their  superior  industry,  their 
bravery,  and  their  love  of  freedom.  They  were  of  Arab  descent,  and 
they  alone,  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  Algeria,  had  never  been  completely 
subjugated  by  the  Turkish  power.  After  the  invasion  of  Algeria  by  the 
French,  it  became  necessary  for  the  security  and  permanency  of  their 
authority  that  a  large  and  formidable  force  should  be  constantly  maintained 
under  arms  in  that  province.  Already  had  the  Zawawah  contingent  in 
the  Algerian  army  become  distinguished  for  their  superior  qualities  as 
soldiers,  for  their  excellent  discipline,  their  desperate  courage,  their  wil 
lingness  to  endure  privation  and  suffering  in  the  execution  of  the  most 
difficult  and  dangerous  commissions. 

In  July,  1830,  Louis  Phillippe  appointed  Marshal  Clausel  Governor  of 
Algeria  ;  and  that  officer  determined  to  organize  a  native  corps  of  cavalry 
and  infantry  as  one  of  the  first  acts  of  his  administration.  By  a  decree 
bearing  date  October  1,  1830,  he  created  two  battalions,  to  be  composed 
of  such  materials;  and  as  the  martial  fame  of  the  Zawawahs  already  stood 
high,  he  took  care  that  the  greater  proportion  of  these  new  troops  should 
be  composed  of  them.  But  natives  of  all  sorts  were  admitted  into  their 
ranks,  without  any  distinction  of  origin,  religion,  or  race;  inhabitants  of 


104  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

the  mountains,  and  dwellers  on  the  plains,  Kables,  Arabs,  Negroes,  Turks ; 
and  thus  it  was  that  this  heterogeneous  corps,  to  whom  the  name  of 
Zouaves  was  then  applied,  obtained  that  anomalous,  rude,  and  ferocious 
character,  which  has  ever  distinguished  them.  Together  with  the  savage 
qualities  which  they  possessed  as  natives,  they  soon  combined  that  military 
efficiency  which  was  derived  from  their  being  drilled  by  the  best  French 
officers.  Some  of  the  most  eminent  generals  in  the  French  service  were 
connected,  at  an  early  period  of  their  career,  with  this  remarkable  corps. 
One  of  the  first  commanders  was  Lamoriciere,  who  afterward  became 
illustrious.  Subsequently  they  were  led  to  battle  by  Cavaignac ;  then  by 
St.  Arnaud,  and  later  still,  by  Baraquay  d'Hilliers  and  Bosquet. 

The  Zouaves  of  Algeria  distinguished  themselves  in  many  of  those 
bloody  conflicts  which  attended  the  subjugation  of  the  Arab  tribes,  who, 
under  the  heroic  Abdel  Kader,  endeavored  to  rescue  their  country  from 
the  tyranny  of  its  French  invaders.  Scarcely  six  weeks  had  elapsed  after 
their  organization  as  a  separate  corps,  when  they  took  part  in  the  famous 
expedition  against  Medeah,  under  Marshal  Clausel.  The  French  on  this 
occasion  were  compelled  to  retreat ;  and  nothing  saved  them  from  being 
cut  to  pieces  in  a  narrow  defile  except  the  dauntless  courage  of  the  Zouaves, 
who,  passing  to  the  rear,  set  up  their  hideous  war  shouts,  fell  upon  the 
victorious  Kabyles  with  the  ferocity  of  tigers,  and  hewed  them  to  the 
earth.  This  achievement  at  once  gave  them  an  honorable  fame  and 
position  in  the  French  army.  In  every  subsequent  service  of  danger,  in 
every  expedition  of  difficulty,  they  were  ordered  to  take  part ;  and  on  all 
occasions  they  behaved  with  a  degree  of  valor  which  won  for  them  the 
confidence  and  admiration  of  their  foreign  masters.  Their  drill  was  re 
markable  for  its  precision  and  energy ;  and  their  costume,  which  was  a 
singular  mixture  of  Oriental  dress  with  French  colors,  contributed  to 
render  them  still  more  unique  and  extraordinary.  A  portion  of  that 
activity  in  which  they  excelled  all  the  French  soldiers  in  Algeria,  was  to 
be  attributed  to  the  convenience  and  freedom  of  their  dress.  It  gave 
ample  room  for  the  use  of  the  limbs,  and  was  utterly  unlike  the  usual 
attire  of  European  and  American  soldiers,  by  which  the  body  is  so 
squeezed,  hampered  and  choked,  as  to  render  ease  and  vigor  of  movement 
almost  impossible. 

The  Zouaves  took  part  in  the  expedition  against  Oran  in  1835,  and 
against  Mouznia  in  1836.  They  especially  distinguished  themselves  at 
the  siege  of  Constantine,  where  they  led  the  first  column  of  assault  and 
greatly  contributed  to  the  victory.  In  all  the  conflicts  in  1843  and  1844, 
which  took  place  between  the  French  and  Abdel  Kader,  the  Zouaves  held 
a  conspicuous  place.  Their  peculiar  habits  fitted  them  admirably  to  resist 
and  to  vanquish  the  Arab  soldiery.  At  the  capture  of  Smalah,  and 
especially  at  the  famous  battle  of  Isly,  they  fought  with  a  heroism  which 


THE   FRENCH   ZOUAVES   IN   THE   CRIMEA.  105 

received,  as  it  richly  deserved,  the  enthusiastic  plaudits  of  their  more 
civilized  masters. 

After  the  submission  of  Abdel  Kader  in  1847,  there  remained  little  op 
portunity  in  Algeria  for  the  display  of  the  peculiar  qualities  of  the  Zouaves. 
Their  chief  service  then  consisted  in  maintaining  garrisons  for  the  French 
in  remote  and  dangerous  positions,  exposed  to  the  sudden  attacks  of  the 
conquered  Arabs.  In  1852  their  corps  were  reorganized ;  they  were  armed 
with  rifles ;  and  another  regiment  was  added  to  their  numbers,  thus  making 
three  regiments,  each  consisting  of  three  battalions.  Then  at  length  they 
were  transferred  from  their  native  soil  to  that  of  France.  The  fame  of 
their  heroism  so  strangely  united  with  ferocity,  preceded  them ;  and  they 
were  everywhere  the  objects  of  curiosity  not  unmingled  with  fear.  In 
1854,  when  the  war  in  the  Crimea  commenced,  they  proceeded  with  the 
French  forces  to  the  East.  The  bloody  struggles  of  Alma,  Balaklava,  In- 
kerman,  and  Sevastopol,  witnessed  their  extraordinary  qualities;  and  in 
the  more  recent  war  in  Italy  they  maintained  their  ancient  fame  by  pro 
digious  displays  of  their  ancient  valor. 


106  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

THE  SECESSION  OF  TENNESSEE — PARSON  BROWNLOW — DECLARATION  OF  WAR  BY  THE  CONFED 
ERATE  CONGRESS SKIRMISH  NEAR  ST.  LOUIS — SECESSION  ELEMENT  IN  BALTIMORE FORT 

MC'HENRY — SECESSION  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA — ADJOURNMENT  OF  THE  REBEL  CONGRESS  TO 
CONVENE  AT  RICHMOND ASSEMBLY  OF  FEDERAL  TROOPS  AT  WASHINGTON THE  OCCUPA 
TION  OF  ALEXANDRIA ASSASSINATION  OF  COLONEL  ELLSWORTH SKETCH  OF  HIS  CAREER 

HIS  LIFE  IN  CHICAGO FAMOUS  TOUR  OF  THE  CHICAGO  ZOUAVES ELLSWORTH'S  MILITARY 

TASTES  AND  TALENTS HIS  PERSONAL  APPEARANCE  ±ND  CHARACTERISTICS HIS  PECULIAR 
ITIES  AS  A  SPEAKER HE  ORGANIZES  THE  NEW  YORK  FIRE  ZOUAVES — HIS  DEATH  A  LOSS 

TO  THE  CAUSE  OF  THE  UNION — GENERAL  ROBERT  PATTERSON'S  CAMPAIGN  IN  VIRGINIA 

CROSSING  THE  POTOMAC  AT  WILLIAMSPORT BATTLE  OF  FALLING  WATERS PURSUIT  OF  THE 

ENEMY  TO  HAINSVILLE TO  MARTINSBURG THE  MARCH  TO  BUNKER  HILL TO  CHARLESTOWN 

OCCUPATION  OF  HARPER'S  FERRY RESULTS  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN. 

ON"  the  6th  of  May,  1861,  another  defection  took  place  among  the  States 
of  the  Union,  and  another  member  was  added  to  the  cluster  of  apostate 
communities.  On  that  day  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee  passed  the  ordi 
nance  of  secession,  and  adopted  the  terms  of  an  alliance  with  the  Confed 
erate  States.  The  instrument  by  which  this  act  was  accomplished  was 
absurdly  called  a  "  Declaration  of  Independence ;"  and  it  set  forth,  as  all 
its  predecessors  had  in  substance  set  forth,  that  the  citizens  of  that  State 
maintained  the  right  of  every  free  and  independent  people,  to  alter  or 
abolish  their  form  of  government  as  they  pleased  ;  and  that,  in  the  exercise 
of  this  right,  they,  of  Tennessee,  ordained  and  declared  that  all  laws  which 
had  heretofore  constituted  the  State  a  member  of  the  Federal  Union,  were 
thereby  abrogated  and  annulled;  and  that  henceforth  the  State  should 
become,  what  they  had  indeed  immediately  before  declared  it  had  always 
previously  been,  ''  a  free,  sovereign  and  independent  community."  The 
announcement  of  this  event  elicited  various  and  opposite  expressions  of 
sentiment  throughout  Tennessee,  for  a  large  Union  element  existed  among 
her  population.  Parson  Brownlow,  the  well-known  editor  of  the  Knox- 
vilk  Whig,  gave  utterance  to  his  indignation  in  terms  extremely  forcible 
and  appropriate,  in  a  torrent  of  invective  which  immediately  afterward 
graced  his  journal.  He  stigmatized  the  act  of  secession  as  "  a  black  deed," 
perpetrated  by  traitors  who  had  taken  a  solemn  oath  to  support  the  Con 
stitution  of  the  United  States;  and  he  affirmed  that  the  ordinance  itself- 
was  unconstitutional,  unjustifiable,  "  a  vile  act  of  usurpation."  He  char 
acterized  the  agents  of  the  movement  as  "  unprincipled  politicians ;"  and 
for  this  resolute  and  patriotic  conduct  he  afterward  became  the  victim  of 
the  vengeance  of  the  Kebel  authorities. 

On  the  7th  of  May  the  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States,  convened  at 
Montgomery,  passed  an  act  by  which  that  important  body  recognized  and 
declared  the  existance  of  war  with  the  United  States ;  and  affirmed  that 


SKIRMISH   NEAR   ST.  LOUIS.  107 

hostilities  had  been  begun  against  them  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  which  it  waa 
their  duty  to  resist  and  to  suppress.  The  falsehood  of  this  assertion 
stands  out  so  plainly  on  the  face  and  front  of  it,  that  none  except  rebels 
and  traitors  could  be  so  blind  as  not  readily  to  detect  it. 

It  was  in  the  State  of  Missouri  that  the  warlike  elements  of  the  two 
parties  first  came  into  active  collision.  On  the  10th  of  May  a  brigade  of 
the  militia  of  that  State,  commanded  by  General  Frost,  encamped  on  the 
western  outskirts  of  St.  Louis,  and  defied  the  forces  of  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment.  The  latter  were  then  under  the  orders  of  Captain  Lyon;  who, 
before  running  the  hazards  of  a  battle  against  superior  numbers,  wisely 
resolved  to  try  the  effect  upon  the  rebels  of  a  formal  demand  to  surrender. 
That  demand  was  made,  accompanied  by  the  assurance  that  those  who 
laid  down  their  arms  should  be  treated  with  humanity.  The  gallant  Frost 
immediately  complied  with  this  requisition.  Eight  hundred  men  became 
prisoners  of  war,  and  were  escorted  into  the  city  of  St.  Louis  by  the  Federal 
troops.  During  this  march  an  unfortunate  conflict  took  place  between 
the  latter  and  a  portion  of  the  populace,  in  which  about  twenty  persons  in 
the  crowd  were  killed.  The  captive  State  troops  were  afterward  released 
on  parole,  having  taken  the  oath  not  to  serve  again  against  the  United 
States.  Their  officers,  their  camp  equipage,  their  artillery,  and  their  am 
munition,  were  retained.  These  events  formed  the  prelude  to  other  and 
more  important  events,  which  subsequently  occurred  in  that  distant  portion 
of  the  Union. 

Meanwhile  the  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln  calling  out  seventy- 
five  thousand  troops  for  three  months,  had  been  responded  to  throughout 
all  the  loyal  States.  Thousands  of  men  volunteered,  whose  superfluous 
services  could  not  be  accepted.  The  largest  proportion  of  troops  was  re 
quired  from  New  York  and  Pennsylvania;  from  the  former  eleven  regi 
ments,  from  the  latter  ten,  were  demanded.  By  the  15th  of  May  Balti 
more  was  occupied  by  a  numerous  Federal  force  commanded  by  General 
Butler.  The  secession  element  was  still  vigorous  in  that  city,  and  it  was 
strengthened  from  day  to  day  by  the  treasonable  conduct  and  influence 
of  Marshal  Kane,  the  head  of  the  police  force.  Fortunately,  Fort  McHenry, 
which  commands  the  city  of  Baltimore,  was  well  provided  with  artillery, 
men  and  stores,  and  was  in  the  possession  of  Federal  officers.  Its  formid 
able  guns,  which  in  an  hour  might  render  the  city  a  smouldering  ruin,  pro 
duced  a  beneficial  effect  in  suppressing  the  treasonable  spirit  of  rebellion. 

On  the  21st  of  May  the  State  of  North  Carolina  consummated  her  mis 
fortune  and  disgrace  by  seceding  from  the  Federal  Government  and  uniting 
with  the  Southern  Confederacy.  She  was  the  last  in  the  order  of  time  to 
perpetrate  this  ignominious  deed.  Ten  States  had  preceded  her — South 
Carolina,  "Georgia,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Florida,  Louisiana,  Arkansas, 
Texas,  Virginia  and  Tennessee.  Immediately  after  receiving  official 
notice  of  the  defection  of  North  Carolina,  the  Congress  at  Montgomery 


108  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

adjourned — greatly  elated  by  the  success  of  their  operations — to  convene  at 
Kichmond  on  the  20th  of  July  ensuing. 

By  the  20th  of  May  the  Federal  Government  possessed  the  number  of 
troops  called  for  by  the  proclamation  of  the  President ;  and  was  prepared 
to  commence  active  operations  against  the  rebels,  and  invade  their  terri 
tory.  The  several  loyal  States  had  responded  with  alacrity  to  the  requisi 
tion  of  the  Chief  Magistrate ;  and  the  soldiers  who  assembled  at  Washing 
ton,  as  well  as  those  who  occupied  several  positions  in  Maryland  and 
Virginia,  were  eager  to  meet  the  enemy.  On  the  23d,  the  order  was 
given  to  advance  from  the  Federal  capital  to  those  regiments  which  had 
been  selected  to  perform  this  service.  The  purpose  of  the  movement  was 
to  take  possession  of  Alexandria,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Potomac,  and 
attack  and  dislodge  any  rebel  force  which  might  have  been  posted  on 
Arlington  Heights.  Eight  thousand  infantry,  two  companies  of  cavalry, 
and  two  sections  of  Sherman's  artillery  battalion,  crossed  the  Long  Bridge 
under  the  command  of  General  Mansfield.  Four  New  York  regiments, 
which  had  been  quartered  at  Georgetown,  proceeded  at  the  same  time 
over  the  Chain  Bridge,  under  the  orders  of  General  McDowell.  The 
New  York  Zouaves  embarked  on  board  the  "Baltimore"  and  "Mount 
Yernon,"  and  proceeding  down  the  Potomac,  reached  Alexandria  at  five 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  At  six  they  landed,  and  formed  in  line  upon  the 
dock. 

The  main  body  of  the  Federal  troops  entered  Alexandria  at  the  same 
time.  The  first  Michigan  regiment  immediately  advanced  to  the  railroad 
depot  and  took  possession  of  it.  They  also  surprised  and  captured  a  troop 
of  rebel  cavalry  numbering  one  hundred.  The  Zouaves,  commanded  by 
Ellsworth,  proceeded  at  once  to  active  service,  and  commenced  by  destroy 
ing  the  railroad  track  to  Richmond.  Their  next  aim  was  to  take  posses 
sion  of  the  telegraph  office,  and  intercept  its  connection  with  the  rebel 
camp.  Ellsworth  now  led  the  way,  but  his  gallant  career  was  destined  to  be 
of  short  duration.  As  the  Zouaves  were  advancing  in  double  quick  time 
up  the  street,  Ellsworth  observed  that  a  secession  flag  was  waving  from  the 
Marshal  House,  a  prominent  hotel  of  the  place.  To  such  a  man  such  a 
spectacle  could  not  be  other  than  most  offensive,  and  as  his  fearless  eye  gazed 
upon  the  floating  emblem,  he  impulsively  exclaimed,  "  That  flag  must 
come  down  1"  Accompanied  by  a  few  privates  he  rushed  into  the  house, 
ascended  to  the  roof,  eagerly  cut  down  the  flag,  and  taking  possession  of 
it,  commenced  his  descent.  He  was  met  in  the  hall  by  Jackson,  the  enraged 
proprietor  of  the  house,  who,  armed  with  a  double-barreled  gun,  leveled 
it  at  Ellsworth,  and  discharged  it.  The  instrument  of  death  was  but  too 
well  aimed.  Its  contents  entered  the  body  of  Ellsworth,  between  the 
third  and  fifth  ribs,  and  inflicted  a  mortal  wound.  lie  fell,  attempted  to 
open  his  dress  and  to  staunch  the  flowing  blood ;  but  rapidly  the  pallor 
of  death  spread  over  his  features,  his  hands  became  powerless,  he  sank 


ASSASSINATION   OF  COLONEL  ELLSWORTH.  109 

upon  the  floor,  gasped  for  breath,  and  quickly  expired.  Before  this 
event  occurred  his  assassin  had  himself  been  slain ;  for  a  private  named 
Brownell,  who  had  accompanied  Ellsworth  to  the  roof,  the  moment  his 
commander  was  shot,  leveled  his  musket  at  Jackson  and  discharged  it. 
The  rebel  and  the  fallen  hero  died  at  the  same  moment,  under  the  same 
roof,  within  a  few  feet  of  each  other.  The  body  of  the  former  was  soon 
riddled  with  balls  by  the  frantic  Zouaves,  and  his  brains  scattered  over  the 
scene  of  his  crime  and  his  punishment.  The  remains  of  Ellsworth  were 
subsequently  conveyed  to  Washington  to  be  embalmed. 

Immediately  afterward  the  Federal  troops  occupied  Alexandria  without 
further  opposition.  A  portion  of  the  population,  apprehensive  of  a  hostile 
invasion,  had  previously  deserted  the  town.  The  seventh  New  York  regi 
ment,  with  others,  took  possession  of  Arlington  Heights.  They  met  no 
resistance  or  interruption  in  the  execution  of  their  task,  and  they  com 
menced  to  throw  up  intrenchments.  Three  thousand  men  were  constantly 
employed  in  the  works.  General  McDowell  retained  the  command  of  all 
the  troops  which  were  placed  beyond  the  Potomac,  and  superintended  the 
necessary  operations. 

It  is  usual  when  a  popular  favorite  passes  away,  for  his  admirers  to  mag 
nify  and  exaggerate  his  merits  to  such  an  absurd  and  extravagant  degree 
that  could  he  return  to  life  again,  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  recog 
nize  his  own  portrait  in  their  delineations ;  and  were  he  honest  he  would 
exclaim  with  astonishment,  that  he  was  not  himself  aware  that  he  had 
ever  been  so  wise,  or  so  good,  or  so  great  a  man.  This  declaration,  which 
applies  with  truth  to  nine  tenths  of  those  whom  mankind  blindly  but  often 
unanimously  agree  to  applaud,  was  not  applicable  to  the  case  of  Ellsworth. 
The  report  of  his  death  was  the  signal  for  the  outburst  of  such  a  deluge  of 
regret  and  praise,  as  has  rarely  been  accumulated  upon  the  memory  and 
the  grave  of  any  departed  hero;  but  he  really  deserved  it.  He  was  in 
many  respects,  though  young,  a  remarkable  man,  possessed  of  rare  quali 
ties,  and  adorned  by  great  virtues. 

Elmer  E.  Ellsworth  was  a  nativtf  of  Massachusetts,  and  at  the  period  of 
his  death  was  about  twenty-six  years  of  age.  In  his  youth  his 'father 
suffered  serious  reverses  in  business ;  and  thus  he  was  thrown  upon  his 
own  resources,  and  initiated  into  a  career  of  privation  and  toil,  which 
commenced  with  his  boyhood.  The  hope  of  finding  a  more  congenial  and 
facile  field  for  pushing  his  fortunes  induced  him,  as  it  has  induced  thou 
sands  of  other  aspiring  and  generous  spirits,  to  journey  westward ;  and  in 
1852  he  reached  Chicago,  at  that  time  the  rising  commercial  metropolis 
of  the  West.  But  he  was  destitute  of  money  and  friends,  without  any 
profession  or  trade,  and  his  first  experiences  of  stern  life  in  his  new 
abode  were  sufficiently  dark  and  cheerless.  But  he  possessed  the  ines 
timable  boons  of  health,  youth  and  hope,  and  with  the  aid  of  these  he  soon 
acquired  friends,  and  hewed  out  for  himself  an  honorable  name  and  a 


HO  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

means  of  living.  His  pursuits  from  time  to  time  were  somewhat  diversi 
fied.  At  one  period  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  at  Springfield.  He  had  always  felt  a  great  fondness  for  military 
life,  but  no  scope  had  yet  been  afforded  to  his  martial  aspirations. 

When  the  exploits  of  the  French  Zouaves  at  Sevastopol  excited  the 
surprise  and  admiration  of  the  world,  they  kindled  the  kindred  sympathy 
and  ardor  of  Ellsworth.  He  studied  the  principles  and  peculiarities  of 
their  drill  with  intense  interest,  and  conceived  the  design  of  raising  from 
the  large  circle  of  friends  whom  he  had  acquired  among  the  young  men 
of  Chicago,  a  company  who  should  imitate,  and  perhaps  even  emulate,  the 
perfection  of  the  genuine  Zouave  drill.  He  succeeded  in  his  purpose ; 
many  of  the  most  estimable  and  admirable  youths  of  that  city  joined  his 
company,  and  some  months  were  spent  by  them  and  their  young  captain 
in  laborious  and  assiduous  drilling.  At  length  Ellsworth  found  the  grand 
conception  which  he  had  formed  realized.  The  Chicago  Zouaves,  under 
his  guidance,  attained  a  degree  of  exactitude  and  skill  in  the  manual  of 
arms,  such  as  had  never  before  been  seen  in  America,  and  which  perhaps 
could  be  found  alone  in  Europe  among  the  genuine  Zouaves  from  Algiers. 
It  was  very  natural  that  Ellsworth  should  be  proud  of  his  handiwork,  and 
that  he  should  desire  to  exhibit  to  the  world  how  much  could  be  accom 
plished  by  industry  and  perseverance  in  that  department  of  mental  and 
physical  effort.  He  published  a  respectful  challenge  to  the  military  corps 
in  the  United  States,  inviting  them  to  a  trial  of  skill.  Soon  afterward 
that  memorable  tour  was  made  by  him  and  his  associates  through  the  chief 
cities  and  towns  of  the  United  States,  which  formed  one  of  the  most  ex 
traordinary  military  events  of  this  age.  But  it  should  not  be  imagined 
that  this  famous  expedition  was  undertaken  simply  for  the  purpose  of 
display.  In  all  that  Ellsworth  did — such  was  the  inherent  nobility  and 
elevation  of  his  nature— there  was  a  lofty  and  noble  aim.  The  chief 
design,  therefore,  of  that  journey,  was  to  show,  by  a  plain  and  practical 
example,  how  superior  scientific  drilling  was  in  giving  efficiency  and 
power  to  the  soldier,  to  the  ordinary  rlethod ;  to  illustrate  what  the  great 
principle  of  military  training  should  be,  a  principle  of  which  not  one  com 
mander  or  soldier  in  a  thousand  had  the  slightest  conception,  namely, 
that  a  perfect  identity  of  spirit  and  feeling  should  exist,  for  the  time  being, 
between  the  commanding  officer  and  those  to  whom  his  orders  are  given ; 
as  also  to  illustrate  how  the  true  soldier  should  inure  himself  to  bodily 
fatigue  and  self-denial ;  how  the  accomplished  soldier  will  also  become  an 
accomplished  gymnast ;  and  how,  as  much  as  any  thing  else,  temperance 
in  eating  and  drinking  is  not  only  promotive  of  bodily  health  and  vigor, 
but  is  absolutely  indispensable  to  it. 

It  was  during  the  progress  of  this  expedition  that  another  remarkable 
quality  of  Ellsworth  was  revealed  to  the  admiring  public.  This  was  hia 
extraordinary  power  over  the  minds  of  his  associates.  He  possessed  that 


ELLSWORTH'S   APPEARANCE   AND   CHARACTERISTICS.        HI 

faculty  in  a  high  degree,  which  is  always  an  element  of  intellectual  great 
ness — the  faculty  of  controlling  the  wills  of  others  around  him.  There 
was  also  an  originality,  we  may  even  say  grandeur  and  dignity,  in  his 
manner,  his  voice,  his  whole  person,  while  engaged  in  the  process  of 
drilling,  which  was  a  triumph  of  martial  genius  and  beauty.  At  his  first 
word  of  command,  uttered  by  a  voice  singularly  manly  but  melodious, 
with  an  accent  remarkably  firm  and  crisp,  every  eye  brightened,  every  head 
became  erect,  each  man  instantly  became  himself,  in  all  his  physical  and 
mental  fulness ;  and  then  followed  such  a  display  of  skill  and  precision 
in  the  most  elaborate  and  difficult  species  of  drill  known  to  the  profession 
of  arms,  as  was  rarely  witnessed.  Though  not  large  in  person,  Ellsworth' 
exhibited  as  much  graceful  sublimity  and  physical  grandeur  in  a  field 
exercise,  as  any  orator  could  display  in  the  midst  of  his  most  imposing 
and  impassioned  flight  of  eloquence.  Nor  will  this  result  appear  anoma 
lous  when  we  remember  the  masterly  thoughts  which  lay  at  the  founda 
tion  of  his  military  system.  When  he  commenced  his  training  of  the 
Chicago  Zouaves,  he  trained  himself  with  a  degree  of  vigor  which  was 
astonishing.  He  practiced  the  manual  of  arms  with  so  much  industry, 
that  he  became  one  of  the  best  marksmen  and  ablest  swordsmen  in 
America.  He  investigated  the  theory  of  every  motion  with  particular 
reference  to  the  principles  of  anatomical  science ;  and  so  arranged  each 
movement  that  it  became  the  logical  and  legitimate  groundwork  of  the 
one  which  succeeded  it.  Thus  it  was  that  he  introduced  a  sort  of  scien 
tific  unity  and  harmony  into  the  manual  of  arms  which  had  not  before 
existed  in  it.  This  was  the  stroke  of  a  master ;  this,  the  indication  and 
the  presence  of  superior,  creative  genius — a  genius  similar  in  nature  to 
that  which  the  young  Napoleon  exhibited  when,  to  the  horror  of  all  the 
military  drones  and  fossils  of  Europe,  he  not  only  constantly  vanquished 
the  Austrians  in  Italy,  but  vanquished  them  in  utter  defiance  of  the  es 
tablished  and  immemorial  usages  of  the  military  art.  So  far  had  Ellsworth 
trained  himself,  in  order  that  he  might  successfully  train  others,  that  a 
photograph  of  his  naked  arm,  taken  at  the  period  of  his  visit  to  Philadel 
phia,  was  a  model  of  anatomical  and  physical  beauty ;  it  was  an  arm 
whose  formidable  accumulation  of  muscles  and  sinews,  and  whose  fault 
less  proportion  of  outline  presented  such  a  picture  as  Michael  Angelo  or 
Kubens  would  have  painted,  when  representing  on  canvas  the  ancient 
Greek  conception  of  the  forms  of  Hector  or  Hercules. 

After  the  return  of  the  Chicago  Zouaves  to  that  city,  Ellsworth  engaged 
with  zeal  in  the  Presidential  campaign  which  ensued ;  and  strange  as  it 
may  appear,  this  youth,  so  richly  gifted  as  a  soldier,  proved  himself  as 
highly  endowed  for  another  sphere.  He  distinguished  himself  as  one  of 
the  most  effective  and  popular  of  the  orators,  who,  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  ad 
vocated  the  claims  of  Mr.  Lincoln  to  the  Presidency.  As  a  speaker  he  was 
peculiar  for  his  strong,  clear  sense,  mixed  with  a  degree  of  wit  and  repartee 


112  THE   CIVIL  WAE  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

such  as  few  orators  possess.  After  the  termination  of  the  campaign, 
and  when  the  war-clouds  began  to  darken  the  political  horizon,  and  roll 
up  with  portentous  gloom  from  the  rebellious  South,  he  tendered  his  ser 
vices  to  the  new  President.  He  then  proceeded  to  the  city  of  New  York 
in  order  to  select,  from  the  numerous  body  of  firemen  in  that  city,  the 
materials  for  an  entire  regiment  of  Zouaves.  Having  obtained  these,  he 
removed  to  Fort  Hamilton  for  the  purpose  of  drilling.  After  his  new 
recruits  had  become  partially  fit  for  service,  through  his  untiring  labors, 
he  proceeded  with  them  to  Washington.  Their  subsequent  career  is 
involved  in  the  history  of  the  events  which  ensued  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Federal  capital.  Had  this  gallant  young  commander  survived  to  take 
part  in  the  battle  of  Bull  Kun,  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  presence  and 
influence  of  his  dauntless  courage  on  the  field,  might  have  diminished, 
though  it  could  not  have  averted,  the  horrors  and  the  ignominy  of  that 
struggle. 

It  is  proper  that  at  this  stage  of  our  history,  we  should  narrate  the 
chief  incidents  connected  with  the  three  months'  campaign  of  the  Federal 
forces  in  Virginia,  under  the  command  of  General  Kobert  Patterson.  On 
the  30th  of  June,  1861,  the  different  brigades  comprising  the  division 
were  consolidated  into  one  body,  preparatory  to  their  crossing  the  Potomac. 
Two  enterprises  of  importance  to  the  Federal  cause,  were  assigned  by 
popular  opinion  and  popular  wishes,  to  this  portion  of  the  Union 
forces.  The  first  was  the  expulsion  of  the  Rebels  under  Johnston  from 
Harper's  Ferry ;  the  second  was  intercepting  the  march  of  that  general 
to  Manassas,  and  preventing  the  junction  of  his  troops  with  those  com 
manded  by  General  Beauregard.  Neither  of  these  purposes  was  ulti 
mately  accomplished.  When  the  Union  forces,  nearly  twenty  thousand 
strong,  began  to  move  toward  Virginia,  instead  of  advancing  directly  to 
Harper's  Ferry,  for  the  achievement  of  the  first  of  these  enterprises,  the 
route  taken  was  toward  Williamsport.  The  enemy  were  left  in  undis 
turbed  possession  of  Harper's  Ferry,  until,  at  a  later  period,  when  the 
Eebel  generals  perceived  the  greater  importance  of  concentrating  their 
forces  at  Manassas,  General  Johnston  evacuated  the  place,  having  pre 
viously  destroyed  a  vast  amount  of  Federal  property,  and  the  public 
works  erected  there.  After  its  evacuation,  General  Patterson,  instead  of 
intercepting,  if  bis  force  were  sufficiently  large  for  that  purpose,  the  march 
of  Johnston  toward  Manassas,  proceeded  to  occupy  the  deserted  and 
desolate  town ;  and  entered  it  on  the  very  day  on  which  the  battle  of 
Manassas  was  fought,  and  by  the  very  road  on  which  the  Eebel  general 
had  marched  from  it.  It  was  thus  that  neither  of  the  enterprises 
anticipated  by  the  popular  will  was  achieved  by  the  division  of  General 
Patterson. 

It  was  on  the  2d  of  July,  that  his  troops  crossed  the  Potomac,  by  the 
ford  at  Williamsport.     The  process  began  at  dawn  of  day,  and  continued 


BATTLE   OF   FALLING   WATERS.  113 

until  near  nightfall.  Before  the  fording  commenced,  a  skirmish  took 
place  between  the  Federal  pickets,  which  had  been  thrown  over  'the 
river  on  the  preceding  day,  and  the  Berkley  Border  Guard.  General 
Abercrombie's  brigade  were  in  the  advance  of  the  Federal  forces ;  and 
having  crossed  the  Potomac,  they  continued  their  march  on  the  turnpike 
leading  from  Williamsport  to  Martinsburg,  across  the  neck  of  land  which 
is  formed  by  the  bend  of  the  river,  which  takes  place  at  that  point.  The 
pickets  of  the  enemy  were  first  seen  at  Falling  Waters,  five  miles  distant 
from  Williamsport.  They  retired,  and  about  a  mile  beyond,  the  encoun 
ter  took  place  which  has  been  designated  as  the  battle  of  Falling  Waters. 
This  imposing  title  was  applied  to  a  small  but  pretty  stream,  whose  limpid 
waters  flow  over  a  mill-dam,  and  perform  the  useful  function  of  filling 
the  race,  which  turns  the  wheels  of  a  solitary  grist  mill.  It  was  situated 
a  short  distance  from  the  Potomac.  The  skirmish  which  ensued  was  sus 
tained  on  the  Federal  side  by  a  portion  of  Abercrombie's  brigade,  consist 
ing  of  the  eleventh  Pennsylvania  and  first  Wisconsin  regiments, 
McMullen's  Independent  Eangers,  the  Philadelphia  City  Troop,  and 
Perkin's  battery  of  six  guns.  After  a  short  but  spirited  engagement  the 
Kebels  were  routed,  and  were  pursued  for  the  distance  of  two  miles  as  far 
as  the  village  of  Hainesville.  The  rear  guard  of  the  enemy  were  about 
being  captured,  when  orders  arrived  from  General  Patterson  to  stop  the 
pursuit.  Both  the  battle  and  the  chase  occupied  nearly  two  hours.  The 
Rebels  were  commanded  by  Colonel,  afterward  General,  Jackson ;  and  his 
forces  in  the  action  comprised  an  entire  brigade.  The  Federal  troops 
then  proceeded  to  encamp ;  and  occupied  the  position  which  Jackson  had 
deserted.  On  the  next  day  they  advanced  to  Martinsburg,  which  the 
enemy  evacuated  at  their  approach,  and  it  was  thus  occupied  without 
opposition.  The  Federal  loss  at  Falling  Waters  was  insignificant,  being 
wo  killed  and  five  wounded. 

After  a  delay  of  nearly  two  weeks  at  Martinsburg,  by  which  means  the 
period  t>f  the  enlistment  of  the  Federal  troops  was  very  sensibly  dimin 
ished,  General  Patterson  again  commenced  to  move.  On  the  loth  of 
July,  the  march  began  toward  Winchester.  Nearly  the  whole  division 
proceeded  as  far  as  Bunker  Hill,  ten  miles  from  Martinsburg,  before 
nightfall.  At  Bunker  Hill  a  small  body  of  Rebels  had  been  encamped, 
who  retreated  as  the  Federal  troops  approached.  At  this  place,  which  is 
twelve  miles  distant  from  Winchester,  the  Federals  remained  for  two 
days.  Here  the  pickets  of  the  armies  of  Johnston  and  Patterson  were 
often  within  hailing  distance  of  each  other.  On  the  17th  of  July  the 
march  was  resumed  by  General  Patterson  before  daylight,  and  the  ad- 
vance  toward  Winchester  was  continued ;  but  before  his  rear  guard  had 
entirely  descended  the  sides  of  Bunker  Hill,  or  had  reached  the  road 
which  led  to  Winchester,  a  countermarch  was  ordered,  the  route  to  that 
town  was  abandoned,  and  the  whole  division  proceeded  twelve  miles  east- 
8 


114  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

ward.  By  this  detour  Winchester  was  left  on  the  flank,  and  a  wide  area 
was  opened  by  which  General  Johnston  might  transport  his  troops  at  any 
moment,  and  with  perfect  safety,  toward  Manassas.  The  Federal  forces 
were  placed  in  camp  at  Charlestown ;  and  as  soon  as  Johnston  became 
assured  that  this  flank  movement  was  not  intended  to  operate  against 
him,  and  that  there  was  no  danger  that  he  would  be  attacked  in  his 
intrenchments  at  Winchester,  he  left  a  small  detachment  to  occupy  them, 
and  hastened  to  Manassas.  After  remaining  four  days  at  Charlestown, 
General  Patterson  enlarged  the  space  between  himself  and  the  enemy,  by 
proceeding  to  Harper's  Ferry,  which  had  been  evacuated  and  burned  by 
the  Kebels  some  time  previous.  Soon  after  this  date  the  term  of  the  en 
listment  of  the  Federal  troops,  as  well  as  the  period  of  the  appointment 
of  General  Patterson  as  their  commander,  expired ;  and  thus  the  first 
army  of  the  Potomac  dissolved  and  vanished  from  view.  If  the  men  and 
officers  who  composed  this  army  had  not  achieved  any  result  of  importance 
to  the  cause  of  the  Union,  if  they  had  not  gained  any  victory  of  conse 
quence  over  the  forces  of  the  enemy,  it  was  not  from  the  want  of  valor  or 
patriotism  on  their  part ;  for  on  every  occasion  on  which  they  were  per 
mitted  to  encounter  the  Eebels,  or  to  exhibit  the  spirit  which  actuated 
them,  they  displayed  the  coolness  and  bravery  of  veterans,  the  zeal  and 
ardor  of  patriots. 


THE   BATTLE   OF   GREAT  BETHEL.  115 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE    ENCOUNTERS  WITH    THE  REBEL    TROOPS    AT    FAIRFAX    COURT  HOUSE,  AT    AQUIA    CREEK, 
AT  ROMNEY,  AT  PHILIPPI — GALLANTRY    OF  COLONEL    KELLEY — BATTLE    OF    GREAT  BETHEL 

CAUSES  OF  THE  DISASTER GENERAL    PIERCE DEATH  OF    LIEUTENANT  GREBLE SKETCH 

OF  HIS  CAREER UNION  SENTIMENT  IN  WESTERN    VIRGINIA — THE  NEW  STATE  OF  WEST  VIR 
GINIA — HARPER'S  FERRY  DEVASTATED  BY  THE  REBELS — THE  OHIO  TROOPS  FIRED  ON  NEAR 

VIENNA RESULTS  OF  THE    ATTACK OPERATIONS    OF    GENERAL    MCCLELLAN    IN  WESTERN 

VIRGINIA — HIS  ADMIRABLE  PLANS THE  BATTLE    OF    RICH    MOUNTAIN GENERAL  GARNETT 

• — COLONEL   ROSECRANS — RESULTS  OF  THE  ENGAGEMENT SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  MCCLELLAN 

— HIS    CONDUCT    DURING    THE    MEXICAN     WAR — HIS    RECONNOISSANCE    OF    THE    CASCADR 

MOUNTAINS — HIS    SECRET   MISSION  TO  THE  WEST  INDIES HIS  JOURNEY  TO    THE     CRIMEA 

HIS  OFFICIAL     REPORT     AS    COMMISSIONER — HIS     SUBSEQUENT     MOVEMENTS — HE    BECOMES 
COMMANDER  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  OHIO. 

MANY  incidents  occur  during  the  progress  of  a  conflict  like  that  against 
the  Rebels  of  the  South,  which  excite  intense  interest,  and  which  are  in 
themselves  not  entirely  destitute  of  importance  at  the  period  of  their 
occurrence,  but  which,  after  the  lapse  of  time,  and  when  they  are  considered 
in  connection  with  the  grand  current  of  events,  necessarily  become  of  trivial 
and  inferior  consequence.  Among  such  incidents  it  is  proper  here  to 
enumerate  the  different  skirmishes  which  took  place  between  the  detach 
ments  of  Federal  and  Rebel  troops  at  Fairfax  Court  House,  at  Aquia 
Creek,  at  the  village  of  Romney,  and  at  Philippi  in  Western  Virginia. 
At  Romney  a  Rebel  camp  had  been  formed.  Colonel  Wallace,  who  com 
manded  one  of  the  Indiana  regiments,  marched  from  Cumberland  to 
Hampshire  county  and  attacked  the  troops  collected  there.  The  Rebels 
were  surprised  by  the  movement  and  completely  routed ;  their  camp 
equipage,  their  provisions  and  their  arms  were  captured ;  and  a  decisive 
reverse  inflicted  on  them  by  the  bravery  of  Colonel  Wallace  and  his  men. 
A  similar  contest  attended  by  a  similar  result  took  place  at  Philippi. 
The  assault  upon  the  enemy  who  held  possession  of  that  town,  was  led 
in  person  with  great  gallantry  by  Colonel  Kelley.  The  Rebels  were 
defeated  and  expelled  from  their  position.  The  most  important  incident 
connected  with  this  engagement  was  the  wounding  of  the  commanding 
officer,  who  was  shot  in  the  breast.  The  wound  was  at  first  regarded  as 
mortal ;  but  Colonel  Kelley  eventually  recovered,  to  resume  active  service 
in  defence  of  the  Union,  and  to  receive  the  rank  of  brigadier  general,  to 
which  his  merits  fully  entitled  him. 

The  first  serious  disaster  to  the  Federal  arms  which  occurred  during 
the  progress  of  the  war,  took  place  at  Great  Bethel,  on  the  10th  of  June, 
1861.  General  Butler,  who  then  commanded  a  large  body  of  troops  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  having  ascertained  that  there  was  established  a  camp  at 
a  place  ten  miles  distant  from  Hampton,  which  they  had  strongly  fortified, 


116  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

determined  to  attack  and  dislodge  them.  He  therefore  ordered  Colonel 
Duryea,  with  his  regiment  of  Zouaves,  and  Colonel  Townsend  with  his 
Albany  troops,  to  cross  the  river  at  Hampton  at  midnight,  and  thence 
pursue  their  march  toward  Great  Bethel.  At  the  same  time  the  regiment 
of  Colonel  Bendix,  with  a  number  of  men  from  Vermont  and  Massachu 
setts,  who  were  stationed  at  Newport  News,  were  directed  to  advance  so 
as  to  effect  a  junction  with  the  forces  sent  from  Fortress  Monroe,  at  Little 
Bethel,  three  miles  distant  from  the  position  of  the  enemy. 

The  entire  expedition  seems  to  have  been  badly  planned.  So  great 
was  the  neglect  of  the  commanding  officer,  that  proper  signals  had  not 
been  arranged  between  the  troops  proceeding  from  Newport  News  and 
those  from  Fortress  Monroe,  by  means  of  which  they  could  recognize 
each  other  in  the  darkness.  Accordingly,  the  first  disaster  which  took 
place  resulted  from  the  want  of  such  recognition.  Duryea's  Zouaves 
passed  Little  Bethel  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The 
regiment  of  Bendix  soon  followed,  and  took  up  its  position  at  the  inter 
section  of  the  roads.  As  Colonel  Townsend's  regiment  approached  for 
the  purpose  of  making  a  junction  with  them,  they  were  mistaken  for  the 
enemy  and  were  fired  into.  After  a  number  had  been  slain  and  wounded  the 
error  was  discovered,  the  firing  ceased,  and  the  united  body  advanced 
toward  Great  Bethel. 

As  soon  as  the  Federal  troops  came  within  range  of  the  guns  of 
the  Eebels,  the  latter  opened  upon  them  with  a  formidable  array  of 
artillery.  The  Federals  attempted  to  advance,  and  by  a  rapid  charge  and 
bold  assault,  to  obtain  possession  of  the  works.  But  they  were  saluted 
with  such  a  hail-storrn  of  shot,  and  the  expert  riflemen  of  the  foe  seconded 
the  efforts  of  their  artillery  so  effectively,  that  the  utmost  bravery  and 
desperation  proved  of  little  avail.  Terrible  havoc  was  produced  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Federal  troops,  partly  through  the  confusion  and  incompetency 
of  General  Pierce,  who  commanded  the  expedition,  and  partly  in  conse 
quence  of  the  immense  advantage  in  artillery  and  position  possessed  by 
the  Rebels.  At  length  it  became  evident  that  further  effort  would  be 
vain,  and  after  an  unequal  and  disastrous  contest  of  two  hours,  the  order 
to  retreat  was  given.  As  the  beaten  troops  retired  they  were  pursued  by 
the  cavalry  of  the  enemy,  and  some  were  slain  on  both  sides. 

One  of  the  chief  disasters  of  this  disgraceful  day  was  the  death  of  Lieu 
tenant  John  T.  Greble,  who  accompanied  the  expedition  in  command  of 
the  few  cannon  which  were  taken  with  it.  During  the  engagement  he 
had  acted  with  great  gallantry,  and  the  chief  impression  produced  upon 
the  enemy  was  effected  by  the  skill  and  vigor  with  which  he  worked  his 
twc  guns.  Eleven  artillerists  of  the  regular  army  had  been  placed  under 
his  orders.  When  at  last  the  command  to  retreat  was  given,  he  directed 
his  cannon  to  be  limbered  up,  and  was  about  to  retire,  when  a  cannon 
ball  struck  him  on  the  right  temple.  He  fell  and  expired  instantly. 


DEATH   OF   LIEUTENANT  GREBLE.  117 

This  young  officer,  whose  early  and  heroic  death  at  this  period  rendered 
him  the  first  martyr  to  the  cause  of  the  Union  from  among  the  officers 
of  the  regular  army,  had  commenced,  and  until  that  hour  had  pursued,  a 
career  of  more  than  ordinary  brilliancy  and  promise.  He  was  a  native 
of  Philadelphia,  and  at  the  time  of  his  decease  was  twenty-seven  years  of 
age.  His  early  education  was  received  in  the  High  School  of  the  city 
of  his  birth.  Having  obtained  admission  to  the  Academy  at  West  Point, 
he  graduated  in  that  institution  with  honor  in  1854.  He  received  the 
rank  of  brevet  second  lieutenant,  and  was  subsequently  ordered  to  Florida, 
where  he  served  two  years  in  the  war  against  the  Seminole  Indians.  In 
March,  1857,  he  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy,  and  was  afterward 
appointed  to  a  position  on  the  Academical  Staff  at  West  Point.  In  Octo 
ber,  1860,  he  was  ordered  to  Fortress  Monroe;  and  there  he  remained 
until  May,  1861,  when  he  was  transferred  to  his  last  command — that  of 
the  artillery  at  the  advanced  post  of  Newport  News. 

Lieutenant  Greble  was  descended  from  ancestors  who  had  held  honor 
able  positions  in  the  army  of  the  American  Kevolution.  He  had  always 
distinguished  himself  in  the  performance  of  his  official  duties  by  superior 
intelligence,  fortitude,  and  energy.  In  the  battle  of  Great  Bethel  he  had 
displayed  the  utmost  coolness  and  heroism.  It  was  he  who,  when  the 
firing  took  place  between  the  several  Federal  regiments,  first  discovered 
the  mistake,  rode  up  to  the  combatants,  and  succeeded  in  putting  an  end 
to  the  work  of  mutual  destruction.  He  then  exclaimed  in  agony  that  he 
had  rather  himself  been  shot,  than  that  such  a  disaster  should  have  taken 
place.  He  seems  in  fact  to  have  entertained  a  foreboding  of  the  fatal 
result  of  the  expedition ;  and  remarked  to  a  brother  officer,  when  he 
received  the  order  to  accompany  it :  "  this  is  an  ill-advised  and  badly- 
arranged  movement,  no  good  will  come  from  it ;  and  as  for  myself,  I 
shall  not  return  from  the  battle-field  alive."  After  the  action  began  he 
was  left  alone  with  his  men  on  the  field,  by  the  confused  and  irregular 
operations  of  the  troops ;  but  he  remained  undaunted,  working  his  guns 
with  the  utmost  resolution,  and  with  much  success.  Several  officers,  at  a 
later  period  of  the  combat,  seeing  his  exposed  position,  urged  him  to  take 
better  care  of  himself,  and  suggested  that  he  should  dodge  the  balls.  He 
replied  contemptuously,  "I  never  dodge,  nor  will  I  retreat  till  I  hear  the 
notes  of  the  bugle  commanding  it."  At  length  these  notes  reached  his 
ears,  and  not  till  then  did  he  think  of  retiring.  During  the  progress  of 
battle  he  sighted  every  discharge  of  his  guns  in  person.  It  was  noticed 
that  his  aim  was  extremely  accurate.  When  he  fell,  the  troops  retreated, 
leaving  his  body  on  the  field.  A  short  time  afterward  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Warren  and  Captain  Wilson  rallied  a  few  of  the  men,  returned,  rescued 
his  remains  and  the  two  cannon,  and  then  sadly  joined- in  the  general 
flight,  The  Federal  loss  was  seventeen  killed,  forty-five  wounded. 

While  the  destructive  tide  of  Secession  was  surging  to  and  fro  like  a 


118  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

mighty  deluge,  devastating  the  once  fair  domains  of  the  South,  it  is  grat 
ifying  to  notice  an  opposite  current  arising  in  the  western  portion  of 
Virginia,  in  favor  of  the  time-honored  Union.  A  convention  had  been 
called  together  at  Wheeling  consisting  of  delegates  from  many  of  the 
western  counties  of  the  State,  for  the  purpose  of  deliberating  on  the  pro 
priety  of  disavowing  the  acts  of  the  Richmond  Convention,  in  adopting 
the  secession  ordinance ;  and  to  form  a  new  State  which  should  remain  a 
constituent  portion  of  the  Union.  On  the  17th  of  June  the  final  decision 
was  made  in  reference  to  the  subject.  A  unanimous  vote  was  given  by 
the  Convention  in  favor  of  the  establishment  of  a  separate  Commonwealth, 
which  was  then  named  Kauawha,  but  was  afterward  called  West  Virginia, 
and  in  favor  of  its  admission  to  the  Federal  Union.  There  was  not  a 
dissenting  voice,  but  a  small  number  of  the  delegates  were  absent.  There 
were  fifty -six  ballots  cast  in  favor  of  the  measure ;  and  the  declaration 
which  embodied  the  action  of  the  Convention  was  signed  by  each  of  those 
fifty -six. 

In  the  meantime  the  martial  events  of  the  Rebellion  progressed,  and 
the  future  plans  and  purposes  of  the  armed  traitors  became  more  apparent. 
The  force  of  fifteen  thousand  men  which,  under  the  Rebel  General  John 
ston,  had  taken  possession  of  Harper's  Ferry,  evacuated  that  place,  as 
already  stated,  on  the  14th  of  June,  after  destroying  a  large  portion  of 
the  public  property  which  there  existed.  The  motive  of  this  withdrawal 
was  judicious  on  the  part  of  the  Rebels;  it  being  simply  for  the  purpose 
of  rendering  their  forces  more  available  in  connection  with  the  anticipated 
struggle  at  Manassas.  On  the  18th  of  June  they  inflicted  a  slight  reverse 
upon  that  portion  of  the  Federal  troops,  consisting  of  the  First  Ohio  regi 
ment,  which  was  commanded  by  General  Schenck.  They  had  placed  a 
concealed  battery  on  an  eminence  adjacent  to  the  railroad  to  Vienna  ;  and 
when  the  cars  which  contained  these  troops  approached  that  town,  they 
were  suddenly  fired  upon.  The  Federal  loss  was  eight  killed  and  twelve 
wounded ;  a  temporary  panic  ensued  ;  but  the  troops  ultimately  resumed 
their  journey,  and  reached  their  destination  without  further  opposition. 

More  important  and  decisive  events  were  now  about  to  transpire  in 
Western  Virginia.  On  the  6th  of  May,  1861,  General  George  B.  McClellan 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  regiments  raised  in  Ohio,  Indiana, 
and  Illinois,  and  he  formed  the  plan,  in  conjunction  with  General  Morris, 
of  an  invasion  of  Virginia  from  the  West.  This  project  he  submitted 
to  the  War  Department.  The  evident  ability  and  skill  which  it  exhibited 
gained  it  an  immediate  approval,  and  McClellan  at  once  proceeded  to 
active  operations.  On  the  23rd  of  June  that  officer  commenced  to 
execute  his  purposes.  The  plan  to  which  we  have  referred  was  in  sub 
stance  as  follows: — The  main  army  of  the  Rebels  in  Western  Virginia, 
commanded  by  General  Garnett,  was  then  posted  at  Beverly,  about  fifty 
miles  south  of  Grafton.  It  was  proposed  to  attract  and  to  occupy  their 


THE  BATTLE  OP  RICH   MOUNTAIN.  119 

attention  by  marching  a  force  toward  them  from  Grafton  through  Philippi ; 
while  another  division  should  proceed  in  a  parallel  line  through  Clarks 
burg  and  Buckhannon,  and  penetrating  further  to  the  south,  reach  a  point 
in  their  rear,  prevent  their  retreat,  and  by  a  combined  attack,  vanquish 
and  capture  them. 

This  admirable  arrangement  was  executed  in  spite  of  unexpected  diffi 
culties,  in  an  equally  admirable  manner.  The  Rebels  anticipating  no 
attack  except  in  their  front,  took  a  new  position  twelve  miles  north  of 
Beverly,  and  strongly  fortified  it.  General  Morris  then  led  a  brigade  of 
Ohio  and  Indiana  troops  toward  the  enemy  from  the  north.  At  Bealing- 
ton,  when  within  range  of  their  guns,  he  halted,  fortified  his  position,  com 
pletely  obstructed  their  further  advance,  and  then  waited  the  operations 
of  McClellan.  That  officer  also  executed  his  part  of  the  plan  with  signal 
energy  and  ability.  With  the  main  body  of  the  Federal  troops  which 
had  been  posted  at  Grafton  he  advanced  through  Clarksburg  to  Buckhan 
non.  At  Rich  Mountain  he  unexpectedly  found  a  rebel  force  of  two 
thousand  men,  under  General  Pegram,  posted  in  a  strong  position.  He 
divided  his  troops  into  two  divisions;  placed  one  under  command  of 
Colonel  Rosecrans,  and  himself  led  the  other.  Pegram's  position  was 
turned  by  a  flank  march  through  the  woods.  Many  of  his  men  were 
killed  and  taken ;  a  total  rout  ensued ;  and  on  the  following  day  the  main 
body,  under  Pegram,  was  compelled  to  surrender.  A  small  detachment 
afterward  effected  their  escape. 

When  these  fugitives  reached  the  camp  of  General  Garnett,  they  quickly 
apprised  him  of  his  real  danger.  Then  it  was  that  he  attempted  to  retreat 
to  Beverly ;  for  had  he  reached  that  position  he  might  have  effected  his 
escape  from  superior  numbers,  by  crossing  the  mountains  at  Cheat  Moun 
tain  Gap.  He  might  thus  have  joined  the  rebel  forces  in  Central  Virginia 
or  else  have  united  with  the  troops  of  General  Wise  stationed  on  the 
Kanawha.  But  he  was  defeated  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  purpose 
by  the.  energy  and  promptitude  with  which  McClellan  executed  his  part 
of  the  plan.  His  timely  advance  toward  Beverly  interrupted  the  move 
ment.  Only  one  alternative,  therefore,  yet  remained  to  General  Garnett, 
which  was  to  retreat  by  a  road  running  to  the  northeast,  up  Cheat  river, 
until  he  could  obtain  a  passage  through  the  mountains  into  the  central 
valley  of  Virginia.  He  immediately  abandoned  his  baggage  and  artillery, 
and  commenced  a  rapid  march  toward  St.  George. 

The  Federal  commander  immediately  detected  this  movement  and  pur 
sued  the  retiring  foe.  Then  followed  a  grand  and  desperate  chase,  which 
was  in  itself  an  extraordinary  achievement.  During  forty  hours,  with 
one  single  intermission,  the  Federal  forces  continued  the  pursuit.  Through 
a  mountainous,  rugged,  often  almost  impassable  country,  sometimes  by 
fording  rivers,  sometimes  by  facing  storms  of  wind  and  rain,  they  advanced ; 
and  at  length  reached  the  rear  of  the  exhausted  and  retreating  Rebels. 


120  THE   CIYIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  latter  were  at  once  attacked  with  the  utmost  energy  and  resolution.  A 
decisive  victory  was  gained.  The  Rebels  abandoned  their  camp,  their  few 
remaining  guns,  some  prisoners,  and  fled  in  the  utmost  precipitation. 
Their  commanding  officer,  General  Garnett,  who  seems  not  to  have  been 
deficient  in  courage  or  skill,  was  slain  during  the  engagement.  The 
scattered  wreck  of  his  army  sought  safety,  and  disappeared  from  view,  in 
the  deeper  and  remoter  recesses  of  the  mountains. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  few  military  plans  were  ever  conceived  with 
greater  sagacity,  or  executed  with  more  signal  ability,  than  this.  To 
whom  the  credit  both  of  the  plan  and  of  its  execution  may  be  due  is 
another  question.  It  is  clear  that  it  was  first  known  as  an  enterprise  pro 
posed  by  General  Morris,  who  was  in  command  of  the  Federal  forces 
stationed  at  Grafton  previous  to  the  arrival  of  General  McClellan.  But 
as  General  Morris  was  not  a  professional  soldier,  it  is  probable  that  the 
complete  conception  of  the  arrangement  is  to  be  chiefly  attributed  to 
McClellan.  To  him  also  was  assigned  the  execution  of  much  the  more 
difficult  portion  of  the  combination.  In  the  practical  part  of  the  achieve 
ment  the  honors  must  to  some  extent  be  divided  among  several  brave  men. 
Colonel  Rosecrans  fulfilled  his  commission  with  equal  valor,  and  skill. 
Captain  Benham,  the  principal  staff  officer  of  General  Morris,  also  distin 
guished  himself.  Nevertheless,  with  that  partiality  with  which  mankind 
generally  over-praise  those  whom  they  elevate  to  the  position  of  favorites, 
the  sole  glory  of  the  brilliant  movement  was  attributed,  by  the  popular 
voice,  to  the  most  prominent  actor  in  it. 

One  of  the  inevitable  consequences  produced  by  a  revolution,  either 
civil  or  military,  is,  that  it  develops  latent  greatness  of  character,  and 
gives  an  opportunity  to  men  of  superior  ability  to  attain  eminence,  who 
would  otherwise  have  remained  comparatively  obscure.  This  remark 
applies  with  truth  to  the  Southern  Rebellion.  Among  its  other  results  its 
stirring  events  introduced  George  Brinton  McClellan  to  the  special  notice 
and  scrutiny  of  mankind. 

This  officer  was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  December,  1826.  In  his 
sixteenth  year,  having  chosen  the  military  profession  as  his  future  pursuit, 
he  entered  the  academy  at  West  Point.  He  ranked  second  in  his  class 
for  merit  and  ability  among  a  number  of  young  mer,  all  of  whom  were 
his  seniors.  He  graduated  in  1846,  and  received  f.  commission  as  brevet 
second  lieutenant  of  engineers.  The  war  with  Mexico  breaking  out,  he 
assisted  in  training  an  engineer  company  which  had  been  raised  at  West 
Point,  and  then  proceeded  with  them  to  active  service. 

He  landed  with  General  Scott  at  Yera  Cruz,  and  took  part  in  all  the 
battles  which  signalized  the  career  of  that  commander  in  Mexico.  The 
progress  of  his  promotion  was  rapid,  but  not  more  rapid  than  was  the 
development  of  his  merit.  In  August,  1847,  he  was  breveted  first  lieu 
tenant  for  his  gallantry  at  the  battles  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco.  In 


SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  G.  B.  McCLELLAN.  121 

the  next  month  he  was  breveted  captain  for  his  heroism  in  the  conflicts 
of  Molina  del  Key  and  Chapultepec.  He  was  subsequently,  in  Moy,  1848, 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  commandant  of  sappers,  miners  and  pontoniers. 
There  was  scarcely  another  instance  among  the  many  talented  young 
men  who  distinguished  themselves  in  that  war,  of  a  person  whose  rise  in 
the  profession  was  so  rapid  and  so  constant  as  his. 

The  war  being  ended,  McClellan  returned  to  West  Point,  where  he 
remained  till  1851.  The  ensuing  interval  he  employed  in  preparing  a 
manual  for  the  bayonet  exercise,  which  was  introduced  into  the  army. 
That  work  became  a  standard  authority  on  the  subject.  During  the 
summer  and  fall  of  1851  he  superintended  the  building  of  Fort  Delaware. 
In  the  following  spring  he  joined  the  expedition  under  Major  Marcy  for 
the  purpose  of  exploring  the  Ked  river.  Thence  he  proceeded  to  Texas 
as  senior  engineer,  to  survey  the  rivers  and  harbors  of  that  State.  While 
in  Mexico  he  had  attracted  the  attention  and  won  the  confidence  of 
Jefferson  Davis,  whose  sagacious  eye  easily  detected  his  superior  qualities. 
When  Davis  became  Secretary  of  War  under  President  Pierce,  he  employed 
McClellan  to  make  a  reconnaissance  of  the  Cascade  mountains  on  the 
Pacific,  with  special  reference  to  the  future  construction  of  the  Pacific 
railroad.  This  difficult  duty  he  discharged  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
the  Secretary ;  who,  having  set  his  heart  upon  the  accomplishment  of 
that  important  enterprise,  was  very  exacting  in  regard  to  every  thing 
which  might  promote  its  attainment. 

In  1854  McClellan  was  dispatched  on  a  secret  mission  to  the  West 
Indies.  In  the  next  year  he  received  a  captaincy  in  a  regiment  of  cavalry ; 
and  then  followed  the  most  important  commission  with  which  he  had  yet 
been  honored.  lie  was  selected  by  Mr.  Davis,  in  connection  with  Eichard 
Delafield  and  Alfred  Mordecai,  to  proceed  to  the  Crimea  for  the  purpose 
of  making  observations  upon  the  military  operations  which  were  then  in 
progress;  and  to  examine  the  most  noted  military  establishments  of 
Europe.  The  commissioners  were  absent  two  years,  and  after  their 
return,  each  of  them  submitted  to  the  government  a  separate  report  con 
taining  the  results  of  their  observations.  It  may  safely  be  affirmed  that 
though  the  reports  of  Delafield  and  Mordecai  were  creditable  performances, 
the  production  of  McClellan  was  superior  to  them  both ;  and  it  was  so 
regarded  by  the  government  for  whom  it  was  prepared. 

This  elaborate  work  was  published  in  1857.  It  was  illustrated  by 
admirable  plates,  diagrams  and  maps.  Its  contents  were  of  the  utmost 
value,  including  not  merely  reports  upon  the  events  of  the  great  struggle  in 
the  Crimea,  but  also  dissertations  on  many  topics  of  importance  connected 
with  military  science.  It  described  twith  accuracy  the  characteristics 
of  the  French,  Austrian,  Prussian  and  Sardinian  infantry,  the  various  de 
partments  of  the  Kussian  army,  and  the  regulations  for  military  service 
in  the  chief  countries  of  Europe.  The  author  discussed  the  peculiar  tactics 


122  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

discipline  and  equipments  of  all  the  great  European  armies.  Nothing  of 
interest  which  appertained  to  the  organization  of  troops  and  camps,  the 
construction  of  field  works,  the  most  approved  method  of  reducing  fortified 
positions,  the  peculiar  merits  and  defects  of  British  and  French,  Russian 
and  Sardinian  soldiers,  was  omitted.  The  principles  of  modern  warfare, 
hospitals,  commissariats,  the  Zouaves,  military  instruction  in  general — 
these  and  many  other  subjects  of  great  interest  and  value  were  investigated 
in  the  various  reports  which  constituted  this  volume;  and  they  were 
treated  with  the  ability  of  a  man  as  well  practiced  in  handling  the  pen  as 
in  wielding  the  sword.  The  style  of  the  work  is  clear  and  forcible,  the 
research  exhibited  is  thorough  and  deep,  the  reflections  made  are  sagacious 
and  original,  the  learning  displayed  is  accurate  and  profound. 

After  his  return  from  Europe  in  1857,  McClellan  resigned  his  position 
in  the  army,  and  assumed  that  of  Vice  President  and  Chief  Engineer  of 
the  Illinois  Central  Eailroad.  This  office  he  retained  until  he  was  elected 
President  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  .Railroad.  It  was  from  this  position 
that  he  was  transferred,  immediately  after  the  commencement  of  the  Re 
bellion,  to  the  military  command  of  the  Department  of  Ohio,  comprising 
that  State,  together  with  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Western  Virginia,  ilis 
achievements  in  the  latter  field  we  have  already  narrated.  After  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run  the  Administration  at  Washington,  discovering  the 
incompetence  of  some  of  those  in  high  command,  felt  the  necessity  of 
summoning  to  the  capital  the  best  military  talent  within  their  reach. 
Then  it  was  that  they  conferred  upon  General  McClellan  the  most  respon 
sible,  the  most  difficult,  but  also  the  most  honorable  post  ever  bestowed 
upon  any  young  American  officer,  since  that  memorable  day  when  George 
Washington  was  chosen  by  the  Continental  Congress,  in  another  great 
crisis  of  the  nation's  destiny,  to  conduct  the  armies  of  tthe  rising  Republic 
to  scenes  of  victory  and  glory. 


MESSAGE  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  123 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  EXTRAORDINARY  SESSION  OF  CONGRESS  IN  JULY,  1861 — MESSAGE  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN 

ITS  CHARACTERISTICS — ITS  DEMANDS SKETCH    OF    THADDEUS    STEVENS — HIS    POLITICAL 

CAREER — HIS    PERSONAL    QUALITIES — HIS    ACTION    AS    CHAIRMAN    OF   THE    COMMITTEE    OF 

WAYS    AND    MEANS — IMPORTANT    BILLS     PASSED    BY     CONGRESS OPPOSITION     OF     MESSRS. 

VALLANDIGHAM  AND  BURNETT  TO  THE    POLICY    OF    THE    ADMINISTRATION THE    CIVIL  WAR 

IN  MISSOURI — THE  GRAND  ARMY  EQUIPPED  AT  WASHINGTON — COMPLAINTS  OF  ITS  PRO 
LONGED  INACTIVITY — ORDER  GIVEN  TO  GENERAL  MCDOWELL  TO  ADVANCE  TOWARD  MANAS- 
SA8 — ARRANGEMENT  OF  THE  ARMY — THE  ADVANCE  REACH  BULL  RUN — THE  PRELIMINARY 
CONFLICT  AT  THAT  PLACE — REPULSE  OF  GENERAL  TYLER'S  DIVISION — POSITION  OF  THE 

REBEL  ARMY  AT  MANASSAS GENERAL    BEAUREGARD THE    IMPENDING    CONTEST TEMPER 

OF    THE    REBEL    TROOPS THE  ARTS  EMPLOYED  TO  INFLAME  THEM. 

THE  extraordinary  session  of  Congress  which  convened  at  Washington 
on  the  4th  of  July,  1861,  will  always  remain  an  event  of  supreme  import 
ance  in  American  history.  It  assembled  under  circumstances  such  as 
never  before  existed  since  the  foundation  of  the  Federal  Government; 
and  it  may  be  added,  that  the  peculiarities  which  marked  its  deliberations 
were  such  as  have  rarely  been  exhibited  in  the  proceedings  of  the  national 
Legislature.  A  regard  was  paid,  to  some  extent,  to  the  real  purposes  for 
which  the  members  had  been  summoned  to  meet ;  and  wordy  speeches  for 
popularity  and  profit,  as  well  as  brutal  assaults  for  supremacy  or  revenge, 
were  for  the  time  being  abandoned.  On  the  5th  of  July  President  Lincoln 
sent  in  his  message,  which  was  read  to  both  Houses,  and  became  at  once 
the  subject  of  scrutiny  and  attention. 

This  message  was  also  novel  in  its  character.  Unlike  Presidential 
messages  in  general,  it  was  characterized  by  brevity,  clearness,  and  prac 
tical  good  sense.  It  went  directly  to  the  heart  of  the  great  theme  which 
then  absorbed  and  influenced  every  rnind,  It  was  indeed  destitute  of 
the  polish  of  style  and  the  elegance  of  language  which  have  generally 
embellished,  but  have  as  often  obscured  or  enfeebled,  the  official  addresses 
of  the  Chief  Magistrate.  But  every  man  in  the  nation  could  understand 
it.  It  possessed  the  qualities  of  sagacity  and  intelligence,  which  recom 
mended  it  to  the  most  cultivated  and  fastidious.  It  displayed  a  vigor  of 
purpose  and  an  earnestness  in  defence  of  the  Union,  which  elicited  the 
applause  of  the  most  illiterate  and  obscure.  It  was  precisely  the  right 
thing  in  the  right  place.  It  was  a  faithful  response  to  the  convictions 
and  sentiments  of  every  patriot  in  the  community. 

In  this  message  the  President  made  a  requisition  upon  Congress  for 
four  hundred  thousand  men,  and  four  hundred  millions  of  dollars;  in 
order  that,  by  adopting  the  most  vigorous  measures,  the  most  decisive 
results  might  at  once  be  attained.  One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  Speaker  of 


124  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

the  House  was  to  appoint  the  chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and 
Means.  That  committee,  under  the  existing  circumstances,  was  invested 
with  even  more  importance  than  it  ordinarily  possessed.  Upon  the  ability 
and  industry  of  its  members,  and  especially  of  its  chairman,  the  efficiency 
of  the  whole  body  in  a  great  measure  depended  ;  and  the  Speaker  in  this 
instance  made  a  selection  which  was  marked  by  eminent  appropriateness 
and  prudence.  No  man  then  occupied  a  seat  in  the  Federal  Congress 
who  was  more  highly  gifted  by  nature,  or  possessed  greater  experience 
and  skill  in  the  management  of  deliberate  bodies,  than  Thaddeus  Stevens  ; 
and  upon  him  this  responsible  post  was  wisely  conferred,  to  the  exclu 
sion  and  the  mortification  of  not  a  few  aspiring  politicians,  who  imagined 
that  their  vast  abilities  and  their  extraordinary  services  entitled  them  to  it. 

Mr.  Stevens  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  a  generation  of  Ameri 
can  statesmen,  who  have  now  nearly  all  passed  away.  His  name  and 
his  influence  were  distinguished  in  the  political  history  of  Pennsylvania 
for  thirty-five  years ;  and  for  twenty  years  he  was  prominent  among  our 
politicians  of  national  reputation.  He  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  was 
born  in  1796.  In  his  early  manhood  he  removed  to  York,  and  afterward 
to  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 
He  quickly  become  the  head  of  a  bar  adorned  by  such  men  as  Judge 
Reed  of  Carlisle,  Charles  B.  Penrose,  Senator  James  Cooper,  and  others 
of  high  repute.  Being  elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  State  Legis 
lature,  he  there  took  the  first  rank  among  many  talented  men ;  and 
domineered  over  both  Houses,  over  the  Whig  governors,  over  their  Cab 
inets,  and  over  the  affairs  of  the  State  generally,  during  several  adminis 
trations,  with  an  influence  which  was  well  nigh  absolute.  The  chief 
secret  of  his  power  and  of  his  success  was  his  superior  ability  in  debate, 
and  his  matchless  tact  in  controlling  a  deliberative  assembly.  In  all  the 
highest  arts  of  a  popular  and  forensic  orator,  in  earnestness  and  pathos 
of  declamation,  in  shrewdness  and  sophistry  of  reasoning,  in  scathing 
severity  of  sarcasm,  in  dauntless  resolution  of  temper,  in  readiness  of 
reply,  and  in  quickness  to  detect  and  expose  the  weak  points  of  an 
adversary, — in  all  those  qualifications  Mr.  Stevens,  when  in  his  prime,  had 
few  superiors  among  the  most  renowned  and  accomplished  of  American 
orators. 

In  the  Federal  House  of  Representatives  he  always  maintained  a  high 
rank;  although  he  did  not  take  his  seat  in  it  till  after  he  had  passed  the 
most  vigorous  period  of  his  life.  His  achievements  as  chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  Ways  and  Means,  in  the  memorable  extra  session  of  1861, 
formed  a  noble  and  appropriate  climax  to  his  long  career ;  and  his  name 
will  descend  to  future  generations  as  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  efficient 
of  those  coadjutors  of  the  President,  who,  in  that  perilous  crisis  of  the 
nation's  history,  infused  energy,  liberality  and  patriotism  into  the  legisla 
tive  branch  of  tho  government.  Though  he  made  no  long  speeches  in 


IMPORTANT  BILLS  PASSED   BY  CONGRESS.  125 

the  performance  of  his  duties,  he  accomplished  greater  things  than  long 
speeches  could  then  achieve,  by  the  use  of  tact,  and  even  by  the  mainten 
ance,  in  some  cases,  of  prudent  and  significant  silence.  More  than  once, 
when  Vallandigham  and  Burnett — the  chief  representatives  of  a  treason 
able  policy  in  the  House — had  delivered  themselves  of  impetuous  and 
frothy  harangues  against  the  measures  proposed  by  the  committee,  and 
briefly  advocated  by  its  chairman ;  when  they  had  fumed  and  fretted  for 
an  hour,  and  imagined  that  they  had  so  effectually  badgered  the  chairman 
of  the  committee  that  he  must  needs  respond,  and  endeavor  to  vindicate 
himself  by  a  speech  equally  convulsive  and  equally  frantic  as  their  own ; 
— more  than  once,  under  such  circumstances,  and  after  such  a  tremendous 
assault,  did  Mr.  Stevens  annihilate  all  that  the  adverse  orators  had  uttered, 
by  maintaining  an  unexpected  and  contemptuous  silence,  or,  at  most  by 
uttering  a  few  words  of  poisoned  and  deadly  sarcasm.  Many  able  men 
have  served  as  chairmen  of  the  Congressional  Committees  of  Ways  and 
Means,  in  many  difficult  crises  of  our  national  history  ^  but  no  one  ever 
acquitted  himself  with  more  ability  and  success  than  did  Mr.  Stevens  in 
that  position. 

On  the  10th  of  July  a  bill  was  passed,  authorizing  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  to  borrow,  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States,  a  sum  not  exceed 
ing  two  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  dollars ;  for  which  he  was  author 
ized  to  issue  certificates  of  coupon  or  registered  stock,  and  treasury  notes. 
The  stock  was  to  bear  interest  not  exceeding  seven  per  centum  per  annum, 
payable  semi-annually,  and  to  be  irredeemable  for  twenty  years.  The 
treasury  notes  were  to  be  payable  three  years  after  date,  with  interest  at 
the  rate  of  seven  and  three-tenths  per  centum  per  annum.  The  faith  of 
the  United  States  was  pledged  for  the  payment  of  the  interest,  and  the 
redemption  of  the  principal  of  the  loan.  This  act  conferred  on  the  Presi 
dent  the  necessary  means  to  carry  on  the  war,  and  was  preliminary  to 
many  other  important  bills  which  were  subsequently  passed,  and  which 
provided  for  the  continuance  of  efficient  military  operations. 

Two  members  of  the  House  and  one  of  the  Senate  particularly  disgraced 
themselves  during  the  entire  progress  of  this  session,  by  their  systematic 
opposition  to  the  patriotic  policy  of  the  Government.  These  were  Messrs. 
Vallandigham  of  Ohio,  and  Burnett  and' Breckinridge  of  Kentucky.  It 
is  difficult  to  conceive  what  could  have  been  the  real  motive  of  their  action, 
unless  it  were  that  perversity  which  characterizes  some  minds,  and  impels 
them  to  resist  what  all  other  men  unanimously  approve.  It  is  the  unenvi 
able  distinction  of  these  persons  that,  in  this  perilous  crisis,  they  exerted 
themselves  to  aid  the  Rebels  by  obstructing  the  wheels  of  legislation,  and  by 
the  use  of  every  possible  expedient — by  direct  opposition,  by  offering  sub» 
Btitutes,  by  proposing  amendments,  by  calling  for  the  previous  question,  by 
moving  to  lay  on  the  table,  and  by  moving  to  adjourn — by  these  and  other 
tricks  they  endeavored  to  hamper  the  onward  march  of  the  most  honorable 


J26  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IX  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

measures  which  were  ever^  adopted  by  any  American  Congress.  They 
will  probably  receive  their  reward  ;  and  by  the  decision  of  a  just  posterity, 
when  the  storms  and  perils  of  this  disastrous  time  shall  have  passed 
away,  they  will  be  classed  with  the  Floyds  and  Davises  of  the  present  era, 
with  the  Burrs  and  Arnolds  of  a  former  age. 

It  is  not  necessary  here  to  enumerate  all  even  of  the  most  important 
of  the  bills  which  were  passed  by  Congress  during  this  extraordinary 
session.  It  will  be  sufficient  to  observe,  that  every  appropriation  which 
the  safety  and  honor  of  the  nation  required,  was  liberally  made.  Such 
harmony  and  unanimity  had  never  before  existed  in  any  American  Con 
gress.  So  far  indeed  did  these  qualities  prevail,  that  they  led  to  the 
occurrence  of  a  phenomenon  unknown  before  in  the  annals  of  modern 
legislation.  We  read  in  the  history  of  the  Christian  Church,  of  certain 
harmless  and  perhaps  excusable  expedients  termed  "pious  frauds,"  which 
were  resorted  to  in  different  ages  and  countries,  for  the  purpose  of  accom 
plishing  results  in  themselves  beneficent  and  good.*  In  the  present  case 
a  measure  was  adopted  which  may  with  equal  propriety  be  termed  a 
patriotic  fraud,  by  which  two  separate  and  independent  bills  were  passed, 
apparently  by  accident,  doubtless  by  design,  which  in  effect  conferred  on 
the  President  the  power  to  summon  a  million  of  men  into  the  field,  if  he 
should  deem  that  number  necessary  for  the  defence  and  preservation  of 
the  Union.  To  whom  the  credit  or  the  blame  of  this  patriotic  fraud 
ought  to  be  attributed,  there  can  be  but  little  doubt ;  for  in  legislative 
adroitness  of  this  kind,  the  chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and 
Means  had  few  superiors. 

The  civil  war  in  Missouri  now  assumed  more  tragical  features  from 
day  to  day.  The  inhabitants  of  that  State  were  thoroughly  divided  on 
the  subject  of  Secession,  and  the  greater  ferocity  and  cruelty  which  char 
acterize  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  those  outposts  of  civilization,  produced 
the  effect  that  there  the  war  assumed  a  more  desperate  character  than  it 
had  yet  exhibited  in  any  other  scene  of  conflict.  Two  rival  governors 
claimed  the  executive  authority  of  the  State.  Two  camps  and  two  armies 
were  gradually  collected.  The  Rebels  were  commanded  by  General  Clai- 
borne  Jackson,  the  Federal  troops  were  led  by  General  Nathaniel  Lyon ; 
and  it  was  evident,  from  the  hostile  and  vigorous  spirit  which  characterized 
both  armies,  that  a  collision  between  them  was  imminent. 

In  a  republican  government  such  as  our  own,  every  man  regards  himself 
as  a  political  sovereign,  and  each  one  claims  the  right  to  interfere  in  the 
administration  of  public  affairs.  Nor  do  these  individual  sovereigns 
choose  to  recognize  any  difference  between  things  military  and  things 
civil ;  all  alike  must  be  subject  to  their  scrutiny  and  jurisdiction.  This 
disposition  was  very  clearly  exhibited  in  reference  to  the  operations  of 

*  Vide  Mosheim's  Ecclesiastical  History,  vol.  1,  pp.  65,  112 


REPULSE  OF   GENERAL  TYLER'S   DIVISION.  127 

what  was  absurdly  termed  the  "Grand  Army,"  by  those  whose  patriotism 
was  more  ardent  than  their  sagacity  was  penetrating.  By  this  term  were 
meant  the  Federal  troops  who  were  collected  at  Washington ;  and  during 
the  early  portion  of  July  great  impatience  was  expressed  by  some  leading 
journals,  chiefly  in  New  York,  that  so  powerful  an  army  should  be  allowed 
to  remain  so  long  in  ignoble  repose.  A  general  complaint  or  appeal  was 
made  by  those  journals,  that  it  was  high  time  something  decisive  should 
be  done,  that  a  battle  should  be  fought,  that  a  victory  should  be  achieved, 
merely,  if  for  nothing  else,  to  show  the  Rebels  how  utterly  insignificant  they 
were,  and  to  demonstrate  to  the  world  that  the  Federal  Government  was 
omnipotent,  and  could  crush  with  its  finger  the  whole  body  of  the  pre 
sumptuous  foe. 

It  was  doubtless  in  consequence  of  the  impatience  of  these  military 
tyros,  and  the  pertinacious  clamors  for  a  battle  with  which  they  persecuted 
the  Commander-in-Chief  and  the  Secretary  of  "War,  that  orders  were  at 
length  issued,  that  on  the  17th  of  July  the  Grand  Army,  numbering  thirty 
thousand  men,  should  move  forward  toward  Richmond,  under  the  com 
mand  of  General  Irwin  McDowell.  This  army,  though  composed  of  the 
best  possible  raw  materials,  though  brave,  though  patriotic,  though 
ardently  devoted  to  the  cause  of  the  Union,  was  nevertheless,  in  the 
opinion  of  every  man  of  scientific  military  attainment,  little  more  than 
an  armed  mob ;  for  it  is  not  possible  for  any  human  power  to  convert  the 
mere  citizen  into  a  real  soldier  by  six  weeks  drilling.  The  military 
editors,  however,  prevailed,  and  the  following  dispositions  were  made: 
The  first  division,  under  General  Tyler,  forming  the  right  centre,  marched 
toward  Vienna.  The  column  of  the  extreme  right,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Hunter,  moved  toward  Centreville.  The  left  centre  column,  under  the 
orders  of  Colenel  Miles,  proceeded  by  the  Little  River  turnpike  toward 
Fairfax  Court  House.  The  column  of  the  extreme  left,  led  by  Colonel 
Heintzelman,  advanced  by  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad. 

Previous  to  this  date  Fairfax  had  been  occupied  by  a  number  of  Rebel 
troops.  On  the  morning  of  the  17th  they  abandoned  their  position  with 
out  making  any  resistance.  The  Federal  forces  first  entered  the  town  at 
noon  on  that  day.  The  Secession  flag  still  waved  insultingly  from  the 
Court  House ;  but  it  quickly  gave  place  to  the  national  colors.  The 
Rebel  troops  who  had  retreated  from  Fairfax  were  about  five  thousand  in 
number,  and  were  commanded  by  General  Bonham,  who  had  recently 
been  a  member  of  Congress  from  South  Carolina. 

On  the  18th  of  July  the  march  of  the  Federal  army  was  resumed 
toward  Manassas  Junction.  The  fourth  brigade  of  General  Tyler's 
division,  commanded  by  Colonel  Richardson,  led  the  advance.  General 
Tyler  pushed  forward  with  his  staff,  and  a  small  escort,  to  reconnoitre  the 
position  of  the  enemy.  When  he  reached  a  height  opposite  to  Bull  Run, 
he  discovered  in  a  long  slope  or  valley  which  stretched  out  before  him, 


128  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

a  number  of  the  Kebel  cavalry  and  infantry  moving  in  the  distance.  He 
immediately  sent  back  orders  for  two  twenty  pounders  to  be  brought 
forward.  "With  these  he  attacked  the  enemy,  then  distant  about  a  mile 
and  a  half.  This  cannonading  commenced  at  half  past  twelve  o'clock. 
Soon  the  Rebels  brought  forward  a  battery  of  four  guns,  with  which  they 
responded  to  the  Federal  artillery.  Their  shots  exhibited  such  excellent 
markmanship  that  it  was  evident  they  had  taken  the  range  of  their 
guns  before.  The  first  body  of  Federal  troops  which  arrived  at  the  scene 
was  the  brigade  of  Colonel  Richardson.  He  was  directed  by  General 
Tyler  to  advance  on  the  right  along  the  outskirts  of  the  forest,  for  the 
purpose,  if  possible,  of  capturing  the  enemy's  guns.  The  brigade  pro 
ceeded  to  execute  the  order ;  but  when  they  approached  the  spot  at  which 
the  Rebel  guns  had  been  posted,  an  attack  was  suddenly  made  upon  them 
by  a  strong  force  of  the  enemy.  These  had  in  reality  formed  an  ambus 
cade,  and  they  now  poured  a  deadly  deluge  of  rifle  shot  into  the  Federal 
ranks,  while  concealed  in  trenches,  lying  behind  embankments,  and 
sheltered  by  the  woods.  Soon  the  field  was  covered  with  a  dense  cloud 
of  smoke,  and  the  Federal  troops  fought  under  the  immense  disadvantage 
of  not  knowing  the  ground,  and  of  being  unable  to  see  the  foe.  Not  ex 
pecting  to  encounter  so  fierce  and  general  an  attack,  our  artillery  was 
not  provided  with  sufficient  ammunition  to  maintain  a  lengthened  contest. 
After  the  lapse  of  an  hour  from  the  commencement  of  the  engagement, 
the  Federal  troops  retired.  The  enemy  did  not  advance  from  their  position, 
but  continued  to  fire  upon  the  retreating  column.  The  latter  brought 
away  with  them  all  their  guns.  The  killed  on  the  Federal  side  were 
about  sixty,  with  an  equal  proportion  of  wounded.  The  loss  of  the 
enemy  is  unknown  to  us.  It  was  probably  much  less  than  our  own,  in 
consequence  of  the  superior  advantages  possessed  by  them,  both  in  position 
and  in  numbers.  Seven  regiments  only  were  engaged  on  the  Federal 
side.  Four  times  as  many  troops  joined  in  the  action  on  the  part  of  the 
Rebels.  The  effect  of  this  rebuff  to  our  arms  was  extremely  injurious. 
It  gave  hope  to  the  Rebels,  and  depressed  the  Federals.  It  was  doubt 
less  an  imprudent  movement  to  permit  a  detachment  of  troops  to  advance 
into  what  might  be,  and  into  what  actually  proved  to  be,  a  treacherous 
and  deadly  ambuscade ;  for  they  encountered  the  risk  of  being  over 
powered  by  vastly  superior  numbers.  In  such  a  dilemma  the  bravest  will 
falter,  the  most  valiant  fail. 

And  now  the  critical  moment  was  approaching  when  a  great  and 
memorable  conflict  was  destined  to  occur.  During  several  months  all 
the  martial  zeal  of  the  seceding  States  had  been  expended  in  concentmting 
their  military  resources  at  one  favorable  point,  in  order  that,  at  that 
point,  they  might  resist,  and  if  possible  hurl  back  the  advancing  forces  of 
the  Federal  Government.  The  position  which  they  had  selected  as  the 
scene  of  this  achievement  was  a  spot  till  then  unknown  to  fame — a  spot 


THE  TKMl'ER  OF  THE  REBEL  TROOPS.          129 

scarcely  marked  down  on  any  general  map ;  but  a  spot  fated  thenceforth 
to  be  immortal  as  Manassas  Plains.  It  was  admirably  adapted  by  nature 
to  the  purpose  of  defence;  and  its  natural  advantages  had  been  increased 
and  improved  by  the  insidious  use  of  every  device  known  to  the  military 
art,  of  which  it  was  capable.  The  place  consists  of  a  succession  of  hills, 
nearly  equidistant,  protected  in  front  by  a  deep  and  thickly  wooded 
ravine.  It  lies  half  way  between  the  eastern  spur  of  the  Blue  Ridge  on 
the  one  hand,  and  the  Potomac  river  on  the  other.  Its  more  elevated 
points  command  the  whole  intervening  country.  The  right  wing  of  the 
intreuchments  extended  toward  the  head  of  the  Occoquan,  where  the 
thick  forest  rendered  an  approach  difficult  and  dangerous.  The  left  oc 
cupied  a  rolling  table  land,  interspersed  with  successive  elevations  which 
fully  commanded  its  entire  expanse.  The  centre  of  the  Rebel  army  was 
posted  precisely  upon  the  key  of  the  whole  admirably-chosen  position. 

That  position  had  been  as  effectively  fortified  as  it  had  been  admi 
rably  chosen.  A  line  of  batteries  had  been  erected  two  miles  in  extent, 
whose  outline  was  zigzag  in  shape,  and  was  strengthened,  at  the  necessary 
points,  with  bastions  and  other  structures,  with  all  the  skill  of  a  Yauban 
or  a  Cohorn.  The  Rebel  camp  was  abundantly  watered  by  mountain 
rivulets  which  murmured  through  it,  on  their  way  to  the  tranquil  bosom 
of  the  Potomac.  In  the  rear  there  lay  a  fertile  country,  where  wheat, 
oats,  corn,  pasture  and  meadow  fields,  furnished  ample  subsistence  to  the 
troops.  The  number  of  men  whom  Beauregard  had  assembled  at  this 
point  it  is  impossible  for  us  precisely  to  state ;  but  the  lowest  conjecture, 
based  upon  the  most  reliable  evidence  within  our  reach,  would  make  it 
about  forty  thousand  men.  These  were  composed  of  an  enraged  and 
frantic  conglomeration  of  human  beings,  chiefly  from  South  Carolina, 
Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Alabama,  Georgia,  and  Virginia;  though  smaller 
contingents  had  been  furnished  by  several  other  seceding  States.  They 
were  well  provided  with  artillery  and  ammunition.  The  larger  portion 
of  their  guns  had  been  directly  stolen  from  the  United  States ;  and  these 
the  Rebels  now  purposed  to  employ  against  the  government  which  they 
had  defrauded. 

The  energy  and  ability  which  General  Beauregard  had  exhibited  in 
collecting,  training,  and  fortifying  this  army,  had  inspired  them  with  the 
utmost  confidence  in  his  abilities  and  in  his  fortunes.  He  and  his  officers 
had  inflamed  the  passions  of  their  troops  to  the  highest  pitch,  by  all 
the  arts  of  the  demagogue  and  the  soldier.  No  means  had  been  neglected 
which  might  render  this  formidable  host  confident  of  success,  contempt 
uous  of  their  opponents,  efficient  in  combat,  and  comparatively  safe  within 
the  shelter  of  powerful  and  well  constructed  batteries.  Traitors  at  Wash 
ington  and  elsewhere,  had  given  the  enemy  timely  warning  of  the  approach 
of  the  Federal  army.  They  were  not,  therefore,  to  be  taken  by  surprise. 
As  the  decisive  moment  approached  the  last  stirring  appeal  was  mada 
9 


130  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  Eebels  were  reminded  that  the  hour  of  victory,  the  hour  of  glory, 
and  the  hour  of  revenge,  had  at  length  arrived.  Now  was  the  time  to 
slake,  in  a  deluge  of  Yankee  blood,  that  growing  thirst  for  vengeance 
which  had  been  accumulating  during  half  a  century.  Now  was  the  time 
to  demonstrate  to  the  world  the  immeasurable  superiority  of  the  native 
of  the  South  over  the  native  of  the  North.  And  to  a  deadly  combat  with 
such  a  foe,  superior  in  numbers,  in  position,  and  in  artillery,  the  Federal 
forces  marched,  little  conscious  of  the  real  nature  of  the  service  before 
them. 


GENERAL  MCDOWELL'S   PLAN   OF   ATTACK.  131 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  FEDERAL  ARMY  AT    CENTREVILLE — GENERAL    MCDOWELL'S  PLAN  OF    ATTACK — THE  DIVIS 
IONS     OF     GENERALS    TYLER,  HUNTER     AND     HEINTZELMAN — THEIR     SEVERAL     DUTIES THE 

MARCH  FROM  CENTREVILLE INTERESTING  SPECTACLE GENERAL  TYLER  FIRST  REACHES  THE 

BATTLE-FIELD HE  COMMENCES  THE    ENGAGEMENT MOVEMENTS  OF    GENERALS  HUNTER  AND 

HEINTZELMAN — THE  GALLANT  SIXTY-NINTH  NEW  YORK — THE  ENGAGEMENT  BECOMES  GEN 
ERAL VIGOROUS  CANNONADING THE  REBELS  GRADUALLY  OVERPOWERED THE  FEDERALS 

VICTORIOUS     AT   MID-DAY REBEL    ADMISSIONS    TO     THAT    EFFECT GENERAL    JOHNSTON'S 

TROOPS  FROM  WINCHESTER  ARRIVE  ON  T^E  BATTLE-FIELD — THEY  RHVERSE  THE  TIDE  OP 
VICTOTCT SUDDEN  PANIC  IN  THE  FEDERAL  ARMY A  GENERAL  RETREAT  ENSUES INCI 
DENTS  OF  THE  FLIGHT — INDIVIDUAL  INSTANCES  OF  HEROISM RESULTS  OF  THE  BATTLE 

—FAILURE  OF  THE  REBEL  COMMANDERS  TO  IMPROVE  THEIR  VICTORY — ULTIMATE  CONSE 
QUENCES. 

IT  was  on  Sunday,  July  21st,  1861,  that  the  memorable  battle  of  Ma- 
nassas,  the  most  decisive  and  desperate  which  had  yet  occurred  on  the 
American  continent,  took  place.  The  Federal  Army  during  the  preced 
ing  day  and  night  reposed  at  Centreville,  about  seven  miles  distant  from 
the  scene  of  conflict.  It  was  placed  under  the  command  of  General  Irwin 
McDowell — an  officer  who  had  received  a  military  education  at  West 
Point,  had  distinguished  himself  during  the  Mexican  war,  had  been  rapidly 
promoted  from  rank  to  rank,  had  invariably  conducted  himself  with  gal 
lantry  and  heroism,  and  who  was  worthy  of  the  important  trust  which 
was  on  this  occasion  conferred  upon  him. 

The  plan  of  attack  which  this  officer  devised,  and  purposed  to  execute, 
was,  in  the  opinion  of  those  most  competent  to  judge,  an  admirable  one. 
The  army  was  separated  into  three  divisions,  which  were  ordered  to  ad 
vance  to  the  position  of  the  enemy  by  three  routes.  Two  of  these  move 
ments  were  to  be  genuine  assaults ;  the  third  was  to  be  a  feint  for  the 
purpose  of  distracting  the  attention  of  the  foe.  The  division  of  General 
Tyler  was  directed  to  march  forward  by  the  "Warrington  road,  and  to  cross 
Bull  Run  a  mile  and  a  half  to  the  right.  This  division  comprised  the 
first  and  second  Ohio,  and  the  second  New  York  regiments  under  General 
Schenck;  the  sixty-ninth,  seventy-ninth,  and  thirteenth  of  New  York, 
with  the  second  Wisconsin  regiments.  Three  efficient  batteries — those 
of  Carlisle,  Ayres,  and  Rickett — accompanied  them.  The  second  road 
was  taken  by  General  Hunter,  on  the  extreme  right,  who  commanded 
the  eighth  and  fourteenth  New  York  regiments,  a  battalion  of  the  second, 
third  and  eighth  regular  infantry,  a  number  of  artillery,  the  first  and 
second  Ohio,  the  seventy-first  New  York,  two  New  Hampshire  regiments, 
and  the  powerful  Rhode  Island  battery.  The  third  route  was  to  be  taken 
by  the  division  of  General  Heintzelman,  comprising  the  fourth  and  fifth 


132  THE   CIYIL   WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Massachusetts  and  the  first  Minnesota  regiments,  the  second,  fourth  and 
fifth  Maine,  and  the  second  Vermont  regiments,  supported  by  cavalry 
and  artillery.  General  Hunter's  orders  were  to  pass  a  small  stream  called 
Cub  Eun  ;  to  turn  to  the  right,  then  to  the  north,  to  pass  the  upper  ford 
of  Bull  Eun  ;  then,  marching  southward,  to  attack  the  enemy  in  the  rear. 
General  Heintzelman  was  directed  to  cross  Bull  Eun  at  the  lower  ford, 
and  there  attack  the  Eebels  when  they  were  being  driven  before  the 
advancing  lines  of  Hunter.  The  reserve,  under  Colonel  Miles,  was  posted 
at  Centreville,  numbering  six  thousand  men.  The  actual  number  of  troops 
who  marched  to  the  attack  of  the  Eebels  at  Manassas  was  about  twenty- 
three  thousand.  The  duty  assigned  to  Hunter  and  to  lleintzelman  was 
to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  right  and  from  the  rear  upon  the  force  of 
General  Tyler  on  the  left;  so  that,  hemmed  in  between  the  three  bodies, 
their  defeat  might  be  more  certainly  and  efficiently  accomplished. 

General  McDowell  had  at  first  intended  to  commence  the  march  from 
Centreville  on  Saturday  afternoon,  July  20th,  and  orders  had  actually 
been  given  to  that  effect.  But  it  was  discovered  at  the  moment  of  start 
ing,  that  a  deficiency  of  heavy  ammunition  existed,  and  that  a  large  supply 
must  first  be  obtained  from  Fairfax.  This  process  rendered  a  short  delay 
necessary,  and  then  it  was  determined  to  postpone  the  advance  until  the 
following  day.  Accordingly,  at  half-past  two  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning, 
the  command  was  given  to  strike  the  tents  and  to  commence  the  march. 

Soon  the  vast  multitude  began  to  move  forward.  The  scene  which  was 
then  presented  to  the  view  of  an  observer  was  one  of  imposing  magnifi 
cence,  and  of  solemn,  martial  splendor.  The  rnoon  shone  brightly  and 
serenely  in  the  distant  heavens,  which  were  spangled  with  myriads  of 
sparkling  gems ;  while  the  immense  assemblage  of  human  beings,  swarm 
ing  over  many  a  hill  and  vale,  hurried  forward  with  eager  tread  toward 
the  field  of  blood.  The  mellow  light  of  the  dim  luminaries  served  only 
to  add  the  charm  of  a  mystic  and  mysterious  grandeur  to  the  spectacle. 
The  solemn  silence  of  the  Sabbath  morn  was  broken  by  the  rumbling 
sound  of  the  artillery,  by  the  confused  tread  of  horses  and  of  men,  inter 
mingled  with  the  occasional  echo  of  the  stern  word  of  command,  or  the 
gladsome  voices  of  laughter  and  song.  General  McDowell  and  his  staff 
accompanied  the  central  column  of  General  Tyler's  command. 

At  length  the  clearer  light  of  the  early  dawn  spread  over  the  face  of 
the  earth.  Then,  after  a  short  interval,  the  sun  appeared  in  full  effulgence 
in  the  rosy  east;  and  as  he  commenced  to  mount  the  azure  heavens,  the 
head  of  General  Tyler's  column  reached  the  eminence,  from  which  the 
first  distant  view  of  the  position  of  the  enemy  could  be  obtained.  Seldom 
had  a  fairer,  calmer,  or  lovelier  scene  been  presented  to  the  charmed  eye  of 
the  enthusiastic  admirer  of  nature,  than  that  which  the  wide  sweep  of 
country  before  them  exhibited,  soon  to  be  torn  and  riven  by  the  impetu 
ous  rush  of  infantry  and  cavalry,  by  the  terrific  discharges  of  the  artillery 


GENERAL  TYLER  COMMENCES  THE  ENGAGEMENT.     133 

— soon  to  be  covered  with  human  gore,  and  with  the  bleeding  bodies  of 
the  dying  and  the  dead. 

There  is  nothing  more  difficult  in  the  whole  range  of  historical  inquiry 
than  the  attempt  to  describe  a  great  battle  with  perfect  accuracy  and 
truthfulness.  It  is  easy  to  imagine  or  exaggerate  a  series  of  thrilling 
events,  and  to  embellish  a  narrative  with  highly-colored  pictures,  which 
may  interest,  excite,  and  sometimes  even  appall  the  reader.  But  that 
process  will  merely  produce  a  work  of  imagination ;  it  will  not  elaborate 
a  scene  of  historic  verity.  And  if  it  be  perplexing  to  an  observer  who 
has  been  an  actual  witness  of  a  great  engagement  to  furnish  any  thing 
like  a  reliable  descriptive  coup  d'oeil  of  the  whole  conflict,  extending  over 
an  area  of  five,  and  in  some  cases  of  ten  miles — as  it  undoubtedly  is — 
how  much  more  difficult  must  his  task  be,  who  attempts  to  extract  from 
the  conflicting  and  diversified  statements  of  others,  the  material  of  a  pen- 
picture  of  his  own?  The  more  he  studies,  scrutinizes,  and  compares  the 
various  narratives  and  versions  which  others  give,  all  equally  confident 
and  equally  sincere,  the  more  he  will  detect  the  contradictions  and  incon 
gruities  which  exist  between  them ;  and  he  will  be  at  a  loss  to  know  how 
to  act  as  arbiter,  what  to  credit  and  what  to  reject.  In  such  a  dilemma 
his  highest  aim  must  be  to  approximate  as  near  the  truth  as  he  possibly 
can. 

It  was  half-past  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  the  head  of  General 
Tyler's  division  reached  a  position  favorable  for  commencing  the  attack. 
The  enemy  could  be  seen  from  that  position  busily  forming  their  lines 
about  a  mile  in  front.  Skirmishers  were  immediately  thrown  forward,  who 
soon  encountered  the  Rebel  pickets  and  exchanged  shots  with  them.  A 
ponderous  thirty  pound  Parrott  rifled  cannon  was  then  advanced  upon 
the  road,  and  a  number  of  shells  were  thrown  into  their  ranks.  To  this  salute 
they  made  no  reply,  and  General  Tyler  ordered  his  division  to  move  for 
ward,  so  as  to  be  in  nearer  contact  with  the  enemy,  who  seemed  to  have 
concealed  the  principal  portion  of  their  numbers  behind  the  woods  and 
the  rolling  hills.  They  had,  in  fact,  taken  their  position,  in  great  part, 
in  the  forest  on  the  right  and  left,  and  had  posted  their  artillery  and 
masked  their  guns  behind  the  groves  which  were  scattered  over  the  inter 
vening  country. 

The  second  Ohio  and  second  New  York  regiments  were  then  ordered 
by  General  Tyler  to  advance  and  attack  the  enemy  in  their  concealed 
position.  They  obeyed,  and  soon  the  response  of  the  guns  of  the  Rebels 
demonstrated  the  fact  that  they  had  posted  themselves  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  entice  our  men  forward,  that  they  might  be  more  completely  within 
the  range  of  their  batteries.  So  heavy  an  attack  of  artillery  was  now 
opened  upon  them  from  cannon  which  were  almost  invisible,  and  which 
seemed  to  pour  forth  a  deadly  deluge  from  fiery  mouths  opening  upon 
the  very  surface  of  the  earth,  that  General  Schenck  at  length  gave  the 


134  THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

order  to  retire  from  the  unequal  contest.  But  at  the  same  moment  Car 
lisle's  battery  was  ordered  forward  to  respond  to  the  masked  artillery. 
His  great  guns  replied  with  terrible  effect.  In  half  an  hour  the  concealed 
cannon  of  the  foe  at  this  point  were  completely  silenced. 

While  these  events  were  progressing  in  the  front  of  the  enemy's  main 
position,  the  divisions  of  Hunter  and  of  Heintzelrnan  were  operating  on  the 
extreme  right,  so  as  to  reach  the  flank  and  the  rear  of  the  Kebels.  The 
circuit,  which  they  made  was  an  extensive  one  of  some  miles ;  the  march 
was  difficult,  and  it  was  half-past  ten  before  they  reached  the  presence  of 
the  enemy.  The  latter  were  posted  in  a  strong  position  beyond  Sudley 
Springs.  General  Hunter  at  once  attacked  them  with  the  fourteenth 
New  York,  the  Rhode  Island  regiment  commanded  by  Burnside,  the 
second  New  Hampshire  and  the  New  York  seventy -first.  As  these 
troops  advanced  the  enemy  poured  upon  them  a  destructive  deluge  of  shot 
and  shell ;  but  they  continued  to  advance  with  firmness  and  unflinching 
heroism.  This  was  the  northern  extremity  of  the  battle  ground,  and 
some  of  the  fiercest  fighting  of  that  bloody  day  took  place  in  this  part  of 
the  engagement.  The  gallant  sixty-ninth  rushed  forward  to  the  encounter 
with  yells  of  mingled  fury  and  exultation.  They  formed  the  van  of  a 
column  which  General  Tyler  had  sent  forward  to  co-operate  with  Hunter's 
division  in  surrounding  the  foe  ;  and  they  fell  upon  the  Kebels  with  that 
combination  of  gallantry  and  ferocity  which  have  characterized  the  Irish 
soldier  in  every  country  on  the  globe. 

These  various  operations  were  but  preliminary  to  the  grand  and  chief 
contest  of  the  day.  The  cannonading  between  the  two  armies  now  became 
general.  All  the  guns  of  the  enemy  were  by  this  time  brought  into  play, 
and  nearly  all  the  Federal  forces,  except  the  reserves,  had  come  into 
action.  The  battle-field,  the  range  of  the  artillery,  and  the  various  opera 
tions  of  the  assailants  and  defendants,  extended  over  an  area  of  about  five 
miles.  The  discharges  of  artillery  were  very  numerous ;  the  reverbera 
tion  was  deafening ;  the  energy,  the  intensity,  and  the  effect  of  the  combat 
were  terrible.  The  sullen  sound  of  the  guns  was  heard  at  Centreville,  at 
Fairfax,  at  Alexandria;  it  was  even  perceptible  at  Washington.  The 
widely-spread  and  still-extending  conflict  over  the  hills,  the  valleys  and 
the  ravines  of  Manassas,  was  now  enveloped  in  countless  up -rolling 
volumes  of  smoke ;  and  only  at  intervals,  by  the  friendly  aid  of  fitful 
eddies  of  the  wind,  could  a  glimpse  be  obtained  of  the  exact  position  and 
operations  of  the  combatants.  Thus  far,  however,  it  was  evident  that  all 
had  gone  well  with  the  Federal  arms.  Hunter  had  succeeded  in  turning 
the  flank  of  the  enemy,  and  masses  of  fugitive  Mississippians,  retreaufcg 
before  his  advancing  columns,  gave  evidence  that  the  tide  of  victory  was 
his.  But  as  the  Federal  troops  pressed  forward  in  pursuit,  new  batteries, 
till  then  concealed  in  the  rear,  opened  their  deadly  mouths  upon  them, 
hurling  death  into  their  serried  ranks.  The  foe  here  fought  with  the 


THE  FEDERALS  VICTORIOUS  AT  MID-DAY.  135 

utmost  desperation.  Occasionally  a  furious  charge  from  their  retiring 
columns  would  recover  for  a  moment  the  lost  advantage ;  but  it  would  be 
only  to  suffer  in  return  a  new  reverse,  and  to  commence  a  new  retreat. 
Then  again  fresh  batteries,  skilfully  masked,  would  open  upon  the 
advancing  victors,  indicting  upon  them  additional  penalties  for  their 
success.  But  the  general  sweep  of  the  contest  here  was  favorable  to  the 
Federal  army.  Hunter  and  Heintzelman  were  successively  progressing 
toward  a  junction  with  Tyler,  and  the  arc  of  a  grand  and  overwhelming 
circle  of  destruction  and  defeat  was  being  inexorably  drawn  around  the 
Rebel  host.  And  now  cheer  after  cheer  rose  upon  the  air,  which  were 
wafted  by  the  breeze  over  the  field,  from  one  portion  of  the  exultant  and 
victorious  troops  to  another. 

At  half-past  twelve,  it  may  with  truth  be  asserted  that,  in  all  essential 
respects,  a  decisive  triumph  had  been  gained  by  the  Federal  arms. 
Hunter  and  Heintzelman  had  penetrated  far  into  the  position  of  the 
enemy.  On  the  heights  toward  the  enemy's  left,  regiment  after  regiment 
of  the  foe  had  been  driven  in  by  the  heroic  charges  of  our  troops.  Fresh 
regiments  could  be  discovered  by  the  distant  observer,  hastening  up  to 
the  support  of  those  which  were  wavering ;  and  then,  after  a  desperate 
combat,  the  whole  defeated  mass  could  be  seen  to  recoil,  and  to  plunge 
into  a  promiscuous  retreat.  The  Federals  made  such  impetuous  assaults^ 
that  the  personal  presence  and  frantic  efforts  of  Beauregard  himself  could 
not  resist  them.  Whole  regiments  of  the  Eebels  were  here  cut  to  pieces, 
and  the  torn  and  scattered  fragments  were  hurled  back  in  fearful  panic 
and  disorder.  But  still,  such  was  the  marvelous  ability  with  which  that 
commander  had  fortified  his  position,  that  fresh  triumphs  and  fresh  pur 
suits  on  the  part  of  the  Federal  troops  only  conducted  them  into  the  jaws 
of  additional  batteries,  which  had  been  posted  and  concealed  in  endless 
succession,  up  to  the  very  centre  of  his  position  at  Manassas ;  so  that  it 
seemed  as  if  satanic  skill  and  malignity  had  contrived  an  inevitable  ruin 
for  the  victors.  Notwithstanding  all  this,  the  deadly  toils  were  gradually 
drawing  closer  around  the  foe.  His  desperate  efforts  were  becoming  more 
and  more  impotent.  He  had  abandoned  all  his  breastworks,  in  this  portion 
of  the  field,  except  one ;  and  even  this  was  stormed  later  in  the  day  by 
several  regiments,  which  were  the  last  to  abandon  the  contest  and  join  in 
the  retreat. 

At  one  o'clock  on  this  memorable  day  the  Rebel  host  at  Manassas,  in 
spite  of  all  their  advantages  of  position  and  of  numbers  were  virtually 
defeated.  This  may  be  proved  even  by  their  own  concessions.  Thus,  the 
special  correspondent  of  the  Louisville  Courier  declared,  in  a  communication 
to  that  paper,  after  stating  that  General  Tyler's  attack  on  the  centre  of 
the  Rebel  position  was  not  discovered  to  be  a  mere  feint  until  almost  too 
late,  that  reinforcements  were  then  sent  to  the  troops  who  were  resisting 
the  attack  of  Hunter  and  Heintzelman.  From  that  part  of  the  field  he 


136  1HE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

confessed  that  they  had  "been  driven  back  some  two  miles."  He  added . 
"  Now  came  the  tug  of  war.  The  fortunes  of  the  day  were  evidently 
against  us.  SOT.L  ^i  our  best  officers  were  slain,  and  the  flower  of  our 
army  lay  strewn  on  the  field,  ghastly  in  death  or  gaping  with  wounds. 
At  noon  the  cannonading  is  described  as  terrific.  It  was  an  incessant 
roar  for  more  than  two  hours,  the  havoc  and  devastation  at  this  time 
being  fearful.  McDowell  was  just  in  the  act  of  possessing  himself  of  the 
railway  to  Richmond.  Then  all  would  have  been  lost.  But  most  oppor 
tunely,  I  may  say  providentially,  at  this  juncture  General  Johnston  with 
the  remnant  of  his  division  re-appeared  and  made  one  other  desperate 
struggle  to  obtain  the  vantage  ground." 

A  similar  concession  was  subsequently  made  by  the  correspondent  of 
the  Charleston  Mercury,  who,  when  describing  the  death  of  General  Bee, 
the  commander  of  the  South  Carolinians  on  this  day,  said : 

"  The  brunt  of  the  morning's  battle  was  sustained  by  his  (Bee's)  command 
until  past  twelve  o'clock.  Overwhelmed  by  superior  numbers,  and  com 
pelled  to  yield  to  a  fire  that  swept  every  thing  before  it,  General  Bee 
rode  up  and  down  his  lines,  encouraging  his  troops  by  every  thing  that 
was  dear  to  them,  to  stand  up  and  repel  the  tide  which  threatened  them 
with  destruction.  At  last — his  own  brigade  dwindled  to  a  mere  handful, 
with  every  field  officer  killed  or  disabled — he  rode  up  to  General  Jackson 
and  said  :  '  General,  they  are  beating  us  back !'  " 

To  this  testimony  we  may  add  the  admissions  of  the  Eichmond  Dis 
patch.  The  correspondent  of  that  paper  wrote  as  follows :  u  Between  two 
and  three  o'clock  large  numbers  of  men  were  leaving  the  field,  some  of 
them  wounded,  others  exhausted  by  the  long  struggle,  who  gave  us 
gloomy  reports  ;  but  as  the  fire  on  both  sides  continued  steadily,  we  felt 
sure  that  our  brave  Southerners  had  not  been  conquered  by  the  over 
whelming  hordes  of  the  North.  It  is,  however,  due  to  truth  to  say,  that 
the  result  of  this  hour  hung  trembling  in  the  balance.  We  had  lost 
numbers  of  our  most  distinguished  officers.  Generals  Bartow  and  Bee 
had  been  stricken  down ;  Colonel  Johnston,  of  the  Hampton  Legion,  had 
been  killed,  and  Colonel  Hampton  had  been  wounded.  Your  correspon 
dent  heard  General  Johnston  say  to  General  Cocke,  just  at  this  critical 
moment,  '  Oh,  for  four  regiments !'  His  wish  was  answered,  for  in  the 
distance  our  reinforcements  appeared.  The  tide  of  battle  turned  in  our 
favor  by  the  arrival  of  General  Kirby  Smith,  from  Winchester,  with  four 
thousand  of  General  Johnston's  division." 

It  is  perfectly  evident  from  such  statements,  of  the  highest  authority, 
as  well  as  from  the  position  of  affairs  on  the  scene  of  conflict,  that  previ 
ous  to  the  arrival  of  Johnston's  army  on  the  field  the  strength  of  the 
^Rebels  was  broken,  and  that  victory  had  been  legitimately  earned  by  the 
Federal  arms.  At  this  crisis  the  fire  of  the  enemy  had  become  languid. 
All  over  the  ensanguined  hills  and  plains  their  remaining  guns  responded 


THE   REBEL   GENERAL   JOHNSTON'S   TROOPS.  137 

elowly  and  feebly.  At  two  o'clock  the  foe  seemed  extremely  disheartened 
and  confused.  Three  times  had  they  been  dislodged  from  a  locality  known 
as  "  a  hill  with  a  house  on  it,"  which  was  one  of  the  strongest  positions 
on  the  field.  At  that  point  the  enemy  was  commanded  by  General 
Beauregard  in  person ;  and  his  troops  had  been  driven  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  the  fiercely  contested  point,  notwithstanding  the  utmost  efforts  of 
that  able  commander.  This  discomfiture,  which  had  been  accomplished 
by  the  regiments  under  Heintzelman,  added  still  more  to  the  desperate 
nature  of  the  situation  of  the  Eebels.  And  yet,  after  all  this  heroism  and 
this  success,  when  victory  seemed  inevitable  to  the  Federal  arms,  when  the 
exhausted  host  of  the  Rebel  chiefs  appeared  to  be  in  extremis,  the  final  issue 
was  completely  reversed,  and  one  of  the  most  disgraceful  retreats  which  is 
inscribed  on  the  historic  page,  ensued.  How  was  this  unexpected  and 
wonderful  catastrophe  produced  ? 

It  was  about  three  o'clock  when  large  bodies  of  troops  were  observed 
by  the  Federal  commanders,  darkening  the  hill-tops  in  the  farthest  dis 
tance  opposite  the  centre  of  the  battle-field.  Soon  they  were  seen  hasten 
ing  to  join  in  the  conflict ;  and  their  secession  banners  waving  in  the 
breeze,  and  the  freshness  and  vigor  of  their  movements,  clearly  proved 
that  they  were  reinforcements,  which  had  .endured  nothing  of  the  heat, 
the  exhaustion,  or  the  agony  of  the  long  struggle.  They  were  in  fact  a 
portion  of  the  army  of  General  Johnston ;  who,  having  made  good  their 
escape  from  Winchester,  had  arrived  by  railroad  at  the  Junction,  and 
were  now  hastening  to  the  field  to  rescue  the  cause  of  the  Rebels  from  de 
struction.  This  terrible  apparition  at  such  a  time  and  in  such  a  juncture, 
might  well  have  appalled  the  stoutest  heart ;  yet,  at  the  moment  of  its 
occurrence  no  thought  of  flight  existed,  and  additional  troops  were  ordered 
forward  to  confront  the  advancing  masses.  Among  these  were  three 
Connecticut  regiments,  the  fourth  of  Maine  and  the  first  Tyler  Brigade. 

Notwithstanding  the  prodigious  exertions  which  these  Federal  troops 
had  already  made  during  the  protracted  contest,  they  approached  their 
new  foes  with  the  utmost  heroism.  A  terrible  onslaught  ensued  between 
them.  One  battery  was  eight  times  taken  and  eight  times  lost.  Mean 
while  fresh  accessions  to  the  Rebel  forces  were  arriving  in  successive 
trains.  They  deployed  upon  the  field,  and  were  gradually  and  stealthily 
winding  themselves  around  the  left  of  the  Federal  army,  with  the  evident 
purpose  of  surrounding  them  and  cutting  off  their  retreat.  Nevertheless, 
an  hour  of  the  most  desperate  fighting  ensued,  during  which  prodigies  of 
valor  were  performed  by  our  exhausted  troops.  Still,  however,  the  deluge 
of  fresh  reinforcements  to  the  enemy  continued  to  pour  down  upon  the 
field.  The  left  of  the  Federal  army  was  slowly  becoming  surrounded  and 
their  rear  attained.  The  fresh  troops  of  the  Rebels  rushed  upon  their 
opponents  in  successive  tides  with  sanguinary  fury.  One  regiment  of 
Mississippians,  armed  with  immense  bowie  knives,  fell  upon  them  with 


138  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

the  yells  of  maniacs  and  the  ferocity  of  fiends.  Then  it  was  that,  for  the 
first  time  during  the  long  and  desperate  conflict,  our  troops  began  to 
exhibit  confusion  and  dismay,  and  the  first  indication  of  a  panic  com 
menced  to  appear.  A  vast  body  of  Kebel  cavalry  now  came  pouring  out 
of  the  woods  upon  our  left,  attacked  the  troops  which  happened  to  be 
near  them,  and  assailed  a  multitude  of  unarmed  teamsters,  who,  without 
any  orders  to  that  effect,  had  moved  their  wagons  forward  with  the  gen- 
eral  advance.  The  fatal  panic  which  had  arisen  now  spread  rapidly  from 
regiment  to  regiment.  Masses  of  men,  in  the  utmost  disorder,  rushed 
down  from  the  distant  hills  in  full  retreat.  The  flight  became  general, 
and  then  ensued  that  marvelous  and  ignominious  stampede  from  Manassas 
to  Washington,  which  will  forever  remain  one  of  the  chief  wonders  and 
scandals  of  American  history. 

No  reasonable  person  will  condemn  the  Federal  troops  at  Manassas  for 
not  maintaining  the  advantage  they  had  gained,  or  even  for  retreating. 
A  complete  defeat,  under  such  circumstances,  was  excusable.  The  crime 
which  cannot  be  palliated  or  forgiven  is,  that  the  flight  should  have  been 
continued  so  long  and  so  far  ;  that  such  extreme  disorder  and  frantic  fear, 
such  groundless  despair  and  such  excesses  of  weakness,  so  total  an  oblivion 
of  all  shame,  and  such  a  disregard  of  the  dignity  of  manhood,  should  have 
characterized  the  conduct  of  men  who  had  exhibited  such  admirable  hero 
ism  and  endurance  so  shortly  before. 

Kegiment  after  regiment  now  came  rushing  along  the  road  and  over 
the  fields  toward  Centreville.  But  soon  all  distinctions  of  regiments  and 
t  companies,  of  infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery,  were  lost.  The  confusion 
of  Babel  was  synthetic  order  and  perfect  symmetry  when  compared  with 
the  chaotic  confusion  which  now  prevailed.  Many  of  the  men  threw 
away  their  arms  and  knapsacks,  lest  they  might  be  impeded  in  their 
escape.  The  heavy  guns  were  abandoned,  the  traces  cut,  and  the  horses, 
covered  with  fugitives  clinging  to  them  on  all  sides,  were  spurred  forward 
in  the  flight.  Soon  the  passage  became  choked  with  private  conveyances, 
with  terrified  civilians,  with  broken  gun  carriages,  all  tumbling  and 
crashing  against  each  other.  Wounded  horses  plunged  to  and  fro  in  the 
midst  of  the  demented  mass  of  human  beings.  Many  were  crushed  to 
death.  Many  threw  themselves  upon  the  earth,  being  either  wounded  or 
exhausted,  and  unable  to  continue  their  flight.  A  few  officers,  indeed, 
endeavored  to  stem'  the  tide  and  stop  the  panic,  but  their  efforts  were 
utterly  fruitless.  Thus  the  tumultuous  sweep  of  fugitive  wretches  contin 
ued  to  roll  onward  without  the  least  pause  or  abatement,  until  they  reached 
Centreville.  There  the  presence  of  the  reserve  under  Colonel  Miles,  and 
especially  Blenker's  brigade,  tended  to  diminish  the  disorder  to  some  extent. 
But  this  effect  was  only  .partial.  The  great  mass  continued  to  hurry  for 
ward  to  Fairfax,  to  Alexandria,  and  even  to  Washington,  where  they 
arrived  during  the  ensuing  night  and  day.  Our  dead  and  wounded  were 


THE   RESULTS   OF  THE   BATTLE.  139 

left  on  the  battle-field.  Much  heavier  losses  of  artillery  and  ammunition 
occurred  during  the  flight  than  during  the  engagement.  No  officer 
eminent  for  ability  on  the  Federal  side  had  fallen.  The  loss  of  the  Rebel 
army  in  this  particular  was  much  greater  than  that  of  their  opponents. 
The  only  pursuit  attempted  by  the  victorious  and  astonished  enemy  was 
made  with  their  cavalry,  and  the  assaults  of  these  were  effectually  ter 
minated  at  Centreville  by  the  vigorous  charges  and  deadly  aim  of 
Blenker's  rifle  brigade.  That  officer  even  recovered  some  of  the  guns 
which  had  been  abandoned  during  the  flight. 

Thus  ended  the  battle,  the  defeat,  and  the  rout  of  Manassas.  At  first 
the  loss  on  the  Federal  side  was  supposed  to  be  much  greater  than  actu 
ally  proved  to  be  the  case ;  as  was  subsequently  demonstrated  by  the 
official  return  made  by  General  McDowell  to  the  government.  Accord 
ing  to  that  return,  the  Federal  army  lost  four  hundred  and  eighty -one 
killed,  one  thousand  and  eleven  wounded,  twelve  hundred  and  sixteen 
missing.  The  missing  included  the  prisoners  taken  by  the  enemy,  and 
those  who,  having  escaped  from  the  slaughter,  never  returned  to  the  ser 
vice.  The  number  of  artillery  lost  was  seventeen  rifled  cannon,  eight 
small-bore  guns,  twenty-five  hundred  muskets,  and  thirty  boxes  of  old 
firearms.  But,  though  the  Rebels  had  obtained  a  victory,  there  never 
was  an  instance  in  which  conquerors  more  signally  failed  to  improve  their 
advantages.  One  of  the  highest  arts  of  a  military  commander,  is  that 
of  following  up  effectually  the  opportunities  which  the  favor  of  fortune 
may  have  bestowed  upon  him  ;  and  more  ability  has  been  displayed  by 
some  generals  in  the  skill  with  which  they  turned  a  triumph  to  good 
account,  than  they  exhibited  in  gaining  it.  Many  other  generals  have 
shown  higher  genius  in  the  success  with  which  they  have  averted  the 
consequences  of  a  defeat,  than  their  successful  opponents  exhibited  in 
gaining  the  victory.  In  the  present  case  it  proved  almost  a  barren  triumph 
on  the  one  side,  and  nearly  a  harmless  repulse  on  the  other.  The  Rebels 
might,  in  the  midst  of  that  overwhelming  and  preposterous  panic,  have 
marched  upon  "Washington,  entered  it,  dispersed  or  captured  the  officers 
of  the  Federal  Government,  and  thus  have  struck  a  blow  as  deadly  and 
decisive  as  that  which  Hannibal  might  have  inflicted,  if,  immediately  after 
the  terrible  slaughter  of  Cannae,  he  had  thundered  with  his  legions  at  the 
gates  of  Rome,  and  had  taken  possession  of  the  Eternal  City.  But,  like 
Hannibal,  Beauregard  failed  to  improve  the  propitious  moment;  and, 
that  moment,  being  once  lost  in  the  vicissitudes  of  nations,  it  never  returns 
again. 


140  THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTEK    XI. 

THE    IMPRESSION  PRODUCED  ON  THE    PUBLIC    BY  THE  BATTLE  OF  MANASSAS VARIOUS  CAUSES 

OF    THE    FEDERAL  DEFEAT THE    PRECEDING    MARCH INFERIORITY  OF    NUMBERS — EFFEC1 

OF    MASKED    BATTERIES INCOMPETENT    OR    INEXPERIENCED    OFFICERS — REMOTE    POSITION 

OF    THE    RESERVES PERNICIOUS  PRESENCE  OF    SPECTATORS THE    COUP-DE-GRACE ARRI 

VAL    OF    GENERAL   JOHNSTON'S    TROOPS    ON    THE     FIELD IMMENSE    LOSSES  OF    THE  REBEL 

ARMY WAS    THE     DEFEAT    IN     REALITY    A   MISFORTUNE     TO    THE    UNION ITS    IMMEDIATE 

EFFECTS ITS    INFLUENCE     ON   THE     ARMY ITS    INFLUENCE   ON    THE   ADMINISTRATION IT 

BECAME    THE    MEANS    OF  AVERTING    GREATER    CALAMITIES IT  WAS    THE    CAUSE    OF    SUBSE 
QUENT    SUCCESSES    TO    THE    FEDERAL    FORCES. 

THE  defeat  of  the  Federal  arms  at  Manassas  overwhelmed  the  nation 
with  astonishment,  indignation  and  shame.  They  were  astonished,  because 
such  a  catastrophe  was  previously  considered  as  beyond  the  range  of 
possibility.  They  were  indignant,  because  they  regarded  it  as  the  result 
of  inexcusable  neglect,  incapacity  and  cowardice.  They  were  mortified, 
because  victory  had  graced  the  arms  of  an  enemy  whom  they  despised 
and  execrated. 

Various  theories  were  subsequently  offered  to  account  for  the  occurrence 
of  this  disaster.  At  the  present  time,  when  the  excitement  and  confusion 
of  the  crisis  have  passed  away,  and  men  may  scrutinize  events  calmly  and 
dispassionately,  it  is  evident  that  the  causes  of  it  can  be  easily  indicated  j 
so,  clearly  indeed,  as  to  show  that  a  contrary  result  must  have  been  almost 
impossible.  A  number  of  adverse  events  conspired  to  produce  the  defeat 
of  the  Federal  army,  though  some  of  these  were  more  important  and  more 
potent  than  others.  In  the  first  place,  it  was  evidently  imprudent  to 
exhaust  the  physical  energies  of  the  Federal  troops,  by  marching  them 
from  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  immediately  before  engaging  the  enemy. 
The  physical  powers  of  men  have  their  limits  of  endurance  ;  and  when 
we  remember  that  the  battle  continued  to  rage  during  the  whole  day, 
from  sunrise  almost  until  sunset,  it  is  not  singular  that,  toward  the  termina 
tion  of  the  struggle,  the  strength  of  the  troops  should  have  become  ex 
hausted.  Nor  did  the  Federal  commanders  gain  any  thing  on  the  score 
of  secresy,  by  thus  postponing  the  march  until  the  day  of  the  battle  ;  for 
the  enemy  were  amply  forewarned  of  their  approach  when  they  lay  at 
Centreville. 

It  is  evident  also  that  the  number  of  Federal  troops  was  too  small,  and 
was  inadequate  to  the  difficult  service  of  assailing  and  taking  Manassas. 
Not  much  more  than  twenty  thousand  men  took  part  in  the  engagement ; 
and  against  these  twenty  thousand  there  were  arrayed,  in  the  end,  nearly 
forty  thousand;  who,  in  addition  to  their  superiority  in  numbers,  possessed 
also  an  important  advantage  in  being  familiar  with  the  ground,  in  being 


INCOMPETENT   OR  INEXPERIENCED   OFFICERS.  HI 

fresh  to  the  encounter,  and  in  being  intrenched  behind  powerful  batteries. 
The  peculiar  manner  in  which  these  batteries  had  been  arranged  contrib 
uted  greatly  to  the  Federal  defeat.  The  guns  of  the  enemy,  in  thia 
instance,  were  placed  at  irregular  and  zigzag  points,  in  endless  retrocession; 
so  that  as  soon  as  the  troops  which  served  one  of  their  batteries  had  been 
overpowered,  and  were  compelled  to  give  way,  they  merely  fell  back 
upon  other  guns  served  by  fresh  men,  who  received  the  advancing  victors 
with  a  fresh  volley  of  shot  and  shell.  The  Federal  troops  took  many  of 
these  batteries  seriatim;  they  drove  the  Rebels  for  more  than  a  mile  from 
battery  to  battery ;  and  yet  they  still  encountered  other  guns,  which  were 
worked  with  an  energy  and  effect  equal  to  the  first.  The  peculiar  manner 
in  which  these  batteries  were  hidden  added  to  their  formidableness. 
They  were  so  masked  and  concealed,  either  by  brushwood  or  by  being 
planted  in  holes  dug  in  the  ground,  with  their  muzzles  only  protruding 
above  the  surface  of  the  earth,  that  they  were  invisible  to  the  assailants, 
and  were  thereby  rendered  more  deadly. 

It  must  also  be  admitted  that,  though  the  men  fought  bravely,  many 
of  the  subaltern  officers  were  utterly  incompetant  to  perform  their  duties. 
There  were  many  majors,  colonels,  lieutenants,  and  other  officers  who 
had  never  received  any  military  training,  who  possessed  no  military 
knowledge  or  experience,  and  who  were  useless  on  the  battle-field.  Nor 
will  this  appear  singular  when  we  remember  that  many  of  the  officers 
were  mere  civilians,  whose  patriotism  or  ambition  had  urged  them  to 
enter  the  career  of  arms,  and  who  had  been  able  to  obtain  military  rank, 
without  possessing  a  particle  of  military  skill.  It  is  not  possible  for  such 
men,  however  intelligent  they  may  be,  to  acquire  a  competent  knowledge 
of  military  affairs  by  six  weeks'  drilling.  What  little  they  may  have 
been  able  to  learn  during  that  interval  would  be  of  small  service  in  the 
midst  of  the  fearful  excitement  and  confusion  of  an  actual  battle.  The 
drill-room  is  a  very  different  arena  from  the  tumultuous  field  of  strife 
and  blood.  A  scientific  military  training  is  just  as  indispensable  to  the 
officer  on  land,  as  it  is  to  the  officer  at  sea.  Naval  tactics  are  not  more 
intricate  and  difficult  than  those  of  the  land  service.  Let  us  suppose  that 
a  British  fleet  of  a  hundred  sail  suddenly  menaced  the  Atlantic  coast ; 
that  an  American  fleet  of  equal  strength  was  sent  to  attack  them ;  and 
that  this  fleet  was  for  the  most  part  commanded  and  officered  by  men 
who  had  never  before  sailed  upon  the  deep,  much  less  had  charge  of  a 
vessel,  and  had  only  six  weeks'  experience  in  studying  the  details  of 
naval  architecture,  service  and  warfare.  It  is  clear  that  the  sailors  might 
be  brave,  the  ship  might  be  staunch,  the  artillery  might  be  powerful,  the 
officers  might  be  personally  heroic;  but  that  such  a  fleet,  in  the  face  of 
a  veteran  British  armament,  would  be  battered  to  pieces,  and  the  wrecks 
of  our  vessels  would  soon  be  scattered  far  and  wide  over  the  ocean  and 
the  strand.  It  must  be  thus  with  any  land  force  officered  by  lawyers, 


142  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

merchants  and  other  civilians,  who,  in  a  moment  of  danger,  take  com 
rnands  in  it.     So  incompetent  were  some  of  these  officers,  that  it  is  certain 
that  many  of  the  orders  of  General  McDowell  were  never  delivered  to 
those  to  whom  they   were  sent ;  and  thus  fatal  errors  were  committed, 
against  the  express  precautions  of  the  chief  officer. 

It  is  probable  that  the  position  of  the  reserve  under  Colonel  Miles  was 
much  too  far  in  the  rear,  to  be  of  actual  service  in  the  crisis  of  the  battle. 
Seven  miles  is  manifestly  too  great  a  distance  to  intervene  between  the 
main  body  of  an  army,  and  the  reinforcements  which  must  be  used  in  the 
last  extremity.  If,  when  the  troops  of  Johnston  deployed  upon  the  field, 
the  regiments  stationed  at  Centreville  could  have  marched  against  them 
and  checked  their  advance,  the  issue  of  the  day  might  have  been  different. 
The  field  was  also  encumbered  by  a  host  of  spectators  and  visitors,  whose 
presence  was  most  pernicious.  If  all  went  well,  their  shouts  would 
indeed  rend  the  heavens  and  cheer  the  victors.  But  if  any  disaster 
occurred,  they  would  be  the  first  to  set  the  example  of  cowardice,  and 
their  flight  would  inevitably  become  contagious  with  troops  who  had 
already  been  disheartened  by  the  duration  and  difficulty  of  the  struggle. 
Such  actually  proved  to  be  the  result  at  Manassas.  Prominent  in  that 
vast  and  tumultuous  torrent  of  retreating  men  were  to  be  seen  terrified 
and  frantic  civilians ;  and  among  the  many  who,  on  that  day,  fled  in  hot 
haste,  they  led  the  van,  and  kept  it. 

It  is  clear  also  that  many  minor  blunders  were  committed  which  served  to 
consummate  the  disaster.  The  unarmed  teamsters  were  permitted  to 
advance  with  their  wagons  too  near  the  enemy,  and  within  the  range  of 
their  attack.  The  Federal  army  was  not  sufficiently  provided  with 
cavalry  to  pursue  the  retreating  foe.  Proper  care  was  not  taken,  when 
batteries  had  been  captured,  to  secure  possession  of  them,  and  turn  them 
upon  the  Kebels.  The  left  flank  and  the  rear  of  the  Federal  army  were 
not  suitably  guarded  against  attack.  An  order  to  fall  back  a  short 
distance  was  mistaken  for  a  general  order  to  retreat.  To  this  must  be 
added  the  desperate  courage  of  the  Kebel  troops,  the  skill  and  bravery  of 
the  Kebel  commanders,  and  the  immense  advantages  of  their  position. 

Nevertheless,  all  these  causes  combined  together  would  have  not  in 
flicted  the  repulse  at  Manassas,  had  it  not  been  for  another  and  still  more 
potent  cause.  It  would  have  been  a  victory  to  the  Federal  arms,  or  at 
least  a  drawn  battle,  had  not  the  troops  of  General  Johnston  arrived  by 
railway  from  Winchester,  and  deployed  upon  the  field  precisely  at  the 
critical  moment.  That  calamity  turned  the  scale  with  decisive  and  re 
sistless  effect.  The  prodigious  influence  produced  by  the  sudden  accession 
of  fresh  troops  on  the  battle-field,  to  one  side  or  to  the  other,  after  'a  long 
and  obstinate  struggle,  has  been  illustrated  by  the  issue  of  many  of  the 
most  memorable  conflicts  of  modern  times.  Thus  the  great  battle  of 
Wagram  was  lost  by  the  Austrians,  after  they  had  in  effect  wrested  the 


IMMENSE  LOSSES   OF  THE   REBEL  ARMS'.  143 

victory  from  Napoleon  by  prodigies  of  valor,  because  the  Archduke  John 
did  not  reach  the  field  with  his  reinforcement  of  eighteen  thousand 
troops,  as  he  had  been  expressly  ordered  to  do ;  which  accession  would 
have  completely  broken  the  exhausted  lines  of  the  French.  It  is  well 
known  that  at  Waterloo,  the  issue  of  the  day  depended  entirely  upon  tb3 
fact  whether  Blucher  would  arrive  with  his  Prussians  to  reinforce  the 
English,  or  Grouchy  would  arrive  with  his  division  to  reinforce  Napoleon. 
Bliicher  rushed  upon  the  field  when  Wellington  was  almost  frantic  with 
despair,  and  thereby  changed  the  fortunes  of  the  world.  Thus  also  at 
the  battle  of  Inkermann,  forty  thousand  Russians  attacked  fifteen  thousand 
British  troops.  After  a  protracted  and  desperate  conflict  the  latter  were 
about  to  break,  when  the  arrival  of  a  large  French  force  under  General 
Bosquet  decided  the  issue  of  the  engagement.  It  was  precisely  thus 
with  the  battle  of  Manassas.  The  accession  of  Johnston's  regiments 
turned  the  scale,  and  wrested  the  triumph  from  the  wearied  hands  of  the 
exhausted  victors. 

By  whose  fault  it  was  that  Johnston  was  permitted  to  make  good  his 
hurried  march  to  Manassas,  we  are  not  prepared  to  say.  It  was  expected 
that  the  junction  would  be  prevented  by  the  division  under  General 
Robert  Patterson ;  but  whether  the  force  under  his  command  was  suffi 
ciently  large  to  enable  him  to  achieve  that  result,  it  is  not  for  us  to  deter 
mine.  General  McDowell,  however,  asserted  in  his  official  report  of  the 
battle,  that  it  was  expressly  understood  when  he  assumed  the  command  of 
the  army  marching  against  Manassas,  that  he  was  not  to  encounter  the 
troops  of  Johnston ;  and  that  declaration,  thus  boldly  and  publicly  made, 
was  never  contradicted.  If,  therefore,  the  force  under  Patterson  was  not 
sufficiently  numerous  to  intercept  Johnston,  it  was  a  measure  of  indispen 
sable  importance  that  it  should  have  been  rendered  such,  before  the 
advance  of  McDowell  toward  Manassas  was  commenced. 

It  was  natural  that  the  Rebels  should  exult  with  frantic  joy,  and  with 
boundless  exaggeration,  over  their  unexpected  victory.  The  reports 
which  were  di.fTu.sed  throughout  the  Southern  States  in  reference  to  it 
exceeded  any  thing  ever  exhibited  before  in  the  art  of  misrepresentation. 
It  was  confidently  asserted  that  the  Federal  army  had  been  composed  of 
a  hundred  thousand  men;  that  twenty  thousand  had  been  slain  and 
wounded ;  that  thirty  thousand  handcuffs  had  been  taken,  with  which  the 
Federals  intended  to  manacle  the  defeated  Confederates ;  that  sixty  pieces 
of  artillery  had  been  captured,  with  an  innumerable  number  of  knapsacks, 
and  with  provisions  enough  to  support  the  Confederate  army  for  months. 
The  result  of  these  fabrications  was,  that  the  whole  South  became  still  more 
enthusiastic  for  the  war ;  and  many  who,  till  then,  had  been  reluctant  to 
enter  the  struggle,  now  rushed  forward,  enlisted,  and  commenced  with 
martial  ardor  to  swarm  northward  toward  Richmond. 

Soon,  however,  this  general  exultation  began  to  give  place  to  sadder 


144  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES, 

and  more  sober  thoughts,  when  the  details  of  the  losses  of  the  Eebels  at 
Manassas  began  to  be  known  throughout  the  South.  Then  it  was  that  they 
discovered  at  what  an  enormous  price  their  victory  had  been  bought ;  and 
like  Pyrrhus  of  old,  after  vanquishing  the  Romans,  they  might  exclaim, 
that  another  such  triumph  would  complete  their  ruin.  The  Eebels  had 
lost  many  of  their  best  officers.  They  made  great  exertions  to  conceal  the 
precise  number  of  their  dead  and  wounded ;  so  much  so  that  even  southern 
journals  complained  that  the  relatives  of  the  soliders  who  fought  at  Ma 
nassas,  could  obtain  no  information  as  to  whether  they  were  living  or 
dead.  Every  thing  was  concealed  on  that  subject  for  a  long  time.  The 
reason  was,  that  a  knowledge  of  the  real  facts  would  have  appalled. and 
disheartened  the  people  by  the  horrid  details  involved  in  them.  But  such 
secresy  could  not  always  be  preserved  ;  and  at  length  certain  revelations 
began  to  leak  out,  which  opened  the  eyes  of  men  as  to  the  actual  state 
of  the  case.  Thus,  among  other  instances,  the  Eichmond  Dispatch,  when 
applauding  the  heroism  of  the  eighth  Georgia  regiment,  declared  that  "  at 
length  they  withdrew  from  the  fight.  Their  final  rally  was  made  with 
some  sixty  men  out  of  the  six  hundred  they  took  in."  This  regiment, 
thus  almost  annihilated,  was  succeeded  by  the  seventh  Georgia  regiment, 
who  actually  met  the  same  fate,  their  commanding  officer,  Colonel  Barton, 
being  killed.  One  Louisiana  regiment  lost  three  hundred  men  out  of  eight 
hundred.  The  Hampton  Legion  and  an  Alabama  regiment  were  almost 
totally  destroyed  by  the  terrible  charges  of  the  New  York  sixty-ninth  and 
seventy-ninth.  Single  facts  like  these  demonstrate  how  terrific  and  over 
whelming  the  grand  total  loss  must  have  been  on  the  Eebel  side.  It  was 
manifestly  much  greater  than  the  Federal  Joss ;  and  it  is  not  improable 
that  five  or  six  thousand  in  killed  and  wounded  were  the  number  of  the 
enemy  placed  hors  du  combat. 

In  view  of  indisputable  facts  like  these,  it  could  scarcely  be  affirmed  that 
the  result  of  this  engagement  was  very  advantageous  to  the  cause  of  the 
Eebel  Government ;  while  on  the  other  hand,  it  may  with  truth  be  asserted, 
that  under  the  outward  and  forbidding  guise  of  a  reverse,  the  general 
result  of  the  catastrophe  at  Manassas  was  propitious  to  the  interests  of  the 
Federal  Union.  This  declaration,  which  seems  very  like  a  paradox  or  an 
absurdity,  we  believe  to  be  strictly  true ;  and  we  will  briefly  state  the 
grounds  of  this  opinion.  As  adversity  is  often  the  wisest  and  best  school 
for  the  individual  learner,  so  also  is  it  often  the  wisest  and  best  school  for 
the  national  learner.  Especially  in  military  affairs,  a  few  disasters  at  the 
commencement  of  a  war  produce  a  beneficial  effect.  Many  celebrated 
commanders  began  their  careers  with  serious  defeats,  and  by  those  very 
defeats  were  taught  how  afterward  to  triumph  more  gloriously.  Frederic 
the  Great,  to  whom  reference  has  already  been  made,  confessed  that  the 
first  clear  insight  which  he  obtained  into  the  military  art,  was  when  he 
was  compelled  by  Charles  of  Lorraine  to  retreat  with  heavy  losses  from 


ITS   INFLUENCE   ON   THE   ADMINISTRATION.  145 

Silesia,  at  an  early  stage  of  the  Seven  Years  War ;  yet  Frederic  subse 
quently  became  the  greatest  general  of  his  age.  William  of  Orange, 
afterward  king  of  England,  acquired  more  millitary  skill  from  his  defeats 
by  the  Prince  de  Conde*  than  by  all  his  other  studies  and  experiences 
combined.  The  Emperor  Charles  V.  of  Germany,  who  agitated  Europe 
during  many  years  by  his  contests  with  the  chivalrous  Francis  L,  gener 
ally  commenced  his  campaigns  against  that  monarch  with  disasters,  but 
invariably  closed  them  with  supremacy  and  triumph. 

Now  it  is  well  known  that  the  American  people  began  the  war  against 
Secession  with  an  undue  contempt  of  the  resources  and  the  prowess  of 
the  Eebels.  No  proper  conception  was  entertained  of  the  difficulty  and 
intensity  of  the  struggle  which  was  about  to  commence.  It  was  generally 
believed  that  the  southern  soldiers  would  not  fight ;  that  they  possessed 
no  powers  of  physical  endurance ;  that  they  were  enervated  by  drunken 
ness  and  debauchery ;  that  their  conquest  would  be  an  easy  and  rapid 
achievement.  All  these  were  gross  and  fatal  delusions;  but  the  result  of 
their  prevalence  was,  that  a  spirit  of  extreme  carelessness  and  frivolity 
pervaded  the  Federal  army.  A  reckless  temper  characterized  the  public 
journals.  The  march  to  Richmond  was  to  be  a  grand  and  exciting  hunt 
for  Rebels;  and  the  most  rare  and  excellent  sport  would  be  the  entertain 
ment  of  those  who  took  part  in  the  chase,  and  of  those  who  accompanied 
it  as  spectators.  With  this  hilarious  spirit  the  army  marched  gaily  forth 
toward  Manassas.  Inexcusable  neglect  characterized  every  thing  con 
nected  with  their  advance.  Their  numbers  were  deficient ;  their  ammuni 
tion  was  not  properly  supplied;  the  men  had  received  but  little  drilling; 
and  some  of  the  officers,  it  was  charged,  were  on  this  occasion  intoxicated. 

Let  us  suppose  that  this  army  had  been  successful  at  Manassas ;  and 
that,  after  a  short  and  perhaps  a  feigned  resistance,  the  Rebel  forces  had 
retreated  toward  Richmond.  Elated  with  the  easily-earned  victory,  en 
tertaining  still  more  contemptuous  and  absurd  sentiments  respecting 
the  prowess  of  the  enemy,  our  troops  would  have  become  more  reckless 
and  imprudent  than  before.  As  they  advanced  further  into  the  bowels  of 
the  hostile  country,  the  dangers  which  surrounded  them  would  become 
much  greater.  Then,  at  length,  when  a  facile  and  safe  retreat  to  the 
entrenchments  at  Washington  would  be  rendered  impossible,  even  by  a 
Bull  Run  race;  when  the  army  of  the  Rebels  had  been  increased  to  three 
times  the  number  it  contained  at  Manassas ;  when  our  officers  and  soldiers 
were  regardless  of  prudence  and  vigilance,  another  attack  would  be  made 
upon  them.  Is  it  not  perfectly  evident  that  the  probability,  the  certainty 
even,  is,  that  in  that  dreadful  and  unequal  onslaught  scarcely  a  single 
man  would  have  escaped,  and  that  a  calamity  far  greater  than  that  at 
Manassas  would  have  ensued  to  the  Federal  army,  to  the  nation's  honor, 
and  to  the  cause  of  the  Union  ? 

But  the  effect  produced  upon  the  Federal  troops  by  the  check  at  Ma- 
10 


146  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

nassas  was  instantaneous  and  redeeming.  Their  eyes  were  at  once  opened  to 
the  terrific  depth  of  that  abyss  toward  which  they  had  been  madly  rushing. 
They  acquired  more  valuable  information  by  one  day  of  defeat  than  they 
would  have  attained  by  ten  days  of  victory.  The  blow  brought  them  to 
their  senses,  and  sobered  them  at  once.  How  soon  was  a  new  spirit 
infused  into  the  service !  How  quickly  did  the  most  rigid  dicipline,  the 
most  careful  precautions,  the  most  extensive  and  systematic  preparations, 
take  the  place  of  the  previous  neglect,  laxity  and  bravado !  Every  de 
partment  of  the  army  underwent  a  thorough  reformation;  and  soon  there 
was  assembled,  under  the  national  colors,  a  well  drilled,  well  appointed, 
formidable  force  of  several  hundred  thousand  men.  But  nothing  of  this 
would  have  existed,  had  not  the  defeat  at  Mauassas  taught  the  nation  and 
the  government  wisdom.  Therefore,  we  repeat,  that  that  defeat  was  in 
reality  not  a  misfortune,  but  a  benefit  to  the  Federal  arms,  and  to  the 
interests  of  the  Union. 


EVENTS   IN   MISSOURI.  147 


CHAPTER  XII. 

INCREASED  ENERGY  OF   THE   FEDERAL   GOVERNMENT — EVENTS   IN   MISSOURI IMPORTANT 

BATTLE  AT  CARTHAGE — RETROGRADE  MOVEMENT   OF   GENERAL   LYON'  TO   SPRINGFIELD 

PURSUIT  OF  THE  REBELS  UNDER  GENERALS    MCCULLOCH    AND    PRICE — CONDITION    OP 

THEIR  ARMY REASONS  WHY  GENERAL  LYON  ENGAGED  THE  ENEMY — THE  GREAT  BATTLK 

OF  WILSON'S  CREEK — DISPOSITION  OF  THE  FEDERAL  FORCES — TEMPORARY  SUCCESS  OF 

THE  REBELS INCIDENTS   OF  THE   CONTEST HEROISM   OF   GENERAL    LYON HIS    LAST 

EFFORT  AGAINST  THE  ENEMY ITS  SUCCESS GENERAL  LYON'S  DEATH DISCOMFITURE  OF1 

COLONEL  SIGEL — RESULTS  OF  THE  BATTLE SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  LYON HIS  RARE  MERITS 

GENERAL  FREMONT  MADE  COMMANDANT  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  MISSOURI HIS  POLICY 

AND   MEASURES HIS    ANTI-SLAVERY   PROCLAMATION IT    IS  MODIFIED   BY    PRESIDENT 

LINCOLN THE  WAR  AGAINST  SECESSION  NOT  A  WAR  AGAINST  SLAVERY. 

IMMEDIATELY  after  the  battle  of  Manassas,  the  Federal  Government  was 
busily  employed  in  making  every  possible  preparation  to  defend  Wash 
ington  against  an  apprehended  attack  from  the  Rebel  forces.  The  loyal 
States  were  called  upon  to  send  large  masses  of  troops  without  delay  to 
the  Federal  capital.  This  requisition  was  speedily  and  heartily  complied 
with ;  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks,  as  we  have  stated,  several  hundred 
thousand  armed  men  rallied  around  the  seat  of  government.  At  the  same 
time,  various  other  measures,  required  by  the  peculiar  exigencies  of  the 
occasion,  were  adopted.  General  McClellan  was  summoned  from  Western 
Virginia  to  Washington;  other  officers  of  merit,  including  Fremont, 
Wool,  Banks  and  Lyon,  were  promoted  to  positions  of  importance ;  and 
soon  the  administration  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  which  seemed  by  one  deadly  blow 
to  have  been  brought  to  the  very  verge  of  ruin,  presented  to  the  enemy  a  front 
much  more  formidable  and  defiant  than  that  which  it  had  exhibited  before 
the  battle  of  Manassas.  No  military  operations  of  any  importance  were 
destined  to  occur  in  that  vicinity  for  several  months  but ;  hostilities  were 
carried  on  with  great  vigor  in  the  southwestern  department  of  the 
Republic. 

We  have  already  described  the  process  by  which  the  State  of  Missouri 
became  the  scene  of  conflict  between  two  hostile  parties  which  had  arisen 
within  its  borders  ;  and  how  its  inhabitants  had  become  much  divided  on 
the  subject  of  their  allegiance  to  the  Union.  The  first  important  conflict, 
which  occurred  between  them,  took  place  at  Carthage,  on  the  5th  of  July, 
1861,  where  eight  thousand  Missouri  Rebels,  commanded  by  the  pseudo- 
Governor  Jackson,  attacked  two  thousand  Federal  troops,  under  Colonel 
Sigel.  The  battle  was  a  desperate  one.  Notwithstanding  the  immense 
advantage  of  numbers  on  the  Rebel  side,  their  loss  was  very  heavy,  and 
the  general  issue  of  the  day  was  adverse  to  them.  This  result  was  chiefly 
due  to  the  superior  skill  with  which  Colonel  Sigel  served  and  directed  his 


148  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

artillery.  General  Lyon,  who  commanded  another  Federal  force  in  the 
State,  was  ninety  miles  distant  from  Carthage  at  the  period  of  the  battle, 
and  was  therefore  unable  to  effect  a  junction  with  Sigel,  Nowhere,  in 
any  portion  of  the  Union,  had  the  ruinous  effects  of  civil  war  been  as 
terrible  as  within  the  limits  of  Missouri ;  for  at  this  time,  throughout  a 
large  portion  of  the  State,  especially  to  the  south  of  the  Missouri  river, 
solitude  and  desolation  reigned  throughout  the  country.  Nearly  all  the 
houses  and  plantations  had  been  deserted  by  their  inhabitants.  Wheat, 
corn,  and  the  various  products  of  the  earth,  rotted  unharvested.  In  other 
portions  of  the  State  the  dominion  of  terror  prevailed  and  there  was  no 
protection  for  life  or  property  to  the  citizen  or  the  stranger. 

As  soon  as  General  Lyon  received  the  details  of  the  battle  of  Carthage, 
he  fell  back  with  the  troops  under  his  command  to  Springfield.  lie  had 
been  informed  that  a  powerful  Rebel  force  under  McCulloch  and  Price 
were  advancing  upon  him  by  several  different  routes.  He  expected  an 
immediate  attack,  inasmuch  as  he  was  assured  that  their  commissariat 
was  in  a  miserable  condition,  and  they  would  be  compelled  at  once  literally 
either  to  fight  or  to  starve.  General  Lyon  was  well  aware  of  the  critical 
nature  of  his  position.  The  Kebel  force  had  swelled  to  an  immense 
multitude  of  desperate,  disorderly,  and  sanguinary  adventurers,  twenty 
thousand  in  number,  whose  attack,  though  irregular,  would  still  be  ener 
getic  and  destructive.  His  own  troops  did  not  then  exceed  five  thousand 
men  ;  but  they  were  well  fed  and  clothed,  and  provided  with  a  powerful 
battery  of  artillery.  His  army  had  been  increased  to  that  number  by 
the  junction  of  the  force  under  Colonel  Sigel;  and  he  made  every 
preparation  which  an  able  and  skillful  commander  could  possibly  employ, 
to  confront  and  overpower  the  danger  which  impended  over  him.  The 
battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  which  soon  ensued,  was  one  of  the  most  bloody 
and  desperate  which  had  occurred  during  the  progress  of  the  war  ;  and 
the  conduct  of  General  Lyon,  on  this  occasion,  covered  his  name  and  his 
memory  with  enduring  renown. 

It  was  on  the  seventh  of  August  that  the  Rebel  force  under  McCulloch 
and  Price  reached  a  position  twelve  miles  distant  from  Springfield.  The 
inhabitants  of  that  town  at  once  became  panic-stricken  at  the  proximity 
of  the  foe :  and  earnest  appeals  were  made  to  General  Lyon  to  induce  him 
to  withdraw  his  troops  from  the  place,  and  not  to  subject  it,  by  his  pres 
ence,  to  the  horrors  of  an  attack.  Many  of  his  officers,  discouraged  by 
the  immense  superiority  in  numbers  which  the  enemy  possessed,  regarded 
the  risking  of  a  battle  as  the  height  of  imprudence;  and  asserted  that  it 
would  lead  to  inevitable  defeat.  A  council  of  war  was  called,  and  a  ma 
jority  were  in  favor  of  retreating  at  once  toward  Rolla.  But  General 
Sweeney  earnestly  opposed  the  measure,  and  General  Lyon  coincided  with 
his  bolder  counsel.  The  considerations  which  induced  the  commander 
to  risk  a  battle  were  the  following : 


THE   GREAT   BATTLE   OF    WILSON'S   CHEEK.  149 

It  was  very  true,  indeed,  that  his  numbers  were  greatly  inferior  to 
those  of  the  enemy.  lie  had  repeatedly  besought  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  to  reinforce  him ;  and  had  set  forth,  with  clearness  and  power,  the 
reasons  which  rendered  such  a  course  imperative.  But  the  Government 
was  either  unable  or  unwilling  to  comply,  and  he  was  left  to  his  fate. 
But  it  was  also  evident  that  a  retreat  from  Springfield  would,  at  that 
critical  moment,  be  highly  pernicious  to  the  cause  of  the  Union  in  Mis 
souri,  and  might  produce  the  most  disastrous  effects.  Thousands  would 
thenceforth  regard  the  Rebels  as  irresistible,  and  identify  themselves 
with  their  side.  A  defeat  even  would  be  preferable  after  a  battle,  than  a 
flight  without  a  conflict.  But,  like  a  brave  and  gallant  officer,  Lyon  an 
ticipated  a  victory  even  against  overwhelming  odds ;  and  he  resolved  to 
try  the  issue  of  a  desperate  and  deadly  conflict.  His  first  plan  was  to 
make  a  night  attack  on  the  foe ;  but  his  arrangements  could  not  be  com 
pleted  until  several  hours  after  the  appointed  time.  He  then  determined 
to  postpone  the  engagement  until  the  next  day.  This  was  Saturday, 
August  9th,  1861. 

At  eight  o'clock  on  the  preceding  evening  Colonel  Sigel  was  ordered 
to  march  with  his  command,  with  that  of  Colonel  Solomon,  in  a  southward 
direction  from  Springfield ;  to  pass  around  the  camp  of  the  enemy  unob 
served;  to  take  a  position  in  their  rear,  and  when  he  heard  the  guns  of  Lyon's 
division  in  the  front,  to  commence  an  attack  on  the  Rebels.  Sigel  accom 
plished  his  journey  by  two  o'clock  on  Saturday  morning.  He  had  taken  six 
cannon  with  him.  General  Lyon  advanced  from  Springfield  with  all  the 
troops  under  his  command  during  Friday  night,  and  reached  the  position 
of  the  enemy,  nine  miles  south  of  that  town,  at  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  He  then  halted  until  the  hour  of  attack  arrived.  At  six 
o'clock  the  action  commenced.  The  Rebels  were  posted  in  an  advan 
tageous  position.  Their  camp  had  been  placed  at  the  northern  end  of 
a  verdant  vale ;  but  their  troops  were  drawn  out  to  meet  the  Federals 
upon  the  hills  which  intervened  between  them  and  their  camp.  The 
pickets  of  the  latter  were  first  driven  in.  Then  Captain  Wright,  with  four 
companies  of  mounted  Home  Guards,  skirmished  with  a  small  body  of 
horsemen  who  had  taken  a  position  in  advance  on  the  left.  These  were 
the  mere  lures  of  an  ambuscade ;  and,  by  retiring,  they  endeavored  to 
draw  the  Federal  detachments  into  a  position  of  danger.  The  artifice 
partly  succeeded ;  for  three  thousand  Rebels  rushed  upon  the  Federals, 
and  by  superioity  of  numbers,  compelled  them  to  give  way. 

By  this  time  the  Federal  troops  on  the  other  extremity  of  the  line  had 
engaged  the  enemy.  The  first  Missouri  regiment,  the  battalion  of  Oster- 
haus,  and  the  battery  of  Totten,  were  advantageously  posted  on  an 
eminence ;  and  they  commenced  a  vigorous  attack  upon  the  Rebel  host 
arrayed  against  them.  Soon  the  latter  broke  and  fled  in  confusion,  until 
they  reached  the  summit  of  another  hill  in  the  rear.  The  Federals  pup- 


150  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

sued,  but  in  their  advance  they  encountered  a  fresh  regiment  of  Louisiana 
troops.  A  desperate  hand-to-hand  fight  ensued  between  them.  This 
lasted  about  forty-five  minutes.  The  Eebels  were  again  routed;  and  as 
they  retired,  were  pursued  till  the  victors  reached  the  brow  of  a  third 
eminence.  There  they  encountered  another  fresh  detachment  of  the 
enemy,  and  another  desperate  contest  followed,  more  furious  and  deadly 
than  had  yet  occurred.  The  contest  here  was  also  protracted,  and  the 
combatants  struggled  inch  by  inch  for  the  possession  of  the  field.  The 
fire  of  the  Rebels  was  very  destructive,  and  the  result  was  for  a  time 
doubtful.  Fresh  Iowa  and  Kansas  troops  were  ordered  forward  to  sup 
port  those  already  engaged,  and  were  assailed  by  treble  their  own  num 
bers.  Captain  Gratz  was  slain  while  gallantly  leading  forward  his  men. 
Lieutenant  Brown  was  disabled  by  a  severe  scalp  wound,  and  was  carried 
to  the  rear.  The  slaughter  on  both  sides  was  fearful.  The  powerful 
batteries  of  Totten  and  Dubois,  which  were  admirably  served,  mowed 
down  the  serried  ranks  of  the  enemy  like  frost  work,  and  covered  the 
ground  with  heaps  of  the  wounded  and  the  slain.  But  the  vast  numbers  of 
the  Rebels  enabled  them  to  repair  their  losses  with  new  detachments,  and 
to  hurl  back  the  tide  of  death  upon  their  assailants. 

Thus  the  action  became  general  between  both  armies  along  the  whole 
line.  The  chief  brunt  of  the  battle  had  been  borne  by  the  Missouri,  the 
Iowa  and  the  Kansas  regiments.  General  Lyon  had  superintended  all 
the  operations  of  the  Federal  troops.  He  rode  fearlessly  from  regiment 
to  regiment,  encouraging  the  men,  and  giving  the  necessary  orders.  He 
had  received  two  wounds,  which,  though  painful,  were  not  dangerous. 
Still  he  rode  from  rank  to  rank,  inspired  with  a  heroism  which,  by  voice 
and  gesture,  he  endeavored  to  communicate  to  his  men.  He  well  knew 
the  mighty  and  overwhelming  odds  against  which  he  and  they  contended  ; 
and  when  he  saw  unusual  acts  of  steadiness  and  bravery,  he  cheered  the 
actors  with  almost  boyish  ardor.  He  had  feared,  before  the  battle  began, 
that  the  first  Iowa  regiment,  under  Colonel  Merritt,  would  not  prove 
staunch  when  made  to  confront  the  foe.  When,  however,  he  saw  them, 
pass  into  action  under  a  heavy  fire  with  the  utmost  firmness;  assault  the 
enemy  with  the  vigor  and  energy  of  veterans ;  compel  the  successive 
masses  of  fresh  troops  which  the  Rebels  brought  forward  to  recoil; 
relieve  the  first  Missouri  regiment  which,  after  two  hours  of  fighting, 
were  nearly  exhausted  and  were  about  giving  way,  and  thus  recover  the 
advantage  over  the  exultant  foe ;  when  General  Lyon  observed  all  this, 
he  cheered  the  Iowa  regiment  heartily,  and  expressed  his  admiration  of 
them  with  the  utmost  enthusiasm. 

At  length  that  heroic  commander  resolved  to  make  a  still  more  vigor 
ous  and  combined  effort  to  overpower  the  Rebel  host  and  secure  the  victory. 
He  gave  the  order  to  prepare  to  make  a  general  bayonet  charge.  When 
all  was  ready  and  the  troops  were  about  to  advance,  it  was  discovered 


HEROISM   OF  GENERAL   LYON.  151 

that  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Iowa  troops  was  missing.  No  time  was 
to  be  lost,  and  General  Lyon  exclaimed ;  "  Come  on,  brave  men !  I  will  lead 
you  1"  At  the  head  of  the  gallant  Iowa  boys  he  rode  forward  toward  the 
enemy,  whose  inexhaustible  numbers  still  swelled  up  toward  them  like 
the  tumultuous  tides  of  an  endless  and  fathomless  sea.  The  charge  was 
made,  the  enemy  wavered  and  fled  after  a  terrific  collision  ;  but  General 
Lyon,  during  the  struggle,  was  slain.  He  received  a  ball  in  the  side,  fell 
from  his  horse,  and  immediately  expired.  About  the  same  moment 
General  Sweeney  was  wounded  in  the  leg  and  disabled.  The  command 
then  devolved  upon  Major  Sturgis.  The  partial  retreat  of  the  enemy 
now  caused  an  interval  of  twenty  minutes  in  the  firing,  after  which  they 
made  a  fresh  assault.  That  assault  was  their  most  desperate  one,  but  it 
was  their  last.  The  field  was  already  covered  with  bleeding  and  man 
gled  multitudes  of  their  dead  and  wounded.  Their  immense  hordes  had 
been  greatly  thinned  by  the  heroic  and  desperate  valor  of  the  Federal 
troops ;  but  the  fire  of  Totten's  battery,  with  the  general  energy  and 
bravery  of  our  men,  again  shattered  and  broke  their  columns  and  again 
they  fled.  It  was  now  eleven  o'clock,  and  during  five  hours  the  battle 
had  raged.  Before  retiring  the  enemy  set  fire  to  thirty  or  forty  wagons* 
lest  they  might  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  victors. 

At  this  time,  though  the  Federal  troops  had  gained  a  decisive  victory, 
they  were  unable  to  continue  the  contest  or  to  make  a  pursuit.  The 
reason  was  because  the  ammunition  of  Totten's  battery  had  become 
exhausted,  and  because  the  death  and  wounds  of  so  many  officers  on  the 
Federal  side  diminished  their  confidence  and  vigor.  Moreover,  it  had 
been  ascertained  that  the  troops  under  Sigel  had.  been  unfortunate,  and 
had  not  effectually  carried  out  their  portion  of  the  programme.  As  soon 
as  that  officer  heard  the  guns  of  Lyon  in  the  front  of  the  enemy,  he  ap 
proached  the  scene  of  conflict  and  commenced  an  attack.  But  he  was 
met  and  overwhelmed  by  so  vast  a  body  of  Kebel  troops  that,  after  a 
brief  but  vigorous  contest,  he  was  defeated,  and  compelled  to  give  way. 
He  lost  five  of  his  guns  and  many  of  his  men,  and  effected  nothing  in 
favor  of  the  Federal  troops  who  were  operating  in  front.  He  succeeded 
afterward  in  making  his  escape  with  the  larger  portion  of  his  command. 
After  the  conclusion  of  the  battle  the  whole  of  the  Federal  army  retired 
in  good  order  to  Springfield,  and  still  later  to  Holla,  under  the  skilful 
guidance  of  Colonel  Sigel ;  the  defeated  foe  making  no  effort  to  pursue 
them.  The  loss  of  the  Federal  troops  was  considerable,  being  about  two 
hundred  killed  and  seven  hundred  wounded.  They  took  four  hundred 
horses  and  seventy  prisoners.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  much  greater 
than  our  own,  though  the  precise  number  is  unknown  to  us.  The  battle 
field  was  covered  with  gory  heaps  of  their  dead  and  wounded.  Their 
vast  superiority  in  numbers,  and  their  formidable  batteries  of  twenty- 
one  guns,  were  the  sole  causes  that  they  maintained  the  contest  so  long 


152  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITiUD   STATES. 

and  the  reason  why  their  defeat  was  not  still  more  disastrous.  The 
praise  of  superior  bravery,  steadiness  and  skill,  belonged  to  the  little 
band  of  heroes  who,  on  this  bloody  day,  fought  for  the  honor  and  su 
premacy  of  the  immortal  Stars  and  Stripes.  Many  of  them  now  sleep 
in  a  soldier's  grave;  but  the  noblest  and  bravest  of  them  all  was  he 
who  commanded  them,  and  led  them  to  victory. 

The  war  for  the  Union  has  not  failed  to  develop  instances  of  the  most 
exalted  patriotism  and  valor,  which  will  forever  elicit  the  grateful  pride 
and  enthusiasm  of  every  lover  of  his  country.  One  of  the  most  remarka 
ble  of  those  who  have  challenged  the  close  and  admiring  scrutiny  of 
niankind  was  the  conqueror  of  the  Rebel  hordes  at  Wilson's  Creek.  General 
Nathaniel  Lyon  was  one  of  the  genuine  heroes  of  this  stormy  and  dis 
astrous  time.  There  was  no  hypocritical  sham,  no  false  or  arrogant 
pretence,  no  mean  or  selfish  impulse  about  him.  His  character  realized, 
with  rare  completeness  and  clearness,  Carlyle's  definition  of  what  con 
stitutes  a  genuine  hero.  Said  that  profound  thinker,  in  his  fourth  lecture 
on  Heroes  and  Hero  worship  ;  "  We  have  repeatedly  endeavored  to  ex 
plain  that  all  sorts  of  heroes  are  intrinsically  of  the  same  material ;  that, 
given  a  great  soul  open  to  the  divine  signifiance  of  life,  then  there  is 
given  a  man  fit  to  speak  of  this,  to  sing  of  this,  to  fight  and  work  for  this, 
in  a  great,  victorious,  enduring  manner ;  there  is  given  a  hero,  the  out 
ward  shape  of  whom  will  depend  on  the  time  and  the  environment  he  finds 
himself  in."*  Every  characteristic  of  General  Lyon  and  every  act  which 
he  performed,  indicated  the  presence  and  power  of  such  an  heroic  soul 
within  him. 

Nathaniel  Lyon  was  born  at  Ashford,  Connecticut,  in  the  year  1819. 
He  was  well  descended ;  and  his  ancestors  on  his  mother's  side  distin 
guished  themselves  in  the  Eevolutionary  War.  One  of  those  ancestors 
was  the  famous  Colonel  Knowlton,  who  commanded  the  Connecticut 
troops  at  the  "  Old  Rail  Fence,"  on  the*  left  wing  of  the  patriot  army  at 
Bunker  Hill.  He  was  afterward  killed  at  the  battle  on  Harlem  Heights, 
near  New  York.  The  future  hero  of  Wilson's  Creek  gave  indications  of 
superior  talent  at  an  early  age ;  but  the  tendency  of  his  mind  was  toward 
mathematical  studies  and  mechanical  contrivances.  Having  chosen  the 
military  profession  he  entered  the  Academy  at  West  Point.  He  gradua 
ted  with  honor  in  1841,  entered  the  regular  service,  rapidly  rose  to  the 
rank  of  capt'ain,  and  distinguished  himself  in  the  Mexican  war.  He  dis 
played  superior  skill  and  bravery  at  Vera  Cruz,  Contreras,  Churubusco, 
and  was  wounded  while  fighting  near  the  Belem  Gate,  in  the  city  of 
Mexico.  After  the  termination  of  the  war  he  was  engaged  in  active 
service  in  Missouri  and  California.  His  reputation  stood  high  in  both  of 
those  States.  When  the  war  of  Secession  began,  he  was  chosen  by  the 

*  Heroes,  Hero  Worship,  and  the  Heroic  in  History,  by  Thomas  Carlyle,  page  133. 


FREMONT   COMMANDANT   DEPARTMENT   OF  MISSOURI        153 

Missouri  volunteers  as  their  brigadier-general.  During  the  course  of  his 
adventurous  life  he  had  been  familiar  with  the  most  difficult  and  danger 
ous  kinds  of  service  in  Texas,  Oregon,  Kansas,  and  along  the  whole 
border  of  the  western  and  southwestern  territory  of  the -United  States. 
He  was,  therefore,  particularly  adapted  to  command  the  Federal  troops  in 
Missouri;  and  his  courageous  spirit  found  a  congenial  theatre  for  the  ex 
ercise  and  display  of  its  peculiar  attributes  amid  the  tumultuous  camps,  the 
desoiate  wastes,  and  all  the  semi-barbarous  scenes  connected  with  warfare 
in  the  outskirts  of  civilization.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  patriotic 
devotion  to  his  country,  and  for  the  eagerness  with  which  he  sprang 
forward  to  her  defence  on  every  occasion  of  danger.  To  her  he  gave  his 
best  services  and  his  life.  To  her,  it  may  with  truth  be  said,  he  devoted  his 
all,  for  even  his  property  he  devised  by  his  will  to  the  cause  of  the 
Union.  Being  unmarried,  and  without  domestic  dependents,  he  felt  at 
liberty  to  devote  his  wealth  to  that  object  which,  above  all  others,  he 
loved  best ;  and,  like  his  immortal  ancestors  of  the  revolution,  he  con 
secrated  to  his  country  his  life,  his  fortune  and  his  sacred  honor.  The 
deeds  and  fame  of  such  a  man  present  a  rare  and  grateful  theme  of  con 
templation.  When  he  marched  against  the  enemy  at  Wilson's  Creek  he 
well  knew,  that  the  immense  superiority  of  numbers  on  the  side  of  the 
Rebels  would  inevitably  entail  a  heavy  loss  upon  his  troops,  and  that  his 
life  would  probably  be  the  forfeit  of  his  boldness.  But  he  also  felt  that 
the  cause  of  the  Union  demanded  an  heroic  venture ;  he  willingly  made 
it ;  and  he  met  a  soldier's  death  on  the  field  of  honor  and  of  victory. 

The  Federal  Government  discovered  the  necessity,  at  an  early  stage  of 
the  Rebellion,  of  forming  a  military  department  of  Missouri,  of  which 
St.  Louis  should  be  the  headquarters,  and  of  placing  it  under  the  com 
mand  of  an  officer  of  ability,  experience  and  patriotism.  The  person 
selected  to  fill  this  post  was  Major-General  John  C.  Fremont,  who  .had 
already  distinguished  himself  in  the  annals  of  American  conquest  and  ex 
ploration.  When  the  Rebellion  commenced,  his  services  were  demanded 
by  the  Government,  and  were  rendered  with  the  utmost  promptitude. 
After  his  removal  to  St.  Louis  he  was  laboriously  engaged  in  the  perform 
ance  of  the  duties  of  his  office ;  in  fortifying  that  city ;  in  organizing  the 
department ;  in  raising  an  army  ;  and  in  preparing  to  defend  the  Union 
against  the  attacks  of  its  foes  in  Missouri.  In  this  station  he  was  annoyed, 
and  perhaps  impeded,  by  the  hostility  of  Colonel  Frank  P.  Blair ;  who 
entertained  the  opinion  that  General  Fremont  did  not  exhibit  the  energy 
and  capacity  which  the  crisis  demanded.  In  this  judgment,  however,  the 
administration  at  Washington  did  not,  for  a  long  time,  concur,  and 
Fremont  retained  his  difficult  and  responsible  position. 

His  most  important  and  noteworthy  act  was  the  issuing  of  a  proclama 
tion,  by  which  he  endeavored  to  strike  a  powerful  and  deadly  blow  at 
the  institution  of  slavery.  In  that  proclamation  he  proclaimed,  by  virtue 


154  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

of  the  authority  vested  in  him,  that  "  the  property,  real  and  personal,  of 
all  persons  in  the  State  of  Missouri,  who  shall  take  up  arms  against  the 
United  States,  or  who  shall  be  directly  proven  to  have  taken  active  part 
with  their  enemies  in  the  field,  is  declared  to  be  confiscated  to  the  public 
use ;  and  their  slaves,  if  any  they  have,  are  hereby  declared  freemen."  This 
decisive  step  was  hailed  by  the  Abolitionists  throughout  the  country 
with  enthusiasm  and  exultation.  They  affirmed  that  now,  at  length,  the 
axe  had  been  laid  to  the  root  of  the  tree;  that  the  only  true  policy  was 
therein  indicated ;  that  all  men  would  now  be  convinced  that  this  was 
pre-eminently  a  war  against  slavery;  and  that  in  proportion  as  the  cause 
of  the  Union  triumphed,  it  would,  in  that  same  degree,  overturn  the 
peculiar  and  execrable  institution  of  the  Rebel  States.  But  the  more 
conservative  people  of  the  North  and  the  West  regarded  this  proclama 
tion  of  Fremont  with  very  different  feelings.  To  them  it  appeared  like  a 
dangerous  and  illegal,  though  well-meant,  exercise  of  power ;  as  subser 
vient  to  a  fanatical  faction,  which,  as  they  thought,  had  always  been  the 
bane  and  curse  of  the  nation ;  and  as  an  attempt  to  assert  a  false  theory, 
to  the  effect  that  the  war  against  the  Rebels  was  in  substance  and  chiefly 
a  crusade  against  slavery. 

The  latter  opinion  was  the  one  entertained  in  reference  to  the  matter 
by  thp  administration  at  Washington;  and  accordingly,  Mr.  Lincoln  im 
mediately  addressed  a  letter  to  General  Fremont,  directing  him  so  to 
modify  his  proclamation  as  to  make  it  correspond  with  the  provisions  of 
the  act  of  Congress  which  appertained  to  the  subject,  and  which  had  been 
passed  during  the  late  extra  session.  That  act  expressly  provided  that 
whenever  slaves  should  be  required  or  permitted  by  their  masters  and 
owners,  to  take  up  arms  against  the  United  States,  or  to  assist  the 
Rebellion  in  any  manner  whatever,  in  such  cases  only  the  said  slaves 
shall  become  free,  and  their  former  owners  shall  forfeit  all  their  right, 
title  and  interest  in  them.  This  modification  of  General  Fremont's  decree 
was  very  essential  and  material.  It  effectualy  contradicted  the  erroneous 
assertion  that  this  was  a  war  against  slavery,  as  such ;  and  it  thereby 
disarmed  the  Rebels  of  one  of  the  most  potent  levers  with  which  they 
controlled  public  sentiment  and  intensified  popular  prejudice  at  the  South. 
Nor  could  any  more  efficient  expedient  have  been  employed  to  render 
the  war  unpopular  even  throughout  the  Free  States,  than  to  diffuse 
abroad  this  delusion,  that  the  war  was  in  reality  a  mere  crusade  against 
slavery.  On  the  contrary,  it  must  be  regarded  by  every  intelligent  and 
impartial  observer,  as  simply  an  attempt  to  restore  and  to  perpetuate  the 
dissevered  Union.  Whatever  lawful  agencies  would  assist  in  accom 
plishing  that  beneficent  result,  were  employed.  As  a  war  to  preserve 
the  Union  it  received  the  hearty  support  of  the  nation ;  but  as  an  Abolition 
war,  strictly  speaking,  it  would  have  been  rejected  and  discountenanced 
by  a  large  proportion  of  those  very  men,  whose  blood  and  treasure  were 
most  lavishly  expended  in  its  prosecution. 


EXPEDITIONS   AGAINST   REBEL   FORTS  AT  11ATTEIIAS.         155 


CHAPTER  XTIL 

THE    FEDERAL  EXPEDITIONS   AGAINST  THE  REBEL  FORTS  AT  HATTERAS TTIR   FORCES    APPRO 
PRIATED  TO  THIS  ENTERPRISE IMPORTANCE  OF  HATTERAS  AND  ITS    POSSESSION SAILING 

OF  THE  EXPEDITION THE    BOMBARDMENT THE  SURRENDER    OF    THE    FORTS COMMODORE 

BARRON COMMODORE  STRINGHAM SKETCH  OF  HIS  CAREER RESULTS  OF  THE  VICTORY  AT 

HATTERAS OPERATIONS    OF    ROSECRANS     IN    WESTERN   VIRGINIA — BATTLE     AT     CARNIFEX 

FERRY — DEFEAT  AND  FLIGHT  OF    FLOYD RESULTS  OF  THE  VICTORY EVENTS  IN  MISSOURI 

— COLONEL  MULLIGAN'S  FORCES  AT  LEXINGTON — HE  is  ATTACKED  BY  GENERAL  PRICE — 

INCIDENTS    OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  LEXINGTON SURRENDER    OF    COLONEL    MULLIGAN SKETCH 

OF    HIS    CAREER BATTLE  ON   BOLIVAR  HEIGHTS — SKETCH  OF  ITS  HKRO,  COLONEL    GEARY 

THE    BATTLE    OF    HALI/S    BLUFF GENERAL    STONE — APPREHENSIONS  OF  COLONEL  BAKER 

INCIDENTS  OF  THE  ENGAGEMENT — DEFEAT  AND  ROUT  OF  THE  FEDERAL  TROOPS DEATH  OF 

COLONEL  BAKER NATIONAL  SORROW  AT  HIS  FATE SKETCH   OF  HIS  REMARKABLE    CAREER 

RESULTS  OF  THE  DISASTER  AT  BALL'S  BLUFF. 

Ix  the  great  and  perilous  game  of  war,  success  frequently  alternates 
from  side  to  side,  and  he  who  exults  over  the  laurels  of  victory  to-day, 
to-morrow  may  be  overwhelmed  by  the  mortification  and  calamities  of 
defeat.  The  war  against  the  Southern  Rebellion  was  no  exception  to  this 
rule.  The  disaster  of  Bull  Kun  was  quickly  followed  by  the  triumph  of 
the  Federal  arms  at  Hatteras. 

The  Federal  Government  had  contemplated  for  some  time  an  armed 
descent  upon  the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  and  had  been  quietly  making 
preparations  for  such  a  movement.  A  combined  land  and  naval  force 
was  placed  under  the  orders  of  Commodore  Stringham  and  General 
Butler.  The  former  commanded  the  Atlantic  blockading  squadron,  the 
latter  a  portion  of  the  troops  at  Fortress  Monroe.  The  fleet  which  trans 
ported  the  expedition  comprised  the  flag-ship  Minnesota,  the  Adelaide, 
the  George  Peabody,  the  Pawnee,  the  Susquehanna,  the  Wabash,  the 
Cumberland,  the  Harriet  Lane,  and  the  Fanny, — vessels  of  different  sizes 
and  armaments.  About  a  thousand  land  troops  were  placed  under  the 
orders  of  General  Butler ;  a  smaller  naval  force  served  under  the  com 
modore. 

The  special  object  of  the  expedition  was  the  capture  of  the  forts  which 
had  been  erected  on  Cape  Hatteras.  This  position  was  one  of  great  im 
portance  to  the  enemy.  It  was  the  chief  defence  of  the  coast  of  North 
Carolina  The  principal  fort  was  of  considerable  strength,  containing  ten 
heavy  guns  in  position,  with  five  unmounted.  The  works  were  nearly 
surrounded  by  water,  the  only  approach  on  the  land  side  being  through 
a  marsh  five  hundred  yards  wide.  One  of  the  forts  contained  a  bomb 
proof  capable  of  protecting  four  hundred  men.  Its  form  was  octagonal, 
and  it  covered  nearly  an  acre  of  ground.  Both  forts  were  abundantly 


156  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

provided  with  ammunition  and  provisions,  and  were  occupied  by  a  large 
body  of  troops.  The  place  was  the  key  of  the  Albemarle,  and  was 
second  in  importance  only  to  Fortress  Monroe,  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  as  a 
depot  for  furnishing  supplies  to  a  blockading  squadron,  as  a  harbor  for 
the  coasting  trade,  and  as  a  retreat  either  from  stress  of  weather  or  from 
the  pursuit  of  pirates.  It  was  an  advantageous  position,  from  which  ex 
peditions  could  start  forth  along  the  shore  of  Carolina  to  Bogue  Inlet,  to 
Newbern,  and  to  Beaufort. 

The  fleet  sailed  from  Fortress  Monroe  on  Monday,  August  26th,  and 
arrived  off  Hatteras  Inlet  on  Tuesday  afternoon.  Preparations  were 
immediately  made  to  disembark  the  troops,  and  early  the  next  morning 
the  process  began.  But  a  stiff  gale  blew  from  the  southwest,  and  a 
heavy  surf  was  breaking  and  rolling  upon  the  beach.  This  rendered  the 
task  a  difficult  and  dangerous  one;  so  that  when  three  hundred  and 
fifteen  men  had  been  landed,  the  iron  boats  were  swamped,  and  the  flat 
boats  were  stove.  This  disaster  put  an  end  to  the  landing.  An  effort 
was  subsequently  made  by  Lieutenant  Crosby  to  reach  the  shore  in  a 
boat  from  the  war-steamer  Pawnee.  But  the  boat  was  beached  in  the 
attempt  so  that  she  could  not  be  got  off.  The  wind  then  rose  higher,  and 
the  sea  became  still  rougher,  so  that  all  further  attempts  to  convey  the 
troops  on  shore  were  abandoned. 

During  this  interval,  the  ships  of  war  had  hauled  in  and  commenced 
to  cannonade  the  forts.  Only  one  of  these  responded  to  our  guns.  Im 
mediately  afterward  a  white  flag  was  run  up  on  the  forts,  which  the 
Federal  commanders  interpreted  as  a  signal  of  surrender.  General  Butler 
then  ordered  the  Harriet  Lane  to  attempt  to  cross  the  bar  and  enter  the 
smooth  water,  accompanied  by  the  Monticello  ;  and  the  Susquehanna 
towed  the  Cumberland  to  an  offing,  for  the  purpose  of  completing  the 
capitulation.  But  the  enemy  either  practiced  an  act  of  perfidy,  or  had 
changed  their  purpose — for  on  the  approach  of  these  vessels  they  renewed 
their  fire,  and  several  shots  struck  the  Monticello.  The  fleet  immediately 
recommenced  the  bombardment  and  continued  it  with  spirit.  The  troops 
on  shore  then  advanced  to  attack  the  forts.  They  found  the  smaller  one 
deserted,  and  they  took  possession  of  it.  Night  fell,  and  the  attack  was 
necessarily  suspended.  Part  of  the  Federal  troops  on  shore  occupied  the 
forts ;  the  remainder  bivouacked  on  the  beach  near  the  place  of  landing. 

At  eight  o'clock  on  the  ensuing  morning  the  fleet  resumed  the  attack. 
The  Harriet  Lane  ran  in  to  the  shore  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the 
troops  on  land.  In  this  movement  a  large  steamer  was  observed  moving 
down  the  sound.  It  was  the  Winslow,  and  contained  reinforcements  for 
the  enemy.  But  they  were  prevented  from  accomplishing  their  purpose 
by  the  vigilance  of  Captain  Johnson,  who  opened  a  fire  upon  the  Eebel 
steamer  with  several  guns  from  a  sand-battery  on  the  shore.  The  vessel 
then  returned  up  the  channel,  leaving  the  forts  to  their  fate.  The  can- 


.'••   SURRENDER  OF  THE  REBEL  FORTS.  157 

nonading  from  the  ships  now  became  heavy,  and  did  great  execution. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  land  an  additional  number  of  troops.  Before 
this  purpose  could  be  accomplished,  a  white  flag  was  again  run  up  from 
the  remaining  fort.  A  signal  was  made  to  the  ships  to  cease  firing. 
General  Butler  sent  an  officer  on  shore  to  ascertain  the  meaning  of  the 
flag.  That  officer  proceeded  to  the  fort,  and  was  received  by  Commodore 
Barron,  the  commander  of  the  Kebel  forces.  He  authorized  Lieutenant 
Crosby  to  communicate  to  the  Federal  officers  the  fact  that  he  had  six 
hundred  and  fifteen  men  in  the  fort,  but  was  anxious  to  spare  the  effusion 
of  blood  ;  and  would  consequently  surrenaer  the  fort,  arms  and  munitions 
of  war,  provided  the  officers  were  permitted  to  retire  with  their  side-arms, 
and  the  men  without  arms.  To  this  proposition  General  Butler  replied, 
that  it  was  wholly  inadmissible ;  and  that  the  only  terms  which  could  be 
accepted  were  an  unconditional  surrender  of  officers  and  men,  who  were 
to  be  treated  as  prisoners  of  war. 

On  receiving  these  conditions,  Commodore  Barron  summoned  a  council 
of  war,  and  submitted  the  matter  to  their  consideration.  Each  of  these 
heroes  advised  an  immediate  surrender.  It  was  at  this  moment  that 
several  vessels  of  the  Federal  fleet  had  gotten  into  a  perilous  position,  of 
which  the  Rebels  might  with  ordinary  energy  and  vigilance  have  taken 
decisive  advantage.  The  Adelaide,  in  carrying  the  troops  to  the  shore, 
ran  aground.  The  Harriet  Lane,  in  attempting  to  enter  the  bar,  met  the 
same  fate.  Both  vessels  were  within  full  range  of  the  guns  of  the  fort, 
and  both  might  have  been  seriously  disabled  and  damaged.  But  they 
failed  to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunity.  General  Butler  now  in 
formed  the  Rebel  commodore  that  if  the  terms  were  accepted,  the  articles 
of  capitulation  must  be  signed  on  board  the  flag-ship  Minnesota.  At 
length,  after  the  deliberation  of  an  hour,  the  terms  were  accepted  by  the 
enemy,  and  Commodore  Barron,  Major  Andrews  and  Colonel  Martin, 
proceeded  to  that  vessel  and  formally  surrendered  the  forts  to  the  United 
States ;  the  parties  stipulating  that  the  officers  and  men  should  receive 
the  treatment  due  to  prisoners  of  war.  The  instrument  was  duly  signed 
and  sealed,  by  Messrs.  Stringham  and  Butler  for  the  United  States,  and 
by  Messrs.  Barron,  Martin  and  Andrews  for  the  Confederate  States.  Im 
mediately  afterward  General  Butler  landed,  took  formal  possession  of  the 
forts  and  munitions  of  war,  inspected  the  troops  and  their  arms,  marched 
them  out,  embarked  them  on  board  the  Adelaide,  manned  the  fort  with 
his  own  troops,  hoisted  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  saluted  them  with  the 
very  guns  which  had  been  shotted  by  the  captive  enemy. 

On  the  following  day  the  Rebel  troops  were  transferred  to  the  Min 
nesota,  which  sailed  for  New  York.  A  large  number  of  Rebels  had  been 
killed  and  wounded  during  the  bombardment,  though  the  exact  amount 
of  their  loss  was  carefully  concealed.  They  reported  fifteen  killed  and 
thirty -five  wounded.  During  the  attack  all  the  war- vessels  of  the  fleet 


158  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

took  part,  and  the  cannonading  was  at  certain  periods  very  heavy.  The 
capture  of  these  forts  was  an  event  of  decisive  importance.  They  had 
become  a  pernicious  and  piratical  nest,  which  seriously  injured  the  com 
merce  of  the  United  States,  and  their  possession  was  an  achievement 
greatly  to  be  desired.  It  astonished  and  terrified  the  Rebel  States  exces 
sively,  and  was  with  justice  regarded  by  them  as  a  heavy  calamity. 

The  chief  praise  of  this  success  is  justly  due  to  Commodore  String- 
ham,  the  commander  of  the  fleet.  This  officer  occupies  a  distinguished 
place  in  the  American  navy.  He  is  a  native  of  Orange  county,  New 
York,  and  entered  the  service  as  a  midshipman  in  1809.  Twenty -two 
years  of  his  life  have  been  passed  at  sea.  He  rose  gradually  from  rank 
to  rank,  and  successively  commanded  the  Falmouth  of  the  East  India 
squadron,  the  John  Adams  of  the  Mediterranean  squadron,  the  Inde 
pendence  of  the  Home  squadron,  the  Ohio  of  the  Brazil  squadron,  and 
other  vessels.  He  has  also  been  the  commandant  of  the  Brooklyn,  the 
Norfolk,  and  the  Charlestown  navy  yards.  When  the  administration 
of  Mr.  Lincoln  determined  on  the  blockade  of  the  southern  ports,  he  was 
summoned  to  Washington,  and  ordered  to  take  command  of  the  block 
ading  squadron  whose  operations  lay  between  Cape  Charles,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Chesapeake  Bay  on  the  north,  as  far  as  Key  West  on  the  south.' 
A  large  fleet,  containing  twenty-five  vessels,  manned  by  three  thousand 
five  hundred  sailors  and  marines,  was  placed  under  his  command.  His 
first  expedition  proved  eminently  successful.  The  part  performed  in  it 
by  General  Butler,  the  commander  of  the  land  forces,  though  commenda 
ble,  was  of  secondary  importance  to  that  achieved  by  the  gallant  com 
modore.  The  official  reports  of  the  expedition,  however,  were  chiefly 
drawn  up  by  General  Butler. 

After  the  removal  of  General  McClellan  to  Washington,  the  command 
of  the  Federal  troops  in  Western  Virginia  was  conferred  on  Brigadier- 
General  William  S.  Rosecrans,  who  had  already  distinguished  himself  in 
the  events  which  had  transpired  in  that  portion  of  the  Union.  This 
officer,  a  native  of  Ohio,  was  born  about  1821,  and  entered  the  Academy 
of  West  Point  in  1838.  He  graduated  in  1842,  and  received  an  appoint 
ment  as  second  lieutenant  of  engineers.  For  a  year  afterward  he 
officiated  as  assistant  professor  of  engineering  at  West  Point,  subse 
quently  of  natural  and  experimental  philosophy,  and  again  of  engineer 
ing,  till  1847.  In  1853  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant. 
In  1854  he  resigned  his  functions  in  that  institution,  entered  civil  life, 
and  commenced  manufacturing  operations  in  Ohio.  Immediately  after 
the  opening  of  the  war  he  tendered  his  services  to  the  Federal  Govern 
ment.  They  were  accepted,  and  he  was  assigned  a  position  under  General 
McClellan  in  Western  Virginia.  His  ability  in  this  new  position  justified 
the  confidence  which  had  been  reposed  in  him. 

Immediately   after  receiving  the  supreme  command  of  the   Federal 


THE   BATTLE   OP   CARNIFEX   FERRY.  15$ 

forces  in  Virginia,  Rosecrans  commenced  to  augment  and  strengthen  them, 
A  large  Eebel  army  under  Floyd  was  now  approaching  him,  and  at 
length,  on  Tuesday,  September  10th,  an  engagement  took  place  between 
them  at  Carnifex  Ferry,  on  the  Gauley  river.  The  battle  was  the  most 
important  and  severe  which  had  yet  been  fought  in  Western  Virginia. 
The  Rebels  were  well  intrenched.  They  had  six  regiments  of  troops  and 
a  large  number  of  artillery.  The  Federal  forces  reached  the  fortified  po 
sition  of  the  enemy  after  a  march  of  eighteen  miles.  Their  pickets  were 
driven  in  and  an  attack  immediately  commenced.  The  battle  began  at 
half-past  three  o'clock,  and  continued  four  hours.  The  intrenchments  of 
Floyd  were  erected  on  the  west  side  of  the  Gauley  river,  and  were  so 
surrounded  by  dense  forests  as  to  be  almost  hidden  from  view. 

The  tenth  Ohio  regiment  were  ordered  by  General  Rosecrans  to  com 
mence  the  attack,  they  being  in  the  advance.  The  thirteenth  Ohio  fol 
lowed,  together  with  the  twelfth.  The  Rebels  received  the  assault  with 
spirit,  and  a  hot  fire  was  poured  upon  the  Federal  troops  from  cannon 
and  all  sorts  of  small  arms.  McMullen's  howitzer  battery  and  Snyder's 
two  field  pieces  responded  with  much  effect.  Their  sharpshooters  suc 
ceeded  in  picking  off  some  of  the  Federal  officers.  Colonel  Lowe  was 
killed.  Colonel  Lytle  was  wounded.  But  the  fire  of  the  Rebels  grew 
feebler  as  night  approached.  Rosecrans  then  drew  off  his  men,  and  they 
lay  upon  their  arms  in  front  of  the  enemy's  works  during  the  night,  ready 
to  resume  the  attack  with  the  ensuing  dawn.  But  Floyd  fled  during  the 
darkness.  He  effected  his  escape  by  the  ford  and  a  bridge  over  the  Gauley, 
in  his  rear.  It  is  evident  that  his  retreat  was  precipitate,  for  he  left 
behind  him  his  camp  equipage,  much  of  his  ammunition  and  stores, 
several  colors,  and  a  large  number  of  cattle.  Rosecrans  then  took  pos 
session  of  the  vacated  intrenchmeints;  but  he  thought  it  prudent  not  to 
pursue  the  retreating  enemy,  who  was  probably  hastening  to  unite  his 
forces  with  those  of  Henry  A.  Wise.  The  Federal  loss  was  twenty  killed 
and  one  hundred  wounded.  By  this  decisive  action,  which  the  flight  of 
the  foe  prevented  from  being  still  more  disastrous  to  his  arms,  that  part 
of  Western  Virginia  was  released  from  the  presence  and  supremacy  of 
the  Rebel  troops.  The  extremely  rugged  nature  of  the  country  through 
which  Floyd  retreated,  composed  of  deep  ravines  and  rugged  mountains, 
rendered  the  pursuit  of  him  not  only  difficult,  but  scarcely  remunerative 
to  the  victors.  The  latter  were  all  Ohio  troops,  and  they  exhibited  un 
usual  coolness  and  fortitude  during  the  engagement,  even  when  under  the 
severe  artillery  fire  of  the  enemy. 

The  great  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek  was  indecisive  in  its  results,  and 
Missouri  still  remained  the  abode  of  a  divided  and  hostile  population,  and 
the  destined  theatre  of  future  warlike  and  bloody  events.  In  the  earlv 
portion  of  September  a  powerful  Rebel  force  was  collected  by  General 
Sterling  Price,  and  with  these  he  commenced  a  march  toward  Lexington. 


160  THE   CIVIL  WAE  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

That  city  had  been  occupied  and  fortified  by  Colonel  Mulligan  with  five 
regiments  of  Federal  troops  ;  although,  as  seemed  to  be  generally  the  case 
with  the  Federal  commanders  in  the  southwest,  they  were  inferior  in 
numbers  to  the  force  brought  against  them. 

Colonel  Mulligan  had  fortified  Lexington  by  heavy  earthworks  ten  feet 
in  height,  and  by  a  ditch  twelve  feet  in  width.  The  number  of  troops 
under  his  command  was  about  three  thousand;  that  of  General  Price  was 
about  fifteen  thousand.  On  Thursday,  September  12th,  General  Price 
reached  the  scene  of  conflict,  and  immediately  commenced  operations  by 
driving  in  the  Federal  pickets.  Mulligan  ordered  out  four  companies  to 
confront  the  advanced  guard  of  the  enemy.  These  were  about  five 
thousand  in  number.  The  Federal  troops  attacked  them  with  spirit,  killing 
a  large  number,  but  were  compelled  to  retire  within  the  intrenchments. 
Price  followed  with  six  guns,  and  commenced  to  fire  upon  the  college 
building  in  which  the  ammunition  and  provisions  of  Mulligan  were 
stored.  This  attack  commenced  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and 
continued  till  nightfall.  Mulligan  responded  with  his  five  guns  with 
effect.  lie  silenced  one  of  the  cannon  of  the  Eebels,  knocking  it  to 
pieces,  and  killed  about  seventy -five  men.  But  when  his  firing  ceased 
all  his  ammunition  had  been  expended.  The  engagement  on  the  12th 
was  adverse  to  the  enemy;  they  had  lost  a  greater  number  in  killed  and 
wounded  than  their  opponents,  and  had  accomplished  nothing.  They 
did  not  renew*  the  attack  an  the  ensuing  day. 

It  was  not  until  the  morning  of  the  17th  that  the  Rebels  were  pre 
pared  to  recommence  the  conflict.  During  this  interval  they  had 
received  reinforcements,  and  were  now  able  to  surround  the  city  com 
pletely  and  cut  off  all  access  to  the  river.  At  eight  o'clock  a  signal -gun 
from  General  Price's  headquarters  announced  the  opening  of  the  battle. 
His  numerous  artillery  poured  upon  the  Federal  troops  and  intrench 
ments  a  tremendous  shower  of  shot  and  shell,  to  which  Mulligan  replied 
with  his  guns  as  well  as  his  limited  means  permitted.  The  battle  laste'd 
from  the  17th  to  the  20th.  During  the  first  two  days  -the  Rebels  accom 
plished  nothing,  and  advanced  no  nearer  the  intrenchments  than  they  had 
been  at  first.  On  the  19th  they  commenced  'to  erect  breastworks  of  hemp 
bales,  from  behind  which  they  continued  to  fire,  and  which  from  time  to 
time  they  rolled  nearer  to  the  position  of  the  Federals.  About  three 
o'clock  on  that  day  the  enemy  made  a  charge,  and  flouted  their  colors 
upon  the  summit  of  the  Federal  breastworks.  Mulligan  ordered  the 
Irish  brigade,  who  were  posted  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  works,  to  leave 
their  position  and  retake  the  intrenchments  of  which  the  enemy  had 
gained  possession.  This  order  was  obeyed  with  the  utmost  alacrity,  and, 
as  seems  to  be  the  invariable  fact  during  this  war  in  every  case  in  which 
the  Irish  have  been  brought  into  action,  they  charged  with  such  impetu 
osity  and  heroism  as  to  completely  overpower  the  enemy.  They  regained 


SURRENDER  OF  COLONEL  MULLIGAN.  161 

possession  of  the  iotrenchraents,  killed  and  wounded  about  three  hundred, 
and  captured  their  colors.  Colonel  Mulligan,  who  led  the  charge  in  per 
son,  was  wounded,  and  his  clothes  were  perforated  by  six  balls.  TLis 
decisive  repulse  put  an  end  to  the  operations  of  that  day. 

On  the  20th  the  enemy  recommenced  the  battle.  During  this  day  they 
made  several  desperate  charges  upon  the  works,  and  were  as  frequently 
repulsed  with  great  slaughter.  Still,  the  losses  on  the  Federal  side  were 
heavy ;  and  although  Colonel  Mulligan  and  his  men  fought  with  the 
utmost  heroism,  there  were  causes  which  rendered  their  ultimate  defeat 
inevitable.  During  this  day  they  exploded  six  mines  successively,  under 
the  advancing  Rebel  forces,  destroying  them  by  hundreds.  At  length,  at 
four  o'clock,  it  became  impossible  to  continue  the  contest  any  longer. 
Colonel  Mulligan  and  his  men  had  been  destitute  of  water  for  several 
days ;  most  of  their  ammunition  was  expended ;  and  one  half  of  their 
cannon  had  been  silent  for  some  time  for  want  of  balls  During  the  pro 
gress  of  the  entire  attack  the  Federal  troops  had  been  casting  their  own 
round  shot  at  a  foundry  within  the  city ;  and  even  that  resource  had  at 
last  been  exhausted.  Retreat  by  the  river  had  been  cut  off  by  the  Rebels, 
who  swarmed  upon  the  shores  and  took  possession  of  all  the  boats.  The 
surrender  was  therefore  unavoidable,  though  a  decisive  moral  victory  had 
been  achieved  by  the  dauntless  heroism  displayed  by  the  Federal  troops. 
It  was  computed  that,  before  the  end  of  the  contest,  the  number  of 
men  who  had  collected  under  the  Rebel  banners  at  Lexington  amounted 
to  twenty-five  thousand.  They  had  sixteen  cannon,  and  were  provided 
with  ammunition  in  abundance.  Their  loss  was  heavy,  not  less  than  a 
thousand  in  killed  and  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  Federals  was  about 
one  hundred  killed  and  three  hundred  wounded.  So  deeply  was  the 
Rebel  commander  impressed  with  the  bravery  of  Colonel  Mulligan  and 
his  troops,  that,  at  the  surrender,  he  refused  to  accept  the  colonel's  sword; 
declaring,  with  a  magnanimity  worthy  of  a  better  cause,  that  he  was  too 
brave  an  officer  to  be  deprived  of  his  arms,  and  well  deserved  to  keep 
them.  Colonel  Mulligan  and  his  troops  became  prisoners  of  war. 

Colonel  James  A.  Mulligan,  whose  heroism  thus  stamped  his  name  in 
delibly  upon  the  annals  of  this  contest,  was  born  in  Utica,  New  York, 
in  1829.  His'  parents  were  natives  of  Ireland.  He  was  educated  at  the 
Catholic  College  of  Chicago.  In  that  city  he  studied  law  and  was  admit 
ted  to  the  bar.  In  1857  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  Department  of 
the  Interior  at  Washington.  After  spending  a  year  in  the  Federal 
Capital,  he  returned  to  Chicago,  and  was  elected  captain  of  the  Shields7 
"Guards.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  entered  zealously  into  the  contest, 
and  proceeded  to  Washington  with  a  letter,  penned  by  Senator  Douglas 
on  his  death-bed,  commending  him  to  the  confidence  of  the  Administra 
tion.  He  had  been  elected  colonel  of  the  Irish  regiment,  whose  services 
the  Government  at  once  accepted.  The  rest  of  his  public  history  is 
11 


162  THE   CIYIL  WAE   IX   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

summed  up  in  the  heroic  struggle  of  which  Lexington  was  the  memorable 
scene. 

It  is  a  remarkable  circumstance,  which  must  have  attracted  the  atten 
tion  of  every  intelligent  observer  of  the  war  against  Secession,  that  the 
arena  of  the  conflict  was  one  of  unusually  vast  and  extensive  circuit.  It 
spread  over  thousands  of  miles;  and  at  one  and  the  same  moment 
events  of  vital  importance  occurred  at  the  most  remote  and  distant  points. 
In  this  respect  few  parallels  are  presented  to  it  in  the  annals  of  modern 
warfare. 

From  the  shores  of  the  Missouri  river  we  return  to  the  shores  of  the 
Potomac ;  from  the  intrench ments  of  Lexington,  to  the  rugged  heights 
near  Harper's  Ferry  ;  from  the  achievements  of  Mulligan,  to  those  of 
Geary.  On  the  16th  of  October  a  battle  occurred  on  Bolivar  Heights, 
between  several  Eebel  regiments  from  Mississippi  and  Alabama,  and 
several  regiments  of  Federal  troops  commanded  by  Colonel  Geary. 
Three  thousand  Rebels  took  a  position  on  Bolivar  Heights,  and  chal 
lenged  their  opponents  to  an  engagement.  The  challenge  was  accepted. 
They  were  soon  driven  from  their  position ;  and  one  of  their  heavy  guns 
was  captured.  Their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  considerable. 
During  this  action  Colonel  Geary  and  his  men  exhibited  much  coolness 
and  gallantry.  This  officer  had  already  attained  a  name  of  some  distinc* 
tion  in  the  annals  of  his  country ;  and  his  daring  spirit  and  superior 
abilities  seemed  destined  to  conduct  him  to  still  greater  eminence.  He 
figured  with  credit  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was  promoted  for  his  merito 
rious  conduct  at  Cerro  Gordo  and  the  city  of  Mexico.  In  1848  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  San  Francisco,  and  was  chosen  the  first  Mayor  of  that 
city.  In  July,  1856,  he  was  appointed  Governor  of  Kansas  by  Mr. 
Buchanan  ;  and  he  continued  to  act  as  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  Terri 
tory  until  March,  1857.  He  then  retired  to  private  life  until  the  com 
mencement  of  the  war,  when  his  services  were  tendered  to  the  Government 
and  accepted.  After  his  removal  with  his  regiment  to  "Point  of  Rocks," 
he  exhibited  superior  vigilance,  activity  and  ability,  in  the  performance 
of  his  military  duties.  At  a  later  period  his  merits  were  justly  rewarded 
by  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of  brigadier- general. 

On  the  21st  of  October  a  portion  of  the  Federal  army  of  the  Potomac, 
which  had  already  spent  a  considerable  period  of  time  in  apparent  in 
activity,  was  put  into  motion ;  but  with  so  little  skill  as  to  lead  to  the 
most  disastrous  results.  The  division  under  General  Stone  had  been 
posted  between  Washington  and  Harper's  Ferry.  That  officer  com 
manded  Colonel  Baker,  of  the  California  regiment,  to  cross  the  river- 
opposite  Leesburg  and  obtain  possession  of  the  Virginia  shore,  so  that 
the  remainder  of  his  division,  and  that  of  General  Banks,  might  afterward 
pass  over  unmolested  by  the  enemy.  This  order  was  to  be  executed  by 
a  body  of  eighteen  hundred  men,  consisting  of  portions  of  the  California 


APPREHENSIONS   OF   COLONEL  BAKER.  163 

regiment,  of  the  Massachusetts  fifteenth,  and  of  the  New  York  Tammany 
regiment. 

When  Colonel  Baker  received  the  order  to  make  this  movement,  he 
expressed  his  surprise  at  it,  and  intimated  that,  under  the  circumstances, 
it  was  equivalent  to  his  own  death-warrant  and  a  disaster  to  the  Federal 
arms.  Nevertheless,  he  prepared  instantly  to  obey  it.  Never  was  an 
important  military  operation  attempted  under  more  unpropitious  circum 
stances.  General  Stone  had  provided  no  proper  means  for  transporting 
the  troops ;  and  what  was  more  portentious  still,  he  had  neglected  to 
furnish  any  facilities  for  escape  across  the  river  should  his  forces  be 
compelled  to  retreat.  Three  miserable  scows  were  procured  to  convey 
the  Federal  troops  to  the  Virginia  side.  Scarcely  had  they  reached  the 
opposite  shore,  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  21st,  when  they 
were  attacked  by  the  Rebels  with  an  overwhelming  superiority  of  num 
bers.  Notwithstanding  this  disadvantage  the  Federal  troops  fought  with 
the  utmost  desperation,  and  stood  their  ground  with  heroic  firmness 
during  a  large  portion  of  the  day.  But  in  the  afternoon  the  Rebels 
received  heavy  reinforcements,  which  gave  them  a  superiority  that  was 
resistless.  In  vain  did  the  bravest  of  men  sternly  confront  their  foes.  In 
vain  were  prodigies  of  valor  lavishly  wasted.  The  overwhelming  masses 
of  the  Rebels,  led  on  by  General  Evans  of  South  Carolina,  surrounded 
them  on  all  sides.  Renewed  assaults  exhausted  their  failing  energies. 
No  reinforcements  came,  as  they  should  have  come,  to  the  Union  troops. 
General  Stone  seemed  strangely  to  have  forgotten  the  men  whom  he  had 
ordered  into  the  jaws  of  destruction.  The  result  was,  that  toward  the 
close  of  the  day  the  Rebels  were  victorious,  in  spite  of  the  utmost  forti 
tude  on  the  part  of  the  forces  under  Colonel  Baker.  The  Rebels  drove 
the  latter  to  the  brink  of  the  steep  bluff  which  bordered  the  river,  and 
afterward  they  poured  their  deadly  fire  upon  the  unwilling  fugitives 
below  while  they  sought  to  flee  over  the  stream  and  beyond  the  reach  of 
the  guns  of  their  assailants.  The  most  necessary  means  of  transport 
for  the  troops  not  having  been  provided,  many  perished  beneath  the 
waves.  Many  were  slain  by  the  sharpshooters  of  the  Rebels  as  they 
stood  defenceless  upon  the  shore.  But  before  the  flight  began,  Colonel 
Baker  had  fallen  while  cheering  on  his  men  to  a  most  desperate  charge. 
Never  did  a  patriot  and  hero  perish  in  a  more  noble  cause,  or  under 
more  glorious  circumstances.  While  urging  on  his  men  to  the  unequal 
combat  he  was  pierced  with  five  bullets.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  his 
body  was  rescued  from  the  desecrating  touch  of  the  triumphant  foe. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Wistar,  an  able  and  valuable  officer,  was  severely 
wounded  during  the  engagement,  in  which  he  had  distinguished  himself 
by  his  coolness  and  his  valor.  The  broken  remains  of  the  Federal  troops 
— the  victims  either  of  official  stupidity  or  of  official  perfidy — reached 
the  opposite  banks  of  the  Potomac  in  the  most  pitiable  plight.  They 


164  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

were  destitute  of  every  thing  necessary  to  their  comfort.  With  great 
difficulty  the  wreck  of  this  brave  corps  made  their  way  back  to  their 
former  encampment.  The  loss  of  Colonel  Baker,  who  died  the  most 
heroic  death  which  could  be  suffered  by  an  officer  of  the  army  of  the 
Union,  was  one  of  the  chief  incidents  connected  with  this  unfortunate 
expedition. 

The  report  of  the  death  of  Edward  Dickinson  Baker  overwhelmed  the 
community  with  profound  sorrow ;  for  he  had  gained  their  admiration 
and  esteem  in  an  eminent  degree.  He  fully  merited  the  popular  interest 
which  he  had  excited.  He  was  in  truth  a  remarkable  man  ;  his  life  and 
genius  were  marvelous  and  romantic.  He  had  been  left  an  orphan  in  his 
youth ;  and  he  became  the  sole  architect  of  his  high  fame  and  fortune. 
Ho  crossed  the  snowy  Alleghanies  on  foot,  at  the  commencement  of  his 
public  career,  and  sought  in  the  then  remotest  West  the  most  inviting 
arena  for  his  exertions.  He  there  devoted  himself  to  the  profession  of 
the  law,  and  at  the  bar  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  his  eloquence  made  him 
the  formidable  and  justly  feared  antagonist  of  Douglas  and  Lincoln.  He 
was  sent  to  Congress  from  that  State  in  1845,  and  he  soon  distinguished 
himself  in  the  national  councils.  In  the  Mexican  war,  his  demeanor  was 
that  of  a  brave  and  skilful  soldier.  At  San  Francisco,  whither  his  ad 
venturous  disposition  afterward  allured  him,  he  took  exalted  rank  as  an 
orator  and  a  statesman.  Over  the  bleeding  remains  of  his  chivalrous 
friend  Broderick,  who  was  killed  in  a  duel,  he  delivered  one  of  the  most 
magnificent  and  touching  orations  which  ever  fell  from  human  lips. 
That  oration  was  characterized  by  such  overwhelming  pathos,  by  such 
brilliant  and  gorgeous  imagery,  by  such  appropriate  and  impressive  re 
flections,  that  it  produced  a  profound  and  indelible  impression  upon  a 
whole  generation  of  readers.  It  created  for  him  a  national  reputation. 
It  was  a  masterpiece  which  alone  would  have  rendered  his  name  im 
mortal.  After  taking  his  seat  in  the  Federal  Congress  as  Senator  from 
Oregon,  he  delivered  a  powerful  address  in  answer  to  a  specious  argument 
of  Mr.  Breckinridge,  superior  to  any  other  which  the  events  of  the 
Rebellion  had  yet  elicited.  As  an  officer  he  was  equally  admirable — 
prudent,  dauntless,  patriotic.  He  passed  away  prematurely  from  the 
stage  of  action ;  but  his  memory  will  live  with  fadeless  beauty  and  lustre 
in  the  hearts  of  myriads  of  his  admiring  countrymen. 

In  the  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff  the  loss  of  the  Federal  troops  was  very 
heavy.  The  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  amounted  to  almost  two 
thousand  men.  The  circumstances  under  which  this  disaster  occurred, 
added  greatly  to  the  intensity  of  that  emotion  of  mingled  indignation  and 
regret,  with  which  the  fiation  beheld  the  slaughter  or  the  captivity  of  so 
large  a  number  of  their  bravest  and  best  troops. 


EXPEDITION   UNDER   DUPONT  AND   SHERMAN.  165 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

PECULIARITIES  OF  THE  WAR  AGAINST  SECESSION FEDERAL  EXPEDITION    UNDER    COMMODORE 

DUPONT  AND  GENERAL    SHERMAN ITS  DEPARTURE  FROM  ANNAPOLIS — ITS    DESTINATION — 

TERRIBLE  STORM  NEAR  CAPE    HATTERAS THE  EXPEDITION  REACHES    PORT  ROYAL — REBEL 

FORTS    ON     BAY    POINT     AND     HILTON     HEAD THEIR     BOMBARDMENT THEIR    STRENGTH 

INCIDENTS  OF  THE  ATTACK — SURRENDER  OF  THE  FORTS — RESULTS   OF  THE  ENGAGEMENT — 
SKETCH    OF    ITS    HERO,    COMMODORE    DUPONT — NAVAL     DISASTER    BELOW    NEW  ORLEANS — 

CAPTAIN    JOHN    POPE — EVENTS    IN    MISSOURI BOLD    ACHIEVEMENT    OF  COLONEL    ZAGONYI 

NEAR    SPRINGFIELD THE    BATTLE    OF    BELMONT GENERAL     U.    S.    GRANT INCIDENTS    OF 

THE   ENGAGEMENT  AT  BELMONT ITS  RESULTS DISMISSAL  OF  GENERAL  FREMONT  FROM  HIS 

DEPARTMENT    OF    THE    WEST CAUSES    OF    HIS    REMOVAL HIS    ADMIRABLE    DEMEANOR    ON 

THIS    OCCASION HIS    SUBSEQUENT    APPOINTMENT    AS    COMMANDER    OF    THE    MOUNTAIN    DE 
PARTMENT  OF  VIRGINIA  AND  TENNESSEE. 

WHOEVER  examines  with  attention  the  operations  of  the  Federal 
forces  during  the  progress  of  the  war  against  Secession,  will  observe  that, 
from  the  nature  of  the  case,  it  must  become  a  conflict  involving  extensive 
military  combinations  and  far-reaching  strategy.  The  immense  area  of 
territory  which  was  to  be  recovered,  the  numerous  armies  which  were  to 
be  subdued,  rendered  it  absolutely  necessary  that  various  movements 
should  be  effected  from  different  points  at  nearly  the  same  time ;  that 
those  points  should,  while  steadily  pursuing  their  separate  paths  of 
victory,  gradually  converge  toward  a  central  position ;  and  that,  at  that 
position,  a  few  resistless  blows  should  demolish  the  concentrated  military 
strength  of  the  Rebel  States.  This  principle  will  furnish  the  key  to  the 
subsequent  aggressive  movements  of  the  Federal  troops  which  occurred, 
and  which  were  made  as  soon  as  the  necessary  preliminary  preparations 
could  be  effected. 

The  Rebel  States  were  still  convulsed  with  that  frantic  and  exaggerated 
exultation  which  usually  elated  them  at  the  attainment  of  the  least  success, 
in  consequence  of  their  victory  at  Ball's  Bluff,  when  sudden  terror  and 
apprehension  overtook  them.  The  cause  of  this  revulsion  of  feeling  was 
the  departure  of  a  powerful  Federal  fleet  from  Annapolis,  for  some  un 
known  destination  in  the  South.  This  armament  consisted  of  nearly  fifty 
vessels,  including  those  used  for  transport,  and  was  placed  under  the 
orders  of  Commodore  Samuel  F.  Dupont.  The  expedition  had  been  in 
preparation  for  several  months,  and  was  fitted  out  under  the  combined 
auspices  of  the  Army  and  Navy  Departments  at  Washington.  General 
Thomas  W.  Sherman  commanded  the  land  forces  which  were  embarked 
in  the  transports.  The  fleet  sailed  from  Annapolis  on  the  21st  of  October, 
1861,  and  proceeded  to  Hampton  Roads  near  Fortress  Monroe.  The  last 
necessary  preparations  there  having  been  completed,  the  vast  squadron 


166  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

left  its  anchorage  at  early  dawn  on  the  29th  of  October.  A  signal  gun 
was  fired  from  the  commodore's  flag  ship,  the  Wabash,  which  led  the 
way ;  immediately  afterward  the  fleet  formed  in  line  and  proceeded  sea 
ward  through  the  capes.  The  stately  and  numerous  array,  as  it  sailed 
toward  the  broad  bosom  of  the  ocean,  presented  one  of  the  most  magnifi 
cent  spectacles  which  the  imagination  can  conceive. 

This  land  and  naval  force  was  destined  to  invade  the  territory  of  South 
Carolina ;  and  by  a  just  but  singular  act  of  retribution,  the  very  spot  ou 
which  many  of  the  designs  of  the  conspirators  had  been  originally  con 
ceived,  or  at  a  later  day  matured,  was  destined  to  become  desolated  by  the 
presence  and  the  terror  of  the  Federal  troops  ;  for  Beaufort,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Port  Royal,  had  been  the  sumptuous  summer  retreat  of  some  of  those 
men,  whose  names  will  forever  remain  prominently  connected  with  the 
annals  of  the  Rebellion. 

When  the  advancing  fleet  reached  a  position  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape 
Hatteras,  it  was  assailed  by  one  of  the  most  furious  tempests  which  ever 
swept  the  surface  of  the  deep.  Excellent  seamanship  alone  preserved  it 
from  destruction.  In  spite,  however,  of  the  utmost  efforts  of  fortitude 
and  skill,  two  transports  were  lost  during  the  storm.  At  length,  on  the 
morning  of  the  7th  of  November,  the  fleet,  with  the  flag-ship  in  the  advance, 
reached  the  mouth  of  Port  Royal  Entrance.  At  that  spot  two  Rebel  for 
tifications  frowned  over  the  waves,  and  menaced  the  commerce  of  the 
loyal  States.  They  were  named  Forts  Walker  and  Beauregard,  after  two 
prominent  Rebel  chiefs.  It  was  with  some  difficulty  that  the  larger 
vessels  of  the  Federal  fleet  could  be  brought  over  the  bar,  two  miles  in 
width ;  but  the  skill  of  Commodore  Dupont,  and  the  determination  of  his 
troops,  ultimately  effected  that  result.  Their  merit  in  regard  to  this 
achievement  was  the  greater,  in  consequence  of  the  fact,  that  all  the  usual 
aids  to  navigation  had  been  removed  from  that  vicinity  by  the  vigilance 
and  industry  of  the  Rebels. 

At  half-past  nine,  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  November,  the  Federal 
ships  cleared  for  action,  were  brought  within  range,  and  the  bombard 
ment  of  the  two  forts  commenced.  These  were  located  on  Bay  Point  and 
Hilton  Head.  They  were  stongly  garrisoned,  containing  eighteen  hun 
dred  men  ;  and  were  protected  by  a  fleet  of  seven  gunboats  under  the  com 
mand  of  Captain  Tatnal.  As  the  Union  ships  approached  the  forts,  the 
vessels  of  that  officer,  which  might  be  fitly  termed  a  diminutive  fleet,  began 
to  fire.  But  they  were  soon  chased,  by  a  few  well-directed  shots,  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  Federal  guns,  and  were  dispersed  among  the  obscure  streams 
leading  toward  Savannah.  The  bombardment  of  the  forts  was  then 
continued  with  vigor.  It  had  boen  agreed  between  the  two  Federal  com 
manders,  that  the  naval  troops  should  alone  be  employed  during  the  bom 
bardment.  The  land  forces  therefore  remained,  though  unwillingly,  idle 
spectators  of  the  scene.  The  ships  of  war  took  positions  six  hundred  yards 


SURRENDER  OF  THE  REBEL  FORTS.  167 

distant  from  the  forts,  and  frequently  engaged  the  batteries  on  both  sides 
at  the  same  time. 

The  Rebel  forts  had  been  constructed  with  skill,  and  were  provided 
with  heavy  guns  and  abundant  supplies.  Their  cannon  responded  at  first 
to  those  of  the  Federal  fleet  with  rapidity,  but  rarely  with  precision. 
They  therefore  produced  little  damage  to  their  assailants.  It  soon 
became  evident  that  their  defense  was  useless,  and  the  conquest  of  the 
works  inevitable.  The  overwhelming  hailstorm  of  shot  and  shell  which 
was  poured  upon  the  forts  without  intermission,  and  with  superior  accu 
racy  of  aim,  was  rapidly  rendering  them  untenable.  The  large  and  in 
creasing  number  of  their  killed  and  wounded,  was  convincing  the  Rebels 
that  their  doom  was  sealed.  Their  own  guns  in  the  forts  were  at  length 
so  badly  served,  that  they  frequently  did  more  damage  to  their  gunners 
than  to  their  assailants.  After  a  contest  of  four  hours,  the  Rebels  aban 
doned  their  works,  and  commenced  a  precipitate  retreat.  They  carried 
their  wounded  and  some  of  their  dead  with  them.  At  a  quarter  before 
three  o'clock  they  struck  their  flag  on  Fort  Walker,  and  before  evacua 
ting  it  ran  up  a  white  one.  The  Federal  fleet,  at  a  signal  from  Commo 
dore  Dupont,  then  ceased  firing,  and  Captain  Rodgers  was  sent  ashore  to 
ascertain  the  state  of  affairs.  He  found  the  fort  deserted,  and  precisely  at 
three  o'clock,  he  unfurled  the  stars  and  stripes  from  the  summit  of  the 
flag-staff.  The  glorious  ensign  was  then  greeted  by  long  and  enthusiastic 
cheers  from  the  thousands  of  patriotic  sailors  and  soldiers  who  manned 
the  fleet,  which  echoed  far  and  wide  over  the  land  and  the  sea.  At 
nearly  the  same  time  Fort  Beauregard  was  evacuated  by  the  Rebels,  and 
with  the  same  precipitation  which  characterized  their  flight  from  Fort 
Walker. 

It  should  be  noted  that,  during  this  attack,  the  Federal  fleet  did  not 
remain  stationary.  As  the  Rebel  forts  were  situated  two  miles  and  a 
half  apart,  on  opposite  sides  of  the  strait,  the  ships  continually  made  a 
detour  in  a  line,  by  which  means  they  came  within  range  of  the  forts  suc 
cessively.  They  thus  formed  a  formidable  procession,  resembling  a  con 
course  of  destroying  angels,  who,  with  inexorable  vengeance,  approached 
the  Rebel  works  from  time  to  time,  to  inflict  deserved  destruction  upon 
them.  Each  ship  of  war,  as  it  passed,  remained  within  range  about 
twenty  minutes;  and  each  of  them  delivered,  during  that  interval,  a  very 
large  number  of  shells.  The  spectacle  thus  presented  was  one  of  the  most 
novel  and  imposing  which  could  be  imagined  ;  while  the  shriek  of  the  deadly 
missiles  as  they  coursed  through  the  heavens,  and  the  far  resounding  re 
verberation  of  the  guns,  which  was  heard  both  at  Savannah  and  at 
Charleston,  added  to  the  intense  interest  of  the  scene. 

After  the  evacuation  of  the  forts  the  process  of  landing  the  Federal 
troops  immediately  began.  Though  only  a  portion  of  them  were  then 
required  on  shore,  the  transfer  of  all  of  them  was  completed  before  night- 


103  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

fall.  Fort  Walker,  at  Hilton  Head,  was  found  to  be  a  work  of  great 
strength  and  of  colossal  proportions.  It  covered  an  area  of  four  acres, 
was  angular  in  form,  was  surrounded  by  a  deep  ditch,  and  mounted 
twenty-four  guns.  Three  of  these  had  been  disabled  during  the  contest. 
Twenty -six  dead  bodies  were  counted  in  and  near  the  fort,  and  it  is 
probable  that  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  Rebels  numbered  several 
hundreds.  At  a  later  period  discoveries  were  made  which  justified  the 
belief  that  their  loss  had  been  very  heavy.  The  Federal  loss  was  eight 
killed  and  twenty  wounded.  It  should  not  be  inferred,  however,  from 
this  circumstance,  that  the  guns  of  the  Rebels  had  been  inefficient.  They 
occasionally  reached  the  objects  of  their  aim.  Thus  the  "Wabash  was 
struck  thirty  times.  Nearly  every  vessel  which  had  been  engaged,  bore 
some  token  of  the  assiduous  attentions  of  the  Rebel  marksmen.  The 
spoils  of  the  conquest  were  considerable.  A  large  amount  of  ammunition 
was  taken,  with  various  stores  of  necessaries  and  even  of  luxuries.  It 
became  evident  from  an  inspection  of  the  forts,  that  the  enemy  had  aban 
doned  them  with  the  utmost  trepidation.  Innumerable  articles  of  value 
were  strewn  around  in  confusion,  and  the  soldiers  were  enriched  by  no 
insignificant  plunder.  Swords,  pistols,  guns,  some  of  which  were  richly 
mounted,  watches,  jewelry,  and  even  money  were  found.  The  entire 
number  of  cannon  captured  was  forty -three.  Many  of  these  were  of  very 
heavy  calibre.  Both  forts  were  soon  filled  with  Federal  troops,  and 
thus  a  permanent  position  was  effectually  secured  on  tbe  soil  of  South 
Carolina. 

This  great  victory  filled  the  inhabitants  of  that  chivalrous  State  with 
terror.  This  feeling  soon  degenerated  into  a  panic  among  the  inhabitants 
of  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  especially  among  those  of  Charleston  and 
Savannah.  Of  dwellers  in  the  nearer  Beaufort,  there  were  no  longer  any 
left,  except  the  jubilant  negro  population.  All  others  had  fled  in  the 
utmost  dismay,  and  had  sought  refuge  in  more  distant  retreats.  General 
Sherman,  after  taking  possession  of  the  forts,  issued  a  proclamation,  in 
which  he  endeavored  to  allay  the  fears  of  the  people,  to  explain  the  real 
purpose  of  the  expedition,  and  to  reclaim  the  fugitive  Rebels  back  to 
loyalty  to  the  Federal  Government. 

Commodore  Dupont,  to  whom  the  chief  glory  of  this  important  conquest 
belonged,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  entered  the  naval  service  in  1815. 
During  the  forty-five  years  which  he  spent  in  that  service,  he  occupied 
with  honor  a  number  of  important  positions.  In  1836  he  commanded  the 
Warren,  and  cruised  in  the  West  Indies.  In  1843  he  commanded  the 
brig  Perry,  on  the  same  station,  and  subsequently  the  Congress  and  the 
Cyane.  In  1859  he  was  appointed  commandant  of  the  Philadelphia 
navy  yard.  He  had  then  spent  twenty-two  years  at  sea,  and  nine  years 
in  active  duty  on  shore.  The  high  reputation  which  he  had  won  by 
energy  and  ability  in  various  posts  of  danger  and  responsibility,  amply 


NAVAL   DISASTER  BELOW  NEW   ORLEANS.  169 

justified  the  choice  which  placed  him  at  the  head  of  this  expedition. 
The  successful  issue  of  that  expedition  filled  up  the  measure  of  his  fame. 
General  Sherman,  his  associate  in  command,  was  born  in  Rhode  Island, 
and  graduated  at  "West  Point  in  1836.  He  served  with  distinction  in  the 
Florida  war,  and  afterward  proceeded  with  General  Taylor  to  Mexico- 
He  was  breveted  major  for  his  brave  and  meritorious  conduct  at  the 
battle  of  Beuna  Vista,  in  February,  1847.  After  ihe  commencement  of 
the  Rebellion,  he  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  fifth  artillery ; 
and  at  the  battle  of  Manassas  had  command  of  the  battery  which  was 
designated  by  his  name.  The  defeat  which  overtook  him  on  that  occa 
sion,  in  common  with  many  other  brave  and  skillful  officers,  did  not  dim 
the  lustre  of  his  reputation.  He  was  subsequently  elevated  to  the  rank 
of  brigadier-general,  and  placed  in  command  of  the  land  forces  destined 
for  the  conquest  of  Port  Royal. 

While  these  important  events  were  transpiring  along  the  eastern  sea 
board,  other  incidents  of  inferior  moment  were  occurring  in  the  south 
west.  On  the  12th  of  October,  1861,  the  Rebel  forces  below  New 
Orleans  gave  evidence  of  their  activity  by  the  use  of  a  naval  instrument 
of  warfare,  or  rather  by  the  revival  of  a  means  of  destruction  which  had 
been  prevalent  among  combatants  during  ages  which  have  long  passed 
away.  At  half-past  three  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  day  just  named, 
while  the  watch  on  board  the  Federal  steamer  Richmond  were  engaged 
in  taking  in  coal  from  a  schooner  lying  alongside,  and  while  partial  dark 
ness  still  prevailed,  they  were  astonished  by  the  sudden  approach  of  a 
steam  battering  ram  toward  the  vessels.  An  alarm  was  instantly  given,  but 
before  any  means  of  protection  could  be  employed,  she  struck  the  Rich 
mond  with  tremendous  violence,  and  stove  a  hole  through  her  side. 
Three  planks  were  torn  away  two  feet  below  the  water  line,  making  an 
aperture  of  considerable  dimensions.  The  ram  then  passed  to  the  rear 
of  the  disabled  vessel ;  but  as  she  did  so,  the  port  guns  of  the  Richmond 
were  discharged  at  her.  At  this  moment  three  large  fire  rafts  of  the 
enemy  were  seen  approaching  the  Federal  ships,  accompanied  by  several 
Rebel  steamers.  The  Federal  commander.  Captain  John  Pope,  imme 
diately  signalled  to  the  Vincennes,  the  Preble,  and  the  Water  Witch,  to 
slip  their  cables,  proceed  down  the  southwest  channel  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  pass  over  the  bar.  During  the  passage,  and  while  the  enemy  were 
in  chase  of  them,  the  Richmond  and  the  Yincennes  grounded,  and  thereby 
furnished  the  Rebels  a  favorable  opportunity  for  the  use  of  their  guns. 
The  Federal  ships,  however,  responded  vigorously  to  their  fire.  After 
considerable  effort,  the  grounded  vessels  were  lightened,  and  conducted 
over  the  bar,  after  which  the  chase  and  the  action  ceased.  The  com 
manders  of  the  several  Federal  vessels  did  not  gain  many  laurels  by  their 
display  of  skill  and  heroism  on  this  occasion. 

A  more  brilliant  incident  soon  after  occurred  near  Springfield,  Missouri. 


HO  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  three  hundred  men,  who  formed  the  body-guard 
of  General  Fremont,  under  the  command  of  a  Hungarian  refugee  named 
Zagonyi,  attacked  a  Eebel  camp  near  that  place,  containing  two  thousand 
men.  The  movement  was  an  extremely  bold  and  sudden  one,  and  its  re 
sults  were  most  advantageous.  The  Eebel  troops  were  completely  sur 
prised,  overpowered,  defeated,  and  compelled  to  flee,  not  only  in  the 
utmost  confusion,  but  also  wjfh  considerable  losses.  It  was  a  daring  and 
praiseworthy  achievement ;  but  it  was  unfortunately  the  only  successful 
movement  of  importance  which  was  performed,  during  the  administration 
of  that  department  by  General  Fremont,  by  any  of  the  forces  or  officers 
under  his  command. 

Soon  after  this  event,  on  the  7th  of  November,  three  thousand  five 
hundred  Federal  troops,  under  the  command  of  General  Ulysses  S.  Grant, 
proceeded  against  a  Kebel  force  stationed  at  the  village  of  Belmont,  in 
Missouri,  nearly  opposite  to  Columbus.  General  McClernand  accom 
panied  the  expedition.  The  troops  embarked  at  Cairo  on  a  number  of 
steamers,  and  proceeded  as  far  as  Lucas's  Bend,  three  miles  above  Colum 
bus,  on  the  Missouri  side  of  the  river.  At  that  point  they  landed.  The 
Eebel  encampment  was  placed  on  elevated  ground  several  miles  distant 
from  the  shore,  and  from  their  position  they  could  clearly  perceive  the 
movements  of  the  Federal  forces.  They  therefore  had  ample  time  to  pre 
pare  for  their  defence.  As  soon  as  the  Union  troops  had  disembarked,  a 
large  number  of  the  Eebels,  advancing  from  their  camps,  approached  the 
river,  and  commenced  an  attack  upon  them.  A  running  fight  ensued 
over  the  entire  distance  which  intervened  between  the  river  and  the  camp. 
The  Federal  troops  pressed  on  with  success,  and  each  division  seemed 
eager  to  gain  the  honor  of  having  first  reached  the  position  of  the  enemy. 
That  achievement  was  performed  by  the  right  division,  led  by  Colonel 
Buford ;  and  the  twenty-seventh  Illinois  was  the  first  regiment  to  unfurl 
the  stars  and  stripes  within  the  Eebel  encampment. 

That  encampment  contained  about  five  thousand  men,  with  an  ample 
supply  of  arms  and  ammunition.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  Federal  troops 
at  that  point,  a  desperate  and  bloody  combat  ensued.  The  whole  camp 
became  the  wide  scene  of  tumultuous  collisions,  of  hand-to-hand  combats, 
of  advancing  and  retreating  columns,  of  the  capture  and  recapture  of 
guns,  of  the  conflagration  of  tents,  baggage,  and  stores,  of  slaughter  and 
of  death.  In  the  end,  the  Eebel  troops  were  compelled  to  give  way,  and 
to  flee  in  the  utmost  confusion,  leaving  the  Federal  forces  in  possession 
of  the  field,  and  of  their  position. 

Scarcely,  however,  had  this  important  result  been  attained,  when  it 
was  discovered  that  large  and  fresh  masses  of  Eebels  were  rapidly  ap 
proaching  the  scene  of  conflict,  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  for  the 
purpose  of  cutting  off  the  return  of  the  victors  to  their  transports.  These 
reinforcements  came  from  Columbus,  which  was  at  that  time  strongly 


INCIDENTS   OF  Till:   ENGAGEMENT   AT   BELMONT.  171 

garrisoned  by  the  enemy.  Quickly  and  clearly  discerning  the  position 
of  affairs,  General  Grant  gave  the  order  to  fall  back  to  the  boats.  While 
executing  this  movement,  the  Union  troops  encountered  the  advancing 
Rebels ;  and  as  they  had  been  compelled  to  fight  their  way  to  the  captured 
camp,  so  they  were  now  compelled  to  fight  their  way  back  again.  They 
did  it  valiantly.  They  brought  away  with  them  several  hundred  prison 
ers,  two  cannon,  and  a  quantity  of  arms  and  ammunition.  They  reached 
their  boats  after  some  very  hard  fighting,  and  then  returned  to  Cairo. 
The  conflict  had  lasted  from  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  five  in  the 
afternoon.  The  loss  was  considerable  on  both  sides  ;  that  of  the  Federal 
troops  being  about  three  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded,  that  of  the 
enemy  was  perhaps  greater.  General  Grant  had  two  horses  shot  under 
him.  A  similar  accident  befell  General  McClernand.  As  a  whole,  the 
battle  was  a  brilliant  achievement  on  the  part  of  the  Federal  troops,  who 
executed  a  daring  and  difficult  enterprise,  with  great  bravery  and  resolu 
tion.  The  Federal  forces  employed  on  this  occasion  were  from  Illinois 
with  the  exception  of  the  seventh  Iowa  regiment. 

On  the  2d  of  November,  1861,  General  Fremont  was  relieved  from  the 
administration  of  the  Department  of  the  West.  During  some  time  pre 
vious  to  that  date,  loud  complaints  had  been  made  by  men  eminent  in  the 
civil  and  military  service  of  the  country,  in  regard  to  the  manner  in  which 
he  had  conducted  the  affairs  of  his  department.  It  was  boldly  charged 
that  he  was  incompetent  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  his  responsible  position ; 
that  he  was  destitute  of  military  skill ;  that  he  had  given  several  hundred 
military  commissions  to  men  utterly  unfit  for  them  ;  that  he  had  permitted 
contracts  to  be  made,  and  had  ratified  and  indorsed  them,  by  which  the 
Federal  Government  had  been  defrauded  of  immense  sums  of  money  ; 
that  all  his  operations  were  carried  on  at  an  enormous  and  superfluous 
expense ;  and  that,  notwithstanding  that  expense,  little  was  accomplished 
during  many  months,  except  the  erection  of  a  few  fortifications  around 
St.  Louis.  For  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  truth  of  these  charges 
Simon  Cameron,  then  Secretary  of  War,  visited  St.  Louis,  accompanied 
by  Adjutant-General  Thomas.  They  reached  that  city  on  the  llth  of 
October.  They  proceeded  to  examine  into  the  state  of  affairs,  and  inspect 
the  several  camps  in  Missouri,  including  those  at  St.  Louis,  at  Tipton  and 
at  Syracuse.  At  these  places  General  Thomas  collected  the  data  which 
he  subsequently  emboided  in  a  report,  which  was  published  and  addressed 
to  Mr.  Cameron.  In  that  report  General  Thomas  alleged,  that  the  evi 
dence  was  conclusive,  that  Fremont  might  have  reinforced  General  Lyon 
at  Springfield,  and  might  thus  have  averted  one  of  the  heaviest  misfortunes 
of  the  war ;  that  General  Fremont  had  allowed  himself  to  be  surrounded 
by  a  number  of  adventurers  and  speculators,  from  various  portions  of  the 
Union,  by  whom  the  Government  had  been  defrauded  of  large  amounts ; 
that  he  had  issued  military  commissions  to  incompetent  men  and  to  per- 


172  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

sonal  favorites,  who  possessed  no  military  knowledge  or  experience  what 
ever  ;  that  by  these  and  other  offences,  he  had  inflicted  serious  damage  on 
the  interests  of  the  nation,  and  had  retarded  the  operations  of  the  war. 

These  charges,  and  the  proofs  which  accompanied  them,  eventually 
produced  a  decisive  effect  on  the  mind  of  President  Lincoln ;  and  he  felt 
compelled,  though  with  much  reluctance,  to  order  the  removal  of  General 
Fremont.  He  was  succeeeded  in  his  command  by  General  Hunter,  a 
veteran  officer  who  had  fought  with  great  gallantry  on  several  occasions. 
No  reasonable  and  intelligent  person  doubted  the  integrity  and  the  excel 
lent  intentions  of  General  Fremont;  and  his  removal  was  not  intended  by 
the  President,  nor  was  it  regarded  by  the  nation,  as  a  stigma  upon  his  pri 
vate  character,  or  on  his  loyalty  and  patriotism.  He  at  once  acquiesced 
with  dignity  and  grace  in  the  orders  of  the  Executive ;  and  urged  his 
offended  and  incensed  troops,  who  at  one  time  were  disposed  to  mutiny, 
not  to  make  the  least  display  of  dissatisfaction,  but  to  serve  his  successor 
in  office  as  faithfully  as  they  had  served  himself.  It  may  with  truth  be 
asserted,  that  no  part  of  General  Fremont's  military  administration  did 
him  so  much  honor,  or  evinced  his  personal  excellence  more  clearly,  than 
his  spirit  and  manner  in  resigning  it.  With  that  superior  wisdom  and 
equity  which  generally  marked  the  official  conduct  of  President  Lincoln 
during  his  administration,  he  readily  detected  where  the  real  difficulty 
lay;  and  at  a  subsequent  period  evinced  his  appreciation  of  the  merits  of 
General  Fremont,  by  appointing  him  to  the  command  of  the  Mountain 
Department  of  Western  Virginia. 


MISSION  OF  MESSRS    MASON  AND  SLIDELL.  173 


CHAPTER  XV. 

EUROPEAN  RECOGNITION  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  CONFEDERACY — EFFORTS  MADE  TO  OBTAIN  IT — 

MISSION  OF  MESSRS.  MASON  AND  SLIDELL THEIR  ARREST  ON  BOARD  THE  TRENT — LEGALITY 

OF  THAT  ARREST — THE  BRITISH  GOVERNMENT  DEMAND  THEM — THEY  ARE  SURRENDERED 

REASONS  OF  THEIR  SURRENDER DIPLOMATIC  NOTE  OF  MR.  SEWARD  ON  THE  SUBJECT 

ARGUMENT  OF  MR.  SUMNER  IN  THE  SENATE — THE  BATTLE  OF  DRANESVILLE — INCIDENTS  OF 
THE  ENGAGEMENT ITS  RESULTS GENERAL  MCCALL SKETCH  OF  HIS  CAREER DISMIS 
SAL  OF  MR.  CAMERON  FROM  THE  FEDERAL  CABINET THE  WAR  IN  KENTUCKY THE  BATTLE 

OF  MILL  SPRINGS — INCIDENTS  OF  THE  CONFLICT BAYONET  CHARGE  OF  THE  NINTH  OHIO 

REGIMENT DEFEAT  OF  THE  REBELS DEATH  OF  GENERAL  FELIX  ZOLLICOFFER— HIS  CHAR 
ACTER RESULTS  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  MILL  SPRINGS SUBSEQUENT  FLIGHT  AND  DISPERSION 

OF  THE  REBEL  TROOPS. 

THE  crafty  and  resolute  leaders  of  the  Southern  Rebellion  labored 
from  the  beginning  of  their  treasonable  movements,  with  great  zeal  and 
earnestness,  to  obtain  the  approval  and  recognition  of  several  of  the  most 
important  European  powers.  To  this  end  William  L.  Yancey  and  his 
associates  had  been  sent  abroad  at  an  early  stage  of  the  rebellion.  For 
this  purpose  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell  were  selected  in  October,  1861,  to 
follow  them  to  Europe,  as  the  envoys  of  the  Confederate  Government,  to 
unite  their  efforts  with  those  of  their  predecessors  in  accomplishing  that 
desirable  result.  Scarcely  had  these  commissioners  sailed  from  Havana 
on  board  the  British  packet  Trent,  when  they  were  arrested,  through  the 
vigilance  and  energy  of  an  American  officer.  Captain  Wilkes,  who  was 
already  well  known  for  his  ability  and  usefulness  in  connection  with  the 
United  States  service,  commanded  the  San  Jacinto,  then  cruising  in  the 
West  Indies;  and  having  been  informed,  while  stopping  at  Cienfuegos, 
that  these  diplomatic  Rebels  had  escaped  from  the  South,  and  that  they 
had  embarked  on  board  the  Trent  for  England,  determined  immediately 
to  start  in  pursuit  of  them.  It  was  while  sailing  in  the  narrowest  part 
of  the  Bahama  channel,  that  he  was  so  fortunate  as  to  encounter  the 
packet.  He  immediately  bore  down  upon  her,  fired  a  shot  across  her 
bows  to  bring  her  to,  and  sent  two  boats  under  the  command  of  Lieu 
tenant  Fairfax,  for  the  purpose  of  making  the  arrest.  The  Rebels  were 
personally  known  to  the  Lieutenant ;  and  he,  having  boarded  the  Trent, 
and  having  made  known  to  her  commander  the  purpose  of  his  visit, 
demanded  his  prisoners.  The  furious  and  profane  blustering  of  the 
British  captain,  the  solemn  and  mock-heroic  protests  of  the  Rebels,  the 
frantic  screams  of  their  wives  and  children,  the  blows  even  which  were 
inflicted  by  fair  and  delicate  hands  on  the  manly  physiognomy  of  the 
lieutenant,  all  availed  nothing ;  and  Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell,  with  their 
two  secretaries,  descended  with  many  grimaces  from  the  deck  of  the 


174  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Trent  into  the  boats,  aud  were  forthwith  transferred,  with  their  baggage 
to  the  San  Jacinto. 

This  novel  and  startling  incident  immediately  convulsed  the  inhabitants 
of  the  loyal  and  the  disloyal  States  with  intense  though  very  dissimilar 
emotions.  The  former  rejoiced  that  the  Eebels  had  been  foiled  in  their 
purpose  and  mission.  The  latter  were  at  first  overwhelmed  with  indig 
nation  and  dismay.  But  when  they  began  to  contemplate  the  possible 
consequences  of  the  act,  to  hope  that  England  might  resent  the  fancied 
insult  to  her  flag,  and  to  imagine  that  the  Federal  Government  would 
thereby  become  involved  in  an  expensive  and  ruinous  war  with  that  nation, 
exultation  assumed  the  place  of  every  other  feeling  in  their  breasts.  The 
San  Jacinto  proceeded  with  her  prisoners  to  Boston,  whence  they  were 
immediately  transferred  to  Fort  Warren,  in  the  harbor  of  that  city. 
Then  followed  the  universal  discussion  throughout  the  land,  of  the  ques 
tions  of  the  legality  of  the  arrest,  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government  in 
the  premises,  and  the  probable  policy  of  England  in  regard  to  the  matter. 
Different  opinions  were  expressed  by  eminent  and  learned  men  on  the 
subject.  But  the  prevalent  sentiment  was,  that  the  arrest  and  capture 
were  perfectly  justifiable,  so  far  as  the  abstract  and  settled  principles  of 
international  law  were  concerned,  and  the  uniform  practice  of  England 
herself  in  similar  cases;  and  that  the  government  of  that  country 
could  not,  if  it  had  any  regard  for  consistency  of  conduct,  take  the  least 
offence  at  the  arrest  of  the  Rebels  when  on  board  an  English  neutral 
vessel. 

Though  the  legality  of  the  capture  of  the  Rebel  commissioners  might 
be  clear,  so  far  as  the  abstract  principles  of  law  were  concerned,  the 
prudence  and  policy  of  their  surrender,  in  case  the  British  Government 
should  demand  it,  was  quite  a  different  question.  The  people  of  the 
United  States,  therefore,  waited  with  intense  anxiety  to  learn  what  course 
England  would  adopt  in  the  premises.  As  was  generally  apprehended 
by  those  who  understood  most  correctly  the  spirit  of  that  government,  it 
immediately  demanded  the  unconditional  surrender  of  Mason  and  Slidell, 
as  a  reparation  due  for  the  fancied  insult  which  had  been  inflicted  on  the 
British  flag.  Their  conduct  demonstrated  that  the  British  Government 
eagerly  seized  the  opportunity  which  was  thus  afforded,  to  embarrass 
and  annoy  the  people  of  the  United  States,  in  the  darkest  and  most 
critical  moment  which  had  occurred  in  their  career  since  the  period  of 
the  storms  and  struggles  of  the  Revolution,  and  extort  from  them  while 
thus  embarrassed  a  humiliating  and  superfluous  concession,  which,  under 
other  circumstances,  would  have  been  resolutely  refused. 

The  Rebel  commissioners  were  forthwith  surrendered.  Mr.  Seward, 
the  Secretary  of  State,  in  a  long  and  elaborate  communication  which  he 
addressed  to  Lord  Lyons,  the  British  minister  then  resident  at  Wash 
ington,  set  forth,  with  great  ability,  the  reasons  which  induced  the 


ARGUMENT   OF  MR.  SUMNER  IN   THE  SENATE.  175 

Federal  Government  to  pursue  that  policy.  lie  admitted  that  the  four 
prisoners  were  contraband  of  war ;  that  Captain  Wilkes  had  the  right  to 
search  the  Trent  for  their  persons ;  that  the  right  of  search  had  been 
exercised  in  this  case  in  a  lawful  manner;  that  Captain  Wilkes  had  the 
right  to  seize  the  Kebels  when  thus  found ;  but  he  contended,  on  the  other 
hand,  that  this  right  of  seizure  had  not  been  exercised  in  a  legal  manner. 
He  held  that  Captain  Wilkes  ought  to  have  also  taken  possession  of  the 
vessel  which  conveyed  the  Kebels ;  that  he  ought  to  have  brought  her 
into  a  Federal  port ;  that  he  ought  to  have  had  her  tried,  condemned,  and 
confiscated  by  a  Federal  tribunal ;  and  that  in  no  case  should  he  have 
permitted  her  to  proceed  on  her  voyage  to  England.  Because  he  failed 
in  adhering  to  all  these  technical  formalities,  Mr.  Seward  contended  that 
the  whole  proceeding  became  legally  vitiated  ab  initio.  At  a  later  period 
Mr.  Sumner  discussed  the  subject  in  the  Senate,  and  vindicated  the  sur 
render  of  the  Rebels  on  no  other  grounds.  lie  affirmed  that  the  arrest 
could  not  be  justified  by  American  precedents  and  practice;  that  the 
Federal  Government  had  never  regarded  the  dispatches  of  a  hostile  nation 
as  contraband  ;  that  that  government  had  heretofore  considered  no  persons 
as  contraband  except  those  actually  engaged  in  the  military  or  the 
naval  service  of  an  enemy ;  and  that  it  had  always  opposed  and  con 
demned  the  alleged  power  on  the  part  of  any  single  officer,  to  adjudicate 
and  decide  personal  rights  by  the  tribunal  of  the  quarter  deck.  These 
positions  Mr.  Sumner  defended  with  immense  erudition  and  with  some 
logical  force.  Nevertheless,  the  question  still  remained  undetermined  in 
the  tribunal  of  popular  judgment  and  common  sense,  whether  in  such 
cases  it  was  proper  and  just  to  pursue  toward  England  that  policy  which 
was  indicated  by  English,  or  that  indicated  by  American  precedents,  and 
to  myriads  of  intelligent  thinkers  it  seemed  clear,  that  the  British 
Government  ought  not  to  pursue  a  particular  line  of  policy  toward  the 
whole  world,  and  claim  the  right  of  search  and  of  arrest  in  such  cases, 
against  all  other  nations,  and  then  demand,  when  the  occasion  served 
their  interest,  that  all  other  nations  should  be  required,  under  precisely 
similar  circumstances,  to  pursue  toward  them  a  policy  directly  opposite 
to  their  own.  When,  therefore,  the  rebel  commissioners  were  surren 
dered  to  the  British  authorities,  it  was  done  chiefly  from  motives  of 
expediency,  which  were  concealed  and  disguised  under  delicate  tissues  of 
elaborate  and  far-fetched  special  pleading,  which  were  intended  rather  to 
excuse  the  act,  than  to  demonstrate  its  validity  and  correctness  in  the 
light  of  abstract  equity,  and  the  established  principles  of  international 
law. 

The  Federal  army  of  the  Potomac  had  been  stationed  in  the  vicinity  of 
Washington,  during  several  months,  assiduously  employed  in  perfecting 
their  discipline,  and  their  familiarity  with  military  evolutions,  when,  on 
the  20th  of  December,  General  McCall  determined  to  send  out  a  large 


176  TEE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

foraging  party,  and  to  make  a  reconnaissance  in  force  with  a  portion  of  the 
troops  under  his  command.  lie  had  ascertained  that  a  considerable  num 
ber  of  Kebels  had  taken  a  position  at  Dranesville,  and  he  resolved  to 
attack  them.  He  gave  orders  to  General  Ord  to  march  thither  with  his 
brigade.  General  Keynolds  was  directed  also  to  advance  to  Difficult 
Creek  with  the  forces  under  his  command,  to  support  him.  The  troops 
which  were  thus  brought  into  service  consisted  of  the  sixth,  ninth,  tenth, 
and  twelfth  Pennsylvania  Keserves,  the  first  regiment  of  rifles,  and 
Easton's  battery.  In  the  march  toward  the  enemy,  the  rifles,  commanded 
by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Kane,  led  the  advance,  with  Easton's  battery,  and 
a  portion  of  the  first  Pennsylvania  cavalry.  At  half-past  one  o'clock 
these  troops  encountered  the  Kebels,  posted  near  Dranesville,  and  the  ac 
tion  immediately  commenced.  A  portion  of  the  Rebel  forces  were  con 
cealed  in  the  dense  woods,  and  it  was  some  time  before  their  exact  position 
could  be  ascertained.  The  guns  of  Easton's  battery  were  brought  to  bear 
upon  them  with  great  effect.  They  then  advanced,  for  the  purpose  of 
turning  the  left  of  the  Federal  troops,  but  General  McCall,  who  had  by 
this  time  reached  the  scene  of  action  with  his  staff,  detected  and  foiled 
this  movement.  He  immediately  notified  Colonel  McCalmot,  who  com 
manded  the  left  of  the  Federal  forces,  of  the  impending  danger ;  and  such 
a  disposition  was  instantly  made  as  defeated  the  purpose  of  the  enemy, 
and  compelled  them  to  return  to  their  position. 

Meanwhile  the  engagement  was  progressing  with  spirit  in  the  centre 
and  on  the  right  wing  of  the  Union  troops.  The  ninth  infantry,  under 
Colonel  Jackson,  had  encountered  the  Rebels  and  overpowered  them.  In 
the  centre,  the  sixth  regiment,  under  Colonel  Ricketts,  together  with  the 
Bucktail  rifles,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Kane,  received  and  repulsed 
the  charge  of  the  foe  with  much  gallantry.  As  the  enemy  retreated,  the 
Federal  troops  advanced,  until  the  rout  became  precipitate  and  complete. 
As  the  victors  proceeded  through  the  woods,  they  met  numerous  evi 
dences  of  the  heavy  losses  which  the  enemy  had  suffered ;  for  the  ground 
was  strewn  with  the  dying  and  the  dead,  with  mangled  horses,  shattered 
gun  carriages,  caissons,  arms,  ammunition  and  clothing.  The  defeat  of 
the  Rebels  was  complete,  and  their  flight  ignominious.  General  McCall 
ordered  the  pursuit  to  be  continued  for  a  mile  beyond  the  scene  of  con 
flict  by  two  regiments;  but  so  rapid  was  the  pace  of  the  fugitives  that  it 
was  impossible  to  overtake  them.  A  hundred  dead  Rebels  were  after 
ward  counted  on  the  field ;  their  wounded,  who  where  doubtless  more 
numerous,  they  carried  away  with  them.  They  had  probably  four  thou 
sand  men  in  the  action,  and  were  therefore  more  numerous  than  their 
assailants.  The  loss  on  the  Federal  side  was  seven  killed  and  sixty 
wounded.  After  this  engagement,  General  McCall  proceeded  to  collect 
forage.  He  obtained  sixteen  wagon  loads  of  hay  and  twenty-two  of  corn, 
with  which  he  returned  to  his  carnp.  The  brigade  of  General  Reynolds 


THE  BATTLE   OF  MILL  SPRINGS.  177 

did  not  reach  the  battle-field  until  the  contest  was  over,  though  they  made 
the  latter  part  of  the  march  with  the  utmost  possible  celerity. 

The  engagement  of  Dranesville  was  one  of  the  most  spirited  and  suc 
cessful  which  had  occurred  during  the  progress  of  the  war.  General 
McCall,  the  chief  hero  of  the  day,  was  a  veteran  officer,  a  native  of  Phila 
delphia.  He  entered  the  United  States  army  in  1818.  After  several 
promotions,  he  served  with  distinction  under  General  Worth  in  Florida. 
He  acquired  fresh  laurels  at  the  battle  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  and  in  July, 
1846,  was  appointed  adjutant  to  General  Zachary  Taylor,  with  the  rank 
of  major.  In  1850  he  became  inspector-general,  with  the  rank  of  colonel. 
He  afterward  retired  from  the  service,  and  resided  near  West  Chester, 
Pennsylvania,  until  the  commencement  of  the  Rebellion.  He  was  then 
appointed  major-general  of  the  fifteen  regiments  which  were  authorized 
to  be  raised  by  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania.  Immediately  after  the 
battle  of  Manassas,  the  services  of  these  troops,  with  those  of  their  com 
manding  officer,  were  tendered  to  the  Federal  Government,  and  accepted. 
The  victory  of  Dranesville  was  a  worthy  continuation  of  General  McCall's 
previous  achievements.  He  subsequently  accompanied  the  army  of 
General  McClellan  in  the  Peninsula,  and  took  a  prominent  and  distin 
guished  part  in  several  of  the  great  battles  which  were  fought  in  the 
vicinity  of  Richmond.  At  length,  in  the  fearful  conflict  on  the  30th  of 
June,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  removed  to  the  Rebel  capital ;  but  after 
a  short  captivity  he  was  released. 

On  the  13th  of  January,  1862,  an  important  change  took  place  in  the 
Federal  Cabinet,  the  announcement  of  which  surprised,  and  perhaps  grati 
fied,  the  nation.  On  that  day  Simon  Cameron,  the  Secretary  of  War,  waa 
notified  by  Mr.  Lincoln  that  he  was  relieved  from  the  duties  of  his  office, 
and  that  he  had  been  appointed  minister  plenipotentiary  to  Russia,  in  the 
room  of  Cassius  M.  Clay.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  a  distinguished  lawyer, 
originally  from  Ohio,  but  at  that  time  a  resident  of  Washington,  was 
selected  as  the  successor  of  the  retiring  secretary. 

On  the  19th  of  January  the  Federal  forces  under  General  G.  H. 
Thomas,  and  the  Rebel  troops  under  General  Felix  Zollicoffer,  who  had 
been  gradually  approaching  each  other  in  Kentucky,  met ;  a  desperate 
battle  was  fought  between  them  near  the  village  of  Mill  Springs ;  and  the 
inhabitants  of  the  loyal  States  were  cheered  by  the  announcement  of  a 
splendid  and  decisive  victory  to  the  Federal  arms.  Previous  to  this  date 
General  Zollieoffer  had  intrenched  himself  in  a  fortified  position  about 
fifteen  miles  southwest  from  Somerset,  and  twelve  miles  from  the  Cum 
berland  river.  This  position  commanded  the  whole  of  the  surrounding 
country,  and  held  the  citizens  of  Pulaski,  Wayne,  and  Russel  counties  in 
subjection  to  the  Rebel  power.  General  Thomas  had  fo'rmed  the  resolu 
tion  to  attack  these  entrenchments  in  conjunction  with  the  troops  under 
General  Schoepff,  who  was  then  posted  at  Somerset.  Accordingly,  he 
12 


178  THE   CIVIL  WAK  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

commenced  his  march  from  Jamestown  toward  the  position  of  the  enemy. 
On  the  17th,  General  Zollicoffer  having  been  informed,  by  some  treason 
able  means,  of  the  contemplated  enterprise  of  the  two  Federal  commanders, 
determired  to  defeat  it  by  marching  forth  from  his  works,  attacking 
General  Thomas  first,  and  having  routed  him,  to  assail  General  Schoepff, 
thus  vanquishing  his  opponents  in  detail. 

The  hostile  forces  first  came  in  contact  at  seven  o'clock  on  the  morning 
of  the  19th,  when  the  pickets  of  Colonel  Manson's  troops,  who  had  been 
posted  in  the  advance,  were  driven  in.  It  was  soon  evident  that  the  Rebel 
army  was  approaching  in  full  force.  The  distant  firing  aroused  the  Fede 
ral  camp,/ and  a  portion  of  the  tenth  Indiana  regiment  was  ordered  for 
ward  to  the  support  of  the  pickets.  The  whole  of  that  regiment  soon 
afterward  advanced  against  the  enemy,  who  were  gradually  forming  into 
line,  regiment  by  regiment,  and  taking  their  positions  on  the  scene  of  con 
flict.  After  the  firing  had  continued  for  half  an  hour,  an  attempt  was 
made,  by  a  body  of  Rebel  cavalry,  to  outflank  the  Federal  troops  which 
had  thus  far  been  engaged.  The  movement  was  partially  successful ;  and 
the  right  wing,  consisting  of  the  tenth  Indiana,  under  Colonel  Kise,  was 
compelled  to  fall  back  to  avoid  being  surrounded.  The  order  to  retire 
was  judiciously  given;  for  at  that  period  of  the  battle  the  Rebel  forces 
continually  rolled  forward  like  an  inexhaustible  flood ;  they  advanced 
with  loud  and  frantic  yells,  intended  to  intimidate  their  foes ;  and  the 
superiority  of  their  numbers,  at  that  juncture,  might  have  given  them  an 
advantage  which  would  have  seriously  affected  the  issue  of  the  day. 
While  thus  retiring  in  good  order,  the  fugitives  were  met  and  supported 
by  the  fourth  Kentucky,  the  ninth  Ohio,  and  the  second  Minnesota  regi 
ments.  The  combat  was  then  renewed  with  desperate  energy  on  both 
sides.  The  enemy  had  been  strengthened  by  large  accessions  on  their 
extreme  left ;  and  a  portion  of  the  tenth  Indiana  was  ordered  to  that 
point,  to  assist  the  troops  there  engaged. 

The  nature  of  the  ground  rendered  the  operations  of  the  troops  exceed 
ingly  difficult,  being  covered,  for  the  most  part,  by  tangled  brushwood, 
fallen  logs,  or  growing  corn.  It  was  also  difficult  to  place  the  artillery  in 
favorable  positions,  for  the  same  reasons.  Nevertheless,  as  the  battle 
progressed,  the  batteries  of  Whitmore,  Standard,  and  Kinney,  performed 
efficient  service.  The  guns  of  the  Rebels,  however,  did  less  damage  than 
these,  as  they  were  aimed  too  high.  The  vicissitudes  of  the  conflict 
reached  over  a  mile  in  extent,  and  were  various  and  vacillating,  as  hour 
after  hour  wore  away.  Within  the  limits  of  the  battle-field,  several  posi 
tions  were  of  superior  importance ;  and  around  these  positions  the  most 
desperate  combats  occurred.  A  log-house  and  stable  were  of  this  class, 
and  both  parties  contended,  in  a  long  and  bloody  struggle,  for  the  pos 
session  of  them.  At  last  the  ninth  Ohio  remained  masters  of  the  position. 
This  position,  though  valuable,  still  left  the  issue  of  the  contest  uncertain ; 


DEATH   OF  GENERAL  FELIX  ZOLLICOFFER.  179 

for  the  determination  of  the  Rebels  remained  as  unyielding  and  intense 
M  before. 

It  was  now  eleven  o'clock,  and  no  serious  advantage  had  yet  been 
gained  by  either  army.  The  centre  and  left  of  the  Federal  forces  had 
repeatedly  advanced,  fired,  and  fallen  back ;  and  the  same  evolutions  had 
as  often  been  performed  by  the  Kebels.  General  Thomas  determined  at 
length  to  attempt  a  decisive  movement.  At  that  time  the  fourteenth 
Ohio  and  tenth  Kentucky  regiments  were  approaching  the  battle-field, 
along  the  Columbus  road ;  and  a  fresh  accession  of  strength  was  thus 
afforded.  General  Thomas  ordered  Colonel  Caster  to  flank  the  enemy's 
right  wing  with  his  regiment,  which  till  then  had  not  joined  in  the 
action.  In  concert  with  this  movement  Colonel  McCook  ordered  the 
ninth  Ohio  to  charge  the  position  of  the  enemy  with  fixed  bayonets,  and 
turn  their  left  flank.  This  regiment  was  composed  chiefly  of  Germans ; 
and  no  sooner  was  this  order  given,  than,  having  first  discharged  their 
guns,  they  rushed  forward  to  the  attack  on  the  Rebel  lines  with  vociferous 
cheering.  The  latter  at  first  prepared  to  receive  them.  They  maintained 
their  position  until  the  formidable  wall  of  bristling  bayonets  approached 
within  thirty  yards  of  their  front.  A  Tennessee  regiment  on  the  extreme 
left  fired  a  feeble  and  rambling  volley  into  the  advancing  Federals ;  they 
then  broke  and  fled.  A  Mississippi  regiment  delivered  a  similar  volley, 
and  immediately  made  a  similar  retreat.  The  panic  and  the  rout  spread 
rapidly,  until  it  extended  over  the  entire  line  of  the  enemy.  The  gallant 
charge  of  the  ninth  Ohio  had  decided  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  The 
whole  Rebel  army  at  length  retreated  toward  their  intrenchments  in  the 
utmost  disorder,  and  with  heavy  losses  of  guns  and  ammunition.  The 
pathway  of  their  flight  was  covered  with  innumerable  trophies  of  their 
disaster,  and  with  multitudes  of  the  wounded,  the  dying,  and  the  dead. 

"But  the  most  serious  calamity  of  this  memorable  day  to  the  Rebel 
cause,  was  the  death  of  General  Felix  Zollicoffer.  It  was  near  the  con 
clusion  of  the  conflict  when  this  event  occurred.  Zollicoffer,  attended  by 
his  staff,  was  riding  over  the  field,  directing  the  movements  of  his  troops, 
when,  being  somewhat  in  advance  of  his  line,  the  group  was  observed  by 
Colonel  S.  S.  Fry,  of  the  fourth  Kentucky  regiment.  That  officer  rode 
toward  them  and  fired.  His  shot  was  immediately  returned  by  one  of 
Zollicoffer's  aids,  who  unhorsed  him.  He  then  aimed  again,  and  with 
fatal  accuracy  sent  his  bullet  through  the  heart  of  the  Rebel  commander. 
Zollicoffer  fell  to  the  earth,  his  attendants  fled  in  dismay,  and  his  inanimate 
remains  were  left  to  add  to  the  trophies  and  glories  of  the  victory.  They 
were  afterward  found  in  a  wagon,  together  with  the  body  of  Lieutenant 
Bailie  Peyton,  on  the  route  of  the  retreat.  The  death  of  General  Zolli 
coffer  was  no  ordinary  blow  to  the  Rebel  cause.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
energy  and  ability.  He  had  risen  to  eminence  through  a  long  gradation 
of  honorable  offices,  such  as  the  editorship  of  several  leading  journals  in 


180  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Tennessee ;  as  State  printer,  as  State  Comptroller,  as  member  of  the  State 
Senate,  and  as  Representative  in  the  Federal  Congress.  When  the 
Rebellion  commenced,  he  did  not  regard  its  purposes  and  principles  with 
favor.  But  when  he  found  the  majority  of  the  population  of  the 
Southern  States  enthusiastically  in  favor  of  the  movement,  and  saw  that 
the  tide  was  becoming  resistless,  he  joined  with  those  around  him,  and 
was  promoted  to  a  high  command  in  the  Rebel  army.  He  was  a  disap 
pointed  statesman ;  an  habitual  sadness  pervaded  his  spirit ;  and  on  the 
bloody  field  of  Mill  Springs,  the  last  of  his  hopes  was  crushed  by  the 
hand  of  death. 

The  fugitive  Rebels  were  pursued  on  the  day  of  the  battle  till  within  a 
mile  of  the  fortifications  which  General  Zollicoffer  had  lately  occupied. 
The  Federal  cannon  were  then  brought  to  bear  upon  the  works,  and  the 
process  of  shelling  commenced.  This  was  continued  during  an  hour. 
Only  a  single  gun  responded.  Then  night  fell,  and  the  wearied  victors 
reposed  on  their  arms,  expecting  to  renew  the  assault  in  the  morning. 
At  break  of  day  on  the  morning  of  the  20th,  several  regiments  were 
thrown  forward  toward  the  intrenchments.  Soon  the  scouts  reported 
that  the  works  were  untenanted.  The  enemy  had  in  fact  evacuated  them 
during  the  night,  had  fled  across  the  river ;  and  had  thus  rendered  the 
triumph  of  the  Federal  troops  complete.  Not  only  their  military  strength, 
but  their  moral  force,  had  been  utterly  dissipated  by  one  of  the  most  com 
plete  disasters  which  had  yet  overtaken  the  cause  of  the  Rebellion. 

The  number  of  troops  engaged  in  this  conflict  was  about  ten  thousand 
on  the  side  of  the  Rebels,  and  seven  thousand  on  that  of  the  Federals. 
The  victors  captured  eight  six-pounders,  and  two  Parrott  guns,  one  hun 
dred  wagons,  twelve  hundred  horses  and  mules,  a  thousand  muskets,  and 
a  large  amount  of  provisions.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  a  hundred  and 
fourteen  killed,  and  probably  six  hundred  wounded.  The  Federal  loss 
was  forty  killed,  a  hundred  and  twenty-seven  wounded.  The  conse 
quences  of  this  triumph  were  important.  Beside  inspiriting  the  whole 
nation  with  patriotic  exultation,  it  opened  the  passes  to  the  Cumberland 
mountains,  which  led  to  the  valley  of  the  Tennessee  river,  thereby  giving 
access  to  the  territory  of  North  Carolina  from  the  west.  It  thus  assisted 
in  completing  that  chain  of  military  bands  with  which  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment  was  gradually  girding  the  limits  of  the  Rebel  Confederacy,  with 
the  intent  that,  at  the  proper  and  critical  moment,  it  might,  by  one 
powerful  and  resistless  constriction,  crush  out  of  it  the  last  remains  of 
vitality. 


DEPARTURE  OF  THE  BURNSIDE   EXPEDITION.  181 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

THE  BURNSIDE  EXPEDITION — ITS  STRENGTH  AND  SECRET  DESTINATION — ITS  DEPARTURE 
FROM  ANNAPOLIS — IT  REACHES  FORTRESS  MONROE — ANOTHER  GALE  OFF  CAPE  HAT- 
TERAS — ITS  RESULTS — LOSS  OF  THE  STEAMER  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK — HEROISM  OP 

GENERAL  BURNSIDE THE  EXPEDITION  ENTERS  PAMLICO  SOUND IT    STEERS  FOR  ROANOKB 

ISLAND REBEL  WORKS    ERECTED  ON  THAT  ISLAND THE  FEDERAL  TROOPS    DISEMBARK 

PLAN    OF    THE    ATTACK INCIDENTS    OF    THE    ENGAGEMENT THE    FINAL  CHARGE DEFEAT 

AND    FLIGHT  OF  THE  REBELS — CAPTURE  OF  THEIR  FORTS — THEIR    STRENGTH — RESULTS    OP 

THE.VICTORY DEATH  OF  COLONEL  DEMONTREUIL SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  BURNSIDE ATTACK 

ON    FORT    HENRY — STRENGTH  OF  THE  FORT — NUMBER    OF    THE   FEDERAL    GUNBOATS — INCI 
DENTS    OF    THE    BOMBARDMENT SURRENDER    OF    THE     REBEL    WORKS — TROPHIES    OF     THK 

VICTORY — LOSS    ON  BOTH  SIDES — SKILL  AND  HEROISM  OF  COMMODORE   FOOTE — SKETCH    OP 
HIS  CAREER — FURTHER  OPERATIONS  OF    THE  BURNSIDE  EXPEDITION. 

THE  signal  success  that  had  attended  the  several  expeditions  which 
sailed  to  Hatteras  and  Port  Royal,  encouraged  the  Federal  Government 
to  continue  that  effective  method  of  operation.  Accordingly,  General 
Burnside  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  another  armament,  consisting 
of  both  land  and  naval  forces,  whose  destination  was  as  yet  unknown, 
but  which  he  was  ordered  to  organize  and  complete  with  the  utmost  dis 
patch.  That  able  and  energetic  officer  at  once  addressed  himself  to  the 
task  assigned  him.  Under  his  direction  a  large  number  of  vessels  and 
transports  were  purchased  ;  provisions,  arms  and  ammunition,  were  pro 
cured  ;  troops  were  collected  ;  and  by  the  9th  of  January,  1862,  the 
largest  and  most  formidable  expedition  which  ever  proceeded  from  an 
American  port  was  ready  to  sail  from  Annapolis.  The  total  number  of 
vessels  of  all  kinds,  excepting  those  belonging  to  the  regular  navy,  was 
forty-five.  The  troops  on  board  amounted  to  sixteen  thousand  men,  and 
were  commanded,  under  General  Burnside,  by  three  brigadier-generals, 
Foster,  Reno  and  Parke.  Each  of  these  officers  belonged  to  the  regular 
army,  and  were  soldiers  by  profession.  The  number  of  guns  of  heavy 
calibre  carried  by  the  fleet  was  forty -five,  possessing  a  range  of  two  miles 
and  a  half,  together  with  five  floating  batteries.  A  large  number  of  the 
transports  had  been  provided  through  the  necessary  agency  of  contrac 
tors,  and  the  government  was  grossly  defrauded  ;  and  serious  perils  were 
subsequently  entailed  upon  the  expedition  through  the  knavery  of  those 
who  obtained  the  contract  for  furnishing  the  expedition. 

The  embarkation  of  the  troops  commenced  at  Annapolis  on  the  5th 
of  January.  The  first  brigade,  commanded  by  General  Foster,  first  went 
on  board ;  then  followed  the  second,  commanded  by  General  Reno ;  then 
the  third,  under  the  orders  of  General  Parke.  The  entire  process  was 
completed  by  the  8th,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  the  signal-gun  from 


182  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

the  Picket  boomed  over  the  tranquil  waste  of  waters,  announcing  tLe 
moment  of  departure.  Soon  every  anchor  was  hauled  up,  the  sails  were 
spread  on  every  craft,  the  hoarse  voices  of  the  many  steamers  were  heard, 
shouts  of  joy  and  martial  melodies  resounded  from  ship  to  shore,  and  the 
vast  armament  began  to  move  with  steady  and  graceful  majesty  over  the 
blue  bosom  of  the  Chesapeake. 

The  first  destination  of  the  fleet  was  Fortress  Monroe.  They  arrived  at 
that  point  on  the  10th,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  anchor  abreast  of  the 
fortress.  On  the  llth,  during  the  night,  the  voyage  was  resumed,  and 
the  fleet  sailed  from  Hampton  Eoads  while  the  ocean  and  the  land  still 
reposed  beneath  the  beams  of  a  bright  moonlight.  A  propitious  breeze 
gently  wafted  the  adventurers  forward  on  their  way,  and  cape  after. cape 
along  the  main  was  quickly  passed.  When  Sunday  morning  dawned  the 
swiftest  steamers  were  already  in  view  of  Hatteras  light,  and  before  the 
evening  of  that  day  a  number  of  them  had  passed  over  the  bar  of  Hat 
teras  inlet.  Thus  far  all  had  progressed  in  the  most  favorable  and  fortu 
nate  manner.  But  during  Sunday  night  the  scene  suddenly  changed. 
A  gale  of  terrific  violence  began  to  blow  from  the  northwest,  exceeding 
any  thing  ordinarily  witnessed  on  that  stormy  coast,  and  soon  the  bosom 
of  the  deep  was  lashed  into  fury.  The  watery  waste  presented  the  aspect 
of  an  endless  series  of  convulsed  and  revolving  mountains.  During 
two  whole  days  and  nights  it  was  impossible  for  any  communication  to 
be  had  from  one  vessel  to  another.  They  were  often  lost  from  each  other's 
sight,  either  buried  in  the  troughs  of  the  angry  sea,  or  separated  by  the 
colossal  waves.  Gradually  the  spectacle  became  one  of  appalling  interest, 
for  the  tempest  still  increased  in  violence,  and  soon  many  of  the  vessels 
and  transports,  from  the  peculiar  character  of  their  freight,  became  almost 
unmanageable.  The  violence  of  the  winds  drove  some  of  the  ships  and 
transports  out  to  sea,  and  some  it  grounded  in  the  swash  channel.  Over 
all  of  them  the  enormous  waves  dashed  from  prow  to  stern,  deluging 
their  upper  decks.  They  reeled  and  staggered  like  drunken  men.  Many 
lost  their  guards,  and  some  of  the  steamers  lost  their  wheel-houses.  The 
menacing  wall  of  breakers  which  girded  Pamlico  Sound,  seemed  im 
passable  to  those  vessels  which  had  not  cleared  the  bar  before  the  storm 
began ;  and  their  only  safety  appeared  to  be  in  keeping  as  far  out  from 
land  as  possible.  During  the  continuance  of  this  terrible  tempest,  ac 
companied  with  deluges  of  rain,  the  officers  and  men  exhibited  the  utmost 
heroism,  and  General  Burnside  sailed  to  and  fro  amid  the  tossing  and 
rolling  seas  in  his  staff-boat,  the  Picket,  endeavoring  to  assist  and  counsel 
each  of  his  officers  in  command. 

But,  in  spite  of  admirable  seamanship  and  dauntless  resolution,  the 
usual  effects  of  the  destructive  violence  of  the  waves  commenced  to 
appear  ;  for  rarely  had  old  ocean  been  the  arena  of  a  spectacle  similar  to 
that  then  exhibited  in  the  vicinity  of  Hatteras.  The  large  steamer  City 


1HJ17/Y 


HEROISM   OF   GENERAL  BURNSIDE.  183 

of  New  York  was  driven  on  the  bar  lying  at  the  entrance  of  the  barber. 
She  was  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  twenty-five  hundred  tons 
burden,  and  was  heavily  laden  with  stores  and  ammunition.  It  was 
found  impossible  to  render  her  any  assistance,  and  she  eventually  became 
a  total  wreck.  A  portion  of  her  crew  was  saved.  When  the  surf-boat 
reached  the  sinking  steamer,  her  officers  and  men  were  clinging  with 
desperation  to  her  sides,  the  sea  making  clear  breaches  over  her  entire 
deck. 

The  gunboat  Zouave,  which  had  on  board  three  companies  of  the 
twenty-fifth  Massachusetts  regiment,  sank  at  her  anchorage,  though 
all  those  on  board  were  fortunately  rescued  before  she  went  down.  The 
Louisiana,  an  enormous  steamer,  three  hundred  feet  in  length,  haying  an 
entire  regiment  on  board,  was  driven  on  a  sand-bar,  and  was  seriously 
disabled.  Her  passengers  and  crew  were  also  rescued.  A  collision  took 
place  between  the  steamer  Cossack  and  the  brig  Hope,  by  which  both 
were  badly  damaged.  Colonel  Allen,  of  the  New  Jersey  regiment,  his 
surgeon  Weller,  and  second  officer,  Taylor,  were  lost  by  the  swamping 
of  a  lifeboat  in  which  they  were  endeavoring,  with  generous  daring,  to 
render  assistance  to  those  imperilled  by  the  ruthless  tempest. 

Such  were  some  of  the  scenes  connected  with  this  memorable  oc 
casion.  After  the  fury  of  the  storm  abated,  the  vessels  which  had 
drifted  out  to  sea  gradually  returned,  and  passed  successively  over 
the  bar,  by  means  of  steam-tugs  and  other  appropriate  helps,  into 
the  tranquil  waters  within.  Nothing  but  the  superior  skill  and  dauntless 
resolution  of  the  officers  who  commanded  this  expedition  could  have 
saved  it  from  entire  destruction.  Most  commendable  among  these  was 
General  Burnside  himself.  While  the  winds  blew,  and  the  rains  de 
scended,  and  the  billows  rolled  with  the  greatest  violence,  he  was  con 
stantly  sailing  in  his  staff-boat  to  and  fro  amid  the  watery  world  of 
tumult  and  danger,  regardless  of  his  own  peril,  solicitous  only  for  the 
safety  of  his  men  and  his  ships.  It  was  a  thrilling  spectacle  to  witness 
his  movements.  At  one  moment  his  small  steamer  would  be  seen  riding 
on  the  summit  of  a  monstrous  wave — then  he  would  become  enveloped 
in  the  deluge  of  spray  which  swept  over  the  entire  vessel — and  then 
again  he  would  become  wholly  invisible,  swallowed  in  the  yawning 
gullies  of  the  deep.  Undaunted,  he  would  soon  appear,  to  go  through 
the  same  process,  with  the  same  result. 

At  length  the  storm  wholly  ceased.  After  five  days  of  incessant  labor, 
on  the  22d  the  entire  fleet  entered  Pamlico  Sound.  The  naval  portion  of 
the  expedition  had  been  placed  under  the  command  of  Commodore  Golds- 
borough.  He  and  his  officers  had  contributed  greatly  by  their  skill  and 
valor,  to  the  preservation  of  the  fleet  during  the  recent  storm.  Their 
assistance  and  co-operation  in  the  events  which  ensued  were  of  eaual  im 
portance  and  value  to  the  Federal  cause. 


184  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Some  days  elapsed,  after  the  termination  of  the  storm,  before  General 
Burnside  and  his  troops  were  ready  to  resume  operations.  On  the  4th 
of  February  the  steamer  Patuxent  was  dispatched  to  every  vessel  in  the 
fleet,  with  orders  to  be  in  readiness  to  sail  on  the  ensuing  morning.  At 
four  o'clock  on  the  5th  a  busy  scene  was  presented  by  the  vast  assemblage 
of  vessels,  and  all  were  soon  in  proper  trim  to  advance.  Each  steamer 
towed  two  or  three  sailing  vessels,  filled  with  troops  and  stores,  and  the 
signal  to  weigh  anchor  having  been  given,  seventy-five  vessels  of  every 
imaginable  size  and  construction  began  to  move.  Till  that  moment  the 
destination  of  the  fleet  had  remained  a  secret  to  all  save  the  commanding 
officers.  The  order  to  steer  across  Pamlico  Sound  toward  the  shore  of 
North  Carolina,  at  last  assured  the  men  that  Roanoke  Island  was  the  in 
tended  point  of  attack.  Forts  Hatteras  and  Clark  gradually  disappeared 
in  the  distance  of  the  southern  horizon ;  and  at  nine  o'clock  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  16th,  the  vast  armament  approached  the  point  on  the  island 
which  the  Rebels  had  fortified.  Their  works  consisted  of  four  batteries, 
which  commanded  the  main  channel  through  the  Croatan  Sound.  As 
soon  as  the  Federal  fleet  came  within  range  of  their  guns,  they  opened  a 
fire  upon  them.  To  this  fire  the  gunboats,  whose  lighter  draught  enabled 
them  to  approach  nearer  the  batteries,  responded.  After  several  hours 
the  barracks  of  the  rebels  were  set  on  fire,  which  greatly  crippled  their 
operations,  and  their  fire  gradually  ceased. 

This  contest  was  merely  a  preliminary  one.  At  five  o'clock  orders 
were  given  to  disembark  the  troops.  This  process  occupied  the  entire 
night,  and  when  the  next  morning  dawned  the  Federal  flag  once  more 
floated  over  the  soil  of  a  Rebel  State,  surrounded  by  a  powerful  and 
valiant  force.  In  addition  to  the  four  forts  already  mentioned,  a  Rebel 
army  was  encamped  several  miles  to  the  left  of  the  works.  A  swamp 
intervened  between  the  two,  which  was  crossed  by  a  narrow  road  con 
structed  of  the  trunks  of  trees  which  had  been  sunk  in  the  quagmire. 
Up  this  road  General  Foster  advanced  with  the  twenty-third,  twenty- 
fifth,  and  twenty-seventh  Massachusetts,  the  tenth  Connecticut,  and  the 
fifth  Rhode  Island  regiments.  At  the  same  time  General  Reno  proceeded 
with  his  brigade  to  attack  one  of  the  forts.  It  was  a  difficult  and  dan 
gerous  service,  in  consequence  of  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  surrounding 
country.  It  was  an  almost  impassable  swamp,  sometimes  covered  with 
brushwood,  sometimes  lying  under  water.  The  first  day  terminated 
before  any  thing  could  be  accomplished.  The  night  which  followed  was 
stormy,  and  the  troops  remained  under  arms,  deluged  with  rain,  without 
shelter  or  proper  food.  When  morning  dawned  the  contest  was  resumed. 
The  sharpshooters  of  the  enemy,  stationed  and  concealed  in  the  woods  to 
the  rear  and  the  right  of  the  fort,  did  much  execution.  Their  batteries 
were  also  worked  with  effect,  and  a  continuous  discharge  of  small  arms 
from  their  troops  stationed  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort,  was  very  destruc- 


DEFEAT  AM)  FLIGHT  OF  THE  REBELS.  185 

live.  The  Federal  soldiers  were  often  compelled  to  load  their  guns  while 
lying  in  the  mud  and  water. 

At  length  the  order  was  given  to  charge  the  enemy  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet.  During  the  execution  of  this  order  the  Eebels  increased  their 
fire  with  deadly  effect.  As  a  portion  of  the  Federal  troops  were  com 
pelled  to  march  to  the  attack  through  a  swamp  nearly  waist-deep,  their 
efforts  were  made  under  immense  disadvantages.  Nevertheless,  they 
poured  a  heavy  fire  upon  the  enemy  while  advancing;  and  as  they  ap 
proached  the  Rebel  works  the  enemy  fled,  leaving  their  guns  unspiked, 
and  throwing  away  in  their  haste  their  arms,  knapsacks,  and  whatever 
else  could  impede  their  retreat.  The  Federal  troops  at  last  struggled 
through  the  swamp,  waded  through  the  moat,  climbed  over  the  parapets, 
and  entered  the  deserted  fortification  with  loud  and  enthusiastic  cheers. 
The  flags  of  the  twenty-first  Massachusetts  and  the  fifty-first  New  York 
were  unfurled  at  the  same  moment  over  the  late  stronghold  of  the  van 
quished  Rebels. 

The  pursuit  of  the  fugitives  was  immediately  commenced  by  the  troops 
of  the  second  brigade,  commanded  by  General  Reno.  They  had  fled 
toward  their  encampment  in  the  interior  of  the  island.  Their  pathway 
was  covered  with  evidences  of  their  terror,  and  of  the  precipitation  of 
their  flight.  Many  of  their  wounded  were  left  to  the  mercy  of  the  victors, 
and  some  who  fell  exhausted  and  unable  to  continue  their  flight  became 
prisoners.  Thirty  or  forty  persons  put  off  from  the  shore  in  a  small  sloop, 
to  escape  across  Roanoke  Sound  toward  the  mainland.  Among  them 
was  0.  Jennings  Wise,  who  had  been  mortally  wounded.  General  Reno 
ordered  five  companies  to  scour  the  beach,  and  to  fire  upon  the  Rebel 
boat  if  she  refused  to  return.  The  latter  obeyed  the  summons,  came 
ashore,  and  surrendered  to  Major  Clark.  Meanwhile  the  Federal  forces 
were  advancing  toward  the  Rebel  camp  named  "Georgia,"  under  the 
command  of  Generals  Foster  and  Reno.  As  the  advanced  guard,  consist 
ing  of  a  company  of  the  twenty -first  Massachusetts,  were  marching 
through  the  forest,  a  number  of  Rebels  who  were  in  ambush  fired  upon 
them.  These  were  soon  routed,  three  being  killed  and  five  wounded. 
A  short  time  afterward  a  detachment  of  Rebels  was  observed  approaching, 
bearing  a  flag  of  truce.  Having  come  within  hailing  distance  of  the 
Federal  lines  Lieutenant  Poor,  who  commanded  the  flag,  desired  to  see 
the  chief  Federal  officer.  He  was  conducted  to  General  Foster.  He 
inquired  what  terms  of  capitulation  would  be  granted.  The  answer  was, 
that  no  other  terms  than  an  immediate  and  unconditional  surrender  were 
admissible.  Lieutenant  Poor  at  once  acceded  to  them  and  led  the  way  to 
the  Rebel  encampment.  Having  arrived  the  capitulation  was  completed, 
and  all  the  guns,  works,  ammunition  and  stores  of  the  Rebels  on  Roanoke 
Island  became  the  trophies  of  the  victors.  Two  thousand  Rebel  troops 
were  also  taken  prisoners  of  war.  They  were  composed  chiefly  of  resi- 


186  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

dents  of  North  Carolina.  Among  them  was  Colonel  Shaw,  the  comman 
dant  of  the  Island.  The  Federal  loss  during  the  entire  contest  was  twenty 
killed  and  ninety-six  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  Rebels  was  probably 
greater,  though  it  was  not  accurately  ascertained. 

The  several  forts  which  had  been  erected  on  Eoanoke  Island  by  the 
Rebels  for  the  purpose  of  commanding  Roanoke  and  Croatan  Sounds, 
were  of  considerable  strength.  Fort  Bartow  mounted  one  rifled  thirty- 
two  pounder,  six  smooth  bore  thirty-two  pounders,  and  one  rifled  brass  six 
pounder.  Fort  Blanchard,  situated  two  miles  from  Fort  Bartow,  contained 
four  long  thirty-two  pounders.  Farther  up  the  island,  and  near  its  ex 
tremity,  was  Fort  Huger,  which  contained  nine  long  thirty-two  pounders 
and  one  rifled  gun.  In  an  opposite  portion  of  the  island  was  Fort  Forrest, 
which  contained  two  thirty-two  pounders.  Though  insignificant  in  size 
it  commanded  the  route  from  Croatan  Sound  to  Nags  Head.  A  battery 
at  Kobb's  Fishery,  on  the  mainland  opposite,  which  was  composed  of  old 
barges,  and  held  three  guns,  was  destroyed  as  worthless  by  the  Federal 
troops,  after  the  capitulation.  When  deserting  their  several  forts  the 
Rebels  attempted  to  spike  their  cannon  with  tenpenny  nails.  All  of  these 
were  afterward  extracted,  and  the  purpose  of  the  Rebels  defeated. 

The  complete  and  glorious  victory  which  graced  the  Federal  arms  in 
the  capture  of  Roanoke  Island,  fell  like  a  thunderbolt  on  the  Rebel 
leaders.  Its  value  to  the  cause  of  the  Union  was  immense ;  and  its  rela 
tion  to  operations  which  were  afterward  to  be  undertaken  was  important. 
During  its  progress  several  personal  incidents  occurred  which  invested  it 
with  a  deep  and  permanent  interest.  Among  these  was  the  heroic  death 
of  Lieutenant  Colonel  De  Montreuil,  of  the  D'Epineul  Zouaves.  When 
the  New  York  ninth  made  the  gallant  charge,  which  was  the  chief  cause 
of  the  desertion  of  Fort  Bartow  by  the  Rebels,  he  rushed  forward  in  the 
advance.  In  one  of  the  last  volleys  of  musketry  which  they  discharged 
from  their  works,  in  the  dawning  hour  of  exultant  victory,  he  fell,  pierced 
through  the  head  by  a  bullet.  His  death  was  a  serious  loss  ;  for  he  was 
an  officer  of  unusual  merit.  But  within  the  gloomy  walls  of  Fort  Bartow, 
amid  all  the  wreck  and  confusion  produced  by  the  conflict,  there  was 
another  death-scene  of  still  more  melancholy  interest.  0.  Jennings  Wise, 
the  son  of  Henry  A.  Wise,  after  having  been  brought  back  wounded  to 
the  fort,  was  placed  under  the  care  of  a  surgeon  ;  but  it  soon  became  evi 
dent  that  he  was  beyond  the  aid  of  the  physician's  art.  Until  he  became 
speechless  he  retained  the  hope  that  he  would  recover ;  and  inquired  with 
great  solicitude  from  the  surgeon  whether,  after  his  recovery,  he  would  be 
permitted  to  return  to  Richmond  on  his  parole  of  honor  ?  His  early 
death  was  a  sad  but  well-deserved  penalty  for  the  prostitution  of  his 
talents  and  his  influence  to  the  cause  of  treason.  Previous  to  the  com 
mencement  of  the  attack,  a  Rebel  fleet,  commanded  by  Commodore  Lynch, 
had  been  stationed  at  Roanoke  Island.  It  consisted  of  nine  small  vessels, 


SKETCH   OF   GENERAL  BURNSIDE.  187 

which  mounted  seventeen  guns.  All  these  vessels,  with  the  exception  of 
two,  were  subsequently  taken  or  destroyed  by  the  Federal  forces.  By 
this  event  the  enemy  were  thenceforth  deprived  of  all  means  of  commu 
nication  along  Albemarle  and  Pamlico  Sounds. 

Thus  far  the  purpose  of  this  expedition  had  been  successfully  attained, 
and  reflected  honor  on  all  concerned,  but  especially  upon  its  master-spirit, 
General  Burnside.  This  gallant  officer  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1824. 
He  entered  West  Point  Academy  at  the  early  age  of  eighteen,  and  grad 
uated  in  1817.  He  was  breveted  second  lieutenant,  and  joining  the  army 
then  in  Mexico,  marched  under  Patterson  to  the  gates  of  the  capital. 
After  the  conclusion  of  the  war  he  was  stationed  at  Fort  Adams,  in  New 
port  Harbor.  In  1849  he  was  attached  to  Captain  Bragg's  battery,  and 
performed  frontier  service  during  several  years  in  New  Mexico.  He  af 
terward  received  the  post  of  quartermaster  to  the  commission  which 
surveyed  the  boundary  line  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico.  He 
was  then  already  distinguished  for  his  energy  and  daring.  In  1851  he 
crossed  the  plains  from  the  Gila  river,  through  the  Indian  territory,  trav 
eling  twelve  hundred  miles  in  seventeen  days,  with  an  escort  of  only  three 
men,  and  brought  dispatches  from  Colonel  Graham  to  the  President.  He 
was  again  stationed  at  Fort  Adams ;  but  subsequently,  wearied  with  a 
life  of  inaction,  he  obtained  the  post  of  cashier  of  the  Land  Department 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  of  which  General  McClellan  was  then 
superintendent.  Two  years  later  he  became  the  treasurer  of  the  company, 
and  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York.  Immediately  after  the  outbreak 
of  the  Rebellion,  he  was  invited  by  Governor  Sprague  of  Rhode  Island  to 
take  command  of  the  first  regiment  of  that  State.  He  immediately  ac 
cepted  the  offer,  and  in  half  an  hour  commenced  his  journey  to  Providence, 
He  distinguished  himself  by  his  coolness  and  bravery  in  the  engagement 
at  Stone  Bridge,  and  afterward  at  the  more  memorable  and  disastrous 
conflict  of  Bull  Run.  His  superior  merits  as  ^n  officer  and  a  man 
strongly  commended  him  as  a  suitable  person  to  command  the  Federal 
expedition  against  Roanoke  Island.  The  event  demonstrated  the  wisdom, 
of  the  appointment. 

From  this  scene  of  triumph  on  the  sea-coast,  we  turn  to  another  of 
equal  interest,  though  of  less  imposing  proportions,  in  the  Misissippi 
valley. 

On  the  5th  of  February  General  Grant  ordered  Flag-officer  Foote  to 
take  command  of  seven  gunboats  and  proceed  to  the  attack  of  Fort  Henry, 
an  important  Rebel  fortification,  situated  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the 
Tennessee  river  near  the  Kentucky  line,  about  fifty-five  miles  from 
Paducah.  A  reconnoissance  of  the  works  had  previously  been  made  by 
General  C.  F.  Smith,  on  the  21st  of  January,  by  which  he  ascertained  that 
the  Federal  gunboats  could  assume  a  position  in  the  river  from  which 
they  could  assault  the  fort  with  advantage.  The  fortification  contained 


188  THE   CIVIL  WAE  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

two  sixty -four  pounders,  one  thirty-two  pounder,  two  twenty-four  pound 
ers,  three  six  pounders,  and  two  twelve  pound  howitzers.  The  garrison 
numbered  about  sixty  men.  The  capture  of  the  fort  was  important, 
inasmuch  as  it  would  enable  the  Federal  boats  to  ascend  the  Tennessee 
river  to  the  point  where  the  Memphis  and  Ohio  railroad  crossed,  and 
would  give  the  Union  troops  possession  of  that  valuable  means  of  com 
munication. 

The  gunboats  appropriated  to  the  service  of  reducing  the  fort  were  the 
Cincinnati,  the  St.  Louis,  the  Carondelet,  the  Essex,  the  Conestoga,  the 
Tyler,  and  the  Lexington.  These  boats  had  been  built  expressly  for  such 
enterprises,  and  were  constructed  on  so  broad  a  model  that  they  pos 
sessed,  while  in  the  water,  almost  the  firmness  of  a  land  battery.  The 
Cincinnati  carried  thirteen  guns,  and  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant  R. 
N.  Stembel.  The  St.  Louis  carried  thirteen  guns,  and  was  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  Paulding.  The  force  of  the  Carondelet  was  the  same,  com 
manded  by  Henry  Walke.  The  Essex  had  nine  guns,  and  was  under 
the  orders  of  Commander  W.  D.  Porter.  The  Conestoga,  the  Tyler,  and 
the  Lexington  were  of  similar  strength,  and  were  commanded  by  Lieu 
tenants  Phelps,  Gwin,  and  Shirk,  respectively.  These  vessels  having 
approached  on  the  6th  of  February  within  seventeen  hundred  yards  of 
Fort  Henry,  commenced  the  assault  at  half-past  twelve  o'clock.  The 
action  was  spirited  on  both  sides,  and  continued  during  nearly  two  hours. 
The  firing  of  the  Rebels  was  made  with  precision.  A  shot  passed 
through  the  boiler  of  the  Essex,  which  disabled  her,  and  killed  several 
men  by  the  escaping  steam,  after  which  she  was  compelled  to  drop  down 
the  river.  The  Cincinnati  received  thirty-one  shots,  and  had  one  man 
killed  and  eight  wounded.  During  the  engagement  this  boat  proudly 
kept  her  position  in  the  advance,  until  at  last  she  reached  a  point  within 
three  hundred  yards  of  the  fort.  A  number  of  the  Rebel  guns  had  now 
been  dismounted,  and  one  of  them  burst.  The  enemy  lost  five  killed  and 
ten  wounded.  At  forty  minutes  past  one  o'clock  the  Rebel  flag  was 
struck,  and  the  fort  surrendered.  The  commanding  officer,  General 
Lloyd  Tilghman,  together  with  fifty-four  men,  became  prisoners  of  war. 
The  trophies  of  the  victory  consisted  of  the  ammunition  and  artillery  of 
the  enemy,  together  with  a  large  amount  of  stores  and  tents,  sufficient  to 
accommodate  fifteen  thousand  men.  Previous  to  the  engagement,  a  body 
of  several  thousand  Rebel  troops  had  been  encamped  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  fort.  These  retreated  toward  Paris  as  soon  as  they  discovered  that 
the  surrender  of  the  works  was  inevitable;  and  by  this  precipitate  flight 
they  succeeded  in  getting  beyond  the  grasp  of  the  victors.  General 
Grant  reached  the  scene  of  conflict  nearly  an  hour  after  the  surrender,  and 
immediately  took  possession  of  the  fort.  The  land  forces  under  his  com 
mand  had  therefore  no  opportunity  of  participating  in  the  contest.  It  had 
been  a  part  of  the  plan  of  the  assault,  that  the  forces  under  General  Grant 


SKETCH   OF   COMMODORE  FOOTE.  189 

should  attack  those  of  the  Kebels  near  the  fort,  in  the  rear ;  but  the  con- 
dition  of  the  roads  and  of  the  river  prevented  that  officer,  as  we  have 
stated,  from  reaching  the  scene  of  conflict  until  after  the  termination 
of  the.  engagement.  The  loss  on  the  Federal  side  was  thirty- nine  killed 
and  wounded.  Immediately  after  the  capitulation,  the  bridge  of  the 
Memphis  and  Ohio  railroad,  fifteen  miles  above  the  fort,  was  taken  pos 
session  of  by  a  detachment  of  Federal  troops.  The  gunboats  which  per 
formed  such  efficient  service  on  this  occasion  were  partly  iron  clad, 
and  generally  resisted  with  success  the  shot  of  the  enemy.  The  ball 
which  penetrated  the  boiler  of  the  Essex,  by  which  the  greatest  injury 
was  effected,  entered  the  forward  part,  passing  through  the  heavy  bulk 
head.  Immediately  after  the  conclusion  of  the  battle  General  Grant 
ordered  a  large  portion  of  his  command  to  take  their  position  on  the 
road  leading  from  Fort  Henry  toward  Fort  Donelson,  which  important 
fortification  was  designated  as  the  next  object  of  attack. 

Captain  Andrew  IT.  Foote,  the  chief  hero  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Henry, 
was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  was  a  sou  of  Senator  Foote  from  that  State, 
against  whom  Daniel  Webster  delivered  one  of  his  most  famous  and 
elaborate  orations.  He  entered  the  United  States  service  in  1822,  and 
gradually  rose  in  his  profession  until  1852,  when  he  attained  the  rank 
of  commander.  He  spent  twenty  years  in  service  at  sea,  and  the  re 
mainder  of  his  professional  life  in  duty  on  shore.  When  the  rebellion 
broke  forth,  he  was  in  command  of  the  navy  yard  at  Brooklyn.  He 
was  then  promoted  to  a  captaincy,  and  transferred  to  the  Department 
of  the  West,  where  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  flotilla  on  the 
Mississippi.  In  the  course  of  his  diversified  services  he  had  visited  Japan, 
and  the  coast  of  Africa ;  respecting  the  latter,  he  wrote  and  published  a 
volume,  which  indicated  superior  literary  ability.  He  deservedly  ranked 
among  the  most  eminent,  brave,  and  worthy  naval  officers  whom  the 
annals  of  our  country,  either  in  war  or  peace,  have  yet  produced. 

The  Burnside  expedition,  after  having  reduced  the  Eebel  batteries  on 
Koanoke  Island,  and  taken  possession  of  it,  entered  the  waters  of  Albe- 
marle  Sound,  and  steering  in  a  northern  direction,  sailed  up  the  Pas- 
quotank  river.  The  next  apparent  object  of  attack  at  this  period  seemed 
to  be  Elizabeth  City,  the  capital  of  Pasquotank  county,  and  one  of  the 
most  important  towns  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  North  Carolina. 
But  with  admirable  prudence  the  commander  confined  the  secret  of  his 
purposes  to  his  own  bosom,  thereby  leaving  the  enemy  in  a  perplexing 
uncertainty  in  regard  to  his  future  movements. 


190  THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

70SITION  AND  STRENGTH  OF  FORT  DONELSON — GENERAL  GRANT  AND  FL^  G-OFFICER  FOOTS 
PREPARE  TO  ATTACK  IT COMMENCEMENT  OF  THEIR  OPERATIONS REPULSE  OF  THE  GUN 
BOATS THE  ASSAULT  FROM  THE  LAND  SIDE INCIDENTS  OF  THE  BOMBARDMENT PROPO 
SITION  OF  GENERAL  BUCKNER  TO  SURRENDER THE  FLIGHT  OF  GENERALS  FLOYD  AND  PIL 
LOW THE  CAPITULATION  OF  THE  FORT RESULTS  AND  TROPHIES  OF  THE  CONQUEST 

SKETCH  OF  ULYSSES  8.  GRANT — SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  CHARLES  FERGUSON  SMITH GENERAL 

LANDER'S  ATTACK  ON  THE  REBELS  AT  BLOOMERY  GAP — ITS  RESULTS — SKETCH  OF  GENERAL 
LANDER RE-ELECTION  OF  JEFFERSON  DAVIS  AS  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SOUTHERN  CONFEDE 
RACY HIS  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS OCCUPATION  OF  COLUMBUS,  KENTUCKY,  BY  FEDERAL 

TROOPS DESERTION  OF  NASHVILLE  BY  THE  REBEL  FORCES UNEXPECTED  ATTACK  AND 

SUCCESS  OF  THE  REBEL  BATTERING  RAM  MERRIMAC INCIDENTS  OF  THE  ENGAGEMENT 

OPPORTUNE  ARRIVAL  OF  THE  MONITOR  IN  HAMPTON  ROADS — BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  MONITOR 
AND  THE  MERRIMAC. 

THE  capture  of  Fort  Henry  was  merely  a  preliminary  movement  to  the 
attack  on  Fort  Donelson.  The  latter  was  a  Rebel  fortification  of  great 
importance,  situated  on  the  Cumberland  river,  and  was  one  of  the  keys  to 
the  possession  and  control  of  Tennessee.  The  works  were  twelve  miles 
distant  from  Fort  Henry,  and  were  much  larger  and  stronger  than  the 
other,  presenting  a  front  of  nearly  four  miles.  The  outer  batteries  were 
located  on  ridges  several  hundred  feet  high,  which  were  covered  with  a 
dense  undergrowth  of  timber.  The  Rebels  had  placed  heavy  logs  on  the 
top  of  their  breastworks,  leaving  a  narrow  space  between,  through  which 
they  could  discharge  their  pieces  with  greater  security.  Upon  several  of 
the  eminences  near  the  main  fort  smaller  batteries  had  been  erected,  one 
of  which  mounted  five  guns.  An  army  of  thirty  thousand  men  occupied 
and  defended  the  works.  A  portion  of  these  troops  were  recent  reinforce 
ments  from  Bowling  Green,  which  the  enemy  were  evacuating.  The  con 
templated  attack  on  Fort  Donelson  was  to  be  made  by  both  land  and 
naval  forces.  General  Grant  commanded  the  former,  Flag-officer  Foote 
the  latter.  Their  united  force  numbered  fifty  thousand  men. 

The  operations  of  the  siege  were  commenced  at  three  o'clock  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  13th  of  February,  1862,  by  Captain  Foote.  With  four 
iron-clad  and  two  wooden  gunboats,  he  approached  within  four  hundred 
yards  of  the  works,  on  the  Cumberland  river,  and  commenced  a  vigorous 
assault.  The  Rebels  responded  with  energy  and  skill.  After  fighting  an 
hour  and  a  quarter,  two  of  the  vessels  were  disabled,  and  became  so  un 
manageable,  the  one  by  the  loss  of  her  wheel,  the  other  by  the  loss  of 
her  tiller,  that  they  drifted  down  the  stream,  and  beyond  the  range  of 
their  guns.  The  remaining  boats  were  also  severely  injured,  one  of  them 
having  received  fifty-nine  shots.  One  of  the  rifled  cannon  on  board  the 


THE  ASSAULT  FROM  THE  LAND  SIDE.  191 

Carondelet  burst,  killing  six  men.  At  length,  perceiving  the  us^lessness 
of  continuing  the  unequal  struggle,  Captain  Foote  withdrew  his  flotilla, 
and  the  action  for  that  day  terminated.  His  loss  was  nine  killed  and 
forty-five  wounded.  He  had,  however,  succeeded  in  silencing  nine  guns 
in  the  lower  tier  of  the  enemy's  works.  On  the  14th,  the  attack  from  the 
land  side  began.  The  forces  of  General  Grant  were  drawn  up  in  line  of 
battle,  on  a  range  of  hills  outside  of  those  occupied  by  the  exterior 
batteries  of  the  rebels;  by  which  means  the  latter  were  completely 
encircled,  from  the  Cumberland,  south  of  the  fort,  to  the  waters  of  a 
stream  which  flowed  on  the  north  side  of  it.  The  attack  was  commenced 
by  a  discharge  of  artillery  by  Captain  Tyler,  who  threw  his  shells  with 
admirable  precision  into  the  works  of  the  enemy,  at  a  point  where  they 
seemed  to  be  thickly  crowded  together.  During  the  14th,  the  left  wing 
of  the  Federal  forces  was  chiefly  engaged,  and  before  night  the  upper  fort 
on  the  enemy's  right,  which  was  the  object  of  their  attack,  was  taken  and 
occupied  by  the  assailants.  During  this  day  the  Rebels  succeeded  in 
capturing  Schwartz's  battery,  but  before  the  action  was  suspended  by  the 
approach  of  darkness  it  was  retaken.  The  enemy  had  accomplished  that 
achievement  by  making  a  desperate  sortie,  in  which  they  drove  the 
Federals  half  a  mile,  and  then  returned  to  their  works  with  their  trophy. 
Afterward,  when  the  Federals  rallied,  they  not  only  redeemed  the  lost 
advantage,  but  also  gained  possession  of  a  portion  of  the  enemy's  works. 

On  the  following  day  the  engagement  was  renewed  with  the  utmost 
fury.  General  Charles  F.  Smith  led  the  attack  on  the  lower  end  of  the 
intrenchments,  and  was  the  first  to  gain  a  footing  within  them.  General 
McClernand's  division,  composed  of  the  brigades  of  Wallace,  McArthur, 
and  Ogleby,  fought  with  great  heroism,  and  suffered  heavily.  They  were 
chiefly  composed  of  troops  from  Illinois.  The  enemy  succeeded  at  one 
time  in  turning  the  right  wing  of  the  Federal  army ;  but  after  half  an 
hour,  the  lost  ground  was  regained.  During  the  whole  of  Saturday,  the 
15th,  the  battle  raged  with  varied  fortunes.  It  cannot  be  denied  that 
little  generalship  was  displayed  by  some  of  the  chief  officers  of  the 
Federal  army ;  for  during  a  large  part  of  the  engagement,  the  men  fought 
in  a  great  measure  under  the  repulse  of  personal  bravery,  without  any 
uniform  plan  of  operations,  and  often  fired  at  will.  The  enemy  fought 
with  very  great  advantages,  being  protected  by  their  extensive  works, 
to  which,  after  each  renewed  repulse,  they  could  retire  in  comparative 
safety.  From  their  breastworks  they  hurled  a  deluge  of  grape  shot  and 
canister  against  their  assailants,  and  many  fell  from  musketry  and  rifle 
balls.  Nevertheless,  the  Federal  troops  fought  with  the  utmost  resolution, 
and  repeatedly  gained  important  successes  by  their  heroic  exertions. 

When  darkness  fell  on  Saturday  evening,  the  issue  of  the  conflict 
seemed  undecided.  The  Rebels  still  held  possession  of  the  greater  por 
tion  of  their  works,  and  it  was  expected  that  on  the  ensuing  day,  the 


192  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE    CXITED   STATES. 

battle  would  be  renewed  with  increased  fury.  Accordingly,  during 
Saturday  night  a  concentration  of  all  the  Federal  troops  was  made,  and 
orders  were  given  that  every  man  should  be  at  his  post  in  the  early  dawn, 
prepared  to  charge  the  enemy  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  This  move 
ment  was  to  be  made  simultaneously  along  the  whole  line.  During  the 
hours  of  night  an  unusual  and  mysterious  silence  prevailed  throughout 
the  works  of  the  Eebels.  When  at  length  the  morning  of  Sunday,  the 
16th,  dawned,  the  first  sight  which  greeted  the  Federal  commanders  was 
a  number  of  white  flags  displayed  at  various  intervals  upon  the  fortifica 
tions.  Soon  afterward  a  flag  of  truce  was  seen  approaching.  It  accom 
panied  a  letter  from  General  Buckner,  the  commander  of  the  Eebel  forces, 
to  General  Grant,  proposing  that  commissioners  should  be  appointed  to 
arrange  the  terms  of  the  capitulation  of  the  Confederate  forces  under  his 
command,  and  asking  for  an  armistice  until  twelve  o'clock.  To  this 
communication  General  Grant  immediately  replied,  that  no  terms  what 
ever  could  be  accepted  except  an  unconditional  and  immediate  surrender. 
At  the  same  time  he  gave  the  Eebel  officer  the  unwelcome  information, 
that  it  was  his  intention  to  renew  the  attack  without  delay.  This 
missive  soon  elicited  a  response  from  General  Buckner,  in  which,  after 
complimenting  himself  and  his  troops  upon  the  brilliant  valor  which  they 
had  exhibited,  he  added  that  he  should  accept  the  "ungenerous  and  un- 
chivalrous  terms"  which  had  been  designated.  In  a  short  time  afterward, 
the  Federal  troops  advanced,  entered,  and  took  possession  of  the  vast 
fortifications  of  the  vanquished  enemy.  The  stars  and  stripes  were  then 
unfurled  over  Fort  Donelson,  the  largest  and  strongest  of  the  Eebel  fort 
resses  in  the  southwest. 

Then  it  was  that  the  most  singular  and  startling  announcements  were 
made  to  the  victors.  During  the  previous  night  Generals  Floyd  and 
Pillow  had  secretly  made  their  escape  from  the  intrenchments,  having 
embarked  with  the  utmost  secresy,  with  about  two  thousand  troops,  on  the 
Eebel  steamers  which  were  lying  in  the  river.  Of  the  remainder,  fifteen 
thousand  became  prisoners  of  war ;  many  had  deserted  in  small  bodies ; 
and  the  dead  and  wounded  were  numerous.  Among  the  officers  captured 
were  General  Buckner,  Colonels  Gantt,  Yoorhees,  Brown,  and  Abernethy. 
Twelve  thousand  stand  of  arms  were  taken,  a  vast  amount  of  ammunition 
and  stores,  fourteen  thirty-two  pounders,  with  other  guns  of  smaller 
calibre.  Among  those  who  had  distinguished  themselves  during  the 
engagement  were  Generals  Wallace,  McClernand,  and  Charles  F.  Smith. 
The  loss  of  the  Eebels  during  this  battle  was  about  five  hundred  killed, 
and  one  thousand  wounded.  The  loss  on  the  Federal  side  was  three 
hundred  and  fifty-five  killed,  fourteen  hundred  wounded  and  missing. 
The  immense  number  of  prisoners  taken  were  transferred  as  quickly  as 
possible  to  Camp  Douglas,  near  Chicago,  and  to  other  suitable  points  in 
the  northwest. 


GEN.  LANDER'S  ATTACK  ON  BLOOMERY  GAP.       103 

Major-General  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  who  commanded  the  Federal  forces 
during  this  memorable  combat,  was  born  in  Olermont  county,  Ohio,  in 
1822.  He  entered  West  Point  Academy  in  1839,  and  graduated  in  1843, 
and  was  appointed  brevet  second-lieutenant.  He  served  under  General 
Taylor  during  the  Mexican  war ;  also  under  General  Scott,  during  his 
march  from  Vera  Cruz  to  the  capital ;  and  was  twice  promoted  for  his 
meritorious  conduct.  He  afterward  became  regimental  quartermaster, 
and  in  1854  had  attained  the  rank  of  captain  in  the  fourth  infantry  of 
regulars.  Withdrawing  then  from  the  service  into  civil  life,  he  removed 
to  St.  Louis  county,  Missouri,  and  thence  to  Galena.  When  the  rebellion 
broke  forth  he  tendered  his  services  to  Governor  Yates,  was  accepted, 
and  appointed  colonel  of  the  twenty-first  regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers. 
He  was  soon  after  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier,  and  took  a  promi 
nent  part  in  many  of  the  earlier  scenes  of  the  conflict  in  Missouri.  He 
commanded  in  the  southeastern  district  in  that  State ;  and  by  his  occupa 
tion  of  Paducah,  and  by  his  gallant  conduct  in  the  battle  of  Belmont,  he 
earned  the  high  rank  of  major-general,  to  which  he  was  promoted  by  Presi 
dent  Lincoln,  and  in  which  he  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate.  The  important 
conflicts  at  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson  added  to  the  lustre  of  his  renown. 

General  Charles  Ferguson  Smith,  who  distinguished  himself  greatly  at 
Fort  Donelson,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1807.  He  entered  the 
Academy  at  West  Point  in  1821,  and  graduated  in  1825,  being  appointed 
at  once  second  lieutenant.  In  1829  he  was*  made  an  assistant  instructor 
of  infantry  tactics  at  West  Point.  He  remained  at  that  institution  till 
1842,  during  which  interval  he  attained  the  rank  of  captain.  In  April, 
1847,  he  was  breveted  major  for  his  gallantry  in  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto 
and  Resaca  de  la  Palma.  He  covered  himself  with  laurels  in  many  of 
the  severest  conflicts  of  the  Mexican  war,  especially  at  Contreras  and 
Churubusco,  and  received  the  rank  of  colonel.  In  August,  1861,  he  was 
made  a  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  immediately  afterward  took 
command  of  the  troops  stationed  at  Paducah.  This  valuable  officer  died 
at  Savannah,  Tennessee,  on  the  25th  of  April,  1862.  The  glorious  triumph 
of  the  Union  arms  at  Fort  Donelson  was  due,  in  a  very  great  measure, 
to  his  superior  skill  and  gallantry. 

The  long  and  monotonous  inactivity  which  had  characterized  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  near  Washington,  during  some  months,  was  agreeably 
broken  on  the  14th  of  February  by  a  bold  and  sudden  movement  of  a 
part  of  the  troops  commanded  by  General  Lander.  That  officer  having 
ascertained  that  the  brigade  of  the  Rebel  General  Carson,  four  thousand 
in  number,  had  taken  a  strong  position  at  Bloomery  Gap,  resolved  to 
attack  them.  He  ordered  the  five  hundred  cavalry  attached  to  his  brigade 
to  take  the  advance,  and  having  reached  the  Cacapon  river,  to  construct 
a  bridge  for  the  passage  of  the  infantry  who  were  to  follow.  This  order 
was  promptly  executed.  Twenty  wagons  were  placed  at  intervals  in  the 
13 


194  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

river,  over  which  planks  were  laid,  and  thus  in  several  hours  at  night  a 
bridge  was  constructed  a  hundred  and  eighty  feet  in  length,  which  admi 
rably  answered  the  purpose  of  transportation.  It  was  located  at  a  point 
seven  miles  distant  from  the  Cacapon  railroad,  and  about  the  same  dis 
tance  from  Bloomery  Gap,  the  contemplated  scene  of  conflict. 

General  Lander  had  intended  to  make  the  attack  during  the  night,  and 
having  driven  the  enemy  through  the  Gap,  to  pursue  them  with  his 
cavalry,  and  capture  the  officers  and  many  of  the  men.  But  the  enemy 
had  already  left  their  position,  either  suspicious  of  an  attack  or  fore 
warned  of  its  approach ;  so  that  when  the  Federal  troops  charged  through 
the  Gap  they  encountered  no  one.  General  Lander  ordered  an  immediate 
pursuit  on  the  Winchester  road  by  his  cavalry,  followed  and  supported 
by  the  eighth  Ohio  regiment  and  the  seventh  Virginia.  They  overtook 
the  retreating  foe  about  two  miles  from  the  Gap.  The  Rebels  received 
them  with  a  sharp  fire  of  musketry,  under  which  the  cavalry  wavered 
and  showed  unexpected  signs  of  cowardice.  In  vain  General  Lander 
ordered  them  to  advance  and  charge.  Not  a  man  stirred.  The  General 
then  exclaimed  lt  follow  me !"  One  private  only,  named  John  Gannon, 
answered  the  appeal.  Accompanied  by  this  solitary  hero,  and  by  Major 
Armstrong  his  adjutant,  Major  Bannister  and  Fitz  James  O'Brien,  mem- 
bers  of  his  staff,  General  Lander  rode  forward  toward  a  group  of  Rebel 
officers,  several  hundred  yards  distant,  and  ordered  them  to  surrender. 
The  boldness  and  daring  of  this  movement  seemed  to  have  paralyzed 
those  officers,  and  they  immediately  complied.  But  the  Rebel  infantry 
posted  in  the  adjacent  woods  having  commenced  a  brisk  fire,  General 
Lander  ordered  Colonel  Anestanzel  to  attack  them  with  his  cavalry,  and 
attempt  to  secure  their  baggage ;  while  the  movement  was  to  be  sup 
ported  by  the  infantry. 

At  first  the  cavalry  seemed  disposed  to  refuse  obedience,  and.  General 
Lander,  justly  enraged  at  their  cowardice,  shot  at  one  of  his  men  without 
hitting  him.  After  repeated  orders  the  cavalry  advanced,  and  charged 
upon  the  enemy,  who  were  then  retreating.  The  pursuit  was  continued 
for  eight  miles,  under  Colonel  Carroll's  direction,  until  he  reached  the 
limits  of  General  Lander's  department.  The  result  of  this  engagement 
was  the  capture  of  eighteen  commissioned  officers  and  forty-five  non 
commissioned  officers  and  privates,  together  with  fifteen  baggage  wagons. 
The  loss  of  the  Rebels  was  thirty  killed ;  that  of  the  Federals  was  seven 
killed  and  wounded.  The  rout  of  the  enemy  was  complete,  notwith 
standing  the  inefficiency  of  the  cavalry.  That  inefficiency  was  attributed 
to  the  fact,  that  several  of  their  officers  were  absent,  that  they  had  never 
before  been  under  fire,  and  that  they  were  unaccustomed  to  practice  with 
the  sabre. 

General  Lander,  tho  hero  of  this  spirited  movement,  was  a  remarkably 
brave  and  chivalrous  officer.  His  subsequent  premature  death  was  a 


RE-ELECTIOST   OF  JEFFERSON  DAYIS.  195 

serious  loss  to  the  Federal  cause.  He  was  a  native  of  Salem,  Massachu 
setts.  Though  not  regularly  educated  to  the  profession  of  arms,  he  pos 
sessed  ample  military  knowledge,  and  all  the  qualities  necessary  to  render 
him  a  successful  commander.  During  the  years  1859  and  1860  he  served 
as  superintendent  of  the  overland  wagon-road  to  California.  Immediately 
after  the  commencement  of  the  war  he  joined  the  staff  of  General  McClel- 
lan  as  a  volunteer,  in  Western  Virginia.  He  afterward  became  provost 
marshal  under  that  officer.  At  the  battle  of  Eich  Mountain  he  distin 
guished  himself  by  his  coolness  and  intrepidity.  His  horse  was  there 
killed  under  him.  He  then  fought  on  foot  and  attacked  a  Kebel  gun. 
He  shot  all  the  men  who  served  it  with  his  own  hand,  except  three.  The 
remainder  then  fled,  leaving  a  lieutenant  alone  to  work  it.  That  officer 
continued  to  discharge  the  gun,  when  General  Lander  ordered  him  to 
surrender  on  pain  of  immediate  death.  He  refused  and  continued  to  fire. 
Lander  then  turned  away  and  exclaimed  to  his  men  :  "  I  cannot  shoot  so 
brave  a  man,  you  must  do  it  I"  He  soon  fell,  pierced  with  four  bullets. 
After  the  battle  and  the  victory  General  Lander,  with  chivalrous  gener 
osity,  ordered  the  body  of  the  deceased  officer  to  be  conveyed  under  an 
escort  across  the  mountain  to  a  point  near  which  the  enemy  had  encamped, 
and  delivered  to  his  late  companions  in  arms.  General  Lander  died  on 
the  2d  of  March,  1862,  in  his  camp  in  Northern  Virginia,  from  conges 
tion  of  the  brain.  By  that  event  an  ampler  page  of  heroic  history  will 
henceforth  remain  forever  unwritten,  which  without  doubt  would  have 
otherwise  graced  the  annals  of  the  war. 

The  recent  reverses  which  had  overtaken  the  Eebel  arms  in  almost 
every  department  of  the  arena  of  conflict,  did  not  prevent  the  Confede 
rates  from  observing  the  ceremony  of  electing  the  chief  officers  of  their 
government,  who  were  to  serve  during  the  term  of  the  ensuing  six  years. 
Accordingly,  the  period  for  which  their  provisional  administration  had 
b.een  erected  being  about  to  expire,  Jefferson  Davis  was  chosen  President, 
and  A.  H.  Stephens  Vice  President  of  the  Confederate  States,  by  the 
unanimous  votes  of  the  conventions  of  all  the  States  which  were  connected 
with  the  Ecbellion.  The  ceremony  of  the  inauguration  of  these  officers 
took  place  at  Eichmond,  on  the  22d  of  February,  with  as  great  a  display 
of  pomp  and  dignity  as  could  be  mustered  for  the  occasion.  The  oath  of 
office  was  administered  to  the  President  by  the  Hon.  J.  D.  Halyburton, 
the  chief  Confederate  judge,  and  to  A.  H.  Stevens  by  the  president  of 
the  Eebel  Senate.  The  inaugural  address  of  the  Executive  was : the  most 
remarkable  feature  of  the  occasion.  It  had  been  elaborated  with  great 
care,  and  was  adroitly  adapted  to  produce  a  favorable  impression  upon  his 
constituents.  But  in  spite  of  all  his  artificial  periods  and  his  simulated 
confidence,  an  air  of  extreme  despondency  pervaded  his  utterances.  He 
reiterated  the  effete  accusation  that  the  Federal  Government  had  given 
birth  to  the  Eebellion  by  its  unjust  legislation  against  the  interests  of  the 


196  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

South.  He  charged  the  northern  armies  with  cruelty  and  ferocity  in  the 
manner  in  which  they  had  conducted  the  contest.  He  dwelt  upon  the 
love  of  justice  and  the  preference  for  peace  which  had  characterized  the 
Confederate  States,  and  upon  their  efforts  to  avert  the  horrors  of  war  by 
an  amicable  settlement  of  difficulties  at  Washington.  He  congratulated 
his  constituents  on  the  intrepidity  and  heroism  with  which  they  had  thus 
far  defended  their  sacred  rights  and  had  resisted  the  arms  of  their  op 
pressors.  He  admitted  that  the  Confederate  forces  had  recently  suffered 
the  most  serious  disasters  ;  but  he  affirmed  that  the  effect  of  these  mis 
fortunes  would  simply  be  to  unite  them  in  a  more  determined  and 
unconquerable  resolution  to  achieve  their  liberties.  As  a  chief  encourage 
ment,  he  reminded  his  hearers  that  the  vast  pecuniary  burdens  Avhich  the 
Federal  Government  was  assuming  would  soon  crush  it  to  the  earth,  and 
render  it  incapable  of  further  efficient  assaults  upon  their  rights  and  their 
territories.* 

While  the  Kebel  authorities  were  thus  consoling  themselves  by  cheer 
ing  prognostications  of  the  future,  the  rapid  progress  of  events  continually 
and  repeatedly  falsified  their  hopes.  On  the  1st  of  March,  the  right  wing 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  Under  General  Banks  crossed  the  river, 
advanced  into  Virginia,  and  occupied  Bolivar,  Charlestown,  and  Martins- 
burg.  This  important  movement  was  a  portion  of  the  great  network  of 
operations  by  which  the  Federal  armies,  in  several  vast  bodies,  were  in 
tended  to  approach  Eichmond  by  opposite  routes,  and  thus  attack  it  and 
its  defenders  simultaneously.  At  Charlestown,  eight  hundred  barrels  of 
flour  prepared  for  the  Eebei  army  were  captured.  The  corps  under 
Banks  were  steadily  approaching  Winchester,  where  the  enemy  were 
posted  under  Jackson  in  considerable  strength. 

In  other  portions  of  the  Union  fortune  seemed  to  have  deserted  the 
Confederate  cause  still  more  unequivocally.  In  Missouri,  the  expedition 
which  had  been  organized  under  Jefferson  Thompson,  was  attacked  at 
Sykestown  by  the  Union  cavalry  attached  to  the  brigades  of  Generals 
Hamilton,  Morgan  and  Pope,  and  was  driven  into  the  swamps,  with  the 
loss  of  six  pieces  of  artillery  and  forty  prisoners.  On  the  2d  of  March, 
a  flotilla  consisting  of  six  gunboats,  under  the  command  of  Flag-officer 
Foote,  sailed  down  the  Mississippi  river  to  Columbus,  Kentucky,  and 
made  a  demonstration  against  the  Rebel  works  which  had  been  erected 
there.  Anticipating  a  formidable  attack  from  the  Federal  forces,  the 

*  The  officers  of  the  cabinet  appointed  by  Jefferson  Davis  were  as  follows  : 
J.  P.  Benjamin,  of  Louisiana,  Secretary  of  State. 
General  George  W.  Kandolph,  of  Virginia,  Secretary  of  War. 
S.  R.  Mallory,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

C.  G.  Memminger,  of  South  Carolina,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 
Mr.  Henry,  M.  C.  from  Kentucky,  Postmaster-General. 
Herschel  V.  Johnson,  of  Georgia,  Attorney-General. 


DESERTION   OF  NASHVILLE  BY   REBEL  FORCES.  197 

enemy  deemed  it  more  judicious  to  retire.  They  therefore  abandoned 
their  fortifications  and  evacuated  the  town.  It  had  been  the  strongest 
Rebel  position  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  But  before  their  flight 
they  endeavored  to  destroy  their  barracks,  the  town,  and  their  magazines, 
by  fire.  They  sank  a  number  of  their  heaviest  guns  in  the  river.  The 
Federal  forces  took  possession  peaceably  of  what  remained  of  the  recent 
stronghold  of  the  fugitives.  The  occupation  of  Columbus  delivered  the 
State  of  Kentucky  from  the  presence  and  supremacy  of  the  Rebel  arms. 
Generals  Cullum  and  Sherman  commanded  the  land  forces  which  were 
intended  to  co-operate  with  the  gunboats  in  the  expected  attack  on  the 
abandoned  works. 

Nearly  contemporaneous  with  this  event,  was  the  desertion  of  Nash 
ville  by  the  Rebel  forces  which  had  been  assembled  there,  and  its  occupa 
tion  by  the  Federal  troops  under  General  Buell.  The  stars  and  stripes 
were  again  unfurled  from  the  stately  dome  of  the  capitol  of  Tennessee. 
The  presence  of  the  Union  troops  in  this  city  produced  a  magical  effect 
upon  the  opinions  of  thousands  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  State,  who 
immediately  declared  themselves  in  favor  of  the  Federal  Government  and 
solicitous  for  its  eventual  triumph.  It  was  already  proposed  that  Andrew 
Johnson  should  be  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  the  military  pro 
visional  governor  of  Tennessee,  until  the  legitimate  civil  authorities  could 
be  re-established.  Thus,  over  the  entire  area  of  the  West  and  South, 
wherever  the  rival  republics  came  into  collision,  success  at  this  period 
uniformly  attended  the  champions  of  the  Federal  Union. 

Suddenly,  the  nation  was  astounded  by  the  report  of  a  reverse,  from  an 
unexpected  source,  of  the  most  novel  and  unusual  character.  On  the 
8th  of  March,  a  steam-vessel  of  singular  structure  and  appearance  was 
observed  by  the  lookout  at  Fortress  Monroe  to  issue  from  the  harbor  at 
Norfolk  and  sail  down  the  channel  toward  Sewell's  Point.  Signal  guns 
were  immediately  fired  to  notify  the  Union  vessels,  the  Cumberland,  the 
Congress,  the  Minnesota,  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  Roanoke,  which  Were 
then  riding  at  anchor  in  Hampton  roads,  of  the  approach  of  danger. 
The  mysterious  craft  seemed  like  a  floating  house,  with  its  roof  and 
chimney  only  above  the  water.  Slowly  but  steadily  she  pursued  her  way 
through  the  channel  toward  Newport  News,  and  then  turned  toward  the 
mouth  of  James  river  where  the  Cumberland  and  the  Congress  lay. 
Soon  her  fatal  character  and  mission  became  evident.  She  was  recognized 
as  the  famous  iron-clad  steamer  and  battering-ram  Merrimac,  which  the 
Rebel  Government  had  for  some  time  been  constructing  at  Norfolk. 

As  this  dangerous  monster  silently  approached  the  Cumberland,  that 
vessel  discharged  a  volley  from  her  heavy  guns  at  the  stranger.  The 
balls  indeed  reached  their  aim,  but  they  did  not  produce  the  slightest  per 
ceptible  effect.  They  glanced  from  her  iron  sides  and  deck,  leaving  no 
trace  of  their  contact.  The  Congress  also  added  the  complement  of  her 


198  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

artillery  to  those  of  the  Cumberland,  but  with  an  equally  harmless  result, 
The  Rebel  craft  seemed  to  defy  and  scorn  their  attacks  ;  for  she  continued 
steadily  to  approach,  her  ports  all  silent  and  shut,  but  under  the  impetus 
of  a  powerful  head  of  steam.  At  length  she  steered  with  direct  aim  and 
increased  velocity  toward  the  Cumberland.  She  struck  her  amidship  with 
her  iron  beak,  making  a  frightful  gash  in  her  side.  She  then  fired  a 
volley  into  the  wounded  vessel,  drew  off  a  short  distance,  and  repeated 
the  ferocious  assault.  It  was  enough  to  seal  her  fate.  The  Cumberland 
had  been  fatally  disabled,  and  was  instantly  in  a  sinking  condition. 
During  the  progress  of  this  attack,  two  Eebel  steamers,  the  Yorktown  and 
Jamestown,  had  descended  the  James  river  and  engaged  the  Union  vessels 
on  the  other  side. 

The  Merrimac  having  thus  destroyed  the  Cumberland  turned  her  prow 
and  addressed  herself  to  the  Congress.  This  vessel  was  unable  to  make 
any  effective  resistance,  her  crew  having  been  discharged  the  day  before, 
and  several  companies  of  the  naval  brigade  being  only  temporarily  on 
board.  When  her  commander  saw  the  hopelessness  of  resistance,  the 
wooden  vessels  being  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  the  iron  batterer,  he  struck 
his  colors  to  avoid  the  destruction  which  had  overtaken  the  Cumberland. 
The  Jamestown  then  approached,  received  on  board  the  officers  of  the 
Congress  as  prisoners,  and  gave  the  crew  an  opportunity  to  escape  in  the 
boats.  The  vessel  was  then  fired  by  tlie  Eebels.  Immediately  after  this 
achievement,  the  Merrimac,  the  Yorktown,  and  the  Jamestown  commenced 
an  attack  in  concert  on  the  batteries  of  Newport  News,  to  which  that  fort 
responded  with  vigor.  Meanwhile  the  Congress  burned  to  the  water's 
edge,  and  before  sinking  blew  up.  The  Cumberland  also  sank.  The 
loss  of  life  in  both  ships  was  considerable,  inasmuch  as  a  large  number 
of  the  crews  of  both  were  unable  to  escape  in  the  boats.  The  Merrimac 
having  completed  her  intended  achievements,  returned  in  triumph  to 
Norfolk,  capturing  in  her  passage  several  small  vessels.  This  sudden 
demonstration  of  naval  power  was  one  of  the  most  noteworthy  incidents 
which  had  yet  occurred  during  the  war.  Never  before  had  the  efficiency 
of  iron-clad  steam  batteries  been  so  clearly  demonstrated.  It  was  now 
evident  that  the  colossal  wooden  vessels  which  had  for  ages  been  the  pride 
and  the  terror  of  European  fleets,  could  be  henceforth  rendered  harmless 
by  the  use  of  ships  of  much  smaller  proportions,  if  incased  in  iron,  if  pro 
pelled  by  steam,  and  if  armed  with  the  sharp  iron  beaks  which  had  been 
familiar  to  the  naval  architecture  of  the  ancient  Greeks  and  Romans. 
,  Fortunately  for  the  honor  and  safety  of  the  Union  cause,  the  private 
enterprise  of  an  eminent  and  opulent  citizen  had  constructed  a  vessel  on 
the  same  principle;  and  that  vessel,  by  an  equally  propitious  accident, 
arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  this  disaster  a  few  hours  after  its  occurrence. 
The  Ericsson  iron-clad  steamer  Monitor  reached  Fortress  Monroe  at  nine 
o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  8th  of  March.  The  next  morning  she  pro- 


ENGAGEMENT   OF  THE   •  MERR1MAC "   AND    "MONITOR"       199 

ceeded  out  into  the  channel  and  invited  tbe  exulting  enemy  to  an  engage 
ment.  The  offer  was  accepted,  and  soon  the  Merrimac,  the  Yorktown, 
and  the  Jamestown,  attempted  to  renew  the  triumph  of  the  preceding  day. 
A  desperate  combat  of  five  hours'  duration  ensued.  The  wooden  vessels 
of  the  Rebels  quickly  found  it  expedient  to  retire,  leaving  the  two  iron 
bound  monsters  confronting  each  other.  Then  a  most  singular  and  novel 
spectacle  was  exhibited.  During  several  hours  the  vessels  fought  fiercely, 
butting  and  grappling  each  other.  They  repeatedly  discharged  their 
heavy  guns  against  each  other's  sides ;  but  while  the  shot  of  the  Merrimac 
rebounded  harmlessly  from  the  impenetrable  covering  of  her  antagonist, 
the  greater  calibre  of  the  guns  of  the  Monitor  forced  tbeir  thunderbolts 
through  the  sides  of  the  Rebel  craft,  and  severely  damaged  her.  The 
Monitor  was  commanded  with  great  skill  and  fortitude  by  Lieutenant  J. 
S.  Worden,  who  was  wounded  during  the  engagement.  At  its  termina 
tion  the  Merrimac  was  towed  back  to  the  port  of  Norfolk,  apparently 
disabled,  and  evidently  with  much  less  exultation  than  had  characterized 
her  return  to  her  berth  on  the  preceding  day.  The  presence  of  the  Moni 
tor  in  Hampton  Roads  secured  the  Union  vessels,  which  were  enforcing 
the  blockade  of  James  river,  from  the  future  attacks  of  the  Merrimac ;  and 
fortunately  withered  the  laurels,  which  had  so  suddenly  sprung  up  to 
decorate  the  brows  of  the  Confederate  naval  heroes. 

The  Merrimac,  whose  sudden  onslaught  on  the  Federal  ships  excited 
so  much  surprise  and  indignation,  originally  belonged  to  the  Federal 
Government,  had  been  built  in  1855  at  the  Charlestown  navy  yard,  and 
was  known  in  the  Federal  navy  by  the  same  name.  She  happened  to 
be  lying  in  the  port  of  Norfolk,  as  a  store  and  receiving  ship,  at  the 
period  of  the  Rebel  attack  on  that  city.  When  the  navy  yard  at  Norfolk 
was  abandoned  and  sacrificed  in  so  mysterious  a  manner  by  Commodore 
McCauley,  the  Merrimac  was  set  on  fire,  scuttled,  and  sunk  by  his  orders. 
She  was  thirty-two  hundred  tons  burden,  and  pierced  for  forty  guns. 
The  Rebel  authorities,  appreciating  her  value,  subsequently  raised  the 
hull,  and  proceeded  to  convert  her  into  an  iron- clad  battery.  She  was 
covered  with  a  bomb-proof  coating  of  wrought  iron  several  inches  in 
thickness.  Her  bow  was  armed  with  a  steel  beak,  projecting  six  feet 
under  the  water,  with  which  to  strike  and  perforate  her  opponents.  Her 
decks  were  protected  by  a  covering  of  railroad  iron  in  the  form  of  an 
arch,  from  which  the  shot  and  shell  of  her  assailants  necessarily  glanced 
without  effect.  Her  special  mission  was  intended  to  be  to  sink  the 
various  vessels  engaged  in  the  blockade  of  the  Southern  ports ;  and  it  is 
probable  that,  had  not  the  formidable  and  unexpected  apparition  of  the 
Monitor  suddenly  intercepted  her  purpose,  it  would  have  been  in  a  great 
measure  accomplished,  before  any  other  effectual  means  to  prevent  it 
could  have  been  obtained  by  the  Federal  Government. 

The  structure  of  the  Monitor  was  essentially  different  from  that  of  her 


2CO  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

rival.  She  was  a  hundred  and  seventy-two  feet  in  length,  and  placed  so 
low  in  the  water  as  to  afford  little  surface  for  the  assaults  of  an  assailant. 
Her  deck  was  flat,  and  her  sides  encased  in  heavy  armor.  Both  ends  of 
the  vessel  were  pointed,  and  she  required  very  little  water  in  which  to 
float.  The  chief  objects  which  appeared  on  her  deck  were  a  smoke-stack 
and  a  turret.  The  latter  was  incased  in  wrought  iron,  several  inches  in 
thickness,  and  contained  two  guns,  each  ball  of  which  weighed  a  hundred 
and  eighty-four  pounds.  Within  the  bowels  of  the  vessel  a  powerful 
engine  was  placed,  which  drove  her  with  resistless  impetus  against  her 
enemy.  Her  flat  deck  was  bomb-proof,  and  covered  with  iron  plate  an 
inch  in  thickness.  The  turret  revolved,  so  as  to  be  able  to  bring  its 
tremendous  guns  to  bear  at  any  angle  which  might  be  desired.  The 
vessel  was  a  marvel  of  architectural  skill  and  of  mechanical  power,  such 
as  the  present  age  had  never  before  witnessed. 


=S^^MX       ^€  ^^S<^^T^^ 
W>^r<\X  ^\^rii^^%  // 

\  ^^^^^^^^IF^K 

LITJLEROCKjf^  I       ^^      *    ^  ff    |  f  „}} 

^,  'BEFJTONirt^^^P^ 3^1  5\™        V^^-liil      \U®          .1 


THE  BATTLE  OF  PEA  RIDGE,   ARKANSAS.  201 


CHAPTEE   XVIII. 

BATTLE  OF  PEA  RIDGE  IN  ARKANSAS — GENERAL  CURTIS — ATTACK  OF  THE  REBELS  ON  THE 
REAR  OF  THE  FEDERAL  ARMY — GALLANTRY  OF  GENERAL  SIGEL CONTINUANCE  OF  THE 

BATTLE    ON    TEE    SECOND    DAY INCIDENTS    OF    THE    CONTEST IT    IS  RENEWED  UPON    THE 

THIRD  DAY — COMPLETE  ROUT  OF  THE  REBELS — RESULTS  OF  THE  VICTORY — SKETCHES  OF 
GENERALS  CURTIS  AND  SIGEL — PRESIDENT  LINCOLN'S  ORDERS  TO  THE  FEDERAL  ARMIES  TO 
MOVE  ON  THE  TWENTY-SECOND  OF  FEBRUARY — GENERAL  MCCLELLAND  ADDRESS  TO  THE 
A3MY  OF  THE  POTOMAC — SUDDEN  EVACUATION  OF  MANASSAS  BY  THE  REBELS — MOVEMENT 

OF  FEDERAL  TROOPS BOMBARDMENT  OF  ISLAND  NUMBER  TEN INCIDENTS  OF  THE  CONTEST 

REDUCTION  OF  THE  REBEL  WORKS — OPERATIONS  OF    GENERAL  POPE ARTIFICIAL  CHANNEL 

CUT  THROUGH  JAMES  BAYOU GENERAL  POPE  ATTACKS  THE  REBELS  AT  TIPTONVILLE CON 
SEQUENCES  OF  THE  CAPTURE  OF  ISLAND  NUMBER  TEN SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  POPE GENE 
RAL  BURNSIDE  ATTACKS  NEWBERN — THE  REBELS  SURRENDER — CONSEQUENCES  OF  THIS 
VICTORY. 

THE  un  romantic  name  of  Pea  Eidge  will  hereafter  designate,  on  the 
historic  page,  one  of  the  most  protracted  and  desperate  struggles  which 
occurred  during  the  progress  of  the  war  against  Secession.  This  rugged 
spot  is  situated  amid  the  mountain  wilds  of  Arkansas.  It  was  there  that 
the  Eebel  Generals  Van  Dora,  McCulloch,  and  Price,  had  concentrated  the 
forces  under  their  several  orders ;  and  on  the  6th,  the  7th,  and  the  8th  of 
March,  1862,  contested  the  palm  of  victory  with  the  Federal  troops  under 
the  command  of  Generals  Curtis  and  Sigel.  The  forces  of  the  enemy 
numbered  about  thirty-five  thousand  men ;  their  opponents  numbered 
twenty-five  thousand.  The  latter  consisted  of  volunteers  from  Ohio,  In 
diana,  Illinois,  Missouri  and  Iowa.  This  engagement  commenced  on  the 
6th  of  March  by  an  attack  of  the  Eebel  cavalry  on  the  rear  of  the  Union 
army.  The  purpose  of  this  movement  seemed  to  be  to  get  possession  of  the 
wagon-trains  of  the  Federals.  General  Sigel  being  in  command  of  that 
portion  of  the  troops,  resisted  the  enemy  with  great  gallantry.  He  pro 
tected  the  train  during  several  hours  with  eight  hundred  men  against  an 
attack  of  fifteen  hundred.  The  first  day  of  the  conflict  wore  away  in 
various  unsuccessful  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  Eebels  to  get  possession  of 
the  trains,  by  breaking  and  dispersing  the  right  wing  of  the  Federals. 
At  eleven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  the  enemy  renewed  the 
attack.  During  the  preceding  night  General  Curtis  had  made  important 
changes  in  the  disposition  of  his  troops,  and  had  strengthened  those  por 
tions  of  his  line  against  which  he  anticipated  the  most  vigorous  assaults. 
The  centre  of  the  Eebels  was  led  in  person  by  the  notorious  Benjamin 
McCulloch,  who  made  prodigious  exertions  to  overpower  the  firm  and 
steady  ranks  of  the  Federals,  commanded  by  Colonel  Davis,  of  Missouri. 
Repeatedly  did  that  renowned  warrior  bring  up  his  men  to  the  attack, 


202  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

and  as  often  were  they  with  heavy  slaughter  repulsed.  Onee  only  did 
his  troops  obtain  an  advantage  by  driving  back  the  Federals  from  "  Cross 
Timber  Hollow,"  which  had  been  occupied  by  Colonel  Carr.  But  he  paid 
dearly  for  this  temporary  success.  His  columns  were  assailed  with  re 
newed  determination,  by  a  combined  attack  of  the  troops  under  Colonel 
Osterhaus,  Colonel  Davis,  and  General  Sigel,  and  were  discomfited  with 
immense  loss.  It  was  during  this  struggle  that  General  McCulloch  was 
mortally  wounded.  He  fell  while  fighting  in  the  thickest  of  the  combat. 

At  the  end  of  the  second  day's  engagement,  the  advantage  greatly  pre 
ponderated  in  the  favor  of  the  Federals.  During  the  following  night 
General  Curtis  made  additional  changes  in  the  position  of  his  forces,  and 
when  the  morning  of  the  8th  dawned  he  was  prepared  to  receive  the 
renewed  attack  of  the  enemy.  The  combatants  on  both  sides  seemed 
eager  for  the  struggle,  and  the  firing  began  at  sunrise.  It  soon  became 
general  along  the  whole  line,  which  extended  several  miles  in  circuit. 
The  Federal  left  wing  under  Sigel  made  a  forward  movement  against  the 
enemy  posted  on  the  hills.  General  Curtis  then  ordered  his  centre  and 
right  also  to  advance,  and  turning  the  left  wing  of  the  enemy,  to  assail 
his  centre.  This  order  was  admirably  executed,  and  the  Kebels  were 
placed  by  this  skillful  strategy  in  the  arc  of  a  circle  of  destructive  fire. 
Having  thus  enveloped  both  flanks  of  the  enemy,  General  Curtis  com 
manded  a  general  charge  to  be  made  with  the  bayonet.  The  result  was 
decisive.  The  Rebels  were  instantly  thrown  into  confusion,  and  fled  pre 
cipitately  on  all  sides.  The  division  under  Price  retreated  in  one  direc 
tion,  that  under  Van  Dorn  escaped  in  another.  The  pursuit  was  continued 
by  General  Sigel  toward  Keithsville,  and  by  the  cavalry  toward  the 
mountains.  The  rout  of  the  enemy  was  complete.  Their  loss  was  heavy. 
The  death  of  McCulloch  was  a  fatal  blow  to  their  cause  in  the  remoter 
southwest,  where  his  reckless  bravery  and  his  military  skill  had  long 
inspired  them  with  energy  and  hope.  Their  killed  and  wounded  were 
about  two  thousand.  The  victors  captured  more  than  a  thousand  pris 
oners.  The  Federal  loss  was  about  five  hundred  killed,  nine  hundred 
wounded.  A  peculiar  feature  of  this  engagement  was  the  presence  of 
several  thousand  Indians  in  the  Rebel  lines,  commanded  by  Albert  Pike. 
Their  savage  instincts  during  the  conflict  were  demonstrated  by  the  fact 
that  after  its  termination,  many  of  the  wounded  and  slain  of  the  Federal 
troops  were  found  to  have  been  scalped;  thus  renewing  in  those  wild 
western  solitudes  at  the  present  day,  the  primeval  scenes  of  sanguinary 
slaughter,  which  had  characterized  and  disgraced  the  earlier  struggles 
which  occurred  on  the  American  continent. 

The  chief  heroes  of  this  great  battle  were  Generals  Samuel  R.  Curtis 
and  Franz  Sigel.  The  former  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1807.  He  entered 
West  Point  in  1831,  and  was  breveted  second  lieutenant  of  the  seventh 
infantry.  He  resigned  in  1832,  and  studied  and  practiced  law  in  Ohio,  but 


SKETCHES   OF   GENERALS   CURTIS  AND  SIGEL.  203 

soon  turned  his  attention  to  civil  engineering ;  and  in  1837  became  chief 
engineer  of  the  Muskingum  river  improvements.  At  a  later  period  he 
became  engineer  of  the  Board  of  Public  Works  of  the  State  of  Ohio.  In 
1846  he  was  appointed  adjutant-general  of  that  State.  During  the 
Mexican  war  he  served  as  colonel  of  the  third  Ohio  regiment ;  became 
assistant-adjutant-general  to  General  Wool,  and  subsequently  civil  and 
military  governor  of  Saltillo,  Matamoras,  Camargo,  and  Monterey.  Re- 
turning  to  the  United  States,  he  commenced  or  resumed  the  practice  of 
the  law ;  but  abandoned  it  upon  being  chosen  chief  engineer  of  the  Des 
Moines  railroad  in  Iowa.  He  was  afterward  elected  a  Representative  of 
Iowa  in  the  Thirty-Fifth  Congress ;  and  was  twice  rechosen.  When  the 
Rebellion  broke  forth  Colonel  Curtis  raised  a  regiment  in  Iowa,  of  which 
he  took  the  chief  command.  He  resigned  his  seat  in  Congress,  and  hav 
ing  been  made  a  brigadier-general,  assisted  General  Fremont  in  Missouri. 
In  January,  1862,  he  left  Rolla  with  twenty  thousand  men,  drove  Sterling 
Price  from  Springfield,  routed  him  at  Cross  Hollow,  and  crowned  his 
victorious  career  by  his  splendid  victory  at  Pea  Ridge.  In  reward  for 
his  valuable  and  gallant  services,  he  was  afterward  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major-general. 

A  far  different  kind  of  interest  appertains  to  the  history  of  Franz 
Sigel.  He  was  nursed  in  the  revolutionary  storms  of  the  old  world ;  and 
when  triumphant  despots  there  succeeded  in  arresting  the  spirit  of  liberty, 
he  emigrated  to  the  home  of  the  free  in  the  far  West.  *  He  was  born  in 
Baden  in  the  year  1824,  and  received  his  education  at  the  military  school 
at  Carlsruhe.  His  rise  in  his  profession  was  rapid.  In  1847  he  had 
attained  the  rank  of  chief  adjutant;  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
accomplished  officers  of  artillery  in  Germany.  In  1848  the  revolutionary 
movements  commenced  in  that  country,  and  his  enthusiastic  spirit  soon 
enlisted  him  in  the  service  of  those  who  sought  to  disenthrall  the  German 
Fatherland  from  the  dominion  of  its  hereditary  tyrants.  He  was  ap 
pointed  to  the  chief  command  of  one  of  the  armies  of  the  Liberals,  and 
in  several  engagements  distinguished  himself  by  gallantry  and  skill.  On 
one  occasion  he  confronted  eighty  thousand  men  with  thirty  thousand ; 
and  though  a  victory  against  such  immense  odds  was  impossible,  he 
made  good  his  retreat  without  the  loss  of  men  or  guns.  The  conclusion 
of  the  war  and  the  subjugation  of  the  patriots  compelled  him  to  flee. 
After  various  changes  and  vicissitudes  he  was  chosen  professor  in  a  col 
lege  at  St.  Louis,  in  which,  among  other  departments  of  science,  he  gave 
instructions  in  the  military  art.  When  the  Southern  Rebellion  began, 
it  was  the  signal  for  Sigel  to  abandon  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  academic 
life,  and  re-enter  the  stormy  arena  of  conflict.  Such  a  man  as  Sigel,  in 
such  a  time,  and  in  such  a  cause,  could  not  possibly  remain  inactive. 
He  took  the  lead  among  the  gallant  Germans  of  Missouri  who  tendered 
their  services  to  the  Federal  Government.  He  assumed  the  command  of 


204  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

the  third  regiment  of  volunteers  which  was  raised  at  St.  Louis.  We 
have  already  narrated  the  chief  events  of  his  career  subsequent  to  this 
period.  After  the  death  of  General  Lyon  at  Springfield,  he  conducted 
the  retreat  to  Eolla  with  great  ability.  The  distinguished  part  which  he 
enacted  at  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  elevated  him  to  a  high  place  among 
the  most  eminent  and  efficient  of  the  generals  of  the  Union  during  the 
civil  war.  His  services  were  properly  rewarded,  at  a  subsequent  period, 
by  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of  major-general. 

On  the  1 2th  of  March,  1862,  the  nation  was  suddenly  surprised  and 
gratified  by  the  announcement  that  at  length  President  Lincoln  had 
issued  positive  orders  that  the  Federal  armies,  including  that  of  the 
Potomac,  which  had  for  so  many  months  remained  inactive,  should  com 
mence  a  general  advance  against  the  forces  of  the  Eebels.  This  order, 
although  not  published  until  the  12th  of  March,  had  been  issued  privately 
to  the  various  commanders  on  the  27th  of  January  previous ;  and  the 
22d  of  February,  the  anniversary  of  the  birth-day  of  the  Father  of  his 
Country,  was  designated  as  the  day  on  which  that  welcome  movement 
should  begin.  Time,  however,  was  allowed  to  the  commander  of  the 
army  of  the  Potomac  to  complete  the  necessary  organization  of  his  troops 
before  moving,  if  such  further  organization  should  be  requisite. 

Several  days  after  the  public  announcement  of  this  order,  General 
McClellan  issued  an  address  to  his  army,  in  which  he  stated  that  the  time 
of  inaction  having  passed  by,  the  hour  of  aggressive  operations  had 
arrived,  and  that  the  accurate  drilling  and  training  which  were  essential 
to  the  efficiency  of  any  army  had  now  been  attained.  He  urged  them  to 
display  bravery,  fidelity,  and  endurance  in  the  operations  which  were 
before  them ;  and  encouraged  them  by  the  prospects  of  victory,  subse 
quent  peace,  and  the  restoration  of  the  Union.  In  accordance  with  the 
promise  contained  in  this  address,  a  portion  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac 
began  to  advance.  They  took  the  route  toward  Centreville  and  Manassas, 
which  had  already  been  rendered  famous  by  the  engagement  at  Bull's  Run. 
Daring  some  days  previous  to  the  march,  vague  reports  had  been  current 
throughout  the  country,  that  the  Rebel  army,  which  had  wintered  on  the 
Potomac,  had  retreated  toward  Gordonsville ;  and  that  the  battle-ground 
which  they  had  fortified  with  so  much  labor  and  skill,  was  no  longer 
defended  by  them  against  the  advance  of  the  Federal  forces.  To  the 
astonishment  of  the  whole  nation,  these  reports,  which  at  first  seemed 
incredible,  were  found  upon  examination  to  be  perfectly  true.  The 
great  Rebel  army  had  actually  vacated  their  position  at  Manassas,  and 
were  retreating  southward  as  the  Federal  troops  advanced.  Their  object 
was  now  supposed  to  be  to  concentrate  their  strength  nearer  to  Richmond  ; 
and  it  must  be  admitted  that,  by  this  movement  they  gained  some  im 
portant  strategical  advantages.  The  fortifications  which  they  had  thus 
abandoned  were  formidable.  They  extended  from  a  point  half  a  mile 


MOVEMENT  OF  FEDERAL  TROOPS.  205 

north  of  Centreville,  toward  tlie  south  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  The 
embrazures  had  been  mounted  by  heavy  guns,  which  were  withdrawn  in 
the  retreat.  There  were  ample  indications  that  the  ammunition  and  the 
stores  of  the  Kebel  army  had  been  abundant.  Yast  warehouses  had  been 
erected  at  Manassas  for  the  storage  of  provisions,  and  miles  of  well-con 
structed  huts  demonstrated  that  during  the  winter  the  comfort  and  health 
of  their  forces  had  been  carefully  attended  to.  After  their  retrograde 
movement,  it  did  not  comport  with  the  plans  of  the  Federal  commanders 
to  pursue  the  line  of  advance  further  in  that  direction ;  and  the  troops 
returned  toward  Washington,  to  continue  their  operations  against  the 
enemy  by  another  and  a  more  circuitous  route.  That  portion  of  the 
Federal  army  which  was  Jed  by  General  Banks  proceeded  toward  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  took  possession  of  Leesburg.  This  corps  was  destined  to  pur 
sue  the  retreating  enemy  toward  Winchester,  where  it  was  understood 
they  had  taken  a  strong  position  which  they  defended  with  a  formidable 
force. 

The  admirable  plan  for  the  subjugation  of  the  southwestern  portion  of 
the  Eebel  States  which  General  Halleck  had  elaborated,  required  that  the 
Mississippi  river  should  be  opened  to  the  advance  of  the  Federal  armies, 
and  that  the  road  to  Memphis  should  be  unobstructed.  To  resist  this 
suspected  purpose,  the  Kebels  had  taken  possession  of  an  island  in  that 
river  known  as  Number  Ten,  had  collected  together  there  an  army  of 
fifteen  thousand  men,  had  fortified  it  with  great  skill  and  industry,  and 
had  thus  far  effectually  intercepted  the  navigation  of  the  river.  This 
island  is  situated  in  a  bend  of  the  stream,  which  touches  the  territory  of 
Tennessee;  and  is  located  two  hundred  and  forty  miles  from  St.  Louis, 
nine  hundred  and  fifty  from  New  Orleans.  The  Eebel  fortifications 
mounted  forty  guns  of  heavy  calibre.  They  possessed  also  a  river  force 
of  five  gunboats  and  a  floating  battery.  It  had  now  become  essentially 
necessary  to  the  interests  of  the  Federal  cause  that  this  stronghold  should 
be  attacked  and  taken. 

The  Federal  fleet  of  gunboats  and  mortar  flats  destined  for  this  service 
was  placed  under  the  command  of  Commodore  Foote.  On  the  15th  of 
March  the  gunboats  Benton,  Louisville,  Cincinnati,  Carondelet,  and 
Conestoga,  proceeded  from  Cairo.  At  Columbus  they  were  joined  by  the 
Pittsburg,  St.  Louis,  and  Mound  City,  together  with  eight  mortar  flats, 
with  transports  and  ordnance  boats.  All  these  vessels  sailed  down  the 
river,  reached  the  scene  of  conflict  on  the  same  day,  and  took  their 
positions  about  two  miles  above  the  island.  Commodore  Foote  imme 
diately  commenced  the  bombardment  with  three  of  his  batteries.  General 
Pope,  who  was  besieging  New  Madrid,  ten  miles  below  the  island,  and 
who  had  erected  works  extending  fifteen  miles  along  the  shore,  as  far  as 
Point  Pleasant,  commanded  the  river  below,  so  as  to  prevent  the  escape 
of  the  Eebel s  in  that  direction.  Yain  attempts  had  been  made  to  send 


206  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

transports  through  the  bayous  to  the  assistance  of  General  Pope ;  but  a 
gunboat  was  indispensably  necessary  to  protect  those  vessels  during  their 
transit.  At  length  the  Carondelet  was  selected  to  pass  the  Rebel 
batteries  and  to  peform  that  service.  On  her  port  side  a  flat  boat  was 
lashed,  loaded  with  bales  of  compressed  hay,  which  protected  her  from 
the  works  erected  on  the  Kentucky  shore.  On  her  opposite  side  a  barge 
laden  with  coal  was  attached,  which  would  furnish  the  necessary  fuel. 
At  ten  o'clock  at  night  she  was  cast  loose,  and  commenced  to  sail  slowly 
down  the  stream.  At  that  moment  a  storm  of  terrific  fury  came  raging 
up  the  river ;  the  rain  descended  in  a  deluge ;  the  thunder  peals  were 
appalling ;  the  lightning  was  fearfully  vivid  and  blinding.  In  the  midst 
of  this  chaos  of  the  warring  elements;  the  Carondelet  began  to  run  the 
gauntlet  of  the  Rebel  batteries.  As  she  passed  the  second  of  these,  a 
broad  and  fierce  blaze  of  flame,  accompanied  by  a  deafening  roar,  indi 
cated  to  thousands  of  anxious  spectators  in  the  vicinity  that  the  Rebels 
had  at  length  observed  the  vessel  in  the  darkness,  and  had  opened  on  her. 
Still  she  proceeded  in  silence  on  her  way.  Battery  after  battery  saluted 
her  as  she  passed.  Slowly  and  steadily  she  steamed  ahead,  and  made  no 
response  to  her  assailants.  In  twenty  minutes  she  passed  all  the  batteries 
unharmed  and  untouched.  Forty-seven  shots  had  been  vainly  fired  at 
her.  Then  her  powerful  guns  answered  in  an  exultant  peal,  which  told 
that  she  had  attained  a  point  beyond  the  reach  of  danger.  The  patriotic 
spectators  on  the  Federal  gunboats,  and  on  the  shore,  set  up  a  tumultuous 
shout  of  joy,  which  drowned  even  the  loud  howlings  of  the  tempest.  The 
Carondelet  then  proceeded  to  New  Madrid,  to  the  assistance  of  General 
Pope,  who  soon  after  made*his  approaches  with  such  skill  and  vigor  that 
the  Rebels,  rather  than  endure  the  horrors  of  an  assault,  evacuated  the 
place  on  the  14th  of  March.  General  Pope  then  took  possession  of  it, 
and  obtained  a  vast  amount  of  stores,  ammunition,  and  guns. 

It  was  soon  ascertained  that  the  Rebels  had  erected  a  large  number  of 
batteries,  both  on  the  Kentucky  and  the  Tennessee  banks  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the  operations  of  their  confederates  on 
Island  Number  Ten.  Their  river  boats  were  also  found  to  be  efficient, 
and  assailed  the  batteries  of  Commodore  Foote  with  great  spirit.  But  the 
power  and  effect  of  the  Federal  mortars  far  transcended  those  of  the 
enemy.  The  shells  which  were  discharged  by  the  former  were  of  im 
mense  size,  and  being  sent  with  remarkable  precision  into  the  works  of 
the  Rebels,  produced  the  most  disastrous  results.  A  single  mortar  was 
capable  of  discharging  in  a  single  day  about  a  hundred  shells.  The 
Rebels  did  not  respond  to  the  attack  on  the  island  until  the  evening  of 
the  16th,  when  they  opened  their  defence  by  firing  a  hundred  and  twenty 
pound  rifled  shell  in  the  direction  of  the  transports.  This  enormous 
missile  fell  and  burst  a  few  yards  astern  of  the  Graham  and  the  Silver 
Wave,  which  were  crowded  with  troops ;  and  had  the  aim  of  the  Rebels 


gs 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  ISLAND  NUMBER  TEN.  207 

been  more  accurate  it  might  have  produced  dreadful  havoc.  A  portion 
of  the  Federal  artillery  was  placed  on  the  Missouri  shore  in  such  a  po 
sition  as  to  be  within  range  of  those  batteries  on  the  island  which  were 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  guns  of  the  fleet.  On  the  17th,  Commodore 
Foote  tried  an  experiment  which  proved  successful.  He  ordered  three 
gunboats,  the  Benton,  the  Cincinnati,  and  the  St.  Louis,  to  be  lashed  to 
gether,  and  while  the  mortars  continued  to  play  upon  the  works  of  the 
enemy,  they  slowly  sailed  down  the  river  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoiter- 
ing  the  batteries  of  the  Rebels  and  drawing  their  fire  from  those  works 
which  might  not  yet  have  been  observed.  The  result  was  that  three 
batteries  located  lower  down  on  the  island  commenced  to  fire,  and  with 
such  accuracy  that  each  of  the  three  boats  was  struck  during  the  excur 
sion.  One  shot  passed  through  the  upper  deck  of  the  Cincinnati,  another 
through  the  chimney  of  the  Benton,  and  one  of  the  guns  on  the  St.  Louis 
burst,  killing  four  men  and  wounding  ten.  But  the  purpose  of  the  ad 
venture  had  been  successfully  accomplished. 

The  bombardment  of  the  island  continued  from  day  to  day,  and  the 
Federal  vessels  retained  their  original  position.  The  firing  was  kept  up 
with  variable  spirit  on  the  part  of  the  Rebels,  and  with  such  assiduity  on 
the  part  of  their  assailants  as  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  strengthening 
or  repairing  their  fortifications.  These  became  considerably  damaged  by 
the  Federal  guns ;  but  the  effect  of  their  fire  on  the  Federal  boats  was 
unimportant.  Thus,  during  the  operations  of  an  entire  day,  only  four 
shots  of  all  those  discharged  by  the  forts  on  the  island  struck  any  of  the 
vessels.  On  the  18th,  six  additional  mortar-batteries  came  from  Cairo 
and  joined  the  besieging  force.  Sometimes  the  scene  presented  by  the 
bombardment  was  one  of  great  beauty  and  sublimity,  especially  when  the 
firing  was  continued  during  the  night.  At  such  times,  the  loud  reverbe 
ration  of  the  guns  waking  up  the  unfamiliar  echoes  of  the  surrounding 
shores,  the  graceful  passage  of  the  shells  in  their  parabolic  course  through 
the  heavens,  the  sudden  flashes  of  their  explosion  illumining  the  dark 
ness  for  miles  around,  the  returning  shells  of  the  Rebels  issuing  from  the 
fortifications  erected  at  different  points  on  the  island,  their  explosion 
above  or  near  the  tranquil  bosom  of  the  broad  stream,  the  shouts  of  the 
combatants,  and  the  calm  intervals  of  silence,  soon  to  be  broken  by  the 
thunder-tones  of  new  and  fresh  discharges;  these,  and  many  other  inci 
dents  of  the  spectacle,  rendered  it  one  of  novel  and  impressive  interest. 

During  a  portion  of  the  time  occupied  by  the  bombardment,  the  Fede 
ral  fleet  did  not  put  forth  its  entire  strength,  and  the  firing  was  occa 
sionally  suspended.  This  enigma  then  seemed  unaccountable  to  the 
enemy,  but  at  a  later  period  it  was  sufficiently  explained.  The  design  of 
this  mysterious  but  masterly  inactivity,  was  to  occupy  the  attention  of 
the  Rebels  and  retain  all  those  troops  which  they  had  collected  on  the 
island  in  that  position,  that  they  might  not  interfere  with  the  other  ope- 


208  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

rations  of  the  besiegers  and  with  the  plans  of  General  Pope.  During  this 
interval  the  enemy  were  permitted  to  strengthen  their  works,  and  thus 
they  served  the  purposes  of  the  Federals  by  protracting  the  bombard 
ment.  Meanwhile,  General  Pope  was  strengthening  his  position  and 
rendering  the  ultimate  escape  of  the  enemy  down  the  Mississippi  still 
more  impracticable  by  erecting  an  additional  battery  on  the  Missouri 
shore  two  miles  below  Tiptonville.  One  of  the  first  achievements  of  that 
battery  was  to  sink  a  transport  filled  with  stores  for  the  enemy,  which 
was  proceeding  from  the  Kentucky  shore  to  the  head  of  the  island.  On 
the  29th  Commodore  Foote  renewed  the  bombardment  with  vigor.  The 
Kebels  replied  with  equal  spirit,  and  from  new  points  which  they  had 
recently  fortified.  At  this  period  the  cutting  of  a  channel  for  the  passage 
of  large  boats  through  the  James  bayou,  a  swampy  peninsula  formed  by 
a  bend  in  the  river,  was  commenced.  The  purpose  of  this  novel  and 
extremely  difficult  enterprise  was  to  enable  General  Pope  to  convey  troops 
over  to  the  Tennessee  side  ;  and  by  that  means,  in  conjunction  with  the 
Union  forces  which  were  approaching  the  scene  of  conflict  from  that 
direction,  to  surround  the  enemy  more  completely.  This  extraordinary 
work  was  accomplished  by  sawing  off  the  heavy  timber  which  encum 
bered  the  bayou,  beneath  the  surface  of  the  water,  for  a  distance  of  ten 
miles.  Few  more  remarkable  instances  of  perseverance  and  determina 
tion  can  be  found  than  this  enterprise  in  the  annals  of  modern  warfare. 
At  length,  on  the  7th  of  April,  General  Pope  transferred  a  portion  of  his 
army  through  this  new  channel  to  the  shore  of  Tennessee.  Four  steamers 
were  used  for  the  conveyance  of  these  troops.  The  remainder  of  his  army 
was  transported  by  the  same  route  afterward. 

This  channel  was  created  by  Colonel  Bissel  and  his  regiment  of  en 
gineers.  Their  work  deserves  to  be  placed  among  those  great  master 
pieces  of  mechanical  skill,  of  which  the  Simplon  across  the  Alps — one 
of  the  proudest  products  of  Napoleon's  genius — is  considered  as  the  most 
colossal.  On  the  6th  of  April,  General  Pope  ordered  Captain  Walker  to 
make  a  reconnoissance  in  the  Carondelet  to  Tiptonville  for  the  purpose  of 
drawing  the  fire  of  the  concealed  batteries  which  the  Rebels  had  there 
erected.  The  exploration  was  successful — the  position  of  the  guns  was 
ascertained — and  they  were  immediately  attacked  and  silenced.  The 
troops  on  board,  consisting  of  the  twenty-seventh  Illinois  regiment,  then 
landed,  spiked  the  guns,  broke  the  carriages,  and  threw  the  ammunition 
into  the  river. 

On  the  7th  General  Pope,  with  a  portion  of  his  troops,  marched  to  Tip 
tonville,  and  attacked  the  Rebel  troops  which  were  posted  at  that  point. 
The  latter  were  completely  routed,  and  fled  into  the  surrounding  swamps. 
The  Federals  captured  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  together  with  cannon 
and  ammunition.  This  disaster,  combined  with  the  knowledge  of  the 
construction  of  the  channel  through  the  James  bayou,  and  the  renewed 


SKETCH   OF   GENERAL  POPE.  209 

vigor  of  the  attack  of  the  Union  fleet  on  their  works  on  the  island,  dis 
heartened  the  Rebels  who  were  posted  there,  and  induced  them  to  surren 
der  their  stronghold.  This  protracted  drama  came  to  a  sudden  close  on 
the  7th  of  March.  At  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  a  messenger  was  sent 
by  the  Rebel  commander  to  Commodore  Foote,  proposing  to  capitulate, 
and  inquiring  what  terms  might  be  expected.  The  commodore  replied, 
that  no  terms  whatever  would  be  allowed,  except  an  unconditional  sur 
render.  At  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  surrender  was 
formally  made.  Commodore  Foote  immediately  sent  Colonel  Buford 
with  two  gunboats  to  take  possession  of  the  island.  Had  the  enemy  not 
yielded  at  that  precise  period,  a  simultaneous  attack  on  the  island  would 
have  been  made  at  once,  by  the  mortar  boats,  the  gunboats,  and  the  land 
forces  under  General  Pope.  The  result  of  this  combined  movement 
could  not  have  been  doubtful,  but  the  voluntary  surrender  of  the  Rebel 
commander  opportunely  averted  the  heavy  sacrifice  of  human  life  which 
it  would  necessarily  have  involved. 

The  consequences  of  the  capture  of  this  island  were  very  important. 
The  number  of  batteries  which  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Federal 
ists  was  eleven,  mounting  seventy  heavy  guns.  A  floating  battery  of  sixteen 
lighter  cannon,  which  the  Rebels  had  cut  adrift,  was  afterward  recovered- 
A  vast  quantity  of  munitions  of  war,  four  steamers,  and  several  gunboats, 
were  also  taken.  The  number  of  prisoners  captured  was  seventeen 
officers,  three  hundred  and  sixty-eight  privates,  beside  several  hundred 
sick  and  wounded.  The  defence  of  the  island  bad  been  conducted  by  the 
Rebel  General  William  D.  Makall,  who  became  a  prisoner  of  war.  As 
soon  as  the  surrender  of  the  works  became  known,  the  Confederate  troops 
stationed  on  the  Tennessee  shore  retreated  with  precipitation.  This  great 
victory,  as  might  reasonably  be  expected,  filled  the  nation  with  re 
joicing  ;  and  they  approved  with  sincerity  the  message  which  was  imme 
diately  afterward  sent  to  the  victors  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  ex 
pressive  of  the  public  gratitude  for  their  services,  and  exultation  at  their 
success. 

Major-General  John  Pope,  who  divided  with  Commodore  Foote  the 
chief  glory  attendant  upon  this  conquest,  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1823. 
He  entered  West  Point  Academy  in  1838,  and  graduated  in  1842,  re 
ceiving  the  brevet  rank  of  second  lieutenant  of  topographical  engineers. 
He  distinguished  himself  by  his  gallantry  during  the  Mexican  war,  espe 
cially  at  the  battles  of  Monterey  and  Beuna  Yista ;  receiving  the  brevet 
rank  of  first  lieutenant  and  captain  for  meritorious  services  in  those  bat 
tles.  He  subsequently  served  in  New  Mexico  and  in  Minnesota  Territory 
as  an  engineer  officer.  In  1854,  by  appointment  of  Jefferson  Davis,  then 
Secretary  of  War,  he  explored  the  route  for  a  Pacific  railroad  from  the 
Red  river  to  the  Rio  Grande,  examining  in  connection  with  it  the  Liang 
Estacado  or  Staked  Plain  in  Texas.  In  1856  he  was  promoted  to  a 

14 


210  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

captaincy.  For  the  next  three  years  he  was  engaged  in  engineering 
duties  in  the  Western  Military  Department.  In  May,  1861,  he  was  made 
a  brigadier-general  of  volunteers.  Though  younger  than  many  of  his 
associate  officers  of  similar  rank  in  the  army,  General  Pope  was  inferior 
to  few  of  them  in  energy,  ability,  and  professional  skill.  His  achieve 
ments  at  New  Madrid  and  Island  Number  Ten,  especially  his  bold  and 
original  conception  of  cutting  a  channel  through  the  swampy  bayou  near 
that  island,  and  the  success  which  attended  his  persevering  efforts,  deserve 
to  hold  a  prominent  place,  and  to  be  invested  with  no  secondary  interest, 
among  tha  many  thrilling  and  noteworthy  events  which,  in  all  corning 
time,  will  enliven  and  decorate  the  annals  of  the  civil  war  in  the  United 
States. 

After  the  conquest  of  Eoanoke  Island  by  General  Burnside,  that  officer 
prepared  to  extend  his  operations ;  and  on  the  10th  of  March  sailed  south 
ward  through  Pamlico  Sound,  for  the  purpose  of  assailing  the  Rebel  for 
tifications  which  had  been  erected  at  Newbern.  This  place  is  situated  at 
the  confluence  of  the  Neuse  and  Trent  rivers,  about  a  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  from  Roanoke  Island.  It  was  a  port  of  entry  for  North  Carolina, 
and  the  capital  of  Craven  county.  Its  capture  was  a  necessary  prelimi 
nary  to  the  attack  on  Beaufort,  in  North  Carolina,  as  well  as  to  that  on 
Fort  Macon.  The  batteries  of  the  Rebels  had  been  erected  two  miles 
below  Newbern.  Their  earthworks  extended  over  a  front  of  nearly  two 
miles,  mounted  forty-six  heavy  guns,  and  were  defended  by  a  numerous 
force.  The  attack  was  made  on  the  14th  of  March,  the  troops  having 
been  landed  on  the  previous  evening  at  the  mouth  of  Slocurn  Creek,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Neuse  river,  about  fifteen  miles  below  Newbern. 
They  were  divided  by  General  Burnside  into  three  brigades,  commanded 
by  Generals  Reno,  Parks,  and  Foster.  The  Rebels  had  also  erected  a 
series  of  batteries  along  the  banks  of  the  Neuse.  These  were  successively 
attacked  and  taken  by  the  Federal  troops,  in  their  advance  toward  New 
bern.  In  front  of  their  intrenchments  the  enemy  had  felled  a  number  of 
trees,  and  these  were  so  arranged  as  to  form  an  almost  impenetrable 
abattis.  The  works  were  defended  by  about  four  thousand  Rebels,  while 
a  reserve  of  four  thousand  was  stationed  at  Newbern.  The  Federals, 
eight  thousand  in  number,  advanced  with  spirit  to  the  attack  on  the  works 
at  which  the  Rebels  had  determined  to  make  their  final  and  most  desperate 
stand.  A  conflict  of  three  hours'  duration  ensued.  The  Federals  fought 
at  musket  range  until  their  ammunition  was  exhausted.  General  Burn- 
side  then  ordered  a  general  charge  to  be  made  with  the  bayonet.  This 
movement,  executed  with  the  utmost  gallantry,  decided  the  issue  of  the 
day.  The  Rebels  fled  with  precipitation,  and  left  the  most  valuable 
trophies  in  possession  of  the  victors.  During  the  progress  of  the  battle, 
an  important  advantage  was  gained  by  the  Federalists,  by  a  flank  move 
ment  effected  by  the  second  brigade,  commanded  by  General  Reno, 


GENERAL  BURNSIDE  ATTACKS   NEAVBERN.  211 

assisted  by  a  portion  of  the  third.  The  Rebels  fought  with  desperation ; 
and  in  one  instance,  when  a  portion  of  the  twenty-first  Massachusetts 
regiment  had  advanced  with  too  much  eagerness  within  the  intrenchments 
of  the  enemy,  they  were  overpowered  by  superior  numbers  and  compelled 
to  retreat.  The  advantage,  however,  was  but  temporary ;  for  soon  after 
ward  the  whole  mass  of  Rebel  troops  were  driven  in  the  greatest  confu 
sion  from  their  works.  They  left  all  their  guns  unspiked.  These  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  victors,  together  with  three  thousand  small  arms, 
three  light  batteries  of  field  artillery,  a  vast  amount  of  ammunition,  and 
three  hundred  prisoners.  The  loss  of  the  Federals  was  seventy  killed, 
two  hundred  and  fifty  wounded. 

After  taking  possession  of  the  deserted  intrenchments,  General  Burn- 
side  pressed  forward  to  occupy  Newbern.  The  army  passed  rapidly  along 
the  railroad  and  the  stage  road.  In  their  retreat  the  Rebels  set  fire  to  the 
bridge  across  the  Trent,  and  afterward  attempted,  with  less  success,  to 
burn  the  city.  This  ruthless  purpose  was  defeated  by  the  exertions  of  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants  who  remained.  It  became  necessary  for  the 
Federal  troops  to  delay  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  until  the  transports  had 
sailed  up  from  below.  The  first  brigade  at  length  embarked  and  passed 
over.  The  second  and  third -bivouacked  during  the  night  of  the  1-ith  on 
the  other  side,  and  did  not  cross  until  the  next  day.  Newbern  was 
nearly  deserted  by  its  white  population,  and  the  negroes  were  revelling  in 
a  drunken  carnival  of  barbarous  license.  A  provost  guard  was  immedi 
ately  established  to  restore  order,  and  secure  the  safety  of  life  and  prop 
erty.  The  possession  of  this  important  place  was  thus  obtained  by  the 
Federal  forces  by  a  most  brave  and  brilliant  assault.  The  immediate  re 
sult  of  this  conquest  was  the  cutting  off  of  all  railroad  communication 
with  Beaufort,  and  the  embarrassment  of  that  between  Richmond,  Charles 
ton,  and  the  Atlantic  slave  States  ;  the  control  of  a  large  part  of  eastern 
North  Carolina;  and  an  easy  advance  either  toward  Raleigh  in  the  inte- 
terior,  or  toward  Fort  Macon  on  the  south. 


212  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC ITS  SUBDIVISIONS THE  BATTLE  OF  WINCHESTER 

INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BATTLE ITS    RESULTS THE    KILLED    AND    WOUNDED SKETCH    OF 

GENERAL  SHIELDS — CONCENTRATION  OF    THE    REBEL    TROOPS    NEAR    CORINTH — APPROACH 

OF    THE    FEDERAL    ARMY    UNDER    GENERAL    GRANT — DISPOSITION    OF    THE    REBEL    ARMY 

COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  PITTSBURG  LANDING  OR  SHILOH ATTACK  AND  CAPTURE 

OF  GENERAL  PRENTISs's  TROOPS EFFORTS  OF    GENERALS    SHERMAN    AND  MCCLERNAND 

THE  ENGAGEMENT    BECOMES  GENERAL DESPERATE    FIGHTING  ON    BOTH    SIDES — GRADUAL 

REPULSE    AND    RETREAT    OF    THE    FEDERAL    ARMY TERRIFIC    SCENES INTERPOSITION    OF 

THE  FEDERAL  GUNBOATS END  OF  THE  FIRST  DAY'S  BATTLE — ARRIVAL  OF  GENERAL  BUELL 

DISPOSITION  OF  TROOPS    DURING  THE    ENSUING  NIGHT — THE    SECOND    DAY'S  CONFLICT 

INCIDENTS  OF  THIS  DAY SKILL  AND  ENERGY  OF    GENERAL  BUELL THE  TIDE    OF    VICTORY 

IS     GRADUALLY     REVERSED ULTIMATE     DEFEAT     OF     THE     REBELS THEIR      RETREAT      TO 

CORINTH SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  BUELL RESULTS  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  SHILOH. 

WHEN  at  length,  in  compliance  with  the  positive  order  of  President 
Lincoln,  the  great  army  of  the  Potomac,  numbering  nearly  two  hundred 
thousand  men,  moved  to  the  conquest  of  Kichmond,  it  was  divided  into 
several  separate  corps  d'armee.  The  command  of  all  but  two  of  these  was 
entrusted  to  General  MoClellan.  After  leaving  Manassas  it  was  conveyed 
by  transports  down  the  Potomac  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and  having  afterward 
disembarked  below  Yorktown,  prepared  to  effect  the  reduction  of  that  place, 
and  then  advance  toward  the  Rebel  capital.  The  second  corps  under 
General  McDowell  pursued  a  middle  line  of  march,  due  south,  toward  the 
city  of  Fredericksburg.  The  third,  under  General  Banks,  passing  through 
Harper's  Ferry,  proceeded  to  Winchester,  and  thence  through  the  valley 
of  the  Shenandaoh,  by  Strasburg,  Woodstock,  New  Market,  and  Har- 
risonburg,  toward  Staunton.  It  was  a  portion  of  this  force  which 
encountered  a  large  body  of  Rebels  near  Winchester,  and  which,  led  on 
by  General  Shields,  gained  a  decisive  victory  at  that  place. 

The  Rebel  army  which  thus  came  into  action  near  Winchester,  was 
commanded  by  General  T.  J.  Jackson.  On  Saturday,  March  22d,  1862, 
some  skirmishing  took  place  between  Ashby's  famous  cavalry  and  the 
Federal  pickets,  until  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  enemy 
appeared  in  larger  numbers.  They  advanced  as  far  as  the  Stone  House 
Mill  on  the  Strasburg  turnpike.  General  Shields  then  ordered  three 
batteries  of  artillery  to  be  sent  to' the  scene  of  action,  and  a  brisjt  combat 
ensued  between  them  and  the  Rebels.  It  was  of  short  duration,  however, 
for  soon  the  latter  broke  and  retreated.  General  Shields  was  on  the  field 
during  the  conflict,  and  was  wounded  in  the  arm.  The  enemy  was  fol 
lowed  a  short  distance,  when  night  put  an  end  to  the  pursuit. 

On  Sunday  morning,  March  23d,  the  Rebels,  having  been  reinforced 


THE  BATTLE  OF  WINCHESTER.  213 

oy  five  regiments  of  infantry  and  two  batteries  of  artillery  under  General 
Garnett,  renewed  the  conflict.  Their  united  forces  amounted  to  eight  or 
ten  thousand  men.  Their  line  of  battle  extended  about  a  mile  on  the 
right  of  the  village  of  Kerntown.  The  action  commenced  with  the  eighth 
Ohio  regiment,  which  formed  part  of  General  Tyler's  brigade.  A  furious 
assault  was  made  on  these  troops,  with  the  design  of  turning  the  right 
flank  of  the  Federals.  They  were  repulsed  with  great  heroism  by  the 
Ohio  troops;  and  although  they  emerged  five  times  from  the  woods  and 
from  behind  their  stone  wall  parapets,  they  were  invariably  repulsed. 
The  left  wing  of  the  Federals  consisted  of  the  thirteenth  Indiana,  the 
seventh  Ohio,  and  a  battery  of  the  fourth  regular  artillery,  commanded 
by  Captain  Jenks.  The  centre  consisted  of  the  fourteenth  Indiana,  the 
sixty-seventh  Ohio,  and  the  eighty-fourth  Pennsylvania.  The  cavalry, 
comprising  the  first  Michigan  and  the  first  Ohio,  were  drawn  up  in  the 
rear.  The  Federal  right  included  the  eighth  and  fifth  Ohio,  and  a  battery 
of  the  first  Virginia  regiment.  Three  regiments  constituted  the  reserve. 

During  the  engagement  all  these  troops  except  the  cavalry  were  brought 
into  action.  The  battle  raged  along  the  whole  line  from  eleven  in  the 
morning  until  half-past  two.  At  that  time  General  Shields  ordered  his 
right  wing  to  charge  upon  the  enemy  with  the  bayonet.  Previous  to 
issuing  this  order,  he  had  strengthened  his  right  by  the  addition  of  the 
eighty-fourth  Pennsylvania  and  a  battery  of  artillery.  The  left  wing  of 
the  enemy,  opposing  the  Federal  right,  had  also  been  reinforced ;  and  the 
execution  of  the  order  to  charge  had  become  one,  not  only  of  importance, 
but  also  of  difficulty.  On  the  success  of  the  movement  the  issue  of  the 
conflict  depended.  It  was  three  o'clock  when  all  was  ready,  and  the 
word  of  command  was  given.  General  Tyler  led  the  charge  at  the  head 
of  his  troops.  As  the  Federals  advanced  toward  the  Eebels,  they  encoun 
tered  a  hailstorm  from  their  artillery  and  small  arms ;  and  their  loss  was 
heavy.  The  former  reserved  their  fire  until  they  were  within  fifteen  or 
twenty  yards  of  the  enemy;  they  then  poured  into  them  a  destructive 
deluge  of  lead  and  iron,  and  charged  upon  them  with  the  bayonet.  But 
the  resistance  at  first  made  was  stubborn  and  resolute.  The  enemy  fought 
bravely  and  contested  the  ground  foot  by  foot.  General  Jackson  had 
changed  the  position  of  some  of  his  troops  during  the  action,  so  that  now 
they  presented  the  form  of  a  concave  front  to  their  assailants ;  and  his 
troops  continued  the  struggle  for  victory  with  great  determination. 

Nevertheless,  the  valor  of  the  Federal  forces  was  destined  to  triumph. 
The  Kebels  at  length  began  to  retire,  and  fled  about  half  a  mile.  They 
then  placed  their  guns  in  position  and  renewed  the  contest.  Overborne 
again  by  the  heroism  of  their  assailants,  they  resumed  their  retrograde 
movement,  still  bringing  their  guns  to  bear  upon  the  pursuers  at  every 
opportunity.  Thus  the  fight  and  the  pursuit  were  continued  until  night 
fall,  when  the  victorious  Federalists  bivouacked  during  the  night  upon 


2H  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE.  UNITED  STATES. 

the  battle-field.  On  the  next  day  the  chase  of  the  Rebels  continued  as 
fur  as  the  vicinity  of  Strasburg.  The  fighting  during  the  battle  of  Win 
chester  was  at  some  periods  as  desperate  as  can  well  be  imagined ;  and 
the  intensity  of  the  struggle  may  be  inferred  from  the  single  fact  that, 
within  a  few  minutes,  four  standard  bearers  of  one  of  the  Federal  regi 
ments  were  successively  slain.  Captain  Whitcome,  of  the  fifth  Ohio,  then 
took  up  the  fallen  colors ;  but  he  also  fell  in  a  few  seconds,  while  cheer 
ing  on  his  men.  The  battle-field,  after  such  a  conflict,  necessarily  pre 
sented  a  revolting  spectacle.  The  loss  on  both  sides  was  very  heavy, 
when  the  number  of  combatants  engaged  is  taken  into  consideration. 
Eighty-five  Rebels  were  buried  on  the  field  in  a  single  grave,  thirty  feet 
wide.  Ten  wagons  filled  with  dead  and  wounded,  accompanied  the  fugi 
tives  toward  Strasburg.  Along  the  stone  parapet  or  wall  which  formed 
part  of  the  enemy's  line,  their  dead  bodies  were  found  piled  in  heaps  upon 
each  other.  The  loss  on  the  Federal  side  was  about  one  hundred  and 
thirty  killed,  two  hundred  and  fifty  wounded.  After  the  pursuit  of  the 
Rebels  as  far  as  Strasburg,  they  continued  their  retreat  through  the  valley 
of  the  Shenandoah  toward  Woodstock. 

General  James  Shields,  whose  skill  and  valor  contributed  so  much  to 
the  victory  of  the  troops  under  his  command,  was  born  in  the  county 
of  Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  1810.  He  emigrated  to  this  country  when  sixteen 
years  of  age,  and  after  pursuing  mathematical,  classical,  and  legal  studies 
at  the  East,  settled  in  Kaskaskia,  Illinois,  in  1832,  and  was  admitted  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  bar.  In  1836  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Legislature  of  that  State.  In  1839  he  was  chosen  State  auditor,  and  in 
1843  appointed  judge  of  its  Supreme  Court.  In  1845  he  received  from 
President  Polk  the  appointment  of  commissioner  of  the  General  Land 
Office  at  Washington.  When  the  Mexican  war  commenced,  he  was 
made  a  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  fought  with  great  gallantry 
at  Vera  Cruz  and  Cerro  Gordo.  It  was  in  the  latter  battle  that  he  re 
ceived  a  dangerous  wound,  and  was  saved  from  death  by  a  singular  and 
propitious  accident.  A  copper  ball  had  passed  through  his  body  and  lungs, 
the  extravasated  blood  was  gradually  filling  up  his  lungs,  and  he-  was 
rapidly  approaching  the  hour  of  death.  His  case  had  been  given  over 
as  hopeless  by  the  regular  surgeons  of  the  army,  when  a  Mexican  doctor 
offered  to  save  his  life  if  he  would  permit  him  to  operate.  The  permis 
sion  was  readily  granted.  A  fine  silk  handkerchief  was  then  worked 
into  the  wound,  and  finally  drawn  through  it  and  taken  out  at  the  back, 
so  that  daylight  could  be  seen  through  the  aperture.  By  means  of  the 
handkerchief  the  blood  was  removed,  the  wound  afterward  healed,  and 
the  patient  recovered.  He  subsequently  distinguished  himself  at  Chapul- 
tepec,  and  was  again  wounded,  though  less  severely  than  before.  His 
services  were  rewarded  by  being  made  major-general  of  volunteers.  In 
1848  he  was  appointed  Governor  of  Oregon  Territory,  but  soon  resigned, 


ATTACK  AND  CAPTURE  OF  GEN.  PIIENTI6S'S  TROOPS.         215 

and  in  1849  was  elected  to  represent  that  state  in  the  Federal  Senate,  in 
place  of  Mr.  Breese.  Technical  objections  having  been  raised  against  his 
admission  to  that  body,  he  resigned  his  seat,  was  immediately  re-elected, 
and  afterward  served  his  full  term  of  six  years  in  that  important  assem 
blage.  In  1855  he  removed  to  Minnesota.  He  was  soon  elected  from 
that  State  to  a  seat  in  the  Federal  Senate ;  but  having  drawn  the  short 
term,  his  period  of  service  expired  in  1859.  He  then  emigrated  to  Cali 
fornia,  and  there  resumed  the  profession  of  the  law.  When  the  Eebel- 
lion  commenced,  he  was  invited  from  that  distant  point  to  accept  a  com 
mission  in  the  Federal  army.  The  offer  was  at  first  declined;  but  upon 
its  renewal  he  accepted  it,  and  at  once  journeyed  to  "Washington.  The 
death  of  General  Lander  provided  a  suitable  position  for  him.  He  received 
the  command  of  his  brigade,  being  placed  under  the  superior  orders  of 
General  Banks.  The  battle  and  the  victory  of  Winchester  soon  enabled 
him  to  demonstrate  that  he  had  lost  nothing  of  that  martial  skill  and 
heroic  valor  which  had  already  rendered  him  distinguished  in  the  annals 
of  American  warfare. 

The  severe  losses  which  the  Eebels  had  incurred  in  the  southwest, 
seemed  only  to  have  rendered  them  more  determined ;  and  their  ablest 
generals  gradually  concentrated  their  most  efficient  troops  near  tJorinth, 
Tennessee.  General  Albert  Sydney  Johnston,  then  commander-in-chief 
of  the  Eebel  armies,  was  collecting  his  forces  there,  assisted  by  Beaure- 
gard,  Polk,  and  other  able  generals.  Their  purpose  was  to  intercept  the 
victorious  march  of  the  Federal  troops  who  had  triumphed  at  Forts  Henry 
and  Donelson ;  and  to  prevent  their  intended  advance  toward  Memphis. 
For  some  days  General  Grant  had  been  transferring  his  forces  to  Savan 
nah  Tennessee,  and  thence  across  the  river  to  Pittsburg  Landing.  It 
was  on  the  fourth  of  April,  that  about  thirty -five  thousand  of  these  had 
passed  over,  and  had  taken  their  position  at  the  distance  of  several  miles 
from  the  shore.  They  were  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  remainder  of  the 
army  under  General  Buell,  containing  about  an  equal  number  of  men, 
who  should  have  already  been  on  the  spot,  in  accordance  with  the  plans 
of  General  Grant.  While  this  unfortunate  delay  existed,  and  the  separa 
tion  of  the  Federal  army  into  two  bodies,  which  necessarily  resulted  from 
it,  continued,  the  Eebel  generals  conceived  the  idea  of  making  a  sudden 
attack.  Their  time  was  admirably  chosen.  They  executed  their  purpose 
with  superior  skill  and  fortitude  ;  and  the  great  but  indecisive  battle  of 
Shiloh  or  Pittsburg  Landing  was  the  result. 

The  Federal  forces  which  had  crossed  the  river  were  posted  westward 
from  Pittsburg  Landing,  in  a  curved  line  along  the  banks,  and  extended 
a  distance  of  three  and  a  half  miles;  the  centre  facing  the  road  to  Corinth. 
They  were  commanded  by  Generals  Prentiss,  Sherman,  Hurlbut,  and 
McClernand.  As  Corinth  was  a  position  admirably  adapted  for  defence, 
it  was  not  suspected  that  the  enemy  would  abandon  the  advantages  which 


216  THE   CIVIL   WAK  IN  THE  UNITED  STATED. 

it  afforded  and  venture  on  an  advance.  Hence  it  must  be  admitted  that 
their  attack  was  in  a  great  measure  unexpected.  They  marched  out  of 
Coimth  on  Saturday,  April  5th,  seventy  thousand  in  number,  in  three 
grand  divisions.  General  Johnston  commanded,  and  was  with  the  centre  ; 
Braxton  Bragg  and  Beauregard  commanded  the  two  wings;  Hardee, 
Polk,  Breckinridge,  and  Cheatham,  held  inferior  positions.  Their  plan 
of  attack  was,  to  assault  the  centre  of  the  Federal  lines,  consisting  of  the 
divisions  of  Prentiss  and  McClernand,  penetrate  them,  and  then  assail 
each  of  the  wings  on  the  front  and  flank.  Having  thus  divided  and  over 
powered  the  Federal  army,  their  purpose  was  to  compel  them  to  surren 
der,  or  drive  them  into  the  Tennessee  river,  and  thus  complete  either  the 
capture  or  the  ruin  of  the  whole. 

During  the  night  of  Saturday  their  numerous  forces  lay  at  no  very 
great  distance  from  the  Federal  camp.  Their  proximity  evidently  began 
to  be  suspected ;  for  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Sunday,  the  6th, 
Colonel  Peabody,  of  Gen eral  Prentiss's  division,  sent  forward  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men  beyond  his  lines  to  ascertain  whether  any  Kebel  troops  lay 
in  that  vicinity.  These  had  scarcely  proceeded  half  a  mile  when  they 
encountered  a  large  body  of  Eebels  approaching  them.  The  latter  opened 
their  fire  immediately,  and  drove  the  Federals  with  great  slaughter,  back 
toward  their  camp.  They  followed  promptly,  and  actually  reached  the 
position  of  Colonel  Peabody  as  his  regiment,  aroused  by  the  disant  firing, 
were  falling  into  line.  The  gray  mists  of  morning  were  then  about  as 
cending,  and  throwing  a  partial,  hazy  light  over  the  scene,  so  soon  to 
become  the  arena  of  one  of  the  bloodiest  struggles  of  modern  times. 
Many  of  the  officers  had  not  yet  risen,  many  of  the  men  were  not  yet 
armed,  when  the  whole  Federal  camp  became  aware  that  a  vigorous  attack 
had  commenced  upon  some  portion  of  their  line.  The  twenty-fifth 
Missouri  regiment,  belonging  to  General  Prentiss's  division,  was  the  first 
to  feel  the  assault  of  the  approaching  enemy,  who  were  firing  volleys  of 
musketry  as  they  advanced.  Their  cannon,  already  in  position  and  un- 
limbered,  were  tossing  shells  into  the  heart  of  the  Federal  encampment- 
During  this  process  the  Federal  army  was  gradually  dressing,  arming, 
and  falling  into  line;  but  this  was  not  accomplished  until  a  decisive  ad 
vantage  had  been  gained  by  the  enemy. 

The  whole  of  General  Sherman's  division  was  the  first  to  confront  the 
Rebels  in  line  of  battle.  It  was  now  six  o'clock.  Sherman's  troops 
withstood  the  shock  for  some  time  with  heroism ;  but  being  overpowered 
by  superior  numbers,  were  compelled  to  give  way.  As  they  retreated  the 
balls  of  the  enemy  ploughed  through  their  living  masses  with  fearful 
slaughter.  The  divisions  of  Generals  Sherman  and  Buckland  abandoned 
their  camp  equipage,  and  some  of  them  retreated  in  disgraceful  disorder. 
Several  of  the  Ohio  regiments,  especially  the  fifty -third,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Appier,  fled  without  firing  a  single  gun,  and  covered  themselves 


THE  BATTLE   OF  CORINTH.  217 

with  ignominy.  In  vain  did  General  McClernand  order  forward  a  portion 
of  his  left  to  support  the  scattering  and  fugitive  troops  of  Buckland.  In 
vain  did  General  Sherman  exert  himself  to  stop  the  flight  of  his  own  men, 
dashing  bravely  along  the  lines  amid  a  hailstorm  of  bullets.  The  advan 
cing  billows  of  the  Rebel  host  overwhelmed  every  thing  before  them  • 
and  while  portions  of  the  Federal  regiments  occasionally  paused  a  few 
moments  to  stop  the  tide  of  fugitives  and  pursuers,  the  great  mass  rolled 
onward  in  a  tumultuous  chaos  toward  the  river.  Then  it  was  that 
General  Prentiss,  having  succeeded  in  making  a  stand  for  a  time,  and 
having  been  left  unsupported  on  the  field,  was  encompassed  by  the  enemy. 
A  wall  of  bayonets  closed  around  his  men,  and  after  a  short  but  desperate 
combat  they  were  made  prisoners.  Three  regiments,  having  laid  down 
their  arms,  were  marched  toward  the  rear  of  the  enemy. 

It  was  now  ten  o'clock.  One  whole  division  of  the  Federal  army  had 
retreated,  leaving  a  frightful  gap  in  the  centre  of  their  lines.  Just  then 
the  division  of  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  was  deployed  into  the  vacant 
territory ;  and  they  held  their  position  with  great  resolution  till  toward 
the  end  of  the  day.  By  this  time  General  Grant  arrived  on  the  field 
from  Savannah,  and  immediately  placed  guards  in  the  rear  to  stop  the 
retreating  soldiers.  The  temporary  flight  was  thus  terminated,  the  officers 
became  reassured,  and  succeeded  in  bringing  their  troops,  many  of  whom 
had  begun  to  waver,  into  order  of  battle.  Then  ensued  a  more  regular? 
universal  and  desperate  combat.  The  battle  raged  along  the  whole  line ; 
for  the  enemy  had  now  all  reached  the  scene  of  conflict,  and  every  portion 
of  both  armies  was  brought  into  action.  The  roar  of  the  cannon  and 
musketry  was  deafening;  the  earth  trembled  under  their  shock.  The 
fiercest  struggle  was  in  the  centre,  between  the  enemy  and  the  troops  who 
had  taken  General  Sherman's  position.  A  furious  charge  was  made  upon 
the  fourteenth  Ohio  battery,  and  after  a  long  contest  it  was  captured  by 
the  Kebels.  A  similar  onslaught  was  made  upon  the  fifth  Ohio  battery, 
which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  three  of  its  guns.  The  left  wing  of  the 
Federal  forces  also  encountered  and  resisted  a  ferocious  assault.  The 
Kebels,  by  a  sudden  dash,  captured  a  part  of  the  battery  of  Waterhouse, 
together  with  that  of  Beer.  For  nearly  two  hours  a  lurid  sheet  of  fire 
blazed  between  the  two  columns,  hurling  destruction  into  each  other's 
ranks.  Three  different  times  the  Federals,  weakened  by  the  deadly  fire 
of  the  Mississippi  riflemen,  were  compelled  slowly  to  retire  toward  the 
river;  and  three  times  they  regained  the  lost  advantage.  Dresser's 
battery  of  rifled  guns  on  two  occasions  made  the  enemy  recoil  with  fear 
ful  losses. 

Thus  till  after  three  o'clock  the  combat  raged  with  appalling  fury.  The 
air  seemed  filled  with  sulphurous  hail  ;  the  wide-spread  scene  of  conflict 
was  covered  with  a  far  ascending  curtain  of  smoke,  within  which  the 
rushing,  advancing,  receding  masses  of  men  might  be  dimly  seen,  plunged 


218  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

into  the  mortal  struggles  of  the  conflict.  At  one  time  the  fire  of  the  enemy 
appeared  to  be  concentrated  toward  the  centre.  At  another  it  would  ex 
pand  and  extend  itself  up  and  down  the  line  to  right  and  to  left.  By  this 
time  the  ground  was  covered  with  the  wounded  and  the  slain  of  both  armies. 

For  the  most  part  the  superiority  of  numbers  which  the  Eebels  possessed 
gave  them  the  advantage.  As  the  sun  was  descending  the  western 
heavens,  the  Federal  army  was  gradually  retiring  toward  the  river,  un 
able  to  resist  with  success  the  ponderous  and  infuriated  masses  opposed  to 
them.  By  this  time  the  enemy  had  full  possession  of  the  camps  of  Sherman, 
Prentiss,  and  McClernand.  The  whole  front  line,  except  Stuart's  brigade, 
had  given  way.  To  the  last  the  divisions  of  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  and 
Hurlbut  made  a  heroic  stand,  and  maintained  their  positions.  Hurlbut 
had  been  encamped  at  the  end  of  the  line  nearest  the  river.  His  troops 
consisted  chiefly  of  Kentucky,  Indiana  and  Iowa  regiments.  Having 
open  fields  before  them,  they  raked  the  approaching  enemy  with  terrible 
effect.  They  held  j,  their  position  from  ten  in  the  forenoon  until  half  past 
three.  No  officer  on  the  field  deserved  greater  praise  for  his  heroism  and 
gallantry  than  General  Hurlbut.  His  example  and  his  exertions  served 
greatly  to  avert  the  horrors  of  a  universal  defeat,  which  impended  over 
the  army  of  the  Union  on  that  memorable  day.  Next  in  line  to  his  bri 
gade  was  that  of  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  who  commanded  the  troops 
which  had  formerly  been  under  the  orders  of  General  Charles  Ferguson 
Smith,  whom  sickness  prevented  from  being  present  in  this  engagement. 
General  Wallace  entered  into  the  conflict  about  ten  o'clock.  lie  and  his 
men  fought  with  the  utmost  resolution  till  half  past  three.  Four  separate 
times  the  Eebel  generals  attempted  to  turn  them  by  the  most  furious 
charges.  Just  as  often  their  advancing  masses  were  compelled  to  recoil 
and  retreat  with  fearful  losses.  The  powerful  batteries  from  Missouri, 
commanded  by  Stone,  Weber,  and  Eichardson,  were  admirably  served, 
and  greatly  contributed  to  the  partial  success  of  the  day,  in  this  portion 
of  the  field.  But  when  the  general  retreat  began,  and  the  whole  line  com 
menced  to  retire,  they  were  compelled  to  yield,  for  it  would  have  been 
madness  to  remain.  As  the  division  began  to  fall  back,  General  Wallace 
was  severely  wounded.  His  soldiers  were  the  last  to  give  way,  at  that 
desperate  moment  when  the  Federal  line  was  driven  back  within  half  a 
mile  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  with  the  victorious  masses  of  the  Eebels 
crowding  within  a  thousand  yards  of  their  confused  and  retreating  ranks. 

And  now  the  last  horrible  tragedy  of  this  day  seemed  about  to  be 
consummated.  The  Eebels  at  length  occupied  all  the  camps  of  the 
Federal  army.  The  latter  were  crowded  in  wild  confusion  around  Pitts- 
burg  Landing,  within  the  circumference  of  half  a  mile.  In  vain  had  the 
soldiers  of  the  Union  expended  prodigies  of  valor,  in  the  most  desperate 
attempts  to  resist  their  fate.  They  had  now  fallen  back  as  far  as  the 
nature  of  the  ground  would  permit.  There  seemed  to  be  no  alternative 


SKILL  AND   ENERGY   OF  GENERAL  BUELL.  219 

but  to  surrender,  or  to  perish  beneath  the  tranquil  and  brightly  glancing 
waves  of  the  Tennessee  river;  for  sufficient  transports  had  not  been  pro 
vided  to  convey  over  even  a  small  proportion  of  the  multitude  of  the 
fugitives.  Never  had  the  fate  of  any  army  seemed  more  desperate,  its 
ruin  more  inevitable.  During  the  day  General  Buell  had  been  repeatedly 
telegraphed  to  hasten  his  tardy  legions ;  but  he  had  been  unable  as  yet  to 
reach  the  scene  of  conflict.  Certain  destruction  thus  appeared  to  impend 
over  the  Union  army,  when  a  sudden  deliverance  unexpectedly  arose. 
The  gunboats  Lexington  and  A.  0.  Tyler  having  opportunely  arrived 
from  Savannah,  were  at  that  moment  able  to  bring  their  guns  to  bear 
upon  the  masses  of  the  victorious  Rebels ;  and  having  steamed  up  the 
mouth  of  Licking  Creek,  they  opened  a  deadly  fire  upon  their  right  wing. 
Broadside  after  broadside  of  sixty-four  pounders  was  discharged  as  rapidly 
as  the  most  skilful  gunnery  could  send  their  shells  into  the  serried  ranks 
of  the  foe.  At  the  same  time  the  long  wished-for  advance  guard  of 
Buell's  army  appeared  on  the  high  bluffs  which  lined  the  opposite  banks 
of  the  river.  Their  presence  at  once  inspirited  the  Federal  troops,  and 
shout  after  shout  ascended  to  greet  them.  But  no  time  was  to  be  lost 
and  quickly  several  transports  which  had  been  tied  along  the  opposita 
bank  were  loosed,  and  filled  with  artillery  and  troops.  But  before  they 
could  arrive,  Colonel  "Webster,  the  chief  of  General  Grant's  staff,  had  col 
lected  all  the  guns  which  remained  untaken,  had  formed  them  into  a  semi 
circle  bearing  upon  the  Rebel  army,  and  had  opened  a  formidable  assault 
upon  their  line.  These  combined  salutes,  while  they  raised  the  courage 
of  the  Federal  forces,  which  had  been  fighting  for  so  many  hours,  dis 
heartened  the  enemy.  The  death  of  General  Sydney  Johnston  now 
became  known,  which  misfortune  added  to  their  panic.  Their  com 
manders  at  length  discovered  that  their  successes  for  that  day  were 
ended ;  and  that  no  further  advantage  could  possibly  be  gained.  They 
therefore  withdrew  as  far  as  the  Federal  camps  which  they  had  taken,  and 
prepared  to  renew  the  contest  with  more  decisive  results,  as  they  hoped, 
on  the  ensuing  day. 

The  night  of  Sunday  was  industriously  employed  in  transporting  the 
troops  of  General  Buell  across  the  river.  As  soon  as  the  successive  regi 
ments  arrived,  they  proceeded  to  take  their  positions  in  the  Federal  lines. 
The  gunboats  continued  their  bombardment  during  the  whole  night. 
They  soon  made  the  position  occupied  by  the  centre  and  the  right  of  the 
Rebels,  at  the  close  of  Sunday,  untenable,  and  compelled  them  to  fall 
back  from  point  to  point,  so  that  they  evacuated  more  than  half  the 
ground  they  had  gained  by  the  retreo,t  of  the  Federal  army  toward  the 
river.  This  circumstance  will  account  for  the  mysterious  fact  that  the 
Rebels  made  no  assault  during  the  night,  as  had  been  confidently  expected  ; 
and  it  also  prevented  them  from  commencing  the  battle  at  daybreak  on 
Monday. 


220  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

During  the  hours  of  that  memorable  night,  while  a  furious  tempest 
raged,  and  a  deluge  of  rain  descended,  the  Federal  commanders  were 
busy  in  making  preparations  for  resuming  the  contest.  New  dispositions 
had  been  formed.  Ammen's  brigade  was  placed  on  the  extreme  left, 
that  of  Bruce  in  the  centre,  that  of  Hazen  on  the  right  of  Nelson's  divi 
sion.  At  seven  o'clock  on  Monday  the  action  began,  by  a  simultaneous 
advance  on  both  sides ;  for  both  sides  seemed  equally  eager  for  the  com 
bat.  General  Lewis  Wallace  opened  the  engagement  by  shelling  the 
enemy  opposed  to  him.  He  was  answered  by  a  powerful  Eebel  battery, 
and  a  duel  between  artillery  ensued.  The  result  here  was,  that  a  body 
of  Federal  infantry  having  been  sent  across  a  ravine  to  attack  the  flank 
of  this  portion  of  the  enemy's  line,  the  guns  of  the  latter  were  soon  lim 
bered  up  and  hastily  withdrawn.  General  Nelson  at  the  same  time  at 
tacked  the  enemy  opposed  to  him.  His  large  mass  of  troops  renewed  the 
contest  in  all  its  fury ;  the  action  soon  became  general  along  the  whole 
line ;  and  the  rattle  of  small  arms,  and  the  louder,  heavier  tones  of  the 
artillery  reverberated  without  intermission  over  the  far-extending  scene 
of  conflict.  The  Eebels  attacked  the  Federal  centre  and  right  with  the 
utmost  desperation.  At  half-past  ten  the  Federals  had  regained  nearly 
all  the  ground  from  which  they  had  been  driven  on  the  preceding  day. 
At  that  moment  the  enemy  concentrated  their  efforts  to  make  a  grand 
assault.  Suddenly,  and  with  much  concert,  their  generals  hurled  their 
furious  squadrons  on  the  lines  of  the  advancing  Federals.  Stunned  by 
the  shock,  the  latter  reeled,  and  for  a  time  gave  way  on  the  entire  right. 
The  ground  there  was  fiercely  contested,  and  the  issue  would  have  been 
doubtful,  perhaps  disastrous;  but  just  at  the  critical  moment  General 
Buell  arrived  on  that  part  of  the  field  and  assumed  the  command.  He  soon 
comprehended  the  relative  positions  of  the  combatants,  and  ordered  a 
forward  double-quick  movement  by  brigades.  The  Eebel  lines  were 
then  driven  back  for  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  Soon  the  deserted  camps  of  the 
Federals  were  reached,  and  repossessed  by  their  former  owners.  By  half- 
past  two  the  entire  right  of  the  enemy  was  routed ;  they  had  lost  all  in 
that  portion  of  the  field  which  they  had  gained ;  the  captured  guns  of  the 
Federals  were  retaken;  and  some  additional  trophies  were  wrested  from 
the  retreating  enemy.  In  that  part  of  the  Federal  lines  where  the  brigades 
of  Crittenden,  McCook,  Smith,  and  Boyle  were  posted,  a  contest  of  equal 
intensity  took  place.  At  one  time  the  Federal  troops  were  overpowered 
and  retreated.  The  day  was  recovered  by  a  spirited  cannonade  poured 
into  the  Eebel  masses  by  the  batteries  of  Mendenhall  and  Bartlett.  After 
a  long  contest  the  enemy  here  also  began  to  retire,  and  to  leave  the  field 
in  the  possession  of  their  antagonists.  On  the  extreme  right,  where  the 
gallant  Hurlbut  and  McClernand  commanded,  the  vicissitudes  of  the  day 
were  equally  varied,  to  be  terminated  at  last  by  a  result  equally  honor 
able  to  the  Federal  arms.  Four  times  McClernand  lost  and  regained  the 


ULTIMATE  DEFEAT   OF  THE   REBELS.  221 

position  which  he  occupied  at  the  commencement  of  the  engagement. 
The  troops  in  the  centre  of  the  Federal  army,  commanded  by  General 
Sherman,  overpowered  by  a  terrific  assault  of  artillery,  in  which  Watson's 
Louisiana  battery  was  remarkable  for  its  prodigious  effects,  were  com 
pelled  at  one  time  to  give  way.  But  after  a  long  struggle  they  recovered 
their  advantage,  aided  by  the  efficient  batteries  of  Thurber  and  Thompson. 
By  four  o'clock,  an  hour  and  half  later  than  the  victory  on  the  left,  the 
enemy  commenced  to  retire  here  also,  before  Sherman's  advancing  lines. 
Then  the  retreat  became  general,  and  the  whole  Kebel  army,  disheartened 
and  essentially  weakened  by  the  immense  though  futile  struggles  of  the 
day,  withdrew  in  comparative  order  toward  Corinth.  The  Federal  forces 
then  reoccupied  their  original  camp,  and  took  possession  of  almost  every 
trophy  which,  on  the  preceding  day,  had  fallen  into  the  possession  of  the 
temporary  victors. 

During  the  progress  of  this  memorable  engagement,  Generals  Grant, 
Buell,  Sherman,  Nelson,  the  Wallaces,  Hurlbut,  McClernand,  and 
McCook,  greatly  distinguished  themselves.  They  were  present  in  every 
portion  of  the  field,  and  exhibited  the  utmost  skill  and  coolness  in  every 
emergency.  Yery  many  of  the  inferior  commanders  were  equally  valiant 
and  equally  worthy  of  commendation.  But  it  must  also  be  admitted, 
that  some  of  the  subaltern  officers  disgraced  themselves  during  the  combat 
by  their  cowardice.  General  Grant  was  compelled  to  order  a  number  of 
these  under  arrest  on  the  battle-field.  The  results  of  this  great  conflict 
were  important.  Their  defeat  greatly  dispirited  the  Rebel  leaders,  while 
it  covered  the  Federal  arms  with  immortal  renown.  The  loss  of  the 
enemy  was  seventeen  hundred  and  twenty-eight  killed,  eight  thousand 
and  twelve  wounded,  nine  hundred  missing.  Their  chief  misfortune  was 
the  death  of  Albert  Sydney  Johnston.  The  loss  of  the  Federals  was 
about  two  thousand  killed,  seven  thousand  four  hundred  wounded,  and 
nearly  three  thousand  missing.* 

The  chief  glory  of  this  victory  will  be  ascribed  by  posterity  to  the  two 
generals  who  were  highest  in  command,  Generals  Grant  and  Buell.  The 
former  we  have  already  sketched.  The  latter  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1820. 
He  entered  the  academy  at  West  Point  in  1837,  and  was  breveted  second 
lieutenant  of  infantry  in  1841.  He  was  appointed  first  lieutenant  in  June, 
1846,  and  in  September  of  the  same  year  was  breveted  captain,  for  his 
gallantry  at  the  battle  of  Monterey.  At  the  battle  of  Cherubusco  he  was 
severely  wound  to.  in  the  chest.  In  1848  he  was  appointed  assistant 
adjutant-general,  with  the  full  rank  of  captain.  When  the  Rebellion 

*  It  is  impossible  to  state  the  number  of  killed  and  wounded  in  this  battle  with  pre 
cise  and  perfect  accuracy.  All  the  accounts,  even  those  which  seem  to  be  most  reli 
able  and  authoritative,  essentially  differ.  All  that  can  be  done  with  the  probability 
of  truth  is,  to  state  those  numbers  which  seem  to  possess  the  greatest  preponderance 
of  authority  in  their  favor ;  and  those  numbers  I  have  given  in  the  text. 


222  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

commenced  he  was  stationed  in  California;  but  was  at  once  appointed 
a  brigadier-general  by  Congress,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1861  succeeded 
General  William  T.  Sherman,  as  commander  of  the  Department  of  the 
Ohio.  He  addressed  himself  to  the  task  of  organizing  an  efficient  army  in 
his  department,  and  in  arranging  some  of  the  details  of  the  campaign,  which 
were  afterward  realized.  The  engagement  in  which  Humphrey  Marshall 
was  defeated  by  General  Garfield  was  planned  by  him.  When  General 
Ilalleck  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Department  of  the  Southwest, 
Buell  was  made  his  subordinate.  At  the  same  time  he  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  major-general.  The  long  list  of  valuable  services  which  he 
had  rendered  to  the  cause  of  the  Union  was  fitly  crowned  by  his  successful 
and  skilful  efforts  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  where  he  was  instrumental  in 
assisting  to  turn  the  tide  of  victory,  and  in  wresting  from  the  Kebel 
generals  the  laurels  which  were  commencing,  unworthily,  to  bloom 
around  their  brows. 


COLLISION   AT  HOWARD   CREEK.  223 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  FEDERAL  ARMY  UNDER  GENERAL  MCCLELLAN  APPROACH  YORKTOWN — COLLISION  01* 

HOWARD  CREEK — ATTACK  ON  DETACHED  REBEL  INTRKNCHMENTS ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THB 

FEDERAL  CAMP,  AND  ERECTION  OF  FEDERAL  BATTERIES — PREPARATIONS  FOR  A  GREAT 
CONFLICT  AT  TORKTOWN — BRILLIANT  OPERATIONS  OF  GENERAL  MITCHELL  IN  ALABAMA — 
RESULTS  OF  HIS  RAPID  MOVEMENTS — SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  MITCHELL — EVENTS  IN  GEORGIA 
CAPTURE  OF  FORT  PULASKI — STRENGTH  OF  THE  REBEL  WORKS INCIDENTS  OF  THE  BOM 
BARDMENT  OF  THAT  FORT — RESULTS  OF  THE  CAPTURE — THE  CONQUEST  OF  NEW  ORLEANS — 
FEDERAL  ARMAMENT  UNDER  COMMODORE  FARRAGUT — BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORTS  JACKSON 
AND  ST.  PHILIP — AN  ENGAGEMENT  OF  SIX  DAYS — REDUCTION  OF  THESE  FORTS — IMPRES 
SION  PRODUCED  BY  IT  IN  NEW  ORLEANS THE  FEDERAL  FLEET  APPROACH  THAT  CITY — THB 

REBEL  TROOPS  EVACUATE  IT THE  SUMMONS  TO  SURRENDER — IMPERTINENCE  OF  MAYOS 

MONROE — NEW  ORLEANS  OCCUPIED  BY  FEDERAL  TROOPS SKETCH  OF  COMMODORE  FARRA- 

GUT — THE  BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  MACON INCIDENTS  OF  THE  ASSAULT STRENGTH  OF 

THAT  FORT RESULTS  OF  ITS  CAPTURE  BY  THE  FEDERAL  TROOPS. 

Ox  Friday,  April  4th,  1862,  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  which  had  halted 
temporarily  at  Fortress  Monroe  on  its  way  toward  Yorktown,  resumed 
its  march.  Berdan's  sharpshooters  led  the  advance,  with  the  fourth 
Michigan,  the  fourteenth  New  York,  and  the  third  Pennsylvania  cavalry. 
The  route  lay  through  Great  Bethel,  on  the  direct  road  toward  York- 
town.  At  that  spot,  already  celebrated  in  the  annals  of  the  nation  by 
the  decisive  victory  gained  by  Washington  over  Lord  Cornwallis,  on  the 
19th  of  October,  1781,  the  Rebels  had  concentrated  an  efficient  army, 
twenty  thousand  strong,  commanded  by  General  Magruder;  had  erected 
numerous  breastworks,  which  extended  across  the  isthmus  or  peninsula 
which  separates  the  York  and  the  James  rivers;  and  there  they  seemed 
resolved  to  contest,  to  the  utmost  of  their  ability,  the  further  progress  of 
the  Federal  forces  toward  their  capital. 

The  enemy  had  constructed  a  fort  as  an  outwork  on  the  banks  of 
Howard  Creek,  near  the  village  of  Kosedown,  which  necessarily  became 
the  first  object  of  attack.  Allan's  fifth  Massachusetts  battery  was  detailed 
to  this  service.  Fifteen  round  of  shell  were  thrown,  after  which  the 
Rebels  evacuated  the  fort  with  great  precipitation.  It  was  immediately 
occupied  by  the  victors,  and  the  stars  and  stripes  were  unfurled  from  the 
flag-staff.  This  conquest  occupied  but  a  brief  period  of  time,  and  did  not 
prevent  the  van  of  the  Federal  army  from  reaching  the  vicinity  of 
Cocklestcwn,  six  miles  distant  from  Yorktown,  during  the  same  day. 
On  the  morrow  the  march  was  resumed.  The  falling  rain  had  rendered 
the  roads  extremely  difficult,  and  the  progress  of  the  troops  and  guns 
was  comparatively  slow.  At  length  the  advance  reached  a  point  not 
more  than  three  miles  distant  from  Yorktown.  From  this  position  some 


224  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

Eebel  intrenchments  were  discovered  to  the  right  of  the  road,  at  the 
distance  of  a  mile.  General  McClellan  deemed  it  advisable  not  to  leave 
these  behind  him  to  annoy  his  rear ;  he  therefore  ordered  a  number  of  his 
batteries  to  attack  them.  The  guns  were  immediately  wheeled  into  posi 
tion  in  advance  of  the  infantry  by  whom  they  were  supported.  A  heavy 
bombardment  was  commenced,  to  which  the  guns  of  the  enemy  in  the 
forts  responded.  Their  shells  were  thrown  indiscriminately  over  the 
entire  area  covered  by  the  Federal  army,  and  sometimes  bursting  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  troops,  were  not  harmless.  The  firing  continued  without 
intermission  during  the  entire  day.  About  noon  it  increased  in  fury  and 
vigor.  Then  Morell's  brigade  on  the  left  advanced  within  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  of  the  intrenchments ;  the  sharpshooters  approached  still  nearer, 
and  picked  off  with  an  infallible  aim  the  most  of  those  who  manned  the 
Eebel  guns.  In  vain  their  artillery  directed  their  special  attention  to 
these  dangerous  assailants,  and  attempted  to  drive  them  beyond  the  range 
of  their  rifles.  The  heavy  firing  terminated  with  the  close  of  the  day, 
though  skirmishing  was  continued  between  the  pickets  of  both  armies 
during  the  night.  A  number  had  been  killed  and  wounded  on  both 
sides.  Griffin's  battery  had  silenced  three  of  the  guns  of  the  Eebels. 
During  the  next  day  the  enemy  evacuated  their  intrenchments  on  the 
right,  and  concentrated  their  whole  force  in  their  main  works  before 
Yorktown. 

Immediately  after  the  termination  of  this  engagement,  which  was  re 
garded  merely  as  preliminary  to  the  much  greater  and  more  decisive 
operations  which  were  expected  soon  to  follow,  the  Federal  army  pro 
ceeded  to  establish  their  encampment  before  Yorktown.  General 
McClellan  carefully  reconnoitered  the  works  of  the  enemy.  They  were 
found  to  be  both  extensive  and  formidable.  The  next  duty,  therefore, 
was  to  commence  the  construction  of  counter  works,  preliminary  to  a 
grand  and  final  assault  upon  the  fortifications  of  the  foe.  The  latter  pro 
ceeded  with  equal  industry  to  strengthen  those  breastworks  which  they 
had  already  erected,  and  to  add  to  their  number.  At  the  same  time 
immense  reinforcements  were  ordered  to  join  the  Eebel  troops  already 
assembled  at  Yorktown ;  so  that  in  a  short  time  tney  increased  to  the 
number  of  sixty  thousand  men.  Leaving  the  combatants  here  to  execute 
their  purpose,  in  anticipation  of  the  occurrence  of  a  world-renowned 
combat  between  them  at  that  spot,  which  was  destined  never  to  take 
place,  we  will  proceed  to  narrate  the  events  which  were  transpiring  in 
other  portions  of  the  scene  of  conflict. 

It  was  at  this  period  that  General  Mitchel  achieved  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  and  effective  episodes  of  the  war.  Starting  from  Louisville  with 
a  few  thousand  men,  he  commenced  a  rapid  advance  southward  through 
Alabama,  expecting  to  encounter  the  enemy  upon  his  line  of  march.  He 
proceeded,  however,  without  interruption  as  far  as  the  city  of  Huntsville, 


OPERATIONS  OF  GENERAL  MITOHEL  IN   ALABAMA.          225 

of  which  he  took  possession.  Rebel  forces  on  the  route  thither,  instead 
of  confronting  and  resisting  him,  uniformly  fled  from  him.  Their  only 
strategy  consisted  in  burning  the  bridges.  Having  reached  Iluntsville, 
General  Mitchel  sent  out  two  expeditions  in  the  railroad  cars  which  he 
had  captured  at  that  place.  The  one  under  Colonel  Sill,  with  the  thirty- 
third  Ohio,  proceeded  eastward  to  Stevenson,  where  the  junction  of  the 
Chattanooga,  the  Memphis  and  the  Charleston  railroads  takes  place.  The 
other,  under  Colonel  Tarchin,  with  the  nineteenth  Illinois,  went  westward, 
and  having  arrived  at  Decatur  took  charge  of  the  railroad  bridge  at  that 
place,  fifteen  hundred  feet  long,  and  saved  it  from  the  destruction  which 
at  that  moment  impended  over  it.  The  former  of  these  expeditions  was 
equally  useful ;  for  it  captured  a  large  number  of  fugitive  Rebel  troops, 
five  locomotives,  and  an  immense  amount  of  rolling  stock.  The  results 
of  this  enterprise  were  important.  General  Mitchel  thereby  obtained  pos 
session  of  a  hundred  miles  of  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad.  He 
intercepted  the  communication  between  the  Rebel  army  at  Corinth  and 
the  Rebel  authorities  in  Richmond.  It  enabled  him  to  threaten  Corinth 
itself  in  flank  and  rear;  and  to  march  upon  it  at  any  moment  in  concert 
with  Generals  Grant  and  Buell.  He  obtained  the  supremacy  of  a  hundred 
miles  of  territory  in  the  very  heart  of  Alabama,  in  the  blooming  centre 
of  a  magnificent  cotton  region ;  and  he  was  able  to  encourage  and  protect 
the  friends  of  the  Union  in  that  portion  of  the  Rebel  Confederacy.  By 
this  achievement  the  stars  and  stripes  again  waved  over  ten  towns 
within  the  limits  of  Alabama,  on  the  railroad  line  between  Decatur  and 
Stevenson. 

Brigadier-General  0.  M.  Mitchel,  the  hero  of  this  remarkable  achieve 
rnent,  is  known  to  fame  both  as  a  soldier  and  as  a  savant.  He  was  born 
in  Union  county,  Kentucky,  in  1810.  :  He  graduated  at  West  Point  in 
June,  1829,  and  having  entered  the  artillery  corps  with  the  brevet  rank 
of  second  lieutenant,  became  assistant  professor  of  mathematics  in  that 
institution.  That  position  he  held  until  September,  1832,  when  he  re 
signed  his  command  with  the  army  and  engaged  in  civil  engineering 
He  then  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Cincinnati  in  1833. 
In  183-i  he  was  appointed  professor  of  mathematics  and  astronomy  in  the 
Ohio  University.  That  position  he  retained  during  ten  years.  In  1815 
he  founded  the  Cincinnati  Observatory,  of  which  he  became  the  director 
and  also  published  the  "  Siderial  Messenger."  In  1848  he  held  the  office 
of  adjutant-general  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  subsequently  became  chief 
engineer  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  railroad.  Previous  to  the  commence 
ment  of  the  rebellion  he  had  distinguished  himself  as  an  author  and  lec 
turer  on  scientific  subjects.  Having  tendered  his  services  to  the  defenders 
of  the  Union  in  the  hour  of  its  peril,  they  were  promptly  accepted ;  and 
the  successful  result  of  his  bold  and  skilful  expedition  into  Alabama,  tes- 
15 


226  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

tified  to  the  high  value  of  the  abilities  which  he  brought  to  the  assistance 
of  the  government.* 

On  the  10th  of  April,  1862,  victory  crowned  the  Federal  arms  within 
the  limits  of  the  ancient  State  of  Georgia.  On  that  day  the  formal  siege 
of  Fort  Pulaski  began,  which  terminated,  after  a  vigorous  cannonading, 
in  the  surrender  of  the  works  to  the  Federal  troops. 

This  fort  was  the  outpost  of  the  defences  of  the  city  of  Savannah,  and 
was  situated  on  the  Savannah  river  at  the  narrowest  part  of  its  channel. 
It  was  a  strong  casemated  work,  mounting  fifty-seven  guns  of  heavy 
calibre.  There  was  a  supply  of  a  hundred  tons  of  powder  in  the  maga 
zines  ;  and  its  full  armament  of  men  was  five  hundred.  It  was  in  shape 
an  irregular  pentagon,  with  the  base  line  or  curtain-face  to  the  inland- 
Its  other  faces  were  casemated,  and  bore  upon  the  outward  approaches. 
It  stood  on  Cockspur  island,  which  is  separated  from  Tybee  island  by  a 
narrow  arm  of  sea.  The  walls  were  constructed  of  hard  gray  brick ; 
were  more  than  six  feet  in  thickness,  and  were  supposed  to  be  able  to 
resist  all  kinds  of  projectiles.  It  contained  at  the  period  of  the  attack, 
provisions  and  water  for  six  months.  It  was  provided  with  three  furnaces 
for  the  purpose  of  heating  shot.  The  curtain  was  covered  by  a  redan, 
and  the  redan  was  surrounded  by  a  ditch.  General  Viele  and  Captain 
Gil  more  had  been  directed  by  General  Hunter,  the  Federal  commander 
of  that  department,  to  erect  a  number  of  batteries  in  order  to  cut  off  the 
communication  between  the  fort  and  the  city  of  Savannah,  and  to  con 
struct  others  on  the  islands  adjacent  to  the  works,  for  the  purpose  of  as 
sailing  and  reducing  it.  The  materials  for  executing  this  order  were  pro 
cured  at  Port  Royal,  and  consisted  of  a  detachment  of  the  third  Rhode 
Island  artillery,  another  detachment  of  volunteer  engineers,  a  battalion  of 
the  eighth  Maine  regiment,  the  sixth  Connecticut  regiment,  the  forty-eighth 
New  York,  together  with  a  full  supply  of  heavy  artillery  and  intrenching 
tools.  By  a  reconnoissance  which  was  made  by  Lieutenant  J.  A.  Wilson, 
of  the  Topographical  Engineers,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  Rebels  had 
sunk  the  hulk  of  a  brig  in  an  artificial  channel  named  Wall's  Cut,  con 
necting  Wright  river,  one  of  the  outlets  of  the  Savannah,  with  Bull  river, 
which  served  as  a  thoroughfare  between  Port  Royal  and  Savannah.  It 
was  of  essential  importance  that  this  obstacle  should  be  removed.  The 
task  was  committed  to  Major  Beard  of  the  forty-eighth  New  York.  After 
three  weeks  of  unremitting  labor  during  the  night,  by  the  use  of  ingenious 
mechanical  contrivances,  the  work  was  accomplished.  The  expedition 

*  It  is  a  singular  circumstance  that  not  a  few  of  the  most  eminent  Federal  generals 
in  this  war  had  previously  distinguished  themselves  as  authors,  such  as  Halleck,  Fre 
mont,  McClellan,  Mitchel.  The  chief  productions  of  the  last  were  his  "  Planetary  and 
Stellar  Worlds,"  his  "  Popular  Astronomy/'  and  his  "Astronomy  of  the  Bible,"  all  of 
which  indicate  profound  scientific  attainments  and  brilliant  genius. 


THE  CAPTURE  OF  FORT  PULASKI.  227 

against  Fort  Pulaski  then  commenced  to  move;  and  proceeding  to  the 
north  end  of  Daufnskie  Island,  they  established  a  camp  and  depot,  and 
commenced  operations.  Reconnoissances  were  immediately  made  for  the 
selection  of  the  most  suitable  positions  for  the  erection  of  batteries.  These 
naving  been  duly  ascertained,  twelve  batteries  were  successively  con 
structed.  Great  difficulties  attended  and  impeded  the  work.  Rebel  gun 
boats  continually  sailed  up  and  down  the  Savannah  river;  and  to  have 
attempted  to  float  the  Federal  cannon  across  in  flatboats,  would  have  ex 
posed  them  to  certain  capture.  It  became  necessary  to  drag  them  by 
night  over  Jones's  Island  on  shifting  tramways.  The  first  of  the  batteries 
was  thus  placed  in  position  during  the  night  of  the  llth  of  February. 
Three  days  afterward  another  battery  was  transported.  Thus  on  Venus 
Point  on  Long  Island,  on  Turtle  Island,  on  Jones's,  Bird's,  and  Tybee 
Islands,  the  batteries  were  eventually  put  into  position,  and  breastworks 
were  constructed  which  commanded  the  guns  of  Fort  Pulaski. 

On  the  10th  of  April  all  was  ready,  and  the  bombardment  began  at 
seven  o'clock,  after  a  flag  of  truce  had  been  sent,  demanding  in  vain  the 
surrender  of  the  fort.  The  batteries  of  Tybee  Island  commenced  the 
assault.  In  a  short  time  the  Rebel  flag-staff  was  cut  in  two,  and  the 
Rebel  colors  fell.  But  soon  another  staff  was  extemporised,  and  another 
standard  unfurled  from  the  parapet.  The  bombardment  was  continued 
without  intermission  through  the  whole  day.  The  enemy  responded 
promptly  and  vigorously ;  but  their  shots  produced  much  less  execution 
than  the  shots  of  the  Federal  batteries.  The  Rebels  seem  to  have  been 
ignorant  of  the  positions  of  .the  Federal  works,  because  their  fire  in 
variably  followed  the  successive  openings  of  the  different  batteries. 
Their  shells  generally  fell  wide  of  the  mark  ;  but  the  aim  of  the  Federal 
gunners  was  accurate.  Accordingly,  during  the  entire  day,  the  brick  and 
mortar  of  the  fort  could  be  seen  flying  in  all  directions,  and  the  Rebels 
were  compelled  to  retire  from  one  portion  of  their  works  to  another.  The 
number  of  Federal  guns  was  thirty-six. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  day,  the  fire  on  both  sides  ceased.  During  the 
night  a  number  of  guns  were  transferred  to  Goat's  Island,  being  the  point 
nearest  the  fort.  On  the  morning  of  the  llth,  two  small  breaches  could 
be  discovered  in  the  southeast  face  of  the  fort,  which  gradually  assumed 
more  enlarged  proportions.  The  shells  of  the  Federal  batteries  were 
gradually  working  their  way  toward  the  magazines.  It  was  evident  also 
that  a  number  of  the  Rebel  guns  had  become  disabled.  One»of  the 
breaches  soon  became  fifteen  feet  wide,  the  other  ten.  The  falling  debris 
from  the  walls  filled  the  moat,  and  a  storming  party  could  easily  have 
passed  over.  From  twelve  different  points  of  the  compass  the  deluge  of 
shot  and  shell  poured  into  the  doomed  fort,  scattering  destruction  and 
ruin  around.  At  length,  at  eighteen  minutes  past  two,  on  the  llth,  a 
white  flag  appeared  on  the  parapet  of  Pulaski.  General  Gilrnore  imme- 


228  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

d lately  sent  a  boat  to  the  fort  to  demand  its  unconditional  surrender. 
The  commandant  replied  that,  as  the  magazines  were  now  exposed  to  the 
shot  of  the  Federals,  and  might  at  any  moment  explode,  it  was  madness 
to  continue  the  defence.  He  had  therefore  concluded, to  surrender.  The 
same  clay  the  seventh  Connecticut  regiment  was  sent  to  take  possession 
of  the  captured  works,  which,  together  with  all  the  guns,  ammunition, 
and  provisions  of  the  enemy,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  Their 
sum  total  was  forty-seven  guns,  seven  thousand  shot  and  shells,  forty 
thousand  pounds  of  powder,  together  with  three  hundred  and  sixty 
prisoners.  The  latter  belonged  to  the  first  Georgia  regiment  of  volun 
teers,  commanded  by  Colonel  Charles  H.  Olmstead.  The  captive  officers 
and  prisoners  we^re  afterward  sent  in  the  steamer  Benjamin  Deford  to  the 
city  of  New  York.  This  important  success  restored  to  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment  another  of  the  fortresses  which  had  been  treacherously  stolen 
from  it  by  the  Eebel  authorities.  It  prepared  the  way  for  the  future  re 
duction  of  the  city  of  Savannah.  Fort  Jackson  indeed  intervened  between 
it  and  the  Federal  troops ;  but  being  inferior  in  size  and  in  armament  to 
Pulaski,  it  could  offer  no  serious  obstacle  to  the  triumphant  advance,  at 
the  proper  moment,  of  the  forces  of  the  Union. 

In  February,  1862,  a  powerful  Federal  fleet,  consisting  of  forty -six 
sail,  carrying  two  hundred  and  eighty-six  guns  and  twenty-one  mortars, 
was  placed  under  the  command  of  Flag-Officer  D.  S.  Farragut,  for  the 
attack  and  conquest  of  New  Orleans.  Preliminary  to  the  bombardment 
of  the  formidable  forts  which  guarded  the  Crescent  City,  a  reconnoissance 
was  made  on  the  28th  of  March,  by  Captain  Bell,  under  the  orders  of  the 
commodore.  He  took  the  gunboats  Kennebec  and  Wissahickon  and  pro 
ceeded  up  the  Mississippi.  Having  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  Forts 
Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  below  New  Orleans,  sketches  were  taken  of 
their  construction,  and  other  important  information  was  obtained.  During 
the  process,  both  forts  continued  to  throw  their  shells  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  unwelcome  and  inquisitive  visitors,  but  fortunately  without  any 
serious  result.  It  was  ascertained  that  a  strong  chain  had  been  thrown 
across  the  river,  which  was  supported  by  eight  dismantled  vessels  and  a 
large  raft ;  that  both  of  the  forts  were  well  armed  and  fully  garrisoned ; 
that  fire-rafts  had  been  prepared  to  drift  toward  the  bombarding  vessels 
to  destroy  them ;  and  that  every  other  expedient  had  been  adopted  to 
accomplish  a  desperate  and  protracted  defence. 

On  the  4th  of  April  a  portion  of  the  Federal  fleet  pursued  a  number 
of  RelDel  vessels  which  approached  their  position  in  the  river  The 
Kimeo  closed  with  a  steamer  carrying  a  blue  flag,  which  seemed  to  indi 
cate  that  the  Rebel  commander  was  on  board.  A  chase  ensued  up  the 
stream,  until  the  appearance  in  the  distance  of  a  much  larger  number  of 
Rebel  vessels,  including  the  formidable  ram  Manassas,  rendered  it  expe 
dient  for  the  Federal  vessels  to  return  to  their  anchorage.  Preparations 


THE  CONQUEST  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.  229 

were  then  made  to  attack  the  forts  with  the  full  power  of  the  fleet,  and, 
having  silenced  them,  to  advance  to  the  subjugation  of  the  crescent  city 
which  they  defended.  Accordingly,  on  the  18th  of  April,  twenty-one 
mortar-boats  and  three  gunboats,  having  approached  within  range  of 
Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  commenced  a  vigorous  bombardment.  The 
enemy  in  the  fortifications  replied  with  spirit ;  and  after  six  days'  bom 
bardment,  finding  them  still  unreduced,  Flag-Officer  Farragut  resolved  to 
run  past  them,  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  of  April.  Their  fire  was 
heavy  and  constant,  and  the  obstacles  to  the  navigation  of  the  river  also 
caused  some  delay.  The  chain  which  had  been  thrown  across  the  river 
was  wrenched  in  twain  by  the  vigorous  blows  of  two  gunboats.  One  of 
the  fire-ships  which  the  enemy  had  seat  adrift  unfortunately  came  in  con 
tact  with  the  flag-ship  Hartford,  which  was  ignited ;  but  the  conflagration 
was  extinguished  before  any  serious  damage  was  done.  Other  casualties 
were  more  important.  In  an  engagement  which  took  place  between  the 
Union  steam  sloop  Yaruna,  of  ten  guns,  and  the  Rebel  steam  iron-clad 
Morgan,  the  latter  ran  into  the  Yaruna  and  injured  her  so  severely  that 
she  was  soon  in  a  sinking  condition.  But  while  in  this  state  she  dis 
charged  a  full  broadside  into  her  antagonist,  with  such  effect  that  she  too 
began  to  sink,  and  both  vessels  went  down  together.  On  the  other  side, 
the  Federal  forces  destroyed  eleven  Rebel  gunboats  and  the  floating  bat 
tering-ram  Manassas. 

The  engagement  between  the  fleet  and  the  forts  was  not  only  a  pro 
tracted,  but  also  a  desperate  one.  Some  of  the  Federal  soldiers  fell  dead 
from  mere  exhaustion  at  their  guns.  The  names  of  these  obscure  heroes 
have  indeed  passed  into  oblivion  ;  but  they  deserve  a  renown  equal  to  that 
which  clusters  around  the  exploits  of  their  more  famous  and  fortunate 
commanders.  On  the  27th  of  April,  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  to  Commo 
dore  Porter,  who  commanded  the  mortar-fleet,  inquiring  what  terms  of 
surrender  would  be  accepted.  The  answer  was,  as  usual  with  the  Fede 
ral  victors  during  this  war,  that  no  terms  except  an  unconditional  and  an 
immediate  surrender  would  be  entertained.  On  the  28th,  after  some 
delay,  the  transfer  of  the  two  forts,  with  all  their  guns,  ammunition  and 
stores,  was  made  to  the  conquerors.  Immediately  afterward  General 
Butler,  who  commanded  the  land  forces  of  the  expedition,  placed  a  com 
petent  garrison  of  Federal  troops  in  the  several  fortifications.  The  loss 
on  the  Union  side  was  thirty-six  killed,  one  hundred  and  twenty -three 
wounded.  The  number  of  prisoners  taken  was  four  hundred.  The 
Rebels  who  were  killed  and  wounded  numbered  about  five  hundred. 

Having  passed  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  the  Union  fleet  resumed 
us  triumphant  progress  up  the  Mississippi.  Passing  the  Chalmette  bat 
teries,  three  miles  below  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  on  the  morning  of  the 
25th,  they  opened  fire,  but  were  silenced  in  twenty  minutes.  On  the 
morning  of  the  26th,  Flag-Officer  Farragut  sent  Fleet-Captain  Bailey  on 


230  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

shore  to  demand  a  surrender.  At  first  the  Mayor  proposed  to  submit  the 
question  to  the  Eebel  General  Mansfield  Lovell,  who  was  in  command  of 
the  Eebel  forces  there,  but  General  Lovell  who  was  straining  every  nerve 
to  get  his  troops  away,  replied  that  he  would  evacuate  the  city,  and  the 
Mayor  could  do  as  he  pleased.  This  being  reported  to  Flag-Officer  Far 
ragut,  he  renewed  his  demand  on  Mayor  Monroe.  That  personage  re 
sponded  to  the  Federal  commander  in  a  letter  characterized  by  a  singular 
mixture  o&  folly  and  impudence,  in  which  he  set  forth  that  the  Federal 
forces  possessed  the  power  to  take  the  city  by  brute  force,  and  they  might 
do  it ;  but  that  he  never  would  voluntarily  make  the  transfer.  Without 
waiting  for  further  negotiation,  Commodore  Farragut  dispatched  a  num 
ber  of  troops  from  the  fleet,  which  took  possession  of  the  city  on  the  29th, 
occupied  the  Federal  buildings,  and  displayed  the  stars  and  stripes  from 
the  positions  which  had  so  long  been  disgraced  by  the  Kebel  colors. 
General  Butler's  land  forces  having  disembarked  on  the  shore  of  Lake 
Ponchartrain,  were  posted  a  few  miles  from  the  city,  and  a  small  portion 
of  them  in  the  city  itself;  while  the  Federal  fleet  rode  at  anchor  in  the 
port,  to  overawe  the  inhabitants,  and  retain  them  in  quiet,  and  to  some 
extent  unwilling  obedience  to  the  legitimate  authority  which  had  thus 
resumed  its  beneficent  sway  over  them. 

The  chief  hero  of  the  capture  of  New  Orleans,  and  of  the  reduction  of 
its  protecting  forts,  Commodore  David  G.  Farragut,  was  born  in  Tennes 
see  in  1801.  He  entered  the  navy  as  a  midshipman  in  December,  1810. 
He  then  served  under  Commodore  David  Porter,  and  was  the  first  to 
board  the  Essex.  He  afterward  accompanied  that  gallant  officer  in  his 
expedition  around  Cape  Horn  in  1813.  He  passed  the  ten  succeeding 
years  in  various  cruises,  and  on  the  1st  of  January,  1821,  was  commis 
sioned  a  lieutenant.  In  1851  he  was  ordered  to  serve  as  assistant  inspec 
tor  of  ordnance,  being  second  in  command  under  Commodore  Skinner. 
When  a  new  navy  yard  was  constructed  on  Mare's  Island,  near  San 
Francisco,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  that  post,  though  then  standing 
the  nineteenth  on  the  list.  In  1858  he  was  promoted  to  the  command  of 
the  steam  sloop  of  war  Brooklyn,  which  formed  a  part  of  the  home 
squadron  under  Flag-Officer  McCluney.  He  retained  that  position  until 
the  expedition  destined  for  the  capture  of  New  Orleans  was  determined 
on,  when  he  was  chosen  from  among  a  host  of  brave  and  skilful  men  as 
its  flag-officer,  to  lead  it  to  victory.  The  eminent  success  with  which  he 
fulfilled  his  important  mission  proved  the  wisdom  and  prudence  of  the 
selection. 

Almost  cotemporaneous  with  this  important  conquest,  the  value  of 
which  could  scarcely  be  overrated,  another  brilliant  triumph  graced  the 
Federal  arms  in  a  different  direction.  After  a  vigorous  bombardment  of 
ten  hours,  Fort  Macon,  situated  on  the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  near 
Beaufort  and  Newbern,  surrendered  to  the  assailants.  On  the  25th  of 


THE  BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  MACON.  231 

March,  General  Burnside,  having  completed  his  arrangements  for  the 
attack  and  conquest  of  this  fort,  ordered  General  Parke  to  occupy  More- 
head  city,  and  the  railroad  between  that  place  and  Newborn,  with  the 
division  under  his  command.  The  order  was  obeyed,  and  a  few  days 
afterward  Bogue  Island,  opposite  Carolina  city,  was  also  taken  possession 
of.  The  latter  position  was  most  favorable  for  the  commencement  of 
operations  against  Fort  Macon,  and  a  camp  was  there  established.  On 
the  llth  of  April  active  operations  began;  the  fifth  Rhode  Island  regi 
ment  drove  in  the  Rebel  pickets,  and  Captain  Williamson  proceeded  to 
select  positions  for  the  besieging  batteries.  These  having  been  chosen 
with  great  skill,  the  troops  were  set  to  work  to  construct  the  intrench- 
ments.  The  enemy,  having  discovered  the  unwelcome  activity  of  the 
Federal  forces,  continually  annoyed  them  with  their  artillery.  But  as 
the  precise  position  of  the  latter  was  somewhat  screened  from  view,  the 
execution  produced  by  their  salutes  was  unimportant.  The  troops  em 
ployed  in  this  service  were  the  fourth  and  fifth  Rhode  Island  and  the 
eighth  Connecticut  regiments.  By  the  24th.  of  April,  all  the  batteries 
were  completed,  and  on  the  same  day  General  Burnside  arrived  at  the 
scene  of  conflict  from  Newbern.  He  brought  with  him  two  barges,  the 
Grenade  and  Shrapnel,  which  had  been  fitted  up  as  a  floating  battery, 
and  had  been  armed  with  several  thirty  pound  Parrott  guns.  These  were 
placed  at  anchor  about  three  miles  from  the  fort.  Before  commencing 
the  bombardment  General  Burnside  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  enemy, 
with  a  final  demand  of  surrender.  On  the  next  morning,  the  25th;  that 
demand  was  refused. 

On  the  26th,  after  having  given  the  Rebels  a  few  hours  to  reconsider 
their  answer,  without  a  favorable  result,  the  Federal  batteries  opened 
their  fire.  These  consisted  of  three  breastworks,  situated  within  a  mile 
of  the  fort,  on  Bogue  beach.  One  of  them  mounted  three  thirty  pound 
Parrott  guns,  and  was  commanded  by  Captain  Morris,  of  the  first  United 
States  artillery.  The  second  was  posted  two  hundred  yards  distant,  con 
taining  four  ten  inch  mortar  batteries,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Flagler, 
chief  of  ordnance  on  General  Burnside's  staff.  The  third  mounted  four 
eight  inch  mortar  guns,  was  situated  to  the  right  of  the  first  named  bat 
tery,  and  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Prouty.  The  bombardment 
began  at  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  and  continued  without 
intermission  during  the  day.  At  first  the  larger  guns  failed  to  obtain 
the  proper  range  of  the  fort,  and  their  shells  fell  beyond  the  mark.  Soon, 
however,  this  error  was  corrected,  the  signal  corps  of  Lieutenants  Andrews 
and  Wait,  who  were  posted  at  Beaufort,  having  discovered  the  defect  and 
signaled  to  the  batteries  to  lower  their  aim.  Then  the  effect  of  the  gunb 
was  decisive.  Three  or  four  shells  would  be  seen  exploding  at  the  same 
moment  within  the  fort  or  upon  the  parapets.  At  the  same  time  the 
gunboats  which  accompanied  the  expedition  assisted  in  the  work.  Four 


232  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

of  these  bore  up  bravely  toward  the  fort,  and  added  their  destructive 
salutes  to  those  of  the  land  batteries.  During  this  interval  the  Rebel 
garrison  were  not  inactive.  They  replied  with  energy,  and  with  no  in 
considerable  skill.  A  sixty-four  pound  ball  struck  the  gunboat  Daylight 
on  her  starboard  quarter,  passed  through  the  engine  room,  the  officer's 
mess  room,  the  captain's  state  room,  and  at  length  lodged  in  the  side  of 
the  vessel.  A  portion  of  the  rigging  of  the  Gemsbok  was  shot  away ;  and 
other  minor  casualties  occurred.  So  terrible  was  the  bombardment  on 
both  sides,  that  the  buildings  in  Beaufort  and  Morehead  city  were  shaken 
in  a  perceptible  degree,  and  the  reverberation  of  the  guns  was  heard  for 
many  miles  around. 

But  in  spite  of  their  valiant  resistance,  it  soon  began  to  be  evident  that 
the  strength  and  energy  of  the  rebel  garrison  were  diminishing.  Some 
of  their  guns  had  been  dismounted.  Before  twelve  o'clock  they  were 
driven  entirely  from  the  external  battery,  on  the  terrace  on  the  outside 
of  the  walls,  and  were  compelled  to  retire  to  their  barbette  guns.  From 
this  period  their  firing  diminished  in  rapidity.  They  were  evidently 
becoming  exhausted,  while  the  efforts  of  the  besiegers  constantly  increased 
in  vigor  and-  determination.  The  shot  and  shell  of  the  latter  could  be 
seen  dashing  through  the  broken  walls  of  the  fort,  and  exploding  within 
anji  around  it.  At  twenty  minutes  past  four  o'clock  a  flag  of  truce  waved 
from  the  battlements,  and  the  firing  ceased  on  both  sides.  General  Parke 
was  sent  for,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  an  interview  with  Colonel  White, 
commandant  of  Fort  Macon ;  between  whom  an  armistice  was  agreed 
upon  until  the  next  day.  Then,  the  surrender  of  the  fort  and  garrison 
was  formally  made  to  General  Burnside.  Twelve  hundred  shot  and  shell 
had  been  discharged  by  the  three  Federal  batteries  during  the  siege. 
Fifteen  of  the  Rebel  guns  had  been  disabled.  Their  loss  was  seven  killed 
and  eighteen  wounded ;  the  Federal  loss  was  one  killed  and  two  wounded. 
The  fort  had  mounted  forty-eight  guns  of  various  sizes.  By  the  terms  of 
the  capitulation,  it  was  agreed  that  the  fort,  the  armament,  and  the  garri 
son  should  be  surrendered  to  the  United  States ;  that  the  officers  and  men 
should  be  released  on  their  parole  of  honor  not  again  to  take  up  arms 
against  the  United  States  until  regularly  exchanged ;  and  that  they 
should  carry  with  them  their  private  effects,  their  arms  excepted.  The 
fort  was  then  garrisoned  by  a  detachment  of  Federal  troops,  the  stars  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  to  the  breeze,  and  another  conquest  over  the  forces 
of  the  Rebel  States  was  added  to  the  triumphs  of  the  defenders  of  the 
Union. 


BATTLE   OF  LEE'S    MILLS.  233 


CHAPTER  XXL 

OPERATIONS  OF  GENERAL   MCCLELLAN  AT  YORKTOWN — BATTLE  OF  LEE*S   MILL DISASTER  AND 

RETREAT  OF  THE  FEDERAL  TROOPS EVACUATION  OF  TORKTOWN  BY  THE  REBELS MOTIVES 

OF  THAT  MOVEMENT — PURSUIT  BY  THE  FEDERALS ENGAGEMENT    BETWEEN  CAVALRY  NEAR 

WILLIAMSBURG SECOND      CONFLICT     NEAR     WILLIAMSBURG — INCIDENTS     OF     THE     BATTLE 

GENERAL    HOOKER'S     DIVISION BRILLIANT    CHARGE    OF    GENERAL    HANCOCK FEDERAL 

VICTORY — SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  HANCOCK — BATTLE  AT  WEST  POINT — INCIDENTS  OF  THB 
CONTEST — EFFICIENCY  OF  THE  FEDERAL  ARTILLERY ROUT  OF  THE  REBELS — BOMBARD 
MENT  OF  SEWELL'S  POINT— ITS  RESULTS — EXPEDITION  OF  GENERAL  WOOL  AGAINST  NORFOLK 

ITS  SURRENDER OPERATIONS  OF  GENERAL.  FREMONT  IN  THE  MOUNTAIN  DEPARTMENT 

MCDOWELL'S  DIVISION  AT  FREDERICKSBURG — ROUT  OF  COLONEL  MORGAN  IN  TENNESSEE — 

INCIDENTS  OF  THE  CHASE — BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  WRIGHT  COMMENCED ENGAGEMENT  OF 

THE  FEDERAL  GUNBOATS  AT  FORT  DARLING,  ON  JAMES  RIVER ITS  INCIDENTS  AND  RESULTS 

— STEADY  ADVANCE  OF  MCCLELLAND  ARMY  TOWARD  RICHMOND IT  CROSSES  THE  CHICKA- 

HOMINY VARIOUS  SKIRMISHES DECISIVE  ENGAGEMENT  ANTICIPATED — GENERAL  HUNTER'S 

ABOLITION  PROCLAMATION — PRESIDENT  LINCOLN'S  POLICY  RESPECTING  IT 

WHILE  General  Banks  was  driving  the  Eebel  forces  under  Jackson 
through  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah  toward  Woodstock  and  Harrison- 
burg,  General  McDowell,  with  another  corps  of  the  divided  army  of  the 
Potomac,  was  approaching  Fredericksburg,  which  lay  on  a  different  route 
to  Richmond.  Cotemporaneous  with  these  movements,,  and  in  concert 
with  them,  important  operations  were  progressing  under  McClellan  at 
Yorktown.  The  fortifications  which  the  Rebels  had  constructed  to  defend 
that  place  were  extensive  and  strong ;  and  it  became  the  employment  of 
the  Federal  army  during  some  days  to  erect  opposing  works,  which,  by 
their  superior  formation  and  their  greater  strength,  would  command 
them.  This  laborious  task  had  been  progressing  with  vigor  under  the 
direction  of  General  McClellan ;  the  most  skillful  engineering  had  already 
produced  the  most  formidable  results ;  when,  on  the  16th  of  April,  1862, 
a  collision  took  place  between  portions  of  the  hostile  armies.  The  Rebels 
had  erected  a  fort  at  Lee's  Mill,  about  eight  miles  south  of  Yorktown,  on 
the  Warwick  river,  which  they  had  manned  with  a  number  of  guns. 
The  special  purpose  of  this  fort  was  to  protect  the  road  leading  to  this 
mill,  which  passed  a  few  hundred  yards  in  front  of  it.  In  advance  of  this 
fort  there  was  a  bog  several  hundred  feet  wide,  and  above  the  bog  a  large 
dam.  It  was  necessary  to  reduce  this  fort,  and  to  expel  the  rebels  from 
its  possession.  Accordingly,  at  nine  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  16th, 
Captain  Mott  placed  his  battery  within  range,  and  commenced  the  bom 
bardment.  The  Rebels  responded  with  spirit.  The  engagement  con 
tinued  for  an  hour.  During  its  progress  three  of  the  guns  of  the  enemy 
were  silenced.  They  then  ceased  to  fire,  and  evacuated  the  fort.  The 
Federal  sharpshooters  were  immediately  sent  forward  to  reconnoitre,  and 


234.  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

to  ascertain  what  bad  become  of  the  garrison.  They  had  wholly  withdrawn 
from  the  field ;  and  all  remained  quiet  until  about  four  o'clock.  At  that 
time  a  body  of  Rebel  troops  appeared  in  possession  of  another  breastwork 
at  some  distance,  on  which  they  had  mounted  several  guns.  Again 
Mott's  battery  was  brought  to  bear  upon  them,  and  the  firing  during 
half  an  hour  was  continuous.  Soon  the  third,  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth 
Vermont  regiments  were  ordered  to  advance  against  the'Rebels,  who  were 
seen  to  be  occupying  the  woods  adjacent  to  the  fort  in  large  numbers. 
The  Green  Mountain  boys  rushed  forward  bravely  to  the  charge,  wading 
through  a  bog  several  hundred  feet  wide,  sometimes  to  their  knees, 
sometimes  to  their  waists  in  mud  and  water.  Having  passed  this  obstruc 
tion  without  flinching,  they  advanced,  and  suddenly  encountered  a  line 
of  concealed  rifle-pits.  They  fired  into  these,  and  their  occupants  quickly 
fled.  They  then  advanced  again,  and  met  another  line  of  these  concealed 
and  deadly  man-traps.  The  Yermonters  sent  a  second  volley  among  their 
occupants ;  while  Mott's  battery,  which  had  also  reached  the  scene  of 
action,  delivered  a  number  of  shell  and  canister  among  them  with 
immense  effect. 

But  at  this  stage  of  the  action  the  retreating  Rebels  were  reinforced  by 
numerous  accessions;  and  the  Federal  troops,  receiving  no  assistance 
were  compelled  to  fall  back.  During  their  advance  the  enemy  had 
opened  the  dam,  and  had  flooded  the  bog,  by  which  means  it  had  become 
covered  with  several  additional  feet  of  water.  A  number  of  the  wounded, 
in  passing  through  it,  sank  exhausted  in  the  mud,  and  were  strangled  to 
death.  Others,  while  slowly  retreating,  were  shot  by  the  pursuing 
Rebels,  fell  and  expired  in  the  swampy  waste.  In  vain  seven  companies 
of  the  sixth  Vermont  turned  heroically  on  the  foe,  and  made  every  effort 
to  cover  the  retreat  of  their  comrades.  Overwhelming  numbers  gave 
the  enemy  a  resistless  advantage.  At  length  all  except  the  wounded  and 
the  dying  reached  a  position  of  safety,  and  the  battle  ended.  The  Federal 
loss  in  this  disaster  was  forty-four  killed,  one  hundred  wounded  and 
missing.  The  loss  of  the  Rebels  is  unknown;  although  appearances 
indicated  that  they  paid  dearly  for  their  temporary  and  inconsiderable 
victory. 

Meanwhile  preparations  for  the  general  assault  of  Yorktown  proceeded 
with  energy.  To  the  astonishment,  however,  of  the  Federal  troops,  and 
eventually  of  the  whole  nation,  the  vast  army  which  the  Rebels  had 
assembled  at  that  place,  suddenly  evacuated  all  their  works  before  day 
light  on  the  4th  of  May,  1862,  and  commenced  their  line  of  retreat  toward 
Richmond.  During  the  preceding  night  they  had  kept  up  a  heavy  firing 
till  after  midnight ;  at  that  time  it  suddenly  ceased  ;  they  then  commenced 
to  dismount  their  guns  and  prepare  to  retire.  The  first  intimation  which 
the  Federal  commanders  received  of  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  was  when 
the  Federal  pickets  reconnoitered  their  position  on  the  morning  of  the  4th ; 


EVACUATION   OF  YORKTOWN   BY  THE  REBELS.  235 

and,  cautiously  advancing,  found  the  intrenchments  entirely  deserted. 
The  news  spread  with  rapidity  along  the  whole  Federal  line.  The  regi 
mental  bands  commenced  to  play,  filling  the  air  with  sweet,  exultant 
melodies.  General  McClellan  issued  an  order  to  prepare  to  follow  the 
enemy  instantly,  each  man  provided  with  two  days'  rations.  About  eight 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  all  was  ready,  and  the  pursuit  began 
toward  Williamsburg,  on  the  heels  of  the  flying  Eebels.  The  first  and 
sixth  cavalry,  with  four  batteries  of  artillery,  led  the  advance  under  the 
orders  of  General  Stonernan. 

The  evacuation  of  Yorktown  by  the  Rebel  army  was  one  of  the  most  im 
portant  and  singular  events  of  the  war.  It  had  evidently  been  the  original 
intention  of  the  Rebel  chiefs  to  defend  that  position  to  the  last  extremity ; 
and  they  had  assembled  there  for  that  purpose  sixty  or  seventy  thousand 
men,  commanded  by  Generals  Johnston,  Lee,  and  Magruder.  It  is  a 
probable  conjecture  that  the  most  potent  consideration  which  induced 
them  to  withdraw  from  a  position  which  they  had  so  carefully  fortified, 
was  that  they  might  encounter  the  Federal  army  at  a  safe  distance  from 
the  Federal  gunboats  on  the  York  river.  The  painful  lesson  taught 
them  at  Pittsburg  Landing  had  not  been  forgotten.  It  is  also  probable 
that  they  hoped,  by  a  single  decisive  victory  nearer  to  the  Rebel  capital, 
to  break  the  strength  of  the  Federal  army  in  the  Peninsula.  The  trophies 
which  they  left  behind  them  at  Yorktown  were  not  inconsiderable,  con 
sisting  of  seventy-one  cannon  of  various  calibre,  with  their  carriages  and 
implements  complete,  and  several  magazines.  Without  stopping  in  the 
deserted  works,  the  Federal  army  pressed  forward,  through  a  desolated 
country,  in  the  wake  of  the  retreating  Rebels.  About  two  miles  from 
Williamsburg,  the  Federal  advance  under  General  Stoneman  encountered 
their  rear  guard,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  4th  of  May,  and  a  vigorous 
engagement  ensued.  Just  as  the  Federal  advance,  emerging  from  the 
woods,  obtained  the  first  glimpse  of  Williamsburg,  they  also  saw  the  Rebel 
rear  guard.  A  regiment  of  cavalry  was  seen  approaching  in  line  of  battle 
about  a  mile  distant.  Captain  Gibson's  battery  was  immediately  ordered 
to  the  front,  to  open  upon  them  as  they  advanced.  At  the  same  time  a 
portion  of  the  sixth  United  States  cavalry  were  deployed  as  skirmishers 
to  the  right  and  left.  Notwithstanding  the  havoc  produced  by  the 
battery  on  the  Confederate  squadrons,  they  continued  steadily  to  advance. 
As  they  did  so,  a  fire  was  opened  on  the  Federals  from  an  earthwork  to 
the  right,  which  had  seemed  to  be  deserted.  At  that  crisis  portions  of 
the  first  and  sixth  cavalry  were  ordered  to  charge  upon  the  Rebel  horse. 
The  order  was  executed  in  an  admirable  manner.  A  desperate  hand-to- 
hand  fight  ensued,  during  which  the  enemy  broke  and  fled.  The  pursuit 
was  not  continued  for  any  distance  on  account  of  the  absence  of  the 
infantry.  After  the  close  of  the  action,  the  Rebel  troops  continued  their 
line  of  retreat  toward  Williamsburg.  General  Hancock's  brigade  arrived 


236  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

at  the  scene  of  conflict  soon  afterward ;  but  further  operations  were  post 
poned  for  the  present.  The  Federal  loss  in  this  engagement  was  two 
killed  and  twenty  wounded. 

Put  a  conflict  of  much  greater  importance  and  extent  impended  at 
Williamsburg.  The  Rebels  had  determined  not  to  permit  the  Federal 
troops  to  occupy  that  place  without  a  struggle.  Accordingly,  on  the 
morning  of  Monday,  May  5th,  as  General  Hooker's  division  approached 
the  breastworks  which  the  enemy  had  erected  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town. 
their  guns  opened  upon  the  Federal  troops  with  great  fury.  The  approach 
to  these  works  lay  through  a  series  of  ravines  and  swarnps,  which  rendered 
the  operations  of  the  Union  forces  extremely  difficult.  The  Rebel 
batteries  were  supported  by  a  very  numerous  body  of  troops  commanded 
by  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston.  Nevertheless,  their  assailants  marched 
forward  to  the  combat  with  an  admirable  spirit,  which  gave  the  assurance 
of  ultimate  success. 

The  battle  began  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  three  brigades 
of  the  enemy  assailed  a  portion  of  the  division  of  General  Hooker. 
General  Grover's  brigade  was  the  first  which  encountered  them.  It  con 
sisted  of  the  first  and  eleventh  Massachusetts,  the  second  New  Hampshire, 
the  twenty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  with  a  regular  battery.  The  remainder 
of  General  Hooker's  division  acted  as  a  reserve.  The  contest  continued 
during  the  entire  day,  and  was  marked  by  various  and  often  painful 
vicissitudes.  At  one  time  the  ammunition  of  the  Federal  troops  became 
exhausted,  and  the  enemy  had  nearly  gained  possession  of  their  batteries 
before  a  fresh  supply  could  be  brought  forward.  At  that  crisis  the  Rebels 
succeeded  in  spiking  several  of  the  Federal  guns,  though  these  were  after 
ward  retaken.  The  most  important  and  decisive  operation  of  the  day  was 
a  brilliant  and  skilful  movement  of  General  Hancock,  by  which  he  suc 
ceeded  in  turning  the  left  of  the  line  of  the  enemy.  From  that  moment 
the  resistance  of  the  Rebels  became  less  vigorous,  and  their  ultimate 
defeat  inevitable.  Toward  the  close  of  the  day  the  division  of  General 
Kearney  reached  the  scene  of  conflict,  and  joined  in  the  engagement. 
During  its  progress  Generals  Heintzelman,  Hooker,  and  Frank  Patterson 
had  their  horses  shot  under  them.  The  Rebels  fought  on  this  occasion 
with  a  great  preponderance  of  numbers  and  advantage  of  position  over 
the  Federals ;  but  the  nature  of  the  ground  was  such  as  to  render  it  im 
possible  for  a  larger  body  of  the  latter  to  be  brought  into  the  action. 
The  operations  of  Hancock's  brigade,  which  decided  the  fortunes  of  the 
day,  were  specially  worthy  of  admiration.  The  furious  charges  which 
they  made  on  the  enemy  proved  resistless.  The  havoc  in  their  lines 
became  terrible ;  they  at  length  broke  and  retired  in  a  general  and 
tumultuous  retreat.  They  left  nearly  seven  hundred  of  their  dead  upon 
the  field.  The  Federal  troops  then  pressed  on  and  occupied  their  deserted 
position.  The  loss  of  the  Union  forces  was  three  hundred  killed  and 


SKETCH   OF   GENERAL  HANCOCK.  237 

over  eight  hundred  wounded.  When  darkness  spread  over  the  sangui 
nary  scene,  the  routed  foe  was  hastening  forward  toward  the  banks  of  the 
Chickahominy,  and  the  exultant  victors  in  that  hard  contest  were  resting 
from  the  toils  and  achievements  of  the  day. 

The  chief  hero  of  this  engagement  was  General  "Win field  Scott  Han 
cock.  This  gallant  officer  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1824.  He 
entered  West  Point  in  1840,  and  graduated  in  that  institution  in  June, 
1844.  Among  his  classmates  was  Simon  Bolivar  Buckner,  the  Rebel 
general  who  held  a  command  and  was  captured  at  Fort  Donelson.  Han 
cock,  on  graduating,  was  appointed  brevet  second  lieutenant  in  the  fourth 
United  States  infantry ;  and  in  June,  1846,  he  obtained  his  commission  as 
full  second  lieutenant  in  the  same  regiment.  He  served  with  honor  during 
the  Mexican  war,  and  distinguished  himself  at  the  battles  of  Contreras 
and  Cherubusco.  For  his  meritorious  conduct  on  those  occasions  he  was 
breveted  first  lieutenant,  his  brevet  bearing  date  August  20th,  1847. 
Subsequently  he  became  regimental-quartermaster  and  adjutant  of  the 
sixth  United  States  infantry.  The  ranks  of  full  first  lieutenant  and  of 
captain  were  bestowed  upon  him  in  1853  and  1855.  The  Rebellion,  at 
its  birth,  found  him  assistant  quartermaster-general,  still  with  the  rank 
of  captain.  He  was  then  appointed  a  brigadier-general  of  volunteers, 
and  served  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac  under  McClellan  from  the  period 
of  the  elevation  of  that  officer  to  its  chief  command.  The  brilliant  vic 
tory  of  Williamsburg  afterward  placed  him  among  the  prominent  heroes 
of  the  war. 

Almost  contemporaneous  with  the  engagement  at  Williamsburg,  was 
the  attack  and  defeat  of  the  Rebels  at  West  Point  on  the  York  river. 
On  the  afternoon  of  the  6th  of  May,  that  division  of  the  army  of  the 
Potomac  which  was  under  the  command  of  General  Franklin,  arrived  at 
West  Point  in  transports,  for  the  purpose  of  disembarking  and  forming 
a  junction  with  the  troops  under  General  McClellan.  During  that  day 
about  twenty  thousand  men  were  transferred  to  the  shore  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Pamunkey  river,  at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile  from  the  town. 
The  troops  immediately  pitched  their  tents  and  formed  their  camp. 
During  the  ensuing  night,  some  of  the  Rebels  pickets  attacked  the  Fed 
eral  videttes ;  which  event  gave  evidence,  or  at  least  created  a  suspicion, 
that  the  enemy  were  posted  somewhere  in  the  vicinity.  General  franklin, 
expecting  an  assault  the  next  morning,  ordered  the  troops  to  be  under 
arms  at  break  of  day;  but  after  standing  in  line-of- battle  for  some  time 
and  no  foe  appearing,  the  men  were  permitted  to  return  to  their  camp. 
Soon,  however,  several  regiments  of  Rebels  appeared  in  the  distance 
toward  the  west  side  of  the  river.  Orders  were  then  given  to  the  six 
teenth,  the  thirty-first,  and  the  thirty-second  New  York,  the  ninety-fifth 
and  the  ninety-sixth  Pennsylvania  regiments,  to  form  and  to  advance 
against  the  foe.  It  soon  appeared  that  the  latter  were  posted  and  con- 


238  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

oealed  in  large  numbers  in  the  woods  in  front ;  and  from  every  portion 
of  the  shady  and  tangled  retreat  of  the  enemy  a  destructive  fire  of  mus 
ketry  was  now  discharged  upon  the  approaching  Federals.  The  fifth 
Maine  regiment  led  the  advance  upon  the  left  into  the  woods  with  superior 
steadiness  and  gallantry.  The  thirty -second  New  York  achieved  the 
same  service  upon  the  right.  During  three  hours  the  engagement  con 
tinued  with  great  spirit.  It  became  evident  however,  at  length,  that  the 
larger  numbers  of  the  Kebels  were  giving  them  the  advantage  ;  when  the 
Federal  cannon  were  opportunely  brought  to  bear  upon  them.  These  soon 
effectually  retrieved  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  The  second  United  States 
artillery,  under  Captain  Arnold,  was  ordered  forward  into  position  on 
the  right ;  the  first  Massachusetts  battery,  under  Captain  Porter,  advanced 
and  unlimbered  on  the  left;  and  both  commenced  to  shell  the  enemy. 
They  discharged  about  ten  shells  per  minute,  which,  bursting  among  the 
serried  and  partially-concealed  ranks  of  the  foe,  scattered  death  on  every 
side.  The  Kebels  then  transferred  their  troops  further  to  the  left  of  the 
Federal  lines ;  when  the  gunboats  on  the  river,  which  were  thus  brought 
within  range,  unexpectedly  opened  their  batteries  upon  them  with  still 
more  deadly  results.  Soon  the  enemy  fled  in  confusion,  totally  broken 
and  routed.  The  salutes  of  the  artillery  from  these  several  directions 
were  insupportable,  and  quickly  terminated  the  engagement.  In  the 
battle  of  West  Point  the  Federal  loss  was  about  eighty  killed,  three  hun 
dred  wounded,  and  about  five  hundred  prisoners.  That  of  the  enemy  was 
about  one  thousand  in  all. 

After  the  conclusion  of  the  engagement,  General  Franklin  immediately 
sent  a  dispatch  to  General  McClellan,  informing  him  of  the  progress  of 
events  on  the  York  river,  and  concerting  measures  with  him  for  the  union 
of  their  forces.  This  result  was  afterward  successfully  accomplished,  and 
their  united  army  then  steadily  advanced  toward  Kichmond. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  a  squadron  of  Federal  war  steamers,  consisting  of 
the  Monitor,  Naugatuck,  Susquehanna,  Dacotah,  Seminole,  the  Stevens 
and  San  Jacinto,  was  placed  by  Commodore  Goldsborough  under  the 
orders  of  Captain  Lardner,  for  the  purpose  of  bombarding  the  ffcebel  forts 
at  Sewall's  Point.  The  design  of  this  attack  was  to  ascertain  the  pos 
sibility  of  landing  a  body  of  troops  in  that  vicinity,  as  well  as  to  reduce 
the  forts.  The  orders  given  were  that  the  wooden  vessels  should  attack 
the  Rebel  works  in  enfilade,  and  that  the  iron  Monitor,  together  with  the 
Stevens,  should  advance  nearer  and  operate  against  them  in  front. 
Accordingly,  the  vessels  already  named  sailed  toward  Sewell's  point,  and 
having  arrived  within  range  opened  their  batteries  with  shot  and  shell 
against  the  enemy.  The  position  of  the  Monitor  was  in  advance  of  the 
other  vessels.  The  bombardment  commenced  about  noon.  For  half  an 
hour  no  response  was  made  from  the  Rebel  works;  a  number  of  shots 
were  then  fired  at  the  Federal  vessels,  not  one  of  which  reached  its  aim. 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  SEWELL'S  POINT.  239 

At  half-past  two  the  Merrimac  steamed  out  from  Norfolk,  with  the  appa 
rent  intention  of  attacking  the  Monitor.  But  no  such  result  followed. 
During  the  day  all  the  Federal  vessels  took  part  in  the  bombardment 
either  of  Sewell's  point  or  of  Craney  Island.  As  often  as  the  Monitor 
advanced  to  engage  the  Merrimac,  she  steamed  away  toward  Norfolk.  It 
was  thus  impossible  to  bring  her  within  range  or  to  engage  her.  During 
the  day  the  flag-staff  at  Sewall's  point  was  twice  shot  away ;  and  the 
Rebels  could  be  distinctly  seen  from  the  Federal  vessels  carrying  off  their 
dea'd  and  wounded.  At  five  o'clock  Commodore  Goldsborough  signalled 
to  the  Union  ships  to  return  to  Fortress  Monroe.  The  chief  purpose  of 
the  demonstration  had  been  accomplished.  It  had  elicited  the  fact  that 
the  number  of  guns  in  the  principal  fort  at  Sewell's  point  had  been  re 
duced  to  seventeen,  and  that  the  garrison  stationed  there  was  so  small  as 
to  be  quite  unimportant.  During  the  action,  the  barracks  attached  to  the 
fort  had  been  set  on  fire,  and  were  considerably  damaged.  All  the  Rebel 
guns  on  Craney  Island  were  silenced.  So  accurate  was  the  firing  from 
the  Seminole  and  other  vessels,  that  the  breastworks  were  in  some  places 
levelled  with  the  ground,  and  the  sand  and  earth  were  seen  flying  in 
fragments  over  the  tree-tops  in  the  rear.  On  the  9th  of  May,  the  Rebels 
evacuated  the  forts  at  Sewell's  point,  and  retired  to  Norfolk,  as  the  ulti 
mate  result  of  the  assault  of  the  Federal  fleet. 

Their  abode  in  Norfolk  was  destined  to  be  of  short  duration.  On  the 
10th  of  May  General  Wool  commenced  his  march  from  Fortress  Monroe 
to  operate  against  that  city.  He  landed  five  thousand  troops  at  Wil- 
loughby  Point,  and  by  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  Federal  forces 
had  reached  the  vicinity  of  Norfolk.  A  desperate  defence  was  anticipated 
from  General  Huger,  who  commanded  the  Rebel  troops  in  that  city. 
This  expectation  was  agreeably  disappointed.  Early  on  the  10th  he 
evacuated  the  place,  and  soon  after  the  Rebel  Commodore  Tatnall  set  on 
fire  and  blew  up  the  famous  battering  ram  Merrimac,  that  it  might  not 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  As  General  Wool  approached  Norfolk 
he  was  met  by  a  deputation  of  citizens  headed  by  the  Mayor,  who  for 
mally  surrendered  the  city  and  the  navy  yard  to  the  Federal  authorities. 
General  Yiele  was  placed  in  command  as  military  governor,  and  orders 
were  given  for  the  protection  of  persons  and  property.  General  Wool, 
who  had  been  accompanied  by  Secretary  Chase,  returned  to  Fortress 
Monroe  during  the  following  night.  The  possession  of  Norfolk  neces 
sitated  that  also  of  Portsmouth,  which  was  likewise  returned  to  its  legiti 
mate  masters. 

The  recovery  of  these  places,  which  had  been  seized  and  so  long  occu 
pied  by  the  forces  of  the  Rebel  government,  was  an  important  event  in 
the  progress  of  the  war.  Thus  from  day  to  day  the  rebellion  was  cur 
tailed  of  its  monstrous  and  hideous  proportions,  and  thus  the  triumphs  of 
the  arms  of  the  Union  were  enlarged  and  extended. 


240  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES  . 

While  these  events  were  taking  place  in  the  vicinity  of  Hampton 
Eoads,  events  of  minor  interest  were  occurring  in  other  portions  of  the 
country.  General  Fremont,  who  was  in  command  of  the  Mountain  De 
partment,  occupied  no  sinecure,  although  his  proceedings,  from  the 
nature  of  the  case,  glared  less  obtrusively  upon  the  attention  of  the  gene 
ral  public.  The  men  under  his  command  were  required  to  engage  the 
enemy  from  time  to  time  in  a  novel  kind  of  warfare,  not  inappropriately 
termed  guerilla  fighting.  Eoving  bands  of  Eebels  infested  the  rugged 
region  over  which  his  jurisdiction  extended,  who  often  attacked  his  men 
by  stealth,  and  rendered  their  operations  difficult  and  dangerous.  On  the 
8th  of  May  General  Milroy  was  assailed  near  Petersburg  by  a  portion  of 
the  Rebel  troops  under  "  Stonewall"  Jackson.  During  the  action  Gene 
ral  Schenck  fortunately  reached  the  scene  of  conflict  with  his  command, 
after  a  forced  march  of  thirty-four  miles,  and  the  enemy  were  routed. 
The  Federal  loss  was  five  killed  and  seventy  wounded.  About  the  same 
period  General  Kelley  encountered  the  Rebels  at  Spencer,  and  after  a 
spirited  contest,  in  which  a  number  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and  wounded, 
compelled  them  to  retreat,  and  to  disperse  among  the  mountains.  In 
Alabama  the  triumph  of  the  Union  arms,  under  the  guidance  of  General 
Mitchel,  continued  with  undiminished  eclat.  On  the  13th  of  May  he  dis 
patched  General  Negley,  supported  by  Colonel  Little's  troops,  from 
Pulaski  to  Rogersville,  in  northern  Alabama,  for  the  purpose  of  driving 
the  enemy  across  the  Tennessee  river  and  destroying,  their  ferry  boats. 
The  Rebels  fled  at  the  approach  of  the  Federal  troops;  the  latter  obtained 
possession  of  the  bridge  across  Shad  Creek,  and  of  the  ferry  below  the 
mouth  of  that  stream.  The  result  of  these  operations  was,  that  more  than 
a  thousand  Rebel  cavalry  were  enclosed  on  one  side  of  the  river,  were  cut 
off  from  all  possibility  of  escape,  and  were  so  hemmed  in  as  soon  to  fall 
inevitably  into  the  power  of  the  forces  under  General  Mitchel. 

The  triumphant  progress  of  the  Federals  arms  at  this  period  was  illus 
trated  with  striking  effect  by  a  proclamation  which  was  issued  by  Presi 
dent  Lincoln,  in  which  he  ordered  the  opening  of  the  chief  southern  ports, 
which,  since  the  commencement  of  the  rebellion,  had  been  sealed  to  the 
commerce  and  intercourse  of  the  world,  by  the  presence  and  agency  of  the 
Union  war-steamers.  On  the  12th  of  May  the  ports  of  Beaufort,  Port 
Royal  and  New  Orleans  were  thus  thrown  open,  as  evidence  of  the  rein 
stated  supremacy  of  the  Federal  Government  in  those  recent  centres  of 
Rebel  power  and  treason. 

The  important  division  of  troops  which  was  commanded  by  General 
McDowell,  continued  to  advance,  by  steady  marches,  due  south  from 
Manassas,  toward  Richmond ;  and  having  at  length  reached  Fredericks- 
burg,  permanently  occupied  it.  On  the  llth  of  May  a  skirmish  took 
place  between  a  small  number  of  his  cavalry,  who  were  scouting  at  the 
distance  of  four  miles  from  the  town,  and  a  body  of  Rebels  who  were 


ROUT  OF  COLONEL  MORGAN  IN  TENNESSEE.  241 

stationed  and  concealed  in  the  woods.  General  Patrick,  being  informed 
that  these  men  were  attacked  by  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  ordered 
his  brigade  to  advance  at  a  double  quick  pace  to  the  scene  of  conflict 
The  arrival  of  this  reinforcement  was  opportune ;  the  Rebels  then  fled 
without  offering  any  further  resistance,  losing  eleven  of  their  infantry  and 
three  of  their  cavalry  as  prisoners. 

Among  minor  engagements  of  the  class  to  which  we  are  now  referring, 
none  were  more  spirited,  or  exhibited  the  bravery  of  the  Union  troops  to 
better  advantage,  than  the  battle  between  cavalry  which  took  place  at 
Lebanon,  Tennessee,  on  the  7th  of  May.  The  Rebel  Colonel  Morgan  had 
become  notorious  in  that  region  of  the  country,  as  the  commander  of  a 
desperate  band  of  mounted  rangers  and  brigands,  by  whose  means  he  had 
committed  many  depredations  on  the  property  of  loyal  citizens,  and  on 
the  baggage  and  provision  trains  of  the  Union  forces.  General  Dumont, 
at  Nashville,  and  Colonel  Duffield,  at  Murfreesboro,  were  ordered  to  com 
bine  their  troops  and  attack  him.  The  crafty  Rebel  attempted  in  various 
ways,  and  by  numerous  artifices,  to  elude  the  search  of  the  Federal  com 
manders  ;  and  a  protracted  hunt  took  place  before  they  found  him.  At 
length  he  intrenched  himself  in  the  town  of  Lebanon,  with  eight  hundred 
cavalry ;  and  there  he  was  attacked  by  them.  A  desperate  street  fight  en 
sued.  Morgan  and  his  men  were  driven  from  the  town.  A  running  battle 
then  commenced,  which  continued  for  nearly  twenty  miles.  A  hundred 
and  sixty  Rebel  prisoners  were  taken.  Many  were  killed  and  wounded 
during  the  pursuit.  At  last  Morgan,  his  band  being  reduced  to  only  fifteen 
men,  succeeded  in  crossing  the  Cumberland  river  on  a  flatboat.  Not 
till  then  did  the  chase  terminate.  A  more  complete  and  thorough  rout 
had  not  taken  place  since  the  commencement  of  the  Rebellion. 

During  the  occurrance  of  these  events  a  great  naval  assault  had  been  pro 
gressing  against  Fort  Wright,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  in  Tennessee.  A 
large  number  of  Federal  gunboats,  under  the  orders  of  the  gallant  Flag- 
Officer  Foote,  had  been  directed  to  attack  that  fortress.  He  was  assisted 
in  the  command  by  Captain  C.  H.  Davis,  of  the  United  States  navy. 
The  bombardment  had  been  progressing  with  various  incidents  and  vicis 
situdes  from  the  8th  of  May.  The  Rebel  works  were  protected  by  a 
formidable  force  of  gunboats  and  battering  rams,  commanded  by  Com 
modore  Hollins,  which  attacked  the  Federal  vessels  with  marvelous 
ferocity  and  frequency.  It  was  not  till  a  later  period,  and  after  a  very 
protracted  bombardment,  that  the  contest  was  ended  by  the  complete 
evacuation  of  the  fort,  and  its  surrender  to  the  Federal  commander  and 
his  heroic  troops. 

It  was  on  the  James  river,  at  Fort  Darling,  situated  eight  miles  below 

Richmond,  that,  on  the  15th  of  May,  the  Federal  cause  received  the  first 

reverse  which  it  had  suffered  for  a  considerable  period  of  time.     On  that 

day  the  gunboats  Monitor,  Galena,  Aroostook,  Port  Royal  and  Naugatuck, 

16 


242  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

having  reached  the  position  already  named,  on  their  way  toward  the  Rebel 
capital,  for  the  purpose  of  co-operating  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
suddenly  encountered  a  fierce  and  formidable  assault  from  the  Rebel 
batteries  which  had  been  erected  upon  Ward's  Bluff.  At  this  point  the 
stream  makes  an  abrupt  turn,  and  contracts  its  proportions.  It  thus  ren 
dered  the  batteries  placed  upon  its  banks  more  effective.  At  the  foot  of 
the  bluff  obstructions  had  been  placed  in  the  river,  consisting  of  sunken 
vessels  secured  by  chains,  which  effectually  terminated  the  further  advance 
of  the  gunboats.  The  fortifications  on  the  shore  were  placed  on  ground 
two  hundred  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  river,  and  a  body  of  Rebel  troops 
were  posted  in  the  vicinity,  to  assist  the  attack  on  the  gunboats.  The 
latter  having  been  anchored  about  a  thousand  yards  from  the  batteries,  a 
desperate  engagement  immediately  commenced.  The  guns  of  the  enemy 
poured  down  an  incessant  hailstorm  of  shot  upon  the  decks  of  the  Federal 
vessels,  and  seriously  damaged  them.  The  latter  responded  with  great 
spirit,  but  it  soon  became  evident  that  the  disadvantages  of  their  situation 
were  quite  insurmountable.  It  was  found  impossible  to  elevate  the  guns  of 
the  Monitor  to  the  unusual  range  required  by  the  high  position  of  the  batter 
ies,  and  therefore  she  was  very  nearly  rendered  useless.  She  was  struck 
three  times  on  her  turret  and  twice  upon  her  sides.  The  only  effect  produced 
by  the  balls  was  to  bend  the  iron  plates  of  the  vessel.  The  Naugatuck  suf 
fered  a  much  more  serious  disaster.  After  delivering  several  effective  shots, 
her  immense  one  hundred  pound  rifled  Parrott  gun  burst,  killing  the  gunner 
and  wounding  two  men.  The  rest  of  her  armament  consisted  of  two  board 
ing  howitzers,  which  in  such  a  contest,  were  of  little  consequence.  The  casu- 
alities  on  the  Galena  were  still  more  serious.  The  shots  of  the  Rebel 
batteries  riddled  her  deck  with  ease,  and  several  of  their  balls  penetrated 
her  side.  Fourteen  of  her  crew  were  killed  and  thirteen  wounded.  The 
narrowness  of  the  channel  at  this  point,  which  prevented  this  vessel  from 
turning,  so  as  to  work  to  advantage,  rendered  her  a  helpless  mark  for  the 
enemy.  The  other  gunboats  were  not  seriously  injured.  The  action  con 
tinued  nearly  five  hours  ;  after  which  time  the  uselessness  of  further  effort 
being  apparent,  the  boats  dropped  down  the  river  to  their  former  anchorage. 
The  entire  Federal  loss  was  then  fifteen  killed  and  sixteen  wounded. 

This  check  did  not  delay  for  a  moment  the  steady  progress  of  the 
Federal  forces  under  General  McClellan  toward  Richmond.  On  the  20th 
of  May  the  advance  under  Stoneman  reached  New  bridge,  eight  miles 
distant  from  that  city,  driving  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  before  them. 
The  Rebels  were  no  longer  found  in  force  on  that  side  of  the  Chickahominy 
creek,  which  there  becomes  an  insignificant  stream.  On  the  21st  a  largo 
portion  of  the  troops  crossed  it  at  Bottom's  bridge  and  at  the  railroad 
bridge,  and  occupied  a  position  a  mile  and  a  half  beyond.  On  the  28d 
several  skirmishes  took  place  between  portions  of  the  two  armies,  in  one 
of  which  the  Rebels  were  driven  from  Mechanicsville,  six  miles  from 


fc 
GENERAL  HUNTER'S  ABOLITION   PROCLAMATION.  243 

New  bridge ;  and  in  another,  the  famous  Louisiana  Tigers  were  dreadfully 
cut  up  by  the  fourth  Michigan  regiment.  Other  skirmishes  subsequently 
occurred  at  different  points  along  the  hostile  lines,  in  which  the  Federal 
forces  usually  gained  the  advantage.  These  comparatively  insignificant 
operations  were  viewed  as  merely  preliminary  to  the  colossal  and  decisive 
engagements  which  were  expected  to  take  place  between  the  rival  hosts, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  Rebel  capital;  which,  with  some  probability  of 
truth  and  reason,  were  regarded  as  the  final  arbiters  of  the  fate  of  the 
Confederate  government,  and  were  expected  to  prove  mortal  blows  to  their 
already  exhausted  and  expiring  empire. 

A  few  days  previous  to  the  events  which  have  just  been  narrated,  the 
attention  of  the  nation  was  temporarily  diverted  from  the  exclusive  scrutiny 
of  scenes  of  blood  and  conflict,  by  a  proclamation  which  was  issued  by 
Major  General  David  Hunter,  then  commanding  the  Department  of  the 
South,  by  which  he  assumed  the  responsibility  of  declaring  the  States  of 
Georgia,  Florida,  and  South  Carolina  under  martial  law ;  at  the  same  time 
affirming  that,  as  slavery  and  martial  law  were  incompatible,  he  pronounced 
all  those  persons  who  had  formerly  been  held  to  slavery  in  those  States 
thenceforth  forever  free.  This  bold  and  sweeping  proclamation  elicited 
different  judgments  from  the  public,  according  to  their  previously  enter, 
tained  opinions  ;  some  commending  it  while  others  censured  it.  What 
ever  might  have  been  the  abstract  merit  and  virtue  of  the  measure,  it  did 
not  harmonize  with  the  more  conservative  and  moderate  sentiments  of 
President  Lincoln ;  who,  on  the  19th  of  May,  issued  a  counter  proclama 
tion  repudating  the  act  of  General  Hunter  as  unauthorized,  and  setting 
forth  that  he,  the  President,  by  virtue  of  the  authority  vested  in  him, 
reserved  to  himself  the  right  to  determine  whether  he  possessed  the 
power  to  declare  the  slaves  in  any  of  the  States  free ;  and  whether,  provi 
ded  he  possessed  that  power,  it  would  ever  become  necessary  to  the  main 
tenance  and  preservation  of  the  Federal  Government,  for  him  to  exercise  it 
At  the  same  time  the  Chief  Executive  set  forth  that  he  had  on  a  previous 
occasion  recommended  that  Congress  should  pass  a  joint  resolution  by 
which  the  United  States  would  be  obliged  to  assist  any  State  which 
might,  of  its  own  accord,  resolve  to  abolish  slavery  within  its  limits; 
giving  it  such  pecuniary  aid  as  might  be  necessary  to  enable  it  to  execute 
such  a  purpose.  That  recommendation  had  been  accepted  and  approved 
by  the  Federal  Congress ;  and  it  stood  recorded  in  their  proceedings  as  a 
solemn  and  authentic  proposal  from  the  nation  to  the  slave  States.  Thus 
far,  and  no  farther,  did  he  deem  it  prudent  and  equitable  then  to  determine 
or  to  legislate  on  the  subject.  The  position  thus  assumed  and  maintained 
by  Mr.  Lincoln  received  the  approval  of  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  loyal  States,  who  were  not  at  that  period  in  favor  of  any  more  radical 
or  decisive  measure  in  reference  to  the  enfranchisement  of  the  victims  of 
southern  bondage. 


244  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

THE  CORPS  D'ARMEK  OF  GENERAL  BANKS — IMPRUDENT  REDUCTION  OF  ITS  NUMBERS — THE 

REBELS  UNDER  JACKSON  ATTACK  THE  ADVANCE  AT  FRONT  ROYAL DESIGN  OF  THE  REBELS 

TO  OVERPOWER  BANKS's  DIVISION THE  LATTER  ORDERS  A  GENERAL  RETREAT  TOWARD 

WINCHESTER VARIOUS  ENGAGEMENTS  ON  THE  ROUTE BATTLE  OF  MIDDLETOWN ACTION 

ON  THE  MARCH  TO  WINCHESTER BATTLE  AT  NEWTOWN — THE  BATTLE  OF  WINCHESTER 

ITS  RESULTS — CONTINUANCE  OF  THE  RETREAT  TO  WILLIAMSPORT ADVENTURES  OF  TUB 

ZOUAVES    D'AFRIQUE — FEDERAL   LOSSES   DURING  THE   RETREAT — SKETCH   OF   GENERAL 
BANKS — ATTITUDE  OF  THE  FEDERAL  AND  REBEL  ARMIES  AT  CORINTH — A  GREAT  BATTLE 

ANTICIPATED COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  ATTACK  BY  GENERAL  HALLECK — ITS  RESULTS 

EVACUATION  OF  CORINTH  BY  THE  REBELS — CAUSES  OF  THIS  EVENT — AN  EXTRAORDINARY 

SPECTACLE PURSUIT  OF   THE    RETREATING  FOE — A   RECONNOISSANCE  ON  THE  CHICKA- 

HOMINY SKIRMISH  AT  THE  PINES THE  BATTLE  OF  HANOVER  COURT  HOUSE DESTRUCTION 

OF  THE  RICHMOND  AND  FREDERICKSBURG  RAILROAD — GALLANT  EXPLOIT  O?  LIEUTENANT 

DAVIS. 

THAT  portion  of  the  Federal  forces  which  had  been  placed  under  the 
command  of  General  Banks,  had  pursued  the  Rebels  under  General  Jack 
son  through  the  valley  of  the  Sbenandoah  with  steady  and  unvarying 
success  as  far  as  Strasburg,  when,  on  the  23d  of  May,  1862,  a  sudden 
reverse  overtook  the  victors.  The  division  of  General  Banks  was 
originally  an  efficient  body  of  troops,  comprising  three  large  brigades. 
These  had  been  reduced  from  time  to  time  to  less  than  half  of  their  first 
proportions,  through  the  occult  influence  of  various  causes,  by  sending 
large  detachments  to  other  commanders  in  the  field.  The  result  of  this 
policy  was,  that  General  Banks  was  eventually  placed  in  a  critical  po 
sition,  in  the  heart  of  a  hostile  country,  and  liable  to  be  attacked  at  any 
moment  by  an  enraged  enemy  with  an  overwhelming  preponderance  of 
numbers.  The  commander  of  the  Rebels  in  that  region  was  too  shrewd 
and  vigilant  an  officer  not  to  discover  the  immense  advantages  which 
were  thus  unfortunately  placed  within  his  reach  ;  and  he  soon  gave  tho 
friends  of  the  Union  ample  cause  to  regret  the  energy  and  skill  with 
which  he  improved  the  opportunity  of  revenge  and  conquest  which  this 
indiscretion  tendered  him. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  the  advance  guard  of  General  Banks,  which  was 
stationed  under  Colonel  Kenley  at  Front  Royal,  consisting  of  the  first 
Maryland  regiment,  was  suddenly  attacked  by  the  Rebels  with  great  fury 
and  with  an  immense  superiority  of  numbers,  As  soon  as  information 
of  this  event  reached  the  headquarters  at  Strasburg,  General  Banks  or 
dered  a  detachment  of  cavalry  and  a  portion  of  his  artillery  forward  to 
the  support  of  Colonel  Kenley;  but  when  it  was  ascertained,  soon  after 
ward,  that  the  troops  of  that  officer  had  been  wholly  scattered  by  the 


REBEL  DESIGN  TO   OVERPOWER  BANKS'  DIVISION.  245 

avalanche  which  had  descended  upon  them,  and  that  the  enemy,  twenty- 
five  thousand  strong,  were  rushing  on  like  a  deluge  for  the  purpose  of 
surrounding  and  crushing  the  comparatively  weak  force  of  General  Banks, 
the  reinforcements  thus  ordered  forward  were  recalled.  That  commander 
quickly  discerned  the  full  extent  of  his  danger,  and  the  novel  and  peril 
ous  crisis  summoned  all  his  rare  powers  of  discrimination  into  immediate 
action.  He  perceived  that,  under  the  circumstances,  only  one  of  three 
lines  of  conduct  was  possible  for  him :  lie  might  advance  with  his  whole 
force  from  Strasburg  toward  Front  Royal,  and  attack  the  enemy  on  the 
flank ;  he  might  retire  across  Little  North  Mountain,  and  thus  reach  the 
Potomac  on  the  west ;  he  might  retreat  to  Winchester,  there  preserve  his 
communications  with  his  original  base  of  operations,  wait  for  reinforce 
ments,  engage  the  advancing  enemy  if  necessary,  or  retreat  to  Williams- 
port,  as  the  event  might  demand.  The  objection  to  the  first  plan  was 
fatal :  his  troops  were  too  few  to  attack  the  augmented  and  greatly  supe 
rior  force  which  the  Rebels  had  suddenly  brought  together  at  Front  Royal. 
The  argument  against  the  second  plan  was  equally  potent :  by  it  General 
Banks  would  have  been  compelled  to  abandon  his  whole  train,  consisting 
of  five  hundred  wagons  of  ammunition  and  stores.  The  third  expedient 
alone  was  prudent  and  feasible;  for  by  a  skillful  retreat  toward  Winches 
ter,  and  thence  to  the  Potomac,  the  army  might  be  saved  from  capture, 
his  stores  from  total  loss,  and  the  cause  of  the  Union  from  a  greater  dis 
aster  than  any  which  had  occurred  since  the  commencement  of  the  war. 

Accordingly,  at  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  of  May,  the 
hurried  dispositions  for  the  retreat  were  made.  Colonel  Donnelly's  brig 
ade  was  ordered  forward  in  the  advance  with  the  wagon  trains.  Colonel 
Gordon  was  placed  in  command  of  the  bulk  of  the  infantry  in  the  centre. 
General  Hatch,  with  nearly  the  whole  of  the  cavalry,  and  six  pieces  of 
artillery,  was  charged  with  the  protection  of  the  rear.  By  nine  o'clock 
all  the  arrangements  were  completed  ;  every  man  was  at  his  post ;  General 
Banks  was  ubiquitous  over  the  whole  line ;  the  last  orders  to  march 
were  given  ;  and  then  began  one  of  the  most  masterly  retreats  which  can 
be  found  recorded  on  the  checkered  pages  of  history.  Soon  the  Rebel 
forces  came  rushing  on  in  full  pursuit.  The  long  line  of  troops  and 
wagons  was  winding  its  tedious  way,  like  an  immense  anaconda,  stretching 
between  Strasburg  and  Middletown,  when  the  enemy,  passing  the  Federal 
troops  by  a  circuitous  route,  reached  the  front  of  the  column  and  made 
an  attack  upon  the  heavy  trains  and  the  troops  which  guarded  them. 
The  enemy  had  obtained  possession  of  the  road  at  Middletown,  for  the 
purpose  of  intercepting  the  retreat ;  and  now  the  fugitives  from  the  front 
came  running  toward  the  rear  in  wild  confusion,  bringing  the  first  tidings 
of  the  assault.  The  position  and  immediate  purpose  of  the  Rebels  being 
thus  ascertained,  Colonel  Donnelly  was  instantly  ordered  forward  with  a 
body  of  troops  to  support  the  advance.  He  encountered  the  enemy  in 


246  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

full  force  at  Middletown,  thirteen  miles  from  Winchester.  Colonel  Knip6 
was  directed,  with  the  forty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  to  attack  the  enemy 
posted  in  the  woods  on  the  right.  He  was  supported  by  a  portion  of 
Cochran's  New  York  battery  and  the  twenty-eighth  New  York  regiment. 
After  a  short,  though  spirited  contest,  the  Eebels  broke  and  fled.  They 
were  then  pursued  for  more  than  two  miles  from  the  scene  of  action ;  but 
as  there  seemed  to  be  no  visible  end  to  the  chase,  the  victors  returned  to 
the  main  column.  As  it  was  the  purpose  of  General  Banks  to  effect  his 
return  to  Winchester,  and  not  to  win  battles,  except  in  so  far  as  it  was 
necessary  to  accomplish  that  result,  he  refused  to  waste  valuable  time  in 
useless  conquests.  Thus  Middletown  was  passed,  and  the  heroic  march 
was  continued  toward  Winchester. 

It  was  now  ascertained  that  the  Rebels  had  taken  another  position,  for 
the  purpose  of  intercepting  the  Federal  forces  before  they  reached  that 
city.  General  Hatch,  who  still  commanded  the  rear,  was  then  ordered 
to  advance  with  the  greater  part  of  his  troops,  leaving  Colonel  De  Forrest 
to  protect  the  rear.  Hatch  in  vain  attempted  to  join  the  Federal  troops 
in  front,  being  intercepted  by  the  greater  masses  of  the  enemy ;  he  then 
movtd  to  the  left,  and  advanced  by  a  parallel  road  toward  Winchester. 
He  found  Colonel  Gorden  at  Newtown,  where  he  effected  a  junction  with 
the  main  column.  But  six  companies  of  the  New  York  fifth  under  Colonel 
De  Forrest,  in  the  rear,  were  cut  off  by  the  enemy  from  the  rest  of  the 
troops,  and  compelled  to  retreat  to  Strasburg.  At  Newtown  a  spirited 
contest  took  place  between  a  large  body  of  the  Rebels  and  a  portion  of 
the  Federal  troops  commanded  by  Colonel  Gordon,  consisting  of  the 
second  Massachusetts,  the  twenty-seventh  Indiana,  and  the  twenty-eighth 
New  York.  These  troops  attacked  the  Rebels  with  fury,  drove  them 
from  the  town,  and  the  guns  of  the  enemy  were  silenced  by  the  Federal 
battery ;  but  they  found  it  impossible  to  effect  a  junction  with  the  cavalry 
under  General  Hatch,  or  to  recover  the  rear  of  the  train  which  had  been 
cut  off.  It  was  here  that,  as  the  Federal  column  continued  their  line  of 
march,  they  were  surrounded  by  numerous  masses  of  the  Rebel  hordes, 
who  repeatedly  charged  on  them  with  cavalry,  but  were  as  often  repulsed 
in  solid  squares,  with  all  the  gallantry  and  firmness  of  veterans.  During 
these  operations,  the  wagons  which  became  disabled  were  burned  from 
time  to  time,  to  prevent  their  contents  from  falling  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy ;  while  after  each  assault  and  each  repulse,  the  line  of  march 
was  quietly  resumed.  Many  were  wounded  and  slain  on  both  sides ;  and 
thus  by  slow  stages  the  Federal  forces  approached,  and  finally  reached 
Winchester.  It  was  at  this  place  that  the  most  tragical  scenes  con 
nected  with  this  memorable  and  masterly  retreat  were  destined  to  occur. 

The  Rebels  having  concentrated  twenty-five  thousand  men  around  the 
Federal  forces  as  they  lay  in  the  vicinity  of  Winchester,  commenced  the 
attack  at  break  of  day  on  the  25th  of  May.  The  latter  reposed  upon 


i  THE   BATTLE  OF  WINCHESTER.  247 

their  arms  during  their  halt,  and  were  ready  at  a  moment's  notice  to 
receive  the  enemy.  The  right  wing,  commanded  by  Colonel  Gordon,  com 
prised  the  third  brigade,  and  the  men  were  protected  to  some  extent  from 
the  fire  of  the  foe  by  stone  walls  in  the  vicinity.  Colonel  Donnelly  com 
manded  the  remainder  of  the  infantry,  which  was  posted  on  the  left. 
General  Hatch  and  the  cavalry  occupied  the  centre.  The  enemy  com 
menced  the  engagement  by  an  attack  on  the  left  of  the  Federal  line^ 
Here  they  suffered  severely,  and  the  advantage  remained  with  the  Federals. 
On  the  right  the  enemy  were  more  numerously  posted,  and  were  more 
successful  in  their  operations.  They  attempted  to  turn  the  flank  of  the 
Federal  troops  upon  the  Berryville  road.  A  portion  of  the  latter  then 
retreated,  the  Rebels  pursued,  and  a  confused  flight  through  Winchester 
took  place.  The  right  wing  followed  in  better  order,  and  covered  the 
retreat  through  the  town.  On  the  opposite  side  of  Winchester  order  was 
again  restored,  and  the  line  of  march  resumed.  This  battle  continued 
during  five  hours.  In  it  about  five  thousand  men,  of  all  arms,  had  con 
fronted  and  encountered  with  honor  twenty-five  thousand.  The  Rebels 
gained  few  laurels  by  the  combat.  The  retreat  was  then  continued 
toward  Martinsburg,  the  Federal  troops  marching  in  three  parallel  columns. 
Each  of  these  columns  was  protected  by  a  rear  guard,  which  repeatedly 
and  defiantly  skirmished  with  the  Rebels.  At  Martinsburg  the  Federal 
troops  halted  two  hours  and  a  half,  thus  demonstrating  that  they  were 
not  making  a  panic-stricken  or  precipitate  retreat.  After  that  interval 
the  march  was  resumed  ;  and  at  six  o'clock  on  the  same  day,  they  reached 
the  banks  of  the  Potomac  at  Williamsport.  They  had  traveled  fifty-three 
miles  in  forty-eight  hours.  A  small  number  of  the  wearied  troops  crossed 
the  river  during  the  night;  the  remainder  followed  on  the  ensuing  day. 

The  Federal  loss  in  this  retreat  was,  under  the  circumstances  a  very 
small  one.  It  was  thirty-eight  killed,  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  wounded, 
seven  hundred  missing.  All  the  Federal  guns,  sixteen  in  number,  were 
saved.  Out  of  a  train  of  nearly  five  hundred  wagons,  only  fifty-five  were 
lost.  Most  of  these  were  burned  upon  the  road,  because  they  had  become 
wrecked,  and  not  because  they  were  abandoned  to  the  enemy.  Among 
the  officers  who  especially  distinguished  themselves  on  this  occasion  was 
General  A.  S.  Williams,  commanding  the  division;  Colonels  Donnelly 
and  Gordon,  commanding  the  two  brigades ;  and  General  Hatch,  the  chief 
of  cavalry.  In  the  several  engagements  which  took  place  during  the 
retreat,  not  a  few  episodes  occurred  in  which  particular  corps  and  single 
companies  displayed  the  best  and  noblest  qualities  of  the  soldier.  Our 
space  forbids  us  to  enumerate  all  of  these.  One  of  the  most  remarkable, 
which  deserves  special  mention,  was  the  escape  of  the  Zouaves' d?  Afrique,  who 
had  been  the  body  guard  of  the  commander-in-chief.  These  men  were 
selected  to  perform  the  dangerous  duty  of  burning  the  bridges  in  the  rear 
of  the  retreating  column.  They  were  commanded  by  Captain  Collis. 


248  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

"When  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy  became  evident,  and  it 
remained  uncertain  whether  the  Federal  troops  might  not  themselves  need 
the  bridges  by  which  to  return,  they  abandoned  their  task,  pressed  forward 
toward  Winchester,  and  reached  Middletown  during  the  progress  of  the 
battle  at  that  place.  They  there  joined  in  the  combat ;  but  being  only 
seventy  in  number,  were  overwhelmed  by  a  vastly  superior  force,  and 
compelled  to  retreat.  They  then  pursued  their  march  toward  Winchester 
by  a  different  route.  In  the  vicinity  of  that  town  they  again  encountered 
the  enemy,  and  were  compelled  to  turn  back.  Unable  to  unite  with  the 
main  column  in  consequence  of  this  obstacle,  they  took  an  obscure  path 
over  the  mountains,  intending  to  cross  the  Potomac  at  Pan-Pan  tunnel. 
At  Bloomery  Gap  they  learned  that  a  numerous  body  of  the  enemy  were 
posted  ten  miles  in  advance,  directly  on  their  route.  They  therefore 
turned  to  the  right,  and  marched  to  Hancock,  on  the  Potomac,  a  distance 
of  thirty  miles ;  escaping  many  perils,  exhausted  by  excessive  labors 
which  would  have  overtasked  the  strongest  frames,  and  yet  safely  bringing 
with  them  thirty-five  wagons  loaded  with  valuable  stores,  which  had  been 
abandoned  by  the  army  near  Middletown. 

As  Xenophon,  in  a  former  and  distant  age,  derived  the  chief  glory  of  a 
life  not  otherwise  undistinguished  from  the  skill  and  valor  with  which  he 
conducted  the  retreat  of  the  Ten  Thousand  Greeks,  after  the  death  of  the 
younger  Cyrus  at  the  battle  of  Cunaxa,  through  Asia  Minor  to  the  wel 
come  shores  of  the  Euxine  Sea;  so  the  greatest  renown  of  General  Banks 
will  hereafter  probably  be  derived  from  the  ability  with  which  he  effected 
the  escape  of  his  division  from  the  Kebel  hordes  at  Strasburg,  and  led  it 
in  safety  to  Williamsport.  This  Federal  hero  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  in 
January,  1816.  His  early  education  was  limited  to  the  meagre  routine  of 
the  common  school ;  and  his  earliest  industry  was  expended  in  the  labors 
of  a  cotton  factory  at  Waltham.  He  afterward  aspired  to  the  craft  and 
mastered  the  mysteries  of  a  machinist.  While  engaged  in  this  pursuit,  he 
gratified  his  desire  for  intellectual  improvement,  and  occasionally  de 
livered  popular  addresses  before  temperance  meetings,  literary  lyceums, 
and  political  assemblies.  He  afterward  assumed  the  editorship  of  a  rural 
newspaper,  and  engaged  zealously  in  the  political  contests  of  the  day.  In 
1848  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Representa 
tives.  In  1851  he  was  chosen  the  speaker  of  that  body.  In  1853  he  was 
promoted  to  a  seat  in  the  Federal  Congress.  In  1855  he  was  re-elected  to 
that  position  ;  and  was  chosen,  after  a  spirited  contest  of  nearly  two  months 
duration,  to  preside  over  the  deliberations  of  the  House.  In  1857  he  was 
elected  Governor  of  Massachusetts;  and  he  performed  the  duties  of  that 
important  office  with  eminent  ability  and  success.  The  high  reputation 
which  he  had  gained  for  capacity,  energy  and  integrity,  turned  the  special 
regard  of  the  administration  upon  him  when  the  Rebellion  broke  forth ; 
and  when  a  selection  was  to  be  made  of  some  of  the  wisest  and  best  men  iii 


ATTITUDE   OF  T1IE  TWO   ARMiErf   AT  CORINTH.  240 

the  nation,  to  fill  the  offices  of  greatest  responsibility  in  the  military  service 
of  the  country,  the  once  obscure  machinist  of  Waltham  was  invested  with 
the  dignity,and  rank  of  major-general  in  the  Federal  army.  lie  was  placed 
in  command  of  a  portion  of  the  troops  on  the  Potomac,  and  during  many 
months  evinced  his  fitness  for  his  new  sphere,  by  guarding  a  part  of  that 
river  and  the  territory  lying  adjacent  from  the  inroads  of  the  Rebels. 
When  at  last  the  nation  was  gratified  by  the  announcement  that  the  march 
toward  Richmond  was  about  to  commence,  General  Banks  led  his  forces 
into  the  bowels  of  the  hostile  land.  We  have  elsewhere  recorded  the  sub 
sequent  success  which  attended  his  movements  in  this  important  enterprise 

We  turn  from  the  successful  retreat  of  the  Federal  troops  from  Strasburg, 
to  notice  the  mysterious  flight  of  the  Rebel  forces  from  Corinth. 

Immediately  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  near  Pittsburg  Landing,  the  im 
mense  army  which  had  conquered  under  General  Albert  Sydney  Johnston, 
and  had  been  defeated  on  the  next  day  under  his  successor  in  command, 
General  Beauregard,  retreated  to  Corinth,  and  entrenched  themselves 
within  the  limits  and  in  the  vicinity  of  that  town.  Their  future  operations 
were  unknown ;  it  was  uncertain  whether  they  would  again  advance,  and 
try  the  fortunes  of  war  in  the  open  field,  or  whether  they  would  await  the 
attack  of  the  Federal  troops  in  their  fortified  position.  The  Union  forces, 
were  soon  afterward  placed  under  the  orders  of  General  Halleck,  an  officer 
whom  though  not  yet  the  victor  in  any  great  battle,  the  public  unani 
mously  agreed  to  applaud,  as  the  ablest,  or  as  one  of  the  ablest,  of  the 
Federal  commanders.  By  a  combination  of  the  troops  under  Generals 
Grant,  Buell,  Pope  and  Thomas,  his  army  was  augmented  to  the  formida 
ble  number  of  over  a  hundred  thousand  men.  An  intense  degree  of  interest 
centered  around  the  struggle  which,  it  was  anticipated,  would  occur  at 
that  place.  During  some  weeks  it  was  regarded  by  the  popular  mind,  as 
equal  in  magnitude,  importance,  and  the  decisiveness  of  its  results,  to  the 
final  contest  which  was  expected  to  occur  at  Richmond.  It  was  thought 
that,  at  Corinth,  General  Beauregard  would  attempt  to  revive  and  freshen 
the  laurals  which  were  withered  at  Shiloh ;  to  recover  the  crown  which 
he  had  gained  at  Manassas,  but  which  had  been  wrested  from  his  brow  at 
Pittsburg  Landing.  All  these  prognostications  were  destined  to  a  sudden 
and  complete  disappointment. 

General  Halleck  had  been  slowly  approaching  Corinth  during  some 
days,  feeling  his  way  cautiously  and  prudently,  when,  on  the  27th  of  May? 
he  ordered  General  Sherman  to  advance  toward  the  outer  pickets  of  the 
enemy,  select  a  position  as  near  as  possible  to  their  entrenchments,  and 
defend  himself  in  it.  Six  or  eight  brigades  were  detailed  to  this  service, 
and  early  in  the  morning  of  the  day  just  named  the  operations  began. 
At  the  first  attack  upon  them  the  Rebels  were  taken  by  surprise  ;  but  they 
quickly  rallied,  and  their  outposts  being  reinforced,  an  engagement  of 
some  severity  ensued.  This  contest  occupied  a  large  portion  of  the  day, 


250  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

but  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  whole  line  of  the  enemy  broke 
and  fled  before  the  vigorous  assaults  of  the  Federal  infantry  and  artillery 
The  latter  advanced,  and  at  the  close  of  the  day  occupied  the  position  de 
serted  by  the  enemy.  This  position  was  about  thirteen  hudred  yards 
distant  from  the  main  entrenchments  of  the  Rebel  army,  upon  which  they 
had  expended  so  much  labor.  General  Sherman  commenced  at  once  to 
entrench  his  troops  in  their  new  post;  the  lines  were  laid  out 'after  night 
fall  ;  and  so  industriously  did  the  Federal  soldiers  work,  that  before  the 
dawn  of  the  morning  of  the  29th  their  breast- works  were  completed.  By 
nine  o'clock  of  that  day  the  siege  trains  were  brought  forward,  and  the 
artillery  were  placed  in  position.  The  Federal  forces,  consisting  of  a  whole 
division,  now  occupied  an  immense  curve  around  Corinth,  facing  south 
ward;  the  right  wing  resting  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad,  the  left  on 
the  main  road  to  Corinth.  The  two  armies  were  in  such  close  proximity 
to  each  other,  that  the  sound  of  the  drums  and  the  voices  of  those  in  com 
mand,  could  be  distinctly  heard  from  the  opposite  camps.  On  the  30th  of 
May  it  was  expected  that  the  last  and  greatest  combat  would  commence. 

The  attention  of  the  Federal  commanders  had  been  attracted,  and  their 
suspicions  aroused,  during  several  previous  days  and  nights,  by  the  fre 
quent  noise  of  railroad  cars  arriving  and  departing  in  a  direction  opposite  to 
their  own  position.  At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  30th,  a  succession 
of  loud  explosions  which  took  place  within  the  enemy's  works,  increased 
the  mystery  nor  was  that  mystery  solved  until,  after  the  order  to  advance 
had  been  given  by  General  Sherman,  it  was  discovered  that  the  entrench 
ments  of  the  Eebels  where  wholly  deserted.  The  bigade  of  General  M.  L. 
Smith  was  the  first  to  reach  and  to  enter  the  redoubts  of  the  fugitive  foe 
He  then  advanced  into  the  town  of  Corinth,  which  he  also  found  entirely 
evacuated  by  the  Rebels.  General  Denver  followed ;  and  by  eight  o'clock 
the  entire  division  of  General  Sherman  occupied  the  deserted  town.  An 
extraordinary  spectacle  now  presented  itself  to  the  view  of  the  Federal 
troops.  Far  and  wide  on  every  hand  could  be  seen  the  remains  of  the  aban 
doned  camps. 

Numerous  warehouses,  in  which  the  explosions  referred  to  had  taken 
place,  were  in  flames  or  were  smouldering  in  ruins.  Immense  quantities 
of  flour  and  provisions,  ammunition  and  clothing,  lay  scattered  in  the 
wildest  confusion ;  and  it  was  evident  that  the  Rebels  had  evacuated  their 
boasted  stronghold  by  a  rapid  and  disorderly  retreat.  Then  it  was  ascer 
tained  from  the  remaining  citizens  of  the  town  that,  during  several  days 
and  nights,  the  immense  army  of  General  Beauregard  had  been  trans 
ported  over  two  railroads  from  Corinth  ;  although  a  portion  of  them  had 
been  compelled  at  last  to  leave  in  hot  haste  on  foot,  in  order  to  escape  the 
impending  assault  of  the  Federal  troops  under  General  Halleck. 

The  stars  and  stripes  were  soon  unfurled  over  the  recent  fortifications 
of  the  enemy ;  and  in  a  few  hours  the  victors  occupied  the  various  on- 


A  RECONNOISSANCE   ON  THE  CHICKAIIOMINY.  251 

trenchments  which  they  had  evacuated.  That  evacuation,  so  unexpected 
and  so  significant,  excited  the  utmost  astonishment  throughout  the  nation  ; 
and  conjecture  was  busy  in  assigning  the  probable  causes  which  might 
have  produced  it.  The  most  prevalent  and  plausible  supposition  wap, 
that  the  Rebel  commander  was  afraid  to  encounter  the  formidable  host 
mustered  under  the  banners  of  General  Halleck ;  and  thatthey  wisely  averted 
the  horrors  and  the  disgrace  of  an  overwhelming  defeat,  by  a  prudent  and 
clandestine  flight.  This  result  was  more  acceptable  and  propitious  to  the 
Federal  cause  than  a  great  though  sanguinary  victory  would  have  been.* 
A  vast  amount  of  stores  and  ammunition,  several  thousand  stand  of  arms, 
and  twenty-five  hundred  prisoners,  afterward  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
troops  of  the  Union.  Subsequent  to  the  occupation  of  Corinth  a  pursuit 
of  the  enemy  was  ordered ;  and  General  Pope's  division  was  dispatched 
after  that  portion  of  them  who  had  fled  westward.  He  soon  overtook 
their  rear,  six  miles  southwest  of  the  town ;  and  an  engagement  ensued 
in  which  a  number  were  slain  on  both  sides,  and  some  Eebel  prisoners 
were  taken. 

During  the  progress  of  these  events,  the  Federal  army  in  the  Peninsula 
were  steadily  approaching  Richmond.  Its  advance  was  marked  from  day 
to  day  by  futile  opposition  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  and  by  several  im 
portant  and  sanguinary  contests  between  the  opposing  forces.  On  the 
23d  of  May  a  reconnoissance  was  ordered  by  General  McClellan,  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  whether  the  right  wing  of  his  army  could  cross 
the  Chickahominy  immediately,  with  safety  and  advantage.  The  troops 
detailed  for  this  service  proceeded  up  the  left  bank  of  the  stream  about 
three  miles.  The  sixth  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  who  were  in  the  advance, 
suddenly  came  in  sight  of  the  new  bridge  which  spanned  it ;  and  before 
the  Rebel  pickets  in  the  vicinity  could  apply  the  torch  they  dashed  forward 
and  took  possession  of  it.  They  immediately  crossed  over,  together  with 
Robinson's  battery,  and  proceeded  a  short  distance  beyond  the  stream. 
As  soon  as  these  troops  had  ascended  a  hill,  a  few  hundred  yards  distant 
from  the  bridge,  the  Rebels,  who  were  concealed  in  a  dense  wood,  opened 
a  fire  upon  them  from  several  batteries.  Robinson  immediately  responded 
with  four  guns,  Titball  with  six  guns,  which  they  had  quickly  placed  in 
a  favorable  position ;  and  a  vigorous  cannonade  ensued.  The  Rebel  artil 
lery  was  supported  by  a  regiment  of  infantry,  and  by  some  squadrons  cf 
cavalry,  who  in  a  short  time  endeavored  to  outflank  their  assailants.  But 
this  purpose  was  defeated  by  the  latter,  and  they  were  in  turn  driven 
back.  The  action  lasted  nearly  an  hour,  after  which  the  Rebels  aban 
doned  the  attack,  and  the  Federal  troops  encamped  for  the  night  on  the 

*  The  real  motive  for  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  was,  that  the  larger  portion  of  thj 
Rebel  forces  might  be  transferred  thence  to  Richmond,  and  be  united  with  those  which 
afterward  repulsed  General  McClellan  from  that  capital. 


252  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

battle-field.  On  the  following  morning  the  action  was  renewed.  The 
Rebels  assailed  the  Federals  with  a  battery  of  four  guns.  But  they  effected 
little  damage,  in  consequence  of  the  inaccuracy  of  their  aim.  At  length 
Wheeler's  battery  and  Davidson's  brigade  were  ordered  forward  to.  attack 
and  capture  the  guns  of  the  enemy,  which  were  supported  by  several 
regiments  of  infantry,  and  by  several  squadrons  of  cavalry.  The  Federal 
troops  advanced  with  great  spirit,  filling  the  air  with  their  defiant  shouts, 
and  sending  a  hail-storm  of  balls  into  the  ranks  of  the  foe  as  they  ap 
proached  them.  The  latter  did  not  wait  for  a  nearer  or  closer  contact ; 
but  as  soon  as  the  order  to  charge  bayonets  had  been  given  they  broke 
and  fled.  They  were  pursued  a  short  distance,  after  which  the  chase 
terminated  and  the  Federal  troops  were  recalled  to  their  former  position. 
The  Federal  loss  in  this  action  was  two  killed  and  ten  wounded.  That 
of  the  enemy  is  unknown ;  a  partial  yet  plausible  conjecture  would  estimate 
it  at  a  much  larger  number. 

A  similar  operation,  attended  by  a  similar  result,  was  effected  >n  the 
left  wing  of  the  Federal  army  on  the  24th  of  May.  A  reconnoissance  was 
ordered  on  that  day,  to  ascertain  the  strength  of  the  Rebels  in  a  position 
called  the  Pines  ;  and  a  considerable  force,  consisting  of  infantry  and 
cavalry,  was  placed  under  the  command  of  General  Naglee  for  that 
purpose.  At  ten  o'clock  these  troops  reached  the  spot  where  the  enemy 
had  planted  two  batteries,  from  which  they  immediately  began  to  salute 
the  Federals.  The  guns  of  the  latter  were  quickly  made  to  respond. 
The  Rebel  force  consisted  of  these  two  batteries,  containing  eight  guns, 
one  regiment  of  infantry,  and  five  hundred  cavalry.  During  the  progress 
of  the  contest  which  ensued,  the  eighth  Pennsylvania  cavalry  attacked  the 
horse  of  the  enemy  and  completely  routed  them.  The  infantr}:  also  came 
into  collision.  But  the  chief  execution  was  effected  on  both  sides  by  the 
artillery.  The  batteries  of  the  Rebels  were  shifted  several  times  from 
their  positions,  and  were  driven  in  every  instance  from  them  with  heavy 
loss.  At  length,  after  an  engagement  of  two  hours'  duration,  the  enemy 
retreated,  and  were  concealed  from  the  view  of  the  victors  by  the  foliage 
of  a  dense  and  shady  forest.  Skirmishers  were  then  thrown  forward  to 
ascertain  their  location ;  but  as  they  could  not  be  found  within  the  compass 
of  several  miles,  the  pursuit  was  abandoned.  They  had  retreated  toward 
the  right,  in  the  direction  of  the  Richmond  railroad,  in  the  vicinity  of 
which,  it  was  conjectured,  a  much  larger  force  was  then  concentrated. 
The  Federal  loss  in  this  action  was  five  killed,  sixteen  wounded.  That 
of  the  Rebels  was  probably  much  greater,  as  not  a  few  of  their  cavalry 
were  seen  to  fall  from  their  horses,  and  were  afterward  conveyed  from 
the  battle-field  by  the  retreating  enemy. 

These  skirmishes  and  several  others  of  less  importance  which  took 
place  at  this  period  along  the  banks  of  the  Chickahominy,  were  followed 
on  the  27th  of  May  by  the  more  decisive  battle  of  Hanover  Court  House. 


THE  BATTLE   OF  HANOVER  COURT  HOUSE.  253 

General  McClellan  readily  discerned  the  necessity  of  cutting  off  the  con 
nection  between  the  Rebel  authorities  at  Richmond  with  those  at  Fred- 
ericksburg,  which  was  preserved  and  maintained  by  the  railroad  running 
between  those  two  cities.  The  task  of  destroying  this  road,  and  of  rout 
ing  the  Rebel  forces  which  might  attempt  to  prevent  the  execution  of  the 
enterprise,  was  entrusted  to  the  troops  commanded  by  General  Fitz  John 
Porter.  Accordingly,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  27th,  these 
troops  were  under  arms,  and  the  march  began  from  the  Federal  camp. 
The  sixth  Pennsylvania  cavalry  were  in  the  advance  of  the  column,  com 
manded  by  Major  Williams.  The  line  of  march  was  along  the  New 
Bridge  road,  thence  over  the  Hanover  turnpike.  The  first  glimpse  of  the 
enemy  was  obtained  at  McKinsey's  Cross  Roads,  where  their  mounted 
pickets  were  encountered.  This  place  was  six  miles  distant  from  Hanover 
Court  House,  and  at  noon  the  vicinity  of  that  spot  was  reached.  During 
the  progress  of  the  day  three  separate  contests  took  place  with  the  Rebel, 
forces,  in  each  of  which  they  were  routed. 

The  first  of  these  occurred  at  a  locality  known  as  Kinney's  House.  A 
number  of  Rebel  troops  had  been  concealed  in  and  around  this  mansion ; 
and  as  the  twenty-fifth  New  York  regiment,  who  were  then  in  the  ad 
vance,  approached  it,  a  heavy  fire  was  opened  upon  them.  Their  volleys 
were  quickly  returned  while  the  Federals  advanced.  They  then  com 
menced  to  fire  with  a  number  of  field  pieces,  which  they  had  posted  on  a 
road  in  front  of  the  house.  The  Federal  artillery  were  now  placed  in 
position,  and  responded  to  the  guns  of  the  enemy,  while,  at  the  same  time, 
Berdan's  sharpshooters  were  distributed  to  the  right  and  to  the  left,  for 
the  purpose  of  picking  off  the  Rebel  gunners.  These  famous  marksmen, 
lying  flat  upon  the  ground,  according  to  their  usual  custom,  took  deadly 
and  infallible  aim  at  the  foe;  and  soon,  one  of  the  Rebel  guns  being 
wholly  unmanned,  they  rushed  forward  and  took  possession  of  it,  During 
this  interval  the  Federal  regiments  in  the  rear  were  approaching  the  scene 
of  action.  Generals  Butterfield  and  Martindale,  and  Colonel  McQuade, 
brought  their  several  brigades  successively  within  range.  A  spirited 
contest  of  nearly  two  hours'  duration  then  ensued  between  the  Federal 
troops  and  the  whole  strength  of  the  enemy  collected  at  that  point.  At 
the  expiration  of  that  time  the  latter  were  driven  from  their  position,  and 
fled  with  precipitation  through  the  woods.  General  Porter  immediately 
ordered  a  pursuit ;  and  for  three  miles  a  chase  followed,  over  boggy 
marshes,  through  dense  forests,  and  among  waving  grain-fields.  The 
Rebels  clearly  demonstrated  their  superiority,  if  in  nothing  else,  in  their 
fleetness  of  locomotion ;  and  the  best  efforts  of  the  Federals  were  defeated 
in  the  vain  attempt  to  overtake  the  fugitives.  While  a  portion  of  the 
Union  forces  were  employed  in  this  service,  General  Martindale's  brigade 
was  ordered  to  hasten  to  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad,  and  commence 
the  work  of  its  demolition.  The  order  was  obeyed  with  alacrity.  In  a 


254  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

short  space  of  time  forty  rods  of  the  road  were  destroyed,  a  bridge  wag 
burned,  the  telegraph  was  intercepted,  and  the  communication  of  the 
enemy  between  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  completely  ruined. 

After  this  success  an  interval  of  several  hours'  duration  ensued,  during 
which  the  Federal  troops  rested  upon  their  arms,  and  the  Rebels  were 
quietly  receiving  reinforcements  from  Richmond.  At  the  end  of  that 
period  the  latter  again  appeared,  and  began  to  fire  upon  a  house  whk-h 
had  been  occupied  by  the  Federals  as  a  hospital,  and  upon  the  troops  who 
were  in  the  vicinity.  This  attack  quickly  brought  the  forty-fourth  New 
York  regiment  forward  to  the  assistance  of  the  assailed ;  and  soon  the 
entire  brigade  of  General  Martindale  was  formed  into  line  of  battle. 
Thus  the  second  engagement  of  the  day  began,  during  which  the  Rebels 
fought  concealed  in  the  woods.  The  firing  on  both  sides  from  cannon 
and  musketry  was  rapid  and  continuous.  Griffin  and  Benson's  batteries 
.scattered  shot  and  shell  over  the  whole  position  of  the  enemy;  and  after 
the  lapse  of  an  hour,  the  latter  began  to  break  and  retreat.  In  a  short 
time  all  those  who  had  taken  part  in  the  action  disappeared  from  view 
and  the  Federal  troops  again  remained  masters  of  the  field.  But  the 
labors  and  triumphs  of  the  day  were  not  yet  terminated.  At  this  crisis 
a  more  numerous  body  of  Rebels  took  their  position  in  the  rear  of  Kin- 
ney's  House,  and  recommenced  the  contest  with  great  spirit.  It  is  proba 
ble  that  they  mustered  fifteen  thousand  men,  in  this  last  effort  to  dislodge 
the  Federal  forces  from  the  possession  of  the  railroad.  General  Porter, 
perceiving  the  importance  of  this  final  struggle,  ordered  his  artillery  to 
be  brought  forward  and  placed  on  both  sides  of  the  front  of  the  enemy, 
so  that  he  might  shell  them  by  diagonal  fires,  while  the  infantry  made  the 
attack  in  the  centre,  commanded  by  General  Butterfield.  These  orders 
were  executed  with  admirable  skill  and  firmness.  The  troops  advanced 
to  the  assault  with  hearty  cheers  which  were  suggestive  of  the  inevitable 
victory  which  was  to  follow.  Hard  fighting  again  took  place.  The 
enemy  remained  for  the  most  part  concealed  in  the  woods ;  but  as  the 
darkness  of  night  approached,  their  fire  slackened,  and  before  the  close 
of  the  day  they  had  evacuated  their  entire  position.  These  two  additional 
hours  of  fighting  ended  with  the  complete  discomfiture  and  flight  of  the 
Rebel  forces.  A  number  of  prisoners  were  taken.  The  victors  slept  on 
their  arms,  without  any  shelter,  and  occupied  the  field  which  they  had 
signalized  by  their  valor.  The  Federal  loss  during  the  entire  day  was 
fifty-three  killed,  three  hundred  and  twenty-six  wounded.  It  was  evident, 
from  a  subsequent  examination  of  the  woods  in  which  the  enemy  had 
chiefly  fought,  and  which  they  had  evacuated,  that  their  loss  must  have 
been  much  greater ;  for  the  mangled  bodies  of  their  dead  and  wounded 
covered  the  ground  both  far  and  near. 

The  various  operations  of  an  army  so  numerous  as  that  then  posted 
before  Richmond,  would  necessarily  include  many  minor  episodes  and 


GALLANT   EXPLOIT  OF  LIEUTENANT  DAVIS.  255 

individual  achievements  which  will  never  be  recorded  on  the  historic 
page,  in  which  the  actors  exhibited  as  much  heroism  as  could  be  dis 
played  on  the  most  extensive  and  renowned  battle-field.  Our  space  per 
mits  us  here  to  allude  to  but  one  of  these.  General  McClellan  having 
formed  the  determination  to  open  communication  with  the  Federal  gun 
boats  on  the  James  river,  then  fifteen  miles  distant  from  his  camp,  ordered 
Lieutenant  Frank  C.  Davis,  of  the  third  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  to  per 
form  the  task  with  an  escort  of  ten  picked  men.  It  was  a  service  of  con 
siderable  difficulty  and  danger,  from  the  fact  that  the  intervening  country 
was  filled  with  the  pickets  of  the  enemy.  The  danger  of  capture  or  of 
death  was  imminent.  A  rare  combination  of  prudence,  tact  and  boldness 
was  necessary  to  accomplish  the  feat.  On  the  morning  of  Sunday,  the 
25th  of  May,  the  lieutenant  started  from  the  Federal  camp.  Scarcely 
had  he  traveled  four  miles  when  he  encountered  the  pickets  of  the  enemy 
posted  in  a  wood.  He  avoided  these  by  a  sudden  detour  and  pursued  his 
journey.  The  same  incident  occurred  several  times  when  his  escape  from 
the  impending  peril  was  marvelous.  At  length  he  came  within  view  of 
the  James  river,  three  miles  distant,  and  beheld  the  Union  gunboats 
riding  at  anchor  upon  its  tranquil  bosom.  He  hid  his  men  in  the  woods 
and  rode  forward  alone.  Keaching  the  banks  of  the  river,  he  obtained 
a  small  boat,  and  hired  two  negroes  to  row  him  to  the  Galena.  He  was 
met  when  half  way  by  a  cutter  from  the  ship.  The  message  with  which 
he  had  been  entrusted,  though  a  very  important  one,  had  not  been  com 
mitted  to  writing,  in  order  to  avoid  the  possibility  of  its  becoming  known 
to  the  enemy  by  the  capture  of  the  messenger.  The  lieutenant  having 
delivered  that  message  and  received  his  answer,  commenced  his  return. 
He  then  encountered  the  same  perils,  and  evaded  them  with  the  same 
success.  He  traveled  with  his  escort  during  the  whole  night,  and  reached 
the  camp  in  safety  at  eleven  o'clock  on  Monday  morning.  General  Mc 
Clellan  directed  his  chief  of  staff  to  express  to  Lieutenant  Davis  his  ap 
probation  of  the  prompt,  discreet  and  satisfactory  manner  in  which  ho 
and  his  men  had  performed  the  duty  assigned  them,  in  communicating 
with  Captain  Rodgers,  the  commander  of  the  fleet  of  Federal  gunboats  in 
James  river. 


256  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

APPROACH    OP    THE    FEDERAL    ARMY    TO    RICHMOND — THE    CORPS    OF    GENERAL    KEYES    CROSS 

THE  CHICKAHOMINY THEIR  EXPOSED  POSITION HOSTILE  PURPOSE  OF  THE  REBEL  LEADERS 

— THE  BATTLE  OF  SEVEN    PINES — POSITION    OF    THE    FEDERAL    TROOPS COMMENCEMENT  07 

THE   ATTACK DISPOSITION    OF    TROOPS    MADE    BY     GENERAL     CASEY — INCIDENTS     OF     THH 

BATTLE ROUT  OF  CASEY'S  DIVISION — GENERAL  COUCIl's  TROOPS  BECOME  ENGAGED — DES 
PERATE  FIGHTING VICTORY  OF  THE  REBELS THE  FEDERALS  REINFORCED THE  ENGAGE 
MENT  OF  JUNE  FIRST,  GENERAL  HEINTZELMAN  IN  CHIEF  COMMAND INCIDENTS  OF  THIS 

BATTLE — HEROISM  OF  THE  IRISH    REGIMENTS    AND  OF    SICKLES*    EXCELSIOR    BRIGADE — THE 

VICTORY  OF  FAIR    OAKS ITS    RESULTS — POPULAR    IMPATIENCE    FOR    THE    OCCUPATION    OF 

RICHMOND REBEL  FORCES  IN  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHENANDOAH THEIR  BRIEF  OCCUPA 
TION  OF  IT — GENERAL  FREMONT  ORDERED  TO  EXPEL  THEM THEY  ABANDON  WINCHESTER 

THEIR    RETREAT    THROUGH    STRASBURG    AND    WOODSTOCK BATTLE    OF    CROSS    KEYS — 

GALLANTRY  OF  THE  BUCKTAILS RESULTS  OF  THE  ENGAGEMENT — BATTLE  OF  PORT  REPUBLIC 

• — INCIDENTS  OF  THIS  ENGAGEMENT — ITS  RESULTS RETREAT  OF  GENERAL  JACKSON  TOWARD 

RICHMOND APPOINTMENT  OF  GENERAL  POPE  AS  COMMANDER  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT WITH 
DRAWAL  OF  GENERAL  FREMONT HIS  MILITARY  ACHIEVEMENTS — HIS  TRUE  RENOWN. 

THE  history  of  past  ages  demonstrates  that  in  every  great  struggle 
between  contending  nations,  the  contest  will  ultimately  culminate  in  a 
few  particular  localities ;  that  there  the  chief  resources  of  the  combatants 
will  be  concentrated ;  that  the  engagements  which  take  place  at  these 
points  will  be  more  colossal  in  their  proportions,  more  obstinate  and 
desperate  in  their  spirit,  than  those  which  preceded  them,  and  that  they 
will  produce  a  decisive  effect  on  the  issue  of  the  contest  one  way  or  the 
other.  This  maxim  holds  true  with  regard  to  the  war  against  the  South 
ern  Rebellion.  It  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Richmond  that  some  of  the 
most  terrible  battles  were  destined  to  occur.  There  the  chief  military 
strength  of  the  Rebels  had  been  concentrated.  Thither  their  ablest 
generals  had  been  summoned.  At  that  place  they  had  evidently  resolved, 
with  a  heroism  not  destitute  of  grandeur  and  dignity,  but  sadly  perverted 
to  an  ignoble  end,  to  conquer  or  to  perish.  We  have  now  arrived,  in  the 
progress  of  this  history,  at  the  most  sanguinary  scenes  which  ever  occurred 
on  the  American  Continent;  and  we  will  proceed,  in  this  chapter,  to 
describe  a  portion  of  them  as  they  transpired  at  the  spot  which  every 
patriot  fondly  hoped  would  prove  the  Arbela,  the  Pharsalia,  the  Waterloo, 
of  the  Rebel  Confederacy. 

The  corps  of  General  Keyes,  which  formed  a  part  of  the  army  of  General 
McClellan,  comprised  the  two  divisions  of  Casey  and  Couch.  These 
troops  were  about  twenty  thousand  in  number.  They  first  crossed  the 
Chickahominy,  as  the  pioneers  of  the  grand  army  in  the  Peninsula, 
passing  over  by  a  single  bridge ;  and  they  were  thus  placed  in  the  advance 
in  an  isolated  position.  The  camp  of  General  Casey,  whose  troops  led 


• 

GENERAL    KEYS   CROSSES  THE   CHICKAHOMINY.  257 

the  van,  was  pitched  in  the  vicinity  of  a  spot  designated  by  the  name  of 
Seven  Pines.  It  was  located  about  eight  miles  east  of  Richmond,  near 
the  highway  which  runs  between  that  city  and  Williamsburg.  The 
first  brigade  was  placed  on  the  right,  the  second  in  the  centre,  the  third 
on  the  left  of  the  line.  A  number  of  breastworks  had  been  thrown  up 
immediately  after  the  occupation  of  the  camp  ;  and  a  line  of  rifle-pits  had 
been  dug.  The  troops  who  composed  this  division,  were  for  the  most 
part  new  and  raw  levies,' whose  discipline  was  lax,  and  whose  military 
experience  was  extremely  limited.  Many  of  them,  unaccustomed  to  the 
hardships  and  privations  of  a  soldier's  life,  were  sick ;  and  although  the 
men  were  individually  as  brave  as  their  comrades,  no  corps  of  the  entire 
army  was  less  fitted  than  they  to  repulse  the  first  and  sudden  attack  of 
an  infuriated  enemy.  The  division  of  General  Couch  consisted  of  twelve 
regiments.  He  had  dug  two  lines  of  rifle-pits  in  front  of  his  position, 
which  was  located  in  the  interval  between  the  camp  of  General  Casey 
and  Fair  Oaks  station.  His  troops  were  more  familiar  with  the  service, 
and  were  more  numerous  than  those  of  General  Casey. 

The  Rebel  commanders  had  conceived  the  plan  of  attacking  these  troops, 
with  an  overwhelming  superiority  of  numbers,  in  their  exposed  position 
while  cut  off  from  the  rest  of  the  Federal  army ;  and  having  destroyed 
them,  to  press  on,  break  through  the  lines  in  the  rear,  and  eventually 
intercept  the  communication  of  the  army  with  the  depot  at  White  House, 
through  which  its  supplies  of  ammunition  and  subsistence  were  obtained. 
On  Friday,  May  30th,  the  enemy  made  a  reconnoissance  in  force  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  the  precise  position  and  strength  of  these  troops, 
and  the  location  of  their  camps.  The  Federal  pickets,  who  were  a  mile 
in  advance  of  the  Federal  lines,  observed  on  that  day,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  following,  an  unusual  commotion  in  the  camp  of  the  Rebels,  which 
was  within  their  view ;  but  no  apprehension  was  entertained  of  the  mo 
mentous  events  which  were  about  to  follow.  It  was  on  Saturday,  May 
31st,  that  the  first  battle  in  the  vicinity  of  Richmond  took  place.  On 
that  day  the  Rebels,  having  obtained  accurate  information  respecting  the 
exposed  position  of  Generals  Casey  and  Couch,  made  the  attack.  In  the 
rear  of  the  Federal  troops  the  swollen  waters  of  the  Chickahominy  rolled,  ef 
fectually  preventing  their  retreat  in  case  they  were  overpowered.  The  plans 
of  the  Rebels  were  well  laid ;  their  time  of  action  was  opportunely  chosen  ; 
their  assault  was  commenced  and  continued  with  energy  and  determina 
tion.  At  one  o'clock  in  the  day  they  advanced  down  the  Williamsburg 
road,  toward  the  Federal  camp.*  They  fired  three  shells  as  a  signal  to 

*  The  position  of  the  different  brigades  of  General  Casey's  division  before  the  en 
gagement  was  as  follows  :  General  Naglee's  brigade,  consisting  of  the  one  hundred  and 
fourth  Pennsylvania,  Colonel  W.  W.  H.  Davis  ;  eleventh  Maine,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Palmstead ;  fifty-sixth  New  York,  Colonel  C.  H.  Yan  Wyck  ;  fifty-second  Pennsyl 
vania,  Colonel  J.  C.  Dodge ;  one  hundredth  New  York,  Colonel  J.  M.  Brown,  were  on 

17 

I 


258  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

the  rest  of  their  forces  that  all  was  ready ;  and  they  then  came*  upon  the 
Feder?l  pickets  suddenly  and  unexpectedly.  The  pickets  discharged 
their  p  eces,  fell  back,  and  communicated  the  intelligence  that  the  enemy 
were  advancing  in  considerable  force.  The  one  hundred  and  third  Penn 
sylvania  regiment  was  immediately  ordered  forward  to  support  the  pickets. 
So  sudden  was  the  attack,  and  so  rapid  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  that 
before  this  regiment  could  load  their  pieces  they  received  a  volley  of 
musketry.  That  volley  was  so  effective  that  it  disabled  the  regiment, 
not  only  by  the  loss  of  a  fifth  of  its  number,  but  also  by  completely  de 
moralizing  the  rest ;  who,  overcome  and  bewildered  by  the  suddenness 
of  the  surprise,  broke  and  fled  toward  the  rear  in  complete  confusion. 
They  carried  with  them  to  their  comrades  exaggerated  reports  of  the  vast 
numbers  and  the  ferocious  spirit  of  their  assailants;  and  announced  the 
fact  that  their  own  regiment  had  been  cut  to  pieces.  This  information, 
in  itself  so  false,  had  the  unfortunate  effect  of  extending  the  panic  to 
some  extent  among  the  remainder  of  the  division,  whose  duty  it  now 
became  to  march  against  the  exultant  foe,  and  stem  their  advancing  tide. 
For  this  purpose  preparations  were  hastily  made  by  General  Casey. 
Spratt's  battery  was  posted  on  the  right,  near  the  edge  of  the  wood  which 
skirted  that  extremity  of  the  camp.  Eegan's  battery  was  placed  next  to 
it.  These  were  supported  by  the  one  hundredth  New  York,  the  eleventh 
Maine,  the  one  hundred  and  fourth  Pennsylvania,  and  the  ninety-second 
New  York  regiments.  The  first  salute  the  enemy  received  was  from  these 
batteries ;  but  they  continued  to  advance  with  the  steadiness  of  veterans. 
As  they  came  within  range  of  the  musketry  of  the  Federals,  they  re 
turned  the  fire  with  such  effect,  and  still  approached  with  such  rapidity, 
that  they  compelled  their  opponents  to  retire  a  short  distance.  But  now 
their  progress  was  checked  by  an  obstacle,  undignified,  indeed,  and  un- 
heroic,  but  quite  unwelcome  and  considerable  under  the  circumstances. 
Four  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  spot  where  the  Federal  batteries  had 
been  posted  a  rail  fence  ran,  which  it  was  necessary  for  the  Rebels  to 
cross  or  to  remove.  As  often  as  they  attempted  to  accomplish  this  feat, 
the  Federal  guns  played  upon  them  with  grape  and  canister  so  destruc 
tively,  that  their  progress  was  arrested,  and  huge  gaps  were  ploughed 
through  their  serried  masses.  It  was  not  until  the  ammunition  of  these 

the  right  of  the  Williamsburg  and  Richmond  stage  road,  and  extended  across  the 
rail  track  for  some  distance.  The  second  brigade,  under  command  of  General  Wesscls. 
consisting  of  the  eighty-fiftn  Pennsylvania,  Colonel  T.  B.  H.  Howell ;  one  hundred  and 
first  Pennsylvania,  Colonel  S.  H.  Wilson ;  one  hundred  and  third  Pennsylvania, 
Colonel  M.  H.  Lehman ;  ninety-sixth  New  York,  Colonel  J.  Fairman,  occupied  the 
centre  and  guarded  the  turnpike.  The  third  brigade,  General  J.  N.  Palmer  command 
ing,  consisting  of  the  eiahty-first  New  York,  Lieutenant-Colonel  De  Forest;  fifty-fifth 
New  York,  Colonel  T.  S.  Belknap  ;  ninety-second  New  York,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Anderson ;  ninety-eighth  New  York,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Durkee,  were  on  the  left  of 
the  road,  and  connected  with  tho  pickets  of  General  Couch's  division. 


ROUT  OF  CASEY'S  DIYISION.  259 

guns  was  exhausted,  and  the  wagons  being  still  beyond  the  Chickahominy, 
it  was  impossible  to  bring  forward  a  fresh  supply,  that  the  enemy  were 
able  to  surmount  and  overcome  the  obstruction. 

A  closer  combat  then  ensued.  In  vain  did  General  Casey,  with  :he 
coolness  and  valor  of  a  veteran,  ride  along  his  shattered  lines  and  en 
deavor  to  steady  them,  staggered  and  wavering  as  they  were,  from  the 
fury  of  the  assault  made  upon  them  by  vastly  superior  numbers.  He 
ordered  a  bayonet  charge  to  be  made,  which  was  executed  with  as  much 
force  and  effect  as  the  strength  and  spirit  of  the  men  permitted.  But 
fresh  and  heavy  masses  of  Rebels  still  rolled  forward  from  their  rear,  to 
the  front,  so  that  the  Federal  troops  were  at  length  overpowered.  They 
then  retreated  within  their  first  line  of  defence.  Here  Bates'  battery  of 
six  pieces  was  posted  in  a  redoubt  on  the  left,  and  Fitch's  battery  on  the 
right.  These  guns  now  opened  on  the  advancing  foe.  Four  Rebel  bat 
teries  which  had  been  brought  forward  responded  to  them,  while  the 
firing  between  the  infantry  was  resumed  with  intense  fury.  They  soon 
reached  the  redoubts  and  the  rifle-pits,  where  the  cannon  of  Bates  and 
Spratt  had  been  placed.  It  became  impossible  to  save  all  of  these,  and 
in  the  end  some  of  them  were  spiked  and  abandoned.  The  Federal  troops 
vainly  attempted  to  resist  the  immense  masses  which  now  swelled  forward, 
and  swarmed  like  a  countless  host  around  them.  Almost  every  regiment 
of  Casey's  division  had  by  this  time  been  effectually  broken  and  routed. 
It  was  now  half-past  four.  For  three  hours  and  a  half  those  raw  and  in 
experienced  troops  had  stemmed  the  tide  ;  eight  thousand  men  had  resisted 
thrice  their  number ;  and  during  all  that  period  not  more  than  half  a  mile 
had  been  yielded  to  the  enemy  in  retreat.  During  this  period  General 
Casey  had  exhibited  extraordinary  courage,  coolness  and  skill;  but  this 
brave  commander  was  unable  to  perform  impossibilities.  He  had  lost 
one  fourth  of  his  division,  and  many  of  his  best  officers.  He  had,  how 
ever,  rendered  one  essential  service,  by  holding  the  Rebels  in  check  until 
the  Federal  forces  in  his  rear  had  time  to  prepare  for  their  onset. 

A  brief  pause  intervened  between  the  retreat  of  Casey's  division  and 
the  renewed  advance  of  the  enemy  against  the  division  of  General  Couch. 
The  troops  of  the  latter  were  drawn  up  obliquely  toward  the  foe,  so  that 
when  they  pressed  forward,  his  right  wing  became  first  engaged.  Here 
the  twenty-third  Pennsylvania  regiment  was  posted,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Neill.  They  reserved  their  fire  until  the  enemy  were  close  upon 
them ;  a  sheet  of  lurid  flame  and  iron  hail  then  flew  into  their  ranks,  and 
completely  staggered  them.  A  bayonet  charge  by  the  gallant  Pennsyl- 
vanians  ensued,  which  added  to  their  repulse,  and  to  the  extent  of  the 
slaughter  whioh  thinned  their  dense  masses.  Here  a  triumph  was  obtained 
which,  had  the  Federal  success  been  equal  in  other  portions  of  the  field, 
might  have  reversed  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  But  soon  the  heavy  fire  of 
the  enemy  on  their  flank  compelled  them  to  recoil.  The  whole  line  was 


260  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

now  engaged,  and  a  disaster  which  occurred  at  this  crisis  on  the  left,  pro 
duced  a  pernicious  effect.  There  the  tenth  Massachusetts  regiment  occu 
pied  a  post  near  the  rifle-pits,  but  being  ordered  further  to  the  left,  was 
accidentally  placed  in  an  isolated  position.  When  the  enemy  advanced 
the  tenth  engaged  them  heroically  in  front ;  but  during  this  action  a  por 
tion  of  the  Rebels  succeeded  in  passing  unobserved  through  the  adjacent 
woods  to  the  rear  of  that  regiment.  They  then  attacked  the  tenth  from 
that  point  with  great  fury.  The  result  was  that  the  men,  surrounded  by 
destruction  on  both  sides,  broke  and  fled.  They  were  afterward  rallied, 
and  subsequently  took  an  honorable  part  in  the  engagement. 

Notwithstanding  the  heavy  losses  which  the  Kebels  had  already  suffered, 
their  endless  masses  still  rushed  forward  into  the  conflict.  Their  batteries 
also  were  very  effective.  Accordingly,  after  a  long  and  desperate  strug 
gle,  the  Federal  lines  began  to  give  way.  The  first  to  retreat  was  the 
first  Long  Island  regiment.  In  vain  the  fifty-seventh  and  sixty-third 
Pennsylvania  endeavored  to  stop  the  flight.  Their  steady  ranks  crumbled 
like  frost-work  before  the  terrific  and  well  sustained  fire  of  the  enemy. 
Scarcely  an  officer  remained  on  horseback.  Slowly  and  reluctantly  those 
heroic  troops,  which  had  hurled  back  the  deluge  of  the  Rebel  hosts, 
three  times  their  own  number,  were  compelled  to  recede  toward  the 
Chickahominy,  not  "  unaccountably  and  discreditably,"  as  was  asserted, 
but  simply  because  human  strength  and  valor,  when  placed  in  a  desperate 
and  helpless  position,  could  not  achieve  miracles,  or  reverse  the  laws  of 
physical  nature. 

General  Couch  now  fell  back  with  his  shattered  column  in  the  direction 
of  the  Williamsburg  road.  Here  he  again  arrayed  his  men  in  line  of 
battle.  At  half  past  four  o'clock,  General  Sumner  arrived  on  the  field 
with  Sedgwick's  division.  These  troops  were  disposed  of  as  rapidly  and 
judiciously  as  the  occasion  permitted;  but  not  too  soon  to  meet  the  ad 
vancing  enemy.  The  thirty-first  Pennsylvania,  the  first  Minnesota,  and 
the  first  chasseurs,  were  ordered  to  lie  upon  their  faces,  and  were  thus 
concealed  from  their  view.  As  the  Rebels  emerged  from  the  woods,  they 
delivered  a  volley  at  the  Anderson  Zouaves,  who  were  posted  in  the  rear. 
Then  at  the  word  of  command  the  prostrate  troops  bounded  to  their  feet 
and  poured  a  deadly  deluge  of  shot  into  the  serried  masses  of  the  foe. 
Their  ranks  were  mowed  down  like  grain  before  the  scythe  of  the  reaper. 
The  ground  where  they  stood  was  covered  with  piles  of  dead  and  wounded. 
That  discharge  was  the  virtual  end  of  the  battle.  Among  the  Rebel  dead 
was  General  Davis;  among  the  wounded  and  prisoners  was  General 
Pcttigrew.  The  troops  of  Sumner  aided  in  stemming  the  victorious 
march  of  the  enemy,  and  in  saving  the  Federal  forces  engaged  from  total 
rout  and  destruction.  Thus  closed  the  battle  of  the  Seven  Pines.  Both 
armies,  exhausted,  yet  undismayed,  passed  the  ensuing  night  upon  the 
gory  field,  or  near  it,  surrounded  by  the  multitudes  of  the  dying  and  the 


THE  ENGAGEMENT  OF  JUNE  FIRST.  261 

dead,  and  anxiously  awaited,  during  its  solemn  silence,  the  dawn  of  the 
next  day  for  the  renewal  of  the  fight  and  the  decision  of  the  struggle. 
The  enemy  had  captured  every  thing  which  belonged  to  General  Casey's 
camp,  except  the  baggage  wagons  which  had  been  sent  to  the  rear  several 
days  before ;  and  they  occupied  the  ground  at  the  close  of  the  day  which 
had  been  Casey's  position  at  its  commencement. 

On  Sunday,  June  1st,  the  Federal  troops  promptly  stood  to  their  arms 
in  the  dim  and  misty  light  of  the  early  dawn.  Important  reinforcements 
had  arrived  during  the  night.  On  the  right  wing,  the  divisions  of  Rich 
ardson  and  Sedgwick  were  posted,  their  left  resting  on  Hooker's  right. 
These  divisions  comprised  the  brigades  of  Burns,  French  and  Meagher. 
Hooker's  division  occupied  the  centre  of  the  line.  The  left  wing  was 
composed  of  the  remains  of  the  divisions  of  Generals  Casey  and  Couch, 
whose  futile  valor  had  performed  its  thankless  prodigies  on  the  day  be 
fore.  At  six  o'clock  General  Heintzelman,  who  had  received  the  chief 
command  of  the  forces  engaged,  ordered  a  reconnoissance  to  be  made  on 
the  left  and  on  the  right,  by  which  it  was  soon  ascertained  that  the  Rebels 
were  posted  in  great  strength  in  front  of  the  Federal  right  and  left  flanks. 
It  was  nearly  seven  o'clock  when  the  firing  between  the  pickets  gave 
evidence  that  the  enemy  had  begun  their  advance,  and  were  about  to 
renew  the  engagement.  Heintzelman  immediately  ordered  Hooker  to 
attack  the  Rebels  in  front,  and  drive  them  back  through  the  woods,  from 
which  they  were  then  emerging.  Hooker's  division  comprised  the  Ex 
celsior  brigade  of  Sickles,  with  the  fifth  and  sixth  New  Jersey  regiments. 
These  troops  advanced  gallantly  to  the  attack.  They  were  warmly  re 
ceived  by  the  enemy;  but  as  they  approached,  they  loaded  and  fired  re 
peatedly  with  the  rapidity  and  regularity  of  trained  soldiers.  After  an 
exchange  of  shots  for  some  time,  General  Sickles  ordered  the  second 
regiment  of  his  brigade  to  clear  the  woods  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 
This  order  was  executed  with  splendid  effect.  Colonel  Hall  led  the 
charge  in  person.  The  front  of  the  enemy  was  not  a  hundred  yards  dis 
tant,  and  as  the  Federal  troops  approached,  the  Rebels  fired  a  tremendous 
volley  into  their  ranks;  but  not  a  single  man  faltered.  Onward  rushed 
the  bristling  line  of  glittering  steel.  Then  the  shock  cnme.  and  soon  the 
foe,  shattered  and  broken,  gave  way  and  fled.  Among  the  prisoners 
taken  at  this  point  was  Major  Herbert,  of  the  eighth  Alabama  regiment. 

During  the  progress  of  this  achievement,  the  division  of  General  Richardson 
was  gradually  coming  into  action  on  the  right.  Here  the  ground  was  ex 
ceedingly  dificult ;  but  the  Irish  regiments  were  fortunately  in  this  part  of 
the  fight ;  and  their  powers  of  endurance  and  their  pugnacious  spirit  were 
well  adapted  to  the  emergency.  As  the  brigades  of  French,  Meagher  and 
Howard  combatted  the  foe,  the  men  were  sometimes  up  to  their  knees  in 
the  swampy  and  boggy  soil.  This  unusual  disadvantage  would  have  dis 
gusted  or  disheartened  any  other  soldiers ;  but  it  could  not  retard  the  im- 


THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

petuous  sons  of  Erin,  who  rushed  forward  to  the  deadly  encounter  with 
jocular  yells,  and  with  all  the  mingled  glee  and  furor  of  a  "  free  fight." 
The  enemy  received  them  with  a  terrible  discharge  of  musketry.  'General 
Howard  had  two  horses  shot  under  him,  and  was  also  wounded.  A  des 
perate  struggle  ensued.  The  superior  numbers  of  the  Kebels  rendered  the 
issue  at  one  time  extremely  doubtful.  At  that  moment  the  fourth  and 
fifth  Excelsior  regiments  of  Sickles,  who  had  already  gained  their  share  of 
the  victory  in  another  part  of  the  field,  were  despatched  to  the  support  of 
Richardson's  men.  The  battle  now  spread  around  to  the  New  Jersey 
brigade,  who  stood  manfully  to  the  enemy.  At  length  the  Kebels  began 
to  recede ;  yet  slowly  and  steadily.  The  Federal  troops  then  pushed  for 
ward,  crowding  upon  the  yielding  lines  of  the  foe,  as  they  floundered  over 
the  swampy  ground.  Two  hundred  of  these  were  captured  here.  By 
eleven  o'clock  the  firing  ceased,  the  battle  was  over,  the  victory  was  won. 
The  enemy  were  driven  from  every  position  which  they  had  gained  on  the 
preceding  day.  Their  main  column  rested  a  mile  beyond  the  point  which 
they  held  at  the  commencement  of  the  engagement.  Such  was  the  battle, 
and  such  the  victory  of  Fair  Oaks,  by  which  the  misfortune  and  defeat  of 
the  Seven  Pines  were  compensated  for  by  brilliant  success.  The  Rebels 
were  commanded  on  this  occasion  by  Generals  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  Long- 
street,  Pryor,  Cobb  and  Huger.  The  guns  and  ammunition  which  they 
had  captured  on  Saturday  were  not  recovered,  they  having  been  trans 
ported  with  prudent  and  thrifty  haste  to  Richmond,  immediately  after  the 
close  of  the  engagement  on  that  day.  On  Monday  the  Federal  forces  were 
ordered  forward  to  occupy  their  first  position,  from  which  they  had  been 
driven  on  Saturday.  The  loss  of  the  Rebel  troops  was  very  heavy,  as  the 
ground  was  covered  thickly  in  many  places  with  the  slain  and  the  woun 
ded,  whom  they  were  unable  to  remove.  The  Federal  loss  during  the 
battles  of  Seven  Pines  and  Fair  Oaks  was  eight  hundred  and  ninety  killed 
three  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-seven  wounded,  twelve  hundred 
and  twenty-two  missing ;  making  a  total  who  were  hors  du  co'/nbat  of  five 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-nine.* 

After  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  the  loyal  community  of  the  United  States 
generaly  expected  that  an  immediate  advance  would  be  made  by  the 
Federal  army  against  Richmond ;  and  it  is  quite  probable,  that  if  such  a 
movement  had  taken  place  without  delay,  and  no  further  time  had  been 
allowed  the  enemy  to  concentrate  their  troops  in  colossal  masses  around 
the  Rebel  capital,  as  they  afterward  did  with  extraordinary  promptitude 
and  energy,  the  city  might  have  been  captured  and  occupied  with  little 

*  The  loss  of  the  Rebels,  according  to  the  official  report  subsequently  made  by 
General  J.  E.  Johnston,  was  six  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-seven,  including 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  He  also  claimed  to  have  captured  ten  pieces  of 
artillery,  six  thousand  stand  of  arms,  five  colors,  beside  a  large  amount  of  cainp 
equipage. 


POPULAR  IMPATIENCE  FOR  THE  CAPTURE  OF  RICHMOND.  263 

difficulty.  But  such  an  advance  of  the  Federal  army  at  that  moment  was 
probably  a  physical  impossibility.  A  small  proportion  of  McClellan's  troops 
had  as  yet  crossed  the  Chickahominy ;  and  these  had  been  greatly  weak 
ened  by  two  days'  hard  fighting.  Only  two  or  three  bridges  had  been 
constructed  over  the  stream,  and  these  were  swept  away  by  the  violent 
storm  and  freshet  which  ensued  the  day  after  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks.  The 
Rebels  had  fought  with  heroism — with  a  desperation  and  firmness  unsur 
passed  by  any  troops  in  modern  times — filling  up  enormous  chasms  in  their 
columns,  when  ploughed  and  shivered  to  pieces  by  the  Federal  guns,  with 
the  most  wonderful  determination  and  readiness.  To  attack  such  troops 
with  sudden  and  imprudent  haste,  with  inferior  numbers,  or  at  a  serious 
disadvantage  of  position,  would  have  insured  the  inevitable  defeat  and  de 
struction  of  the  Federal  army.  Richmond  was  defended  even  then  by 
eight  immense  fortifications,  supported  by  about  fifty  thousand  effective 
troops ;  and  the  operations  intended  to  vanquish  such  formidable  arma 
ments  and  such  resolute  champions,  must  be  executed  with  great  deliber 
ation  and  skill.  Hence  it  was  alleged  that  the  impatience  for  the  imme 
diate  capture  of  the  Rebel  capital,  which  at  this  period  prevaded  the  loyal 
community,  and  the  censure  which  followed  its  disappointment,  were  based 
upon  an  ignorance  of  the  real  facts  of  the  case,  and  were  therefore  unrea 
sonable  and  unjust. 

In  accordance  with  the  maxims  which  controlled  the  conduct  of  General 
McClellan,  he  proceeded  immediately  after  the  victory  of  Fair  Oaks,  to 
select  his  camp,  form  his  lines,  and  erect  his  breastworks,  for  the  purpose 
of  making  his  regular  approaches  to  Richmond.  His  intrenchments,  after 
his  position  had  been  fully  taken,  presented  a  front  of  about  fifteen  miles, 
extending  from  Mechanicsville,  on  the  extreme  right,  to  a  position  at 
White  Oak  Swamp,  on  the  extreme  left.  Nearly  a  month  was  destined  to 
elapse  before  any  further  military  operations  of  importance  took  place  near 
the  Rebel  capital ;  during  which  interval  the  Federal  troops  were  employed 
in  the  completion  of  their  breastworks,  and  the  Rebels  in  concentrating 
all  their  available  forces  in  the  vicinity.  In  the  meantime  events  of  im 
portance  and  interest  were  transpiring  in  other  portions  of  the  Union,  to 
which  we  will  now  direct  our  attention. 

The  sudden  and  brilliant  expedition  of  the  Rebel  General  Jackson,  by 
which  he  expelled  General  Banks  from  Virginia,  and  restored  the  supre 
macy  of  their  arms  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  produced  results  of 
a  transient  and  inconsiderable  character.  The  occupation  of  Front  Royal 
by  the  victors  was  very  brief.  They  took  possession  of  it  on  Saturday, 
the  24th  of  May,  and  on  the  ensuing  30th  they  evacuated  it.  This  move 
ment  was  the  commencement  of  a  general  desertion  of  the  valley,  and  of 
the  entire  expulsion  of  the  forces  of  Jackson  from  the  scene  of  his  late 
remarkable  successes. 

After  the  arrival  of  General  Banks  at  Williamsport,  General  Fremont 


264  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

was  ordered  to  descend  from  his  mountain  department,  and  bring  his 
troops  to  bear  upon  the  enemy.  Accordingly  he  sent  forward  a  brigade, 
I >receded  by  four  companies  of  the  Rhode  Island  cavalry,  commanded  by 
Major  Nelson,  with  instructions  to  attack  the  Rebels,  who  held  possession 
of  Front  Royal.  These  forces  consisted  of  the  eighth  Louisiana,  a  portion 
of  the  twelfth  Georgia  regiments,  and  a  body  of  cavalry.  A  spirited 
action  ensued  before  the  Rebels  evacuated  the  place.  The  Federal  loss 
was  eight  killed  and  six  wounded.  Eighteen  Federal  soldiers  were 
retaken,  who  had  been  captured  by  the  enemy  a  week  previous,  together 
with  two  engines,  and  eight  cars,  loaded  with  ammunition.  The  loss  of 
the  Rebels  in  killed  and  wounded  was  severe.  Then  began  the  masterly 
retreat  of  Jackson,  and  the  well-conducted  pursuit  of  Fremont,  through 
the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah.  The  latter  left  Franklin  with  the  main 
body  of  his  troops,  and  by  rapid  marches  crossed  the  intervening  moun 
tains,  toiling  over  a  hundred  miles  of  difficult  roads,  with  very  limited 
means  of  transportation  and  subsistence.  About  the  same  period,  General 
Jackson  withdrew  from  Winchester.  Fremont  pressed  on  toward  Stras- 
burg,  which  the  Rebels  were  approaching  in  their  full  strength.  Colonel 
Cluseret,  who  commanded  the  advance  of  Fremont's  forces,  first  encoun 
tered  the  enemy,  five  miles  from  Strasburg.  on  the  Winchester  road. 
The  Federals  were  assailed  by  a  spirited  cannonading :  but  when  General 
Fremont  proceeded  to  draw  out  his  troops  in  line  of  battle,  in  anticipation 
of  a  general  engagement,  Jackson  declined  the  challenge,  and  retreated, 
in  the  meantime  holding  the  Federal  advance  in  check.  The  Rebel 
general  continued  his  retreat  through  Strasburg  toward  Woodstock, 
losing  twenty-five  prisoners  in  the  chase  which  ensued.  Strasburg  was 
then  occupied  by  General  Fremont  without  opposition.  For  the  purpose 
of  ascertaining  the  route  and  position  of  the  enemy,  he  ordered  Colonel 
Figzelmesi,  with  a  number  of  men,  to  make  a  reconnoissance  at  midnight 
near  that  town.  By  this  movement  it  was  ascertained  that  Jackson's 
rear  guard  was  lying  in  ambush  a  few  miles  beyond  Strasburg,  waiting 
for  the  advance  of  the  Federal  forces.  They  fired  upon  the  Federal 
scouts  as  they  approached,  wounding  three  of  them.  The  next  day  the 
pursuit  was  continued  by  the  cavalry  brigade,  under  General  Bayard. 
Constant  skirmishing  took  place  between  the  pickets  of  both  armies. 
The  Rebels  passed  through  Woodstock  without  halting.  The  town 
was  then  occupied  by  General  Fremont,  the  Rebel  army  lying  three 
miles  beyond  it.  During  this  portion  of  the  chase,  though  no  engage 
ment  of  importance  occurred,  several  hundred  Rebel  prisoners  were 
captured. 

The  retreat  and  the  pursuit  through  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah  con 
tinued  without  further  incident  of  importance  until  the  8th  of  June.  On 
that  day  the  Rebels  reached  a  position  in  the  vicinity  of  Harrisonburg 
called  Cross  Keys,  where  an  engagement  took  place.  Colonel  Wj'ndham 


GALLANTRY   OP  THE   BUCKTATLS.  265 

had  been  ordered  to  advance  four  miles  beyond  that  town,  for  the  purpose 
}f  making  a  reconnoissance.  The  first  New  Jersey  cavalry  were  detailed 
to  this  service.  The  colonel  imprudently  extended  his  march  three  miles 
further  than  the  distance  specified  in  his  orders,  and  thus  fell  into  an 
ambuscade  which  had  been  placed  in  the  woods.  The  Rebels  being 
posted  in  strong  force,  attacked  him.  A  severe  contest  ensued.  The 
Rebel  General  Ashby  was  conspicuous  in  this  fight  for  his  superior  skill 
and  daring.  The  Federal  troops  were  driven  back,  and  Colonel  Wynd- 
ham  was  taken  prisoner.  The  enemy  were  driving  the  New  Jersey 
troops  before  them,  when  General  Bayard  was  ordered  to  the  rescue  with 
the  Bucktail  regiment,  the  first  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  the  eighth  and  six 
teenth  Virginia  regiments.  The  contest  was  then  renewed,  and  was 
maintained  with  great  spirit  on  both  sides.  The  enemy  were  expelled 
from  their  position,  with  the  loss  of  a  portion  of  their  camp  equipage. 
The  struggle  was  still  continued  with  an  uncertain  issue.  Night  was 
approaching,  when  General  Bayard  ordered  Colonel  Kane  to  proceed 
with  the  Bucktail  rifles  to  explore  the  dense  forest  of  pines  to  the  left. 
This  brave  company,  numbering  about  a  hundred  and  thirty  men,  at  once 
advanced  toward  the  almost  invisible  enemy.  They  suddenly  found 
themselves  surrounded,  both  in  front  and  on  the  flank,  by  a  numerous 
body  of  Rebels,  consisting  of  four  regiments  of  cavalry,  together  with 
artillery.  But  the  Bucktails  did  not  flinch  in  this  emergency,  and  opened 
their  fire  with  deadly  effect  upon  the  serried  masses  around  them.  Their 
valor  was  vain  and  fruitless  against  such  overwhelming  numbers.  Their 
ranks  were  quickly  thinned  by  the  destructive  attack  of  the  foe.  Their 
gallant  commander  was  wounded  and  captured.  Nothing  now  remained 
but  to  retreat  with  the  wreck  of  their  corps.  This  feat  they  performed 
leisurely  and  without  precipitation,  halting  from  time  to  time  to  return 
the  shots  of  the  pursuing  Rebels.  The  loss  of  the  Bucktails  was  about 
six  killed,  thirty-six  wounded,  ten  missing  ;  that  of  the  remaining  Federal 
troops  was  one  hundred  and  eighteen  killed,  four  hundred  and  fifty 
wounded,  thirty  missing.  The  loss  of  the  Rebels  was  also  severe.  As 
General  Fremont  did  not  wish  at  that  unpropitious  time  to  court  a  general 
engagement,  his  troops  were  withdrawn,  when  darkness  overspread  the 
scene.  In  this  battle  General  Ashby,  the  bold  and  chivalrous  commander 
of  the  Rebel  cavalry,  was  slain. 

On  the  next  day,  the  9th  of- Juwe,  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  was  con 
tinued.  The  Rebels  were  then  in  full  retreat  toward  Port  Republic. 
General  Blenker  commanded  the  left  wing,  General  Milroy  the  right, 
General  Schenck  the  centre  of  Fremont's  forces.  The  reserve  consisted 
of  the  brigades  of  Stahl  and  Bayard.  The  advance  of  the  Federals  was 
so  close  upon  the  rear  guard  of  Jackson  that  the  latter  had  scarcely  time 
to  cross  the  Shenandoah  to  avoid  capture. 

General  Tyler  commanded  the  advance  of  Shields'  division,  which  after 
ward  engaged  the  enemy.  The  action  which  ensued  took  place  at  Port 


266  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

Eepublic,  seven  miles  beyond  Harrisonburg,  on  the  route  toward  Staunton. 
The  number  of  Federal  troops  engaged  was  about  three  thousand ;  that 
of  the  enerny  was  at  least  eight  thousand.  General  Jackson  had  posted 
the  latter  in  the  woods  so  as  to  outflank  the  Federals  on  the  left.  The 
batteries  of  Captains  Clark  and  Robinson  were  first  brought  forward,  and 
were  made  to  bear  upon  them  with  effect.  Several  companies  of  skir 
mishers  were  then  ordered  to  penetrate  into  the  woods,  to  feel  the  enemy. 
The  Rebels  soon  advanced  from  their  retreat,  and  prepared  to  attack  the 
Federals  by  a  combined  front  and  flank  movement.  The  seventh  Indiana 
infantry,  under  Colonel  Gavin,  were  sent  to  the  right  to  counteract  the 
operations  of  the  Rebels  at  that  point.  They  were  there  assailed  by  two 
regiments  advantageously  posted  under  cover  of  the  banks  of  the 
Shenandoah.  So  destructive  was  the  fire  of  the  Rebels  here,  that  Colonel 
Gavin  was  compelled  to  retire.  The  twenty-ninth  Ohio  was  then  sent 
forward  to  support  him,  while  the  seventh  Ohio  was  despatched  to  the 
aid  of  Clarke's  battery,  and  the  fifth  Ohio  to  the  help  of  Huntingdon's 
battery.  The  first  Virginia  regiment  was  posted  on  the  extreme  right 
and  the  whole  of  the  Federal  troops  of  General  Tyler's  brigade  being  at 
length  in  position,  the  battle  became  general.  The  artillery  of  the  Rebels 
was  served  with  great  energy  and  skill.  During  the  progress  of  the 
engagement  on  the  right  wing,  the  Rebel  commander  placed  additional 
troops  in  such  a  position  as  to  attack  the  Federal  batteries  posted  there 
with  immense  vigor,  and  eventually  to  capture  them.  The  seventh  and 
fifth  Ohio  were  afterward  brought  to  bear  upon  the  foe  with  such  success 
that  these  batteries  were  retaken.  For  a  short  interval  the  heroism  of 
the  Federal  troops,  though  fighting  against  a  much  superior  force, 
rendered  the  issue  of  the  day  doubtful,  and  almost  wrested  a  triumph 
from  the  inevitable  victors  in  so  unequal  a  struggle.  But  at  this  crisis 
immense  reinforcements  were  seen  crossing  the  river  from  the  town  of 
Port  Republic  to  the  aid  of  the  Rebels  and  to  have  encountered  these 
also  would  have  been  to  invite  destruction.  General  Tyler  therefore 
gave  the  order  to  retreat.  Unfortunately,  it  was  found  impossible  to 
remove  the  heavy  guns,  the  horses  being  nearly  all  either  killed  or 
disabled,  and  they  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  Federals,  how 
ever,  captured  one  gun  and  sixty-seven  prisoners.  They  retreated,  and 
the  Rebels  pursued,  until  the  former  approached  the  main  body  of 
General  Shields'  division,  when  the  JJebels  fled  in  their  turn.  The 
Federal  loss  on  this  occasion  was  sixty-two  killed,  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
one  wounded,  one  hundred  missing.  The  loss  of  the  Rebels,  though  its 
exact  number  is  unknown  to  us,  was  also  heavy.  On  the  advance  of 
Fremont  after  the  battle,  two  hundred  of  their  dead  were  counted  on  the 
field,  and  many  had  already  been  buried.  A  number  of  valuable  Federal 
officers  had  been  slain.  One  of  the  companies  of  the  Bucktail  regiment 
lost  all  its  officers,  both  commissioned  and  non-commissioned.  The 
battle  of  Port  Republic,  though  desperately  contested  during  five  hours 


WITHDRAWAL   OF   GENERAL  FREMONT.  267 

was  in  reality  a  repulse  to  the  Federal  arms.  The  exposed  and  isolated 
position  of  the  advance  of  General  Shields,  rendered  the  troops  who 
belonged  to  it  an  easy  prey  to  the  overwhelming  and  concentrated  masses 
of  the  enemy,  and  invited  their  assault  under  circumstances  extremely 
unfavorable  to  the  Union  forces. 

After  this  engagement  the  retreat  of  Jackson  was  continued  toward 
Staunton,  and  eventually  to  Kichrnond.  No  engagement  of  any  impor 
tance  took  place  between  him  and  the  troops  of  General  Fremont  subse 
quent  to  the  battle  of  Port  "Republic.  On  the  25th  of  June  the  armies  of 
Fremont,  McDowell,  and  Banks,  were  consolidated  by  the  President  into 
one  body,  to  be  designated  by  the  title  of  the  Army  of  Virginia ;  and  the 
chief  command  of  it  was  conferred  on  General  John  Pope,  the  hero  of 
New  Madrid,  and  of  Island  Number  Ten.  By  this  arrangement  the 
forces  of  Fremont  constituted  the  first  army  corps;  those  of  Banks,  the 
second;  those  of  McDowell,  the  third.  General  McCall's  division,  ten 
thousand  strong,  which  had  formed  part  of  McDowell's  corps,  was  trans 
ferred  at  once  to  the  army  under  McClellan.  This  new  arrangement, 
which  the  President  had  adopted  for  the  purpose  of  giving  greater  energy 
and  efficacy  to  the  movements  of  the  troops  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenan- 
doah,  was  readily  acquiesced  in  by  Generals  McDowell  and  Banks ;  but  it 
did  not  meet  the  approbation  of  General  Fremont.  He  regarded  it  as  an 
act  of  injustice  to  him;  as  calculated  to  diminish  his  personal  consequence 
in  the  service,  and  to  injure  his  reputation  with  the  community.  General 
Pope  had  been  under  his  command  in  Missouri,  and  the  relations  of  the 
two  generals  toward  each  other  were  not  pleasant.  He  therefore  resolved 
to  withdraw  from  the  command  of  the  corps,  and  notified  the  Secretary 
of  War  of  his  intention  to  that  effect.  Thus  ended  the  brief  campaign 
of  General  Fremont  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah.  It  cannot  be 
affirmed  that  the  spirit  which  marked  the  abandonment  of  his  command 
in  Virginia,  was  characterized  by  the  same  rare  degree  of  patriotism, 
dignity,  and  self-denial,  which  had  adorned  his  conduct  when  removed 
from  his  administration  in  Missouri.  From  the  camp  and  the  battle-field 
he  retired  to  the  repose  of  private  life,  to  observe  in  his  retreat  the  mar 
velous  vicissitudes  of  a  contest  in  which  he  had  enacted,  if  not  the  first, 
yet  an  honorable  part.  Nevertheless,  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  chief 
glory  of  the  career  of  this  eminent  man  will  always  be  associated  with  his 
adventures  and  achievements  as  an  explorer  of  the  untrodden  solitudes 
of  the  remotest  West,  where  he  became  the  pioneer  to  discover  the  way 
to  new  realms,  in  which  a  youthful  but  mighty  people  could  find  one  of 
the  most  profitable  and  Appropriate  arenas  for  the  exercise  and  develop 
ment  of  their  gigantic  energies.  As  the  heroic  and  resolute  "Pathfinder* 
to  the  golden  climes  of  the  modern  Eldorado,  across  the  frozen  precipices, 
and  through  the  abysmal  gorges  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  his  name  will 
live,  and  will  be  justly  honored  on  the  pages  of  American  history  through 
many  generations  to  come. 


268  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE  UNITED   STATES, 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

PROMINENCE    OF  THE    MISSISSIPPI  RIVER  IN  THE    EVENTS    OF    TEE  WAR — FLEET    OF    GUNBOATS 

COMMANDED  BY  COMMODORE  DAVIS — EVACUATION    OF    FORT    PILLOW THE   NAVAL    BATTLE 

BEFORE  MEMPHIS — RELATIVE  STRENGTH  OF  THE  COMBATANTS INCIDENTS  OF  THE  ENGAGE 
MENT — DEFEAT  OF  THE  REBEL  FLEET COLONEL  ELLET RESULTS  OF  THE  VICTORY — GEN 
ERAL  NEGLEY'S  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  CHATTANOOGA — COLONEL  HAMBRIGHT — INCIDENTS 

OF  THE  EXPEDITION — ITS  RESULTS — GENERAL  MORGAN  EXPELS  THE  REBELS  FROM  CUM 
BERLAND  GAP — DISASTER  TO  THE  FEDERAL  ARMS  AT  JAMES  ISLAND — DESCRIPTION  OP 

THE    REBEL  WORKS — ARRANGEMENTS  FOR  THE  ATTACK — INCIDENTS  OF  THE  ENGAGEMENT 

ULTIMATE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  FEDERAL  TROOPS THEIR  RETREAT FEDERAL  LOSS — GALLANTRY 

OF    THE    REBEL    COMMANDER     LAMAR — EXPEDITION     OF     COLONEL    FITCH     UP     THE    WHITE 

RIVER — THE    ENGAGEMENT  AT    ST.  CHARLES HORRIBLE    ACCIDENT  TO    THE    MOUND    CITY — 

EXECRABLE    CRUELTY    OF    CAPTAIN    FRY CAPTURE    OF  THE    REBEL  FORTS FINAL  SUCCESS 

OF  THE  EXPEDITION — EXCURSION  OF  COLONEL  HOWARD  FROM  NEWBERN  TO  SWIFT  CREEK 

ITS  RESULTS BOMBARDMENT  OF  VICKSBURG  COMMENCED — PERILOUS  PASSAGE  OF  COM 
MODORE  FARRAGUT'S  FLEET — NEW  CHANNEL  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 

'  ONE  of  the  most  brilliant  pages  in  the  history  of  the  war  against  Seces 
sion,  is  that  which  records  the  achievements  of  the  champion  of  the  Union 
on  the  Mississippi  river.  On  the  great  "  Father  of  Waters"  defeats  and 
disasters,  though  not  wholly  unknown,  were  unfamiliar  things ;  triumphs 
and  supremacy  were  the  prevalent  features  which  marked  the  scene.  On 
the  6th  of  June,  1862,  the  fleet  of  Federal  gunboats  and  rams  commanded 
by  Flag-Officer  C.  H.  Davis,  comprising  eight  vessels,  approached  Fort 
Pillow,  located  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Memphis.  It  was  the  intention  of  the  commodore  to  bombard  the  Rebel 
works,  which  were  of  considerable  strength,  mounting  six  one  hundred- 
and-twenty-eight  pounders  and  fifteen  sixty-four  pounders.  But  the 
enemy  evacuated  the  place,  together  with  Forts  Randolph  and  Wright, 
rendering  an  attack  unnecessary.  These  places  were  then  occupied  by  a 
requisite  number  of  Federal  troops. 

Commodore  Davis  then  proceeded  with  his  fleet  toward  Memphis.  A 
formidable  Rebel  flotilla  awaited  his  approach.  It  consisted  of  eight  gun 
boats,  which  respectively  bore  the  names  of  the  General  Bragg,  the 
Lovell,  the  Jeff.  Thompson,  the  Beau  regard,  General  Van  Dorn,  the 
Sumter,  General  Price,  and  the  Little  Rebel.  They  were  commanded  by 
Commodore  Edward  Montgomery.  They  had  previously  been  river 
steamers,  and  had  been  converted  into  gunboats:  They  carried  from  two 
to  twelve  guns  each,  which  were  worked  en  barbette  on  carriages.  In  the 
action  which  ensued  the  gunboats  of  Commodore  Davis  which  were  brought 
into  action  were  the  flag-ship  Benton,  the  Louisville,  Cairo,  St.  Louis, 
and  Carondelet.  In  addition  to  these  there  were  four  steam  rams,  com- 


THE  NAVAL  BATTLE  BEFORE   MEMPHIS.  269 

manded  by  Colonel  Charles  Ellet,  named  the  Queen  of  the  West,  Monarch, 
Lancaster,  and  Switzerland.  During  the  night  preceding  the  battle,  the 
Kebel  fleet  moved  down  the  river  toward  Memphis.  At  that  time  Com 
modore  Davis  lay  at  anchor  two  miles  above  the  city.  When  the  morn 
ing  of  the  6th  dawned,  the  Kebel  fleet  was  seen  steaming  up  in  line  of 
battle.  They  were  soon  met  by  the  Federal  vessels  in  gallant  style  oppo 
site  Memphis.  The  inhabitants  of  that  city  swarmed  in  multitudes  upon 
the  levee,  the  bluff,  and  the  roofs  of  the  houses  adjacent  to  the  river.  The 
stores  were  closed,  and  all  business  suspended,  during  a  day  which  was 
destined  to  witness  one  of  the  most  complete  defeats  to  the  Kebel  arms 
which  had  yet  overtaken  them. 

The  engagement  began  at  half-past  five  in  the  morning.  While  the 
vessels  were  approaching  each  other,  Colonel  Ellet  ordered  two  rams,  the 
Queen  and  the  Monarch,  to  proceed  down  the  river,  and  pass  between  the 
Kebel  boats  and  the  shore.  The  current  was  strong,  the  river  was  narrow, 
and  the  enemy,  from  their  position  in  fighting  up  stream,  possessed  the 
advantage  of  the  steerage-way.  The  two  rams  having  reached  the  de 
sired  position,  rounded  to  and  commenced  the  engagement.  The  Queen 
drove  with  prodigious  force  into  the  General  Price,  one  of  the  Rebel  rams, 
taking  her  wheel  completely  off;  and  after  a  short  exchange  of  shots  the 
latter  sank.  Soon  afterward  the  Queen  was  herself  run  into  by  the  Beau- 
regard,  and  being  struck  on  the  wheel-house  with  tremendous  violence, 
was  severely  disabled.  The  Monarch  then  approached  the  Beauregard, 
and  saluted  her  with  a  ferocious  butt  in  the  bow,  which  completely  dis 
abled  her.  She  subsequently  sank,  though  her  crew  were  rescued  by 
the  timely  interposition  of  the  Little  Kebel.  The  Benton  and  the  Lovell 
then  came  into  action.  The  fifty -pound  Parrott  guns  of  the  former  pro 
duced  an  immense  effect  on  her  antagonist.  She  was  raked  fore  and  aft, 
some  of  the  shots  penetrating  her  sides.  In  five  minutes  her  boilers 
exploded,  and  the  most  horrible  spectacle  was  presented  to  view.  Her 
crew,  scalded,  suffocated,  and  suffering  the  intensest  agonies,  rushed  upon 
deck,  and  filled  the  air  with  their  frantic  screams,  praying  for  help.  The 
vessel  immediately  began  to  sink,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  a  yawl 
sent  from  the  Benton  was  able  to  take  off  a  few  of  the  sufferers  before 
she  went  down  in  a  hundred  feet  of  water.  Nearly  all  her  crew  were 
drowned,  and  their  last  exclamations  of  terror  and  despair  mingled  with 
the  seething  and  bubbling  sound  of  the  waves,  as  she  descended  forever 
from  view. 

The  remainder  of  the  Rebel  flotilla  had  thus  far  been  engaged  at  long 
range.  The  Beauregard  had  been  completely  riddled  with  shot;  was 
rapidly  becoming  unmanageable ;  was  filling  with  water ;  and  was  drifting 
helplessly  toward  the  shore.  She  eventually  sank  upon  a  shoal  to  her 
decks.  The  Little  Kebel  was  stinick  by  two  shots  upon  her  upper  works ; 
she  was  then  run  ashore  by  her  commander,  abreast  of  President's  island, 


270  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

and  was  eventually  abandoned  by  her  crew.  Disasters  now  came  thickly 
upon  the  rest  of  the  vessels  of  the  enemy.  By  this  time  the  Jeff.  Thomp 
son  was  on  fire,  and  the  flames  soon  gained  such  headway  that  it  was 
impossible  to  extinguish  them.  The  fiery  tongues  of  the  destroying 
element  ran  hither  and  thither  over  her  whole  extent,  enveloping  every 
portion  of  it.  Soon  her  wheel-houses  disappeared,  then  her  chimney  fell 
overboard,  tearing  with  it  a  portion  of  her  deck  ;  at  length  her  magazine 
exploded.  The  concussion  shook  the  earth,  uprolled  the  tranquil  bosom 
of  the  Mississippi  in  multitudinous  billows,  and  filled  the  air  with  hundreds 
of  flying  shells.  At  last  nothing  remained  of  the  once  formidable  vessel 
except  a  few  blackened  and  charred  timbers,  which  leisurely  floated  away 
in  fragments  on  the  surface  of  the  river.  The  Sumter  now  became  disa 
bled  by  the  steady  and  destructive  shots  of  the  Federal  boats,  and  was 
drifted  ashore  at  the  foot  of  President's  island.  There  she  was  abandoned. 
The  General  Bragg,  unable  any  longer  to  continue  the  contest,  retreated 
down  the  river,  and  was  run  ashore  about  three  miles  below  Memphis. 
She  was  also  abandoned  by  the  Rebels.  When  the  Federal  victors  from 
the  Benton  boarded  her,  they  found  twice  the  ordinary  pressure  of  steam 
upon  her  boiler,  thus  proving  the  evident  intention,  on  the  part  of  her 
late  occupants,  when  leaving,  to  blow  her  to  atoms.  A  prize  crew  was 
then  placed  on  board,  the  stars  and  stripes  were  unfurled,  and  she  was 
towed  to  an  anchorage  at  Memphis.  About  the  same  time,  a  shot  pene 
trated  the  boiler  of  the  active  and  dauntless  Little  Rebel.  It  exploded, 
and  she  was  at  once  completely  disabled.  She  started  to  reach  the 
Arkansas  shore,  but  was  overhauled  and  taken.  Thus  the  entire  fleet  of 
the  enemy  was  either  captured  or  destroyed,  in  an  engagement  which  did 
not  continue  longer  than  an  hour  and  a-half,  with  the  single  exception  of 
the  flag-ship  Yan  Dorn.  This  vessel,  in  consequence  of  her  superior  speed, 
being  fleeter  than  the  Federal  gunboats,  made  her  escape.  She  was  pur 
sued  eight  miles  below  Memphis,  where  the  futile  chase  was  relinquished. 
A  more  complete  and  wholesale  defeat  could  scarcely  be  imagined  than 
that  which  had  thus  overtaken  this  famous  Mississippi  flotilla.  Its  com 
mander,  Commodore  Montgomery,  with  most  of  his  officers  and  some  of 
his  men,  succeeded  in  making  their  escape  to  the  forests  on  the  Arkansas 
shore.  Their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  heavy,  probably  not  Irss 
than  a  hundred.  The  Federal  loss  was  comparatively  light.  Commodore 
Ellet,  the  brave  commander  of  the  Union  rams,  was  wounded  during  the 
action  by  a  pistol  shot  in  the  leg.  It  was  a  singular  fact  that  he  alone,  of 
all  the  Union  soldiers  in  this  engagement,  should  have  been  struck  by  the 
enemy,  and  that  he  should  afterward  expire  from  the  combined  effect  of 
the  wound,  general  exhaustion,  aud  unskillful  treatment.  Among  the 
Federal  vessels  the  Queen  of  the  West  had  been  the  most  severely  disa 
bled.  Her  machinery  was  so  terribly  jarred  by  the  vigorous  butting  of 


RESULTS  OF  THE   VICTORY.  271 

the  Rebel  rams,  as  to  be  unable  to  move,  and  she  was  towed  to  her 
anchorage  after  the  termination  of  the  battle. 

Immediately  after  the  engagement  the  victorious  fleet  steamed  up  to 
the  landing  at  Memphis.  Commodore  Davis  then  despatched  a  messenger 
to  John  Parke,  the  Mayor  of  the  city,  informing  him  that  he  had  taken 
possession  of  the  place,  that  he  would  put  it  under  military  authority,  and 
that  he  desired  his  co-operation  in  the  preservation  of  order.  To  this 
communication  Mayor  Parke  responded  that  the  municipal  authorities  of 
Memphis  possessed  no  means  of  resistance,  and  that  he  would  be  happy 
to  comply  with  the  request  of  Commodore  Davis,  and  assist  him  in  the 
preservation  of  peace  and  order.  A  portion  of  the  Federal  troops  were 
subsequently  quartered  in  the  city,  the  national  colors  were  unfurled  from 
the  public  buildings,  and  the  supremacy  of  the  Federal  Government  again 
established  in  one  of  the  chief  marts  of  Tennessee.  The  ultimate  conse 
quences  of  this  victory  were  very  important.  It  assisted  materially  in 
clearing  the  Mississippi  of  the  presence  and  the  power  of  the  Rebel  gun 
boats.  With  the  single  exception  of  Yicksburg,  every  other  stronghold 
of  the  foe  on  that  great  river  had  now  been  removed  ;  the  conquest  of 
Vicksburg  alone  was  necessary  to  complete  the  triumph  ;  and  by  this 
means  one  of  the  chief  arteries  of  the  body  of  the  Rebel  Confederacy 
would  be  effectually  severed.  It  was  confidently  expected  that  that  desi 
rable  result  would  be  accomplished  at  an  early  period. 

Other  triumphs  to  the  Federal  arms  occurred,  nearly  at  the  same  time, 
on  the  soil  of  Tennessee.  The  Rebels  had  erected  strong  batteries  at 
Chattanooga,  a  flourishing  town  in  Hamilton  county,  a  hundred  and  forty 
miles  southeast  of  Nashville.  It  was  the  eastern  terminus  of  the  railroad 
from  the  capital  of  the  State,  and  the  point  of  connection  with  the  railways 
of  Georgia.  It  was  also  a  valuable  shipping  point  for  Middle  and  Eastern 
Tennessee.  General  Mitchel,  appreciating  the  importance  of  the  position, 
determined  to  attack  it  with  one  of  those  brilliant  and  sudden  assaults  by 
which  he  had  already  distinguished  himself.  He  entrusted  the  execution 
of  his  enterprise  on  this  occasion  to  General  Negley.  Chattanooga  being 
situated  on  the  Tenneesee  river,  at  the  head  of  the  light  draught  naviga 
tion,  commanding  the  mountain  region  in  East  Tennessee,  being  also  a 
great  railway  centre,  and  being  directly  connected  by  them  with  Western 
Virginia,  and  even  with  Richmond,  fully  justified  the  risks  which  were 
run  to  attain  its  possession,  and  to  wrest  it  from  the  occupancy  of  the 
enemy. 

Starting  forth  from  the  camp  of  General  Mitchel  at  Huntsville,  in  Ala 
bama,  Colonel  Hambright,  under  the  orders  of  General  Negley,  rapidly 
approached  Chattanooga,  routing  and  dispersing  on  his  way  a  body  of 
Rebel  cavalry  commanded  by  General  Adams.  On  the  7th  of  June  he 
commenced  an  attack  on  the  batteries  of  the  enemy  at  that  place.  After 
a  vigorous  cannonading  of  three  hours'  duration,  they  were  silenced  and 


272  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

evacuate' 1.  On  the  next  day  the  town  was  shelled.  In  six  hours  the 
Rebels  were  driven  from  all  their  works,  and  were  forced  to  evacuate  the 
place  entirely.  As  they  retired  they  burned  the  railroad  bridges,  in 
order  to  prevent  the  pursuit  of  the  Federal  victors.  Eighty  prisoners 
were  taken.  A  large  number  of  horses  and  cattle,  intended  for  the  Rebel 
service,  were  also  captured.  The  Rebel  works  were  completely  destroyed, 
and  the  place  unfitted  for  future  hostile  operations.  This  conquest  re 
lieved  the  loyal  citizens  of  that  vicinity  from  the  heavy  yoke  of  the  Rebel 
authorities  which  had  so  long  galled  them,  and  confirmed  their  attach 
ment  to  their  legitimate  government.  It  wrested  from  the  enemy  all  the 
advantages  which  the  possession  of  the  town  had  given  them,  from  its 
peculiar  position  as  the  great  railroad  centre,  to  which  we  have  already 
referred.  After  this  achievement  General  Negley  returned  to  camp  with 
the  trophies  of  his  victory.  His  loss  was  two  killed,  seven  wounded,  three 
missing. 

The  advantages  thus  gained  were  increased  in  Tennessee  on  the  17th  of 
June,  when  General  Morgan  advanced  toward  Cumberland  Gap  for  the 
purpose  of  attacking  and  expelling  the  Rebel  Generals  Stevenson  and 
Smith,  who  occupied  it  with  thirteen  thousand  men.  This  gap  is  a  cleft 
in  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  which  run  from  the  northeast  to  the  south 
west  through  the  State;  and  it  is  so  deep  and  narrow  that  there  is  room 
through  the  gap  for  only  a  single  roadway.  The  Rebels  had  fortified  it 
with  great  assiduity.  Its  importance  as  an  entrance  to  Eastern  Tennessee 
justified  their  efforts  in  reference  to  it.  It  was  expected  that  they  would 
defend  its  possession  with  the  utmost  tenacity.  No  such  result  followed. 
When  the  Rebel  leaders  were  informed  of  the  approach  of  the  Union  force 
under  General  Morgan,  they  evacuated  the  place.  They  left  several 
hundred  tents  standing,  and  they  threw  vast  quantities  of  their  projectiles 
over  the  cliffs  into  the  yawning  ravines  below.  Their  mortar  guns  were 
spiked,  and  their  carriages  mutilated.  After  thus  rendering  what  they 
left  behind  them  as  useless  as  possible,  the  whole  force  retreated.  The 
gap  was  then  occupied  by  the  Federal  troops,  another  avenue  of  commu 
nication  was  opened  between  the  loyal  citizens  of  Eastern  and  Western 
Tennessee,  and  another  stronghold  of  the  Rebels  destroyed. 

From  these  successes  in  the  interior  of  the  country,  we  turn  to  view 
the  operations  of  the  Federal  arms  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard.  There  the 
tide  of  fortune  turned  against  the  Federal  arms,  and  a  disastrous  defeat 
overtook  them  in  the  vicinity  of  the  renowned  hotbed  of  rebellion. 

On  the  16th  of  June,  General  Benham,  the  second  in  command  under 
General  Hunter  in  the  Department  of  the  South,  attacked  the  works 
which  the  Rebels  had  erected  on  James  island,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Charleston,  and  was  ignominiously  repulsed  with  heavy  losses.  The  enemy 
had  constructed  a  line  of  defences  running  across  this  island,  together  with 
a  fort  and  an  observatory,  in  such  a  position  as  to  enable  them  to  over 


DISASTER  TO    THE   FEDERAL  ARMS   AT  JAMES  ISLAND.      273 

look  the  operation  of  the  Federal  commanders.     The  purpose  of  General 
Benham  was  also  to  destroy  a  floating  battery  which  had  been  anchored 
near  Secessionville,  and  which,  together  with  the  works  already  named, 
presented  serious  obstacles  to  the  further  advance  of  the  Federal  forces 
toward  Charleston  and  Fort  Johnson.    Secessionville  was  a  small  village, 
the  summer  resort  of  a  few  of  the  planters  who  resided  on  James  island. 
Its  location  is  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  island,  on  a  high  bank  of  a  creek 
which  passes   through  the   marshes  of  James   and   Morris  islands,  and 
empties  into  the  Stono  river  near  its  mouth.     Five  hundred  yards  south 
of  Secessionville,  Colonel  Lamar  had  erected  a  battery,  flanked  on  its  sides 
by  the  marsh  and  the  creek.     The  Rebel  troops  posted  here  consisted  of 
several  companies  of  the  Charleston  Light  Infantry,  and  of  the  Charleston 
Battalion,  with  large  detachments  of  the  South    Carolina   volunteers, 
making  in  all  about  five  thousand  men.     The  Federal  force  selected  to 
assault  the  works  consisted  of  three   brigades,  commanded  by  Generals 
Stevens,  Wright,   and  Williams,   comprising  about  three  thousand   five 
hundred  men.     The  attack  was  commenced  by  General  Stevens,  whose 
troops  consisted  of  the  Michigan  eighth,  the  Connecticut  sixth  and  seventh, 
and  the  Massachusetts  twenty-eighth  regiments,  supported  by  a  battery 
of  four  guns.    The  Michigan  eighth  led  the  van,  and  suffered  more  severely 
than  any  of  their  associates.     The  assault  began   at  break  of  day.     The 
Rebel  pickets  were  driven  in  ;  and  a  rapid  advance  was  then  made  toward 
the  fort.     In  effecting  this  movement  the  Federals  encountered  an  open 
battery  of  three  guns,  which  were  posted  about  a  hundred  yards  in  front 
of  the  intrench ments.     The  Rebels  were  driven  from  these  pieces,  which 
were  captured.     It  was  evident  that  the  occupants  of  the  intrenchments 
had  been  taken  completely  by  surprise,  but  they  were  quickly  aroused 
from  their  slumbers,  and  received  the  assailants  with  the  utmost  resolu 
tion. 

In  the  engagement  which  ensued,  General  Wright's  brigade  supported 
General  Stevens  on  the  left,  while  General  Williams  was  ordered  to  make 
a  flank  movement  to  the  right,  and  from  that  quarter  to  join  in  the  attack. 
As  it  was  suspected  that  masked  batteries  were  concealed  in  the  woods 
in  this  direction,  General  Williams  was  advised  to  execute  the  movement 
with  caution,  but  he  ordered  his  men  to  advance  rapidly  without  taking 
any  measures  against  surprise.  The  result  was  that  as  soon  as  his  forces 
reached  their  desired  position  at  the  side  of  the  fort,  a  powerful  battery 
opened  upon  them  from  an  opposite  direction,  which,  together  with  the 
fire  in  their  front  produced  a  deadly  effect.  The  fighting  on  both  sides 
now  became  fierce  and  desperate.  The  works  were  surrounded  by  deep 
ditches,  and  surmounted  by  high  parapets.  The  eighth  Michigan  and 
New  York  seventy-ninth  assailed  the  fortifications  in  front  with  dauntless 
heroism.  They  succeeded  in  filling  the  ditch,  and  constructed  a  causeway 
at  one  point,  under  the  close  and  heavy  firing  of  the  enemy.  Repeated 
18 


274 


THE   CIVAL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES 


onsets  were  then  made,  and  determined  struggles  took  place  to  storm  the 
works ;  but  though  often  on  the  verge  of  success,  the  Federals  were  as 
often  repulsed  and  driven  back  by  the  indomitable  resistance  of  the  enemy. 
It  is  probable,  indeed,  that  if,  at  one  time  during  the  contest  in  front,  a 
judicious  and  vigorous  co-operative  movement  had  been  made  on  the  flank, 
the  assault  might  have  been  successful ;  but  such  was  not  the  case.  The 
Rebels  were  effectually  aided  in  their  defence  by  the  firing  from  Fort 
Johnson,  which  was  located  at  some  distance  to  the  right.  Many  of  the 
gunners  in  the  fort  were  killed ;  especially  when,  after  being  repulsed 
from  the  attack  in  front,  the  Federal  troops  drew  off  and  renewed  the 
assault  on  the  right  flank.  There  three  regiments  deployed  in  line  of 
battle,  and  being  partially  protected  by  a  growth  of  underbush,  poured 
into  the  fort  a  continuous  and  deadly  fire,  at  a  distance  of  a  hundred  and 
fifty  yards.  Some  of  the  gun-carriages  in  the  intrenchments  were  per 
forated  by  their  balls.  This  assault  might  have  proved  more  successful, 
had  not  the  Louisiana  battalion,  commanded  by  McEIenry,  come  to  the 
rescue,  formed  on  the  right  facing  the  marsh,  and  opened  their  fire  upon 
the  assailants  with  such  effect  that  the  latter  were  compelled  to  recede 
after  suffering  heavy  losses.  Another  desperate  attempt  was  made  to 
carry  the  works  by  passing  further  out  to  the  westward,  and  attacking 
the  fort  directly  in  the  rear.  But  this  intention  was  also  defeated  by  the 
stubborn  and  resolute  resistance  made  by  the  Eutaw  regiment. 

At  length  it  became  evident  that  the  assault  was  a  total  failure,  and  a 
general  retreat  was  ordered.  The  third  New  Hampshire  troops  were  the 
last  to  leave  the  disastrous  field,  and  narrowly  escaped  being  captured  by 
several  regiments  of  South  Carolina.  Two  Federal  gunboats  which  then 
lay  in  the  Stono  river  were  unable  to  render  much  assistance,  in  conse 
quence  of  their  remote  position;  but  during  the  retreat,  in  attempting  to 
shell  the  pursuing  Rebels,  they  did  nearly  as  much  damage  to  their  allies 
as  to  their  foes.  The  entire  enterprise  was  a  most  miserable  disaster. 
Scarcely  so  great  a  military  abortion  had  been  perpetrated  by  any  other 
Federal  commander  during  the  entire  war.  General  Benham  was  after 
ward  summoned  to  Washington  to  explain  and  justify  his  conduct.  The 
total  loss  of  the  Federal  forces  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  was  six 
hundred  and  sixty-eight.  This  large  number  demonstrated  that  the  Fed 
eral  soldiers  had  fought  with  the  courage  and  determination  which  usually 
characterized  them,  and  that  their  defeat  was  the  result  of  causes  which 
they  could  not  possibly  control,  and  for  which  they  were  not  in  the  least 
degree  responsible.  In  this  action  the  Rebel  Colonel  Lamar  was  wounded. 
He  had  exhibited  a  degree  of  valor  and  skill  which  would  have  conferred 
honor  upon  a  much  nobler  cause  than  that  in  defence  of  which  he  had 
expended  it.  The  effect  of  this  misfortune  on  the  minds  of  the  loyal  com 
munity  was  extremely  discouraging,  inasmuch  as  they  regarded  Charles 
ton  and  the  Rebel  works  in  its  vicinity  with  peculiar  repugnance,  as 


EXPEDITION   OF  COLONEL  FITCH   UP   WHITE   RIVER          275 

being  the  real  centre  and  effective  source  of  a  rebellion  which  had  inflicted 
so  many  and  such  great  calamities  on  the  nation. 

On  the  12th  of  June  an  expedition  was  sent  from  Memphis  under  tho 
orders  of  Colonel  Fitch,  for  the  purpose  of  sailing  up  the  White  river  as 
far  as  Jacksonport,  and  conveying  supplies  and  ammunition  to  the  army 
of  General  Curtis.  It  was  understood  that  the  Kebels  had  placed  ob 
structions  in  the  stream,  and  that  they  had  erected  fortifications  at  St. 
Charles,  an  insignificant  village  about  eighty-two  miles  above  its  junction 
with  the  Mississippi.  The  expedition  consisted  of  four  iron-clad  gun 
boats,  namely:  the  flag-ship  Mound  City,  the  St.  Louis,  Lexington,  and 
Conestoga,  with  the  armed  tug  Spitfire,  and  three  transports.  The  land 
force  on  board  consisted  of  the  forty-sixth  Indiana  regiment.  The  first 
success  of  the  expedition  was  the  capture  of  a  new  and  valuable  Rebel 
steamer,  the  Clara  Dolsen.  The  second  and  more  important  achievement 
was  the  attack  and  reduction  of  the  works  which  had  been  constructed  at 
St.  Charles. 

It  was  on  the  17th  of  June  that  the  fleet,  having  proceeded  slowly 
about  eighty  miles  up  the  White  river,  suddenly  encountered  the  bat 
teries  which  the  enemy  had  erected.  These  were  so  concealed  in  the 
thick  forest  and  brushwood  on  the  Arkansas  shore,  that  their  position 
r.ould  only  be  conjectured  from  the  direction  of  their  shot.  As  the 
Union  fleet  approached,  the  Rebels  commenced  to  fire  upon  them.  Their 
guns  were  not  very  heavy,  but  they  were  aimed  with  more  than  ordinary 
precision.  Two  shots  struck  the  casemates  of  the  St.  Louis.  The  Mound 
City  being  in  the  lead  up  the  stream,  which  at  this  point  is  narrow, 
though  deep,  immediately  returned  the  fire.  She  was  soon  followed  by 
the  St.  Louis  and  Conestoga.  As  the  works  of  the  Rebels  consisted  of 
two  distinct  batteries,  the  Mound  City  proceeded  past  the  first  toward 
the  second,  half  a  mile  distant.  Both  were  situated  on  a  high  bluff.  As 
the  Mound  City  advanced  the  second  battery  opened  its  fire  upon  her,  to 
which  she  promptly  responded.  While  the  engagement  was  progressing 
between  the  gunboats  and  the  forts,  Colonel  Fitch  landed  about  five  hun 
dred  men  from  the  transports  on  the  southern  shore  of  the  river,  for  the 
purpose  of  attacking  the  works  in  the  rear.  Having  reached  the  proper 
position,  he  signalled  to  the  gunboats  to  suspend  their  fire,  as  it  might 
injure  his  own  men,  and  he  felt  able  to  take  the  forts  by  a  land  assault. 
At  that  moment  one  of  the  most  horrible  catastrophes  occurred  which  the 
mind  of  man  can  conceive,  and  to  which  few  parallels  can  be  found  in  the 
bloody  annals  of  war.  A  ball  from  the  enemy,  cylindrical  in  shape, 
armed  with  iron  flanges  on  each  side,  known  as  a  "  pigeon-shot/'  struck 
the  Mound  City  on  the  casemate  on  her  port  side,  near  the  first  gun.  It 
came  at  an  angle  of  ninety  degrees.  It  passed  through  the  casemate,  and 
severed  the  connecting  pipe  of  the  boilers.  Instantly  the  steam  rushed 
with  the  rapidity  of  lightning  into  every  part  of  the  vessel  below,  which 


276  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

was  crowded  with  the  crew,  a  hundred  and  seventy-five  in  number,  who 
had  descended  from  the  deck  to  avoid  the  shells  of  the  enemy.  The 
horrors  of  the  scene  which  immediately  ensued  transcended  all  powers  of 
description.  The  hot  vapor  burnt  and  withered  in  a  moment  the  masa 
of  living  victims,  inflicting  instant  death  upon  some,  and  upon  the  rest, 
agonies  far  more  terrible  than  death.  Forty-five  expired  instantly.  The 
remainder,  scalded  to  a  crimson  hue,  screamed  and  groaned,  writhing 
with  intense  suffering.  They  rushed  simultaneously  toward  the  port-holes. 
Maddened  and  frantic  with  their  insupportable  torments,  they  threw  them 
selves  into  the  river.  Soon  seventy  or  eighty  persons  were  struggling  in 
the  water.  At  that  awful  moment,  when  common  humanity  would  have 
dictated  even  among  savages  a  cessation  of  the  contest,  the  Rebels  con 
tinued  to  fire  upon  the  drowning  wretches,  as  with  desperation  they 
strove  to  reach  the  land.  Very  few  succeeded  in  doing  so.  Out  of  a 
hundred  and  seventy-five,  who  but  a  few  moments  before  were  in  vigorous 
life,  scarcely  thirty  escaped.  Captain  Fry,  the  commander  of  the  Rebels, 
ordered  his  sharpshooters  to  distribute  themselves  along  the  shore,  and  to 
pick  off  the  exhausted  fugitives  as  they  approached.  This  diabolical 
command  was  obeyed  with  an  eagerness  of  cruelty  such  as  would  have 
disgraced  a  Fejee  islander.  The  chief  officer  of  the  Conestoga  promptly 
lowered  his  boats,  and  endeavored  to  rescue  those  who  were  yet  alive. 
As  soon  as  these  emissaries  of  mercy  came  within  range,  they  were  also 
fired  upon  by  the  enemy.  Both  the  gigs  were  struck,  but  fortunately 
were  not  sunk,  and  they  succeeded  in  saving  some  from  a  watery  grave. 

In  the  meantime  the  Federal  troops  on  shore  had  reached  the  Rebel 
works,  and  having  witnessed  the  scene  enacted  upon  the  river,  assaulted 
the  enemy  with  a  commendable  arid  intensified  degree  of  enthusiasm. 
They  soon  charged  upon  them  with  the  bayonet.  A  brief  but  desperate 
resistance  was  made.  In  a  short  time,  however,  the  two  forts  were 
carried  and  occupied  by  the  Federals.  The  enemy  then  fled  toward  St. 
Charles.  Their  entire  force  consisted  of  five  hundred  men.  Of  theso 
fifty  were  captured;  about  a  hundred  were  killed  and  wounded;  the  rest 
escaped.  Among  the  prisoners  was  Captain  Fry,  the  commander  of  the 
Rebels.  He  had  formerly  been  an  officer  in  the  Federal  service.  The 
indignation  of  the  Union  troops  against  him  was  so  intense,  that  it  was 
with  difficulty  that  Colonel  Fitch  could  preserve  his  life  from  their 
assaults,  by  extending  to  him  a  clemency  and  a  protection  which  he  did 
not  deserve.  Except  /-for  the  calamity  on  the  Mound  City,  the  expedi 
tion  would  have  had  unmixed  success.  In  the  end,  nearly  a  hundred 
persons  died  in  consequence  of  the  terrible  accident  which  had  occurred. 
In  a  few  days  the  Federal  fleet  resumed  its  progress  up  the  White  river; 
the  obstructions  in  the  stream  were  removed;  and  it  eventually  reached 
its  destination  without  any  further  opposition  or  casualty. 

Among  the  minor  movements  which  took  place  in  different  portions 


EXCURSION   OF  COLONEL  HOWARD  TO   SWIFT   CREEK.       277 

of  the  field  of  conflict,  to  which  a  brief  allusion  may  be  made,  was  one 
which,  about  this  period,  set  forth  from  Newbern  under  Colonel  Howard, 
for.  the  purpose  of  expelling  the  roving  bands  of  the  Rebels  from  the 
peninsula  which  intervenes  between  the  Neuse  and  the  Pamlico  rivers. 
The  expedition  consisted  of  the  seventeenth  Massachusetts,  part  of  the  third 
New  York  cavalry,  and  a  detachment  of  the  Marine  Artillery,  with  eight 
guns.  These  troops  were  placed  on  board  the  steamers  Union,  Allison, 
the  Highland  Light,  and  the  gunboat  Picket.  Scarcely  had  these  vessels 
sailed  four  miles  up  the  Neuse,  when  they  grounded  on  a  bar,  and  their 
progress  was  stopped.  General  Foster  was  then  informed  by  a  messenger 
of  the  disaster  which  had  occurred.  He  immediately  sent  the  steamers 
Pilot  Boy  and  Alice  Price  to  the  rescue.  After  some  delay  the  vessels 
were  relieved,  and  proceeded  up  the  stream  as  far  as  Swift  creek,  at  which 
point  the  enemy  were  reported  to  have  erected  some  breastworks,  and  to 
have  made  it  the  centre  of  their  raids  in  the  vicinity,  The  troops  were 
disembarked,  and  so  completely  were  the  Rebels  taken  by  surprise,  that 
several  of  them  were  captured.  The  seventeenth  Massachusetts,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Fellows,  then  led  the  advance,  and  occupied  Swift 
Creek  village.  Colonel  Howard  took  possesion  of  the  bridge,  and  shelled 
the  Rebels,  whose  breastworks  of  shingle  lay  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
stream.  A  few  shots  were  returned-  by  the  foe,  when  the  order  was 
given  to  the  Federal  forces  to  charge.  The  enemy  did  not  await  the 
onset.  As  the  Union  troops  approached  they  abandoned  their  intrench- 
ments  in  dismay,  and  fled  through  the  woods  in  all  directions.  Their 
running  was  so  much  better  than  their  fighting,  that  only  two  prisoners 
were  taken,  although  a  vigorous  pursuit  was  made.  On  examination  the 
works  were  found  to  be  insignificant,  and  they  could  have  presented  little 
resistance  to  the  Federal  guns.  After  this  easy  conquest  the  troops  re 
turned  to  Newbern.  The  effect  produced  by  the  expedition  upon  the 
Rebels  in  the  vicinity  was  beneficial,  as  their  excursions  in  that  portion 
of  the  country,  in  small  detached  companies,  thenceforth  terminated. 

The  Federal  commanders  on  the  Mississippi  continued  their  operations 
for  the  purpose  of  opening  the  navigation  of  that  great  commercial  artery 
with  the  most  commendable  energy  and  ability.  Vicksburg  now  alone 
remained,  throughout  its  whole  extent,  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy. 
The  situation  of  this  city  was  remarkable.  It  is  built  on  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  river,  on  a  considerable  elevation.  Steep  bluffs  exist  both  above 
and  below  it,  whose  height  above  the  level  of  the  stream  is  nearly  a  hundred 
feet.  The  Rebels  had  erected  strong  batteries  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town, 
and  their  position  was  such  that  the  guns  of  the  besieging  vessels  could 
not  be  brought  to  bear  with  much  effect  upon  them,  while  they,  from  their 
superior  elevation,  possessed  every  advantage.  In  other  respects,  also,  the 
situation  of  the  place  was  peculiar.  At  this  point  the  Mississippi  makes 
an  abrupt  bend,  in  shape  not  unlike  a  horse-shoe,  inclosing  within  its 


278  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

embrace  a  strip  of  land  little  more  than  half  a  mile  in  width.  At  the  ex 
tremity  of  this  bend  the  city  is  built.  These  topographical  oddities  sug 
gested  to  the  minds  of  the  Federal  commanders,  at  a  later  period,  the.ex- 
pedient  of  cutting  a  canal  across  this  peninsula,  thus  opening  a  new  chan 
nel  for  the  river,  and  setting  back  the  city  several  miles  from  the  margin 
of  the  stream  which  was  the  source  of  its  opulence,  the  avenue  of  its  com 
merce,  and  chief  implement  of  its  resistance  to  the  Federal  Government. 
On  the  21st  of  June  Captain  Porter,  belonging  to  the  fleet  of  Commodore 
Davis,  who  was  then  above  Vicksburg,  made  a  reconnoissanee  in  the 
Octorara,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  best  position  at  which  his 
flotilla  might  be  anchored.  General  Van  Dorn  commanded  the  Rebel 
forces  at  this  place.  These  numbered  eighteen  thousand  men.  Having 
accomplished  his  purpose  Captain  Porter  returned  to  his  station.  Com 
modore  Davis  then  prepared  to  approach  the  city  and  commence  the  bom 
bardment.  On  Thursday,  the  26th  of  June,  a  formidable  fleet,  consisting 
of  about  forty  vessels  of  all  descriptions,  including  transports,  appeared 
before  Vicksburg.*  An  attack  was  immediately  commenced,  which  was 
chiefly  directed  against  the  fortifications  on  the  bluff  below  the  town.  The 
Rebel  batteries  responded  with  spirit.  The  firing  continued  during  the 
whole  day,  and  ceased  only  at  the  approach  of  night.  On  the  next  day  it 
was  resumed.  In  the  afternoon  the  order  was  given  to  shell  the  town.  Then 
the  water  batteries  of  the  enemy  responded,  and  the  contest  was  kept  up 
during  the  rest  of  the  day.  At  night  all  the  Federal  captains  of  divisions 
were  summoned  to  meet  the  commander  on  his  flag-ship.  They  there  re 
ceived  directions  to  resume  the  fire  upon  the  city  during  that  night,  from 
all  their  mortars  ;  and  to  continue  the  bombardment  until  further  orders. 
Accordingly,  at  the  appointed  moment,  the  entire  fleet  of  mortars,  twenty 
in  number,  commenced  the  deadly  music  of  their  assault.  The  scene  which 
ensued  was  extremely  grand  and  imposing.  The  sound  of  the  guns  re 
sembled  a  continuous  peal  of  thunder,  and  the  loud  reverberations  seemed 
to  emulate  the  most  furious  discharges  of  heaven's  artillery.  The  repeated 
explosions  of  the  shells  illuminated  the  midnight  heavens  far  and  near 
with  incessant  flashes  of  lurid  light.  The  earth  and  river  shook  with  the 
terrible  concussions.  The  enormous  shells,  as  they  descended  upon  the 
doomed  city,  appeared  like  messengers  of  destruction  from  some  distant 

*  The  fleet  of  Commodore  Porter  consisted  of  the  following  vessels  of  war :  Octorara, 
flag-ship,  Geo.  Brown,  Executive  Officer;  Wesfcfield,  Commander  W.  B.  Benham ; 
Harriet  Lane,  J.  M.  Wainwright;  Clifton,  C.  H.  Baldwin;  Miami,  A.  D.  Barrel; 
Owasco,  John  Guest;  J.  P.  Jackson,  S.  E.  Woodworth.  Commanding  divisions  of  the 
mortar  flotilla  were  Lieutenant  Watson  Smith,  commanding  first  division;  Lieutenant 
W.  W.  Green,  commanding  second  division;  Lieutenant  R.  R.  Breese,  commanding 
third  division.  The  vessels  composing  the  squadron  of  Commodore  Davis  were  the 
Benton,  Carondelet,  Cincinnati,  and  Louisville.  Those  of  Commodore  Farragut  were 
the  Hartford,  Brooklyn,  Sciota,  Oneida,  Pinola,  and  the  gunboats. 


NEW    CHANNEL   OF   THE  MISSISSIPPI.  279 

and  hostile  sphere.  Soon  the  city  was  in  flames  in  various  places ;  and 
after  the  lapse  of  an  hour  the  order  was  given  to  suspend  the  bombardment. 
On  the  next  day  Commodore  Farragut,  who  lay  five  miles  below  Vicks- 
burg  with  his  fleet  of  wooden  vessels,  sent  word  to  the  commander  of  the 
mortars  above,  that  if  he  would  engage  the  forts  on  the  following  morning 
before  daylight,  he  would  attempt  to  pass  the  batteries  on  the  bluff,  and 
unite  their  fleets.  The  suggestion  was  complied  with,  and  his  entire  flotilla, 
consisting  of  three  men-of-war,  two  sloops-of-war,  and  three  gunboats,  suc 
ceeded  in  making  the  passage  during  the  bombardment.  The  flag-ship  of 
the  commodore  was  struck  twice  in  the  hull,  suffering  some  damage. 
The  other  vessels  escaped  serious  injury.  This  action  lasted  an  hour  and 
thirty  minutes.  Its  result  convinced  the  Federal  commanders  that  how 
ever  much  their  shot  might  injure  the  town,  it  would-be  impossible  to  cap 
ture  or  destroy  the  batteries  which  lined  the  bluffs,  without  the  assistance 
of  a  land  force.  The  entire  fleet  then  proceeded  a  short  distance  above 
Vicksburg  and  anchored.  The  mere  destruction  of  the  town  alone  would 
have  been  barren  of  results.  Commodore  Farragut  therefore  resolved  to 
reopen  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  which  was  the  chief  matter  in  dis 
pute,  by  digging  a  new  channel  across  the  peninsula  already  described, 
named  Cross-bend,  thereby  leaving  Vicksburg  at  a  harmless  and  impotent 
distance  from  the  passing  stream.  Hundreds  of  negroes  were  immediately 
impressed  from  the  adjoining  plantations,  and  set  to  work  in  digging. 
This  novel  undertaking  would  require  to  be  half  a  mile  in  length,  about 
fifty  feet  in  width,  and  eight  feet  below  the  water  level.  The  chief  disad 
vantage  which  attended  the  enterprise  was  the  fact  that  at  that  period 
the  water  of  the  river  was  falling  instead  of  rising.  During  the  engage 
ment  before  the  town,  and  in  the  passage  of  the  fleet  of  Commodore 
Farragut,  the  Federal  loss  was  fifteen  killed  and  thirty  wounded.  That 
of  the  Rebels  was  severe  among  the  troops  of  Van  Dorn,  who  then  occu 
pied  Vicksburg.  Leaving  the  Federal  commanders  and  their  difficult 
enterprise  at  that  city,  which  was  still  in  an  inchoate  condition,  we  will 
turn  our  attention  to  the  more  important  but  not  very  felicitous  events 
which  at  this  period  transpired  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Rebel  capital. 


280  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  INTRENCHMENT8  OF  THE  FEDERAL  ARMY  BEFORK  RICHMOND — THKIR  EXTENT — INACTIVITY 
OF  THE  FEDERAL  FORCES — CONCENTRATION  OF  REBEL  TROOPS  IN  RICHMOND — GLOWING  EX 
PECTATIONS  OF  THE  LOYAL  COMMUNITY — THEIR  DISAPPOINTMENT — THE  TRANSFER  OP 
MCCLELLAN'S  BASE  OF  SUPPLIES  AND  OPERATIONS  TO  HARRISON'S  LANDING — FIRST  ATTACK 
OF  THE  REBELS  ON  HIS  TROOPS  AT  MECHANICSVILLE — INCIDENTS  OF  TFIE  BATTLE — COM 
MENCEMENT  OF  THE  MARCH  TOWARD  THE  JAMES  RIVER — BATTLE  OF  GAINER*  MILLS — DES 
PERATE  FIGHTING HEROISM  AND  VALOR  ON  BOTH  SIDES VICISSITUDES  OF  THE  STRUGGLE 

THE  RETREAT  CONTINUED  TOWARD  JAMES  RIVER — DISPOSAL  OF  THE  SICK    AND  WOUNDED 

PERTINACIOUS    PURSUIT    BY  THE    REBELS — SINGULAR  CARAVAN    OF  WAGONS,  CATTLE,    AND 

FUGITIVES BATTLE  OF    PEACH  ORCHARD ITS  RESULTS BATTLE    AT    SAVAGE'S  STATION 

RESOLUTE  ASSAULTS  OF  THE  ENEMY APPALLING  SCENES IMPORTANT  RESULTS — THE  RACB 

TO  WHITE  OAK  SWAMP THE    FEDERAL  TROOPS  WIN  THE  RACE. 

AFTER  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  which  occurred  on  the  first  of  June, 
1862,  the  Federal  army  under  General  McClellan  proceeded  to  assume  it3 
position  before  Richmond,  to  dig  trenches  and  erect  breastworks,  and  to 
prepare  for  a  final  assault  upon  the  city.  This  magnificent  army  con 
sisted,  when  it  first  arrived  before  Yorktown,  of  a  hundred  and  twenty 
thousand  men.  Subsequently  the  divisions  of  General  Franklin,  contain 
ing  twelve  thousand,  of  General  McCall,  numbering  ten  thousand,  and  a 
detachment  from  Baltimore  and  Fortress  Monroe,  including  eleven  thou 
sand,  were  added  to  it.  Thus  the  entire  number  of  Federal  troops  who 
had  marched  to  the  conquest  of  Richmond,  formed  a  magnificent  array 
of  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men.  The  line  of  redoubts  and 
intrenchments  which  they  erected  and  occupied  as  they  lay  before  the 
city,  extended  nearly  fifteen  miles,  in  the  form  of  a  colossal  crescent,  the 
right  extremity  reaching  to  the  Meadow  bridge  at  Hanover,  the  left  rest 
ing  upon  Long  bridge  at  Henrico.  Portions  of  this  immense  line  were 
within  view  of  Richmond,  whose  tapering  spires  and  swelling  domes  were 
visible  in  the  distance.  The  most  efficient  and  numerous  array  of  the 
nation,  its  pride  and  hope,  after  many  months  of  assiduous  preparation 
and  of  mysterious  delay,  had  at  length  reached  the  goal  of  their  aspira 
tions.  The  heart  of  this  pestilent  Rebellion  lay  directly  before  them. 
The  last  deadly  blow  at  its  pernicious  life  was  anxiously  expected  from 
day  to  day  by  millions  of  patriots,  when  suddenly  all  was  deranged  by 
the  new  exigencies  of  the  occasion,  and  by  the  unquestionable  vigor,  valor, 
and  skill  of  the  Rebel  commanders  who  defended  the  city. 

During  the  long  interval  which  elapsed  between  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks 
and  .the  first  attack  made  on  the  Federal  troops  on  the  26th  of  June,  a 
large  portion  of  the  army  which  General  Beauregard  had  unaccountably 
withdrawn  from  Corinth,  was  transferred  to  Richmond.  General  Jack- 


TRANSFER  OP  MCCLELLAN'S   BASE   OF  SUPPLIES.  281 

son's  force  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah  had  also  been  summoned 
thither.  It  is  probable,  therefore,  that  at  length  about  a  hundred  thou 
sand  Rebel  troops  had  been  concentrated  in  the  vicinity  of  that  city. 
These  were  the  chief  strength  and  glory  of  the  apostate  community  whom 
they  represented  ;  and  thus  two  nations  were  in  reality  to  be  the  contest 
ants  on  that  far  extending  and  sanguinary  field.  One  of  the  decisive 
battles  of  the  world,  at  the  occurrence  of  which  the  great  horologe  of 
time  tolls  out  the  extinction  of  an  expiring  age,  and  the  birth  of  a  new 
and  a  more  glorious  era,  seemed  now  to  be  impending. 

Unfortunately  for  the  interests  of  the  Federal  cause,  it  became  neces 
sary,  just  at  that  period,  for  General  McClellan  to  change  the  entire  base 
of  his  operations,  in  consequence  of  the  unfitness  and  insecurity  of  his 
source  or  avenue  of  supplies  at  White  House.  This  place  was  located  on 
the  Pamunkey,  a  tributary  stream  of  the  York  river,  some  fifteen  miles 
in  the  rear  of  the  Federal  position.  Its  remote  and  isolated  situation  ren 
dered  it  possible  for  the  enemy  at  any  time  to  intercept  General  McClel- 
lan's  communications  with  it,  which  were  maintained  by  means  of  the 
Richmond  and  YOIK.  river  railroad.  It  was  constantly  necessary  to  em 
ploy  nearly  a  whole  division  of  troops  in  guarding  this  road  from  the 
assaults  of  the  Rebels,  which  had  recently  become  more  frequent  and  de 
termined.  The  large  number  of  Federal  soldiers  who  bad  either  died  or 
had  become  unfit  for  duty,  from  diseases  contracted  in  the  swamps  of  the 
Chickahominy,  through  which  a  portion  of  their  camps  and  intrenchments 
lay,  and  the  increased  superiority  in  numbers  of  the  Rebel  forces,  ren 
dered  the  continual  defence  of  this  line  of  communication  both  difficult 
and  perilous.  These  considerations  eventually  convinced  General  McClel 
lan  of  the  necessity  of  receding  from  his  position  before  Richmond,  to  a 
more  secure  and  convenient  one  at  Harrison's  Landing,  on  James  river. 
Preliminary  to  commencing  this  retrograde  movement,  he  made  the 
proper  arrangements  for  re-shipping  the  vast  stores  of  subsistence  and  am 
munition  which  had  been  accumulated  at  White  House,  and  transferring 
them  by  means  of  the  fleet  of  Federal  transports  to  his  newly  selected 
depot.  The  order  for  the  removal  was  issued  about  the  24th  of  June.  It 
was  executed  between  that  date  and  the  28th.  It  was  doubtless  the  novel 
and  mysterious  movement  which  was  thus  commenced,  of  which  the 
Rebels  obtained  early  intelligence,  which  induced  them  to  venture  on 
offensive  operations,  and  to  begin  that  extraordinary  series  of  engagements 
which,  during  a  whole  week,  raged  with  such  destructive  fury  near  the 
Rebel  capital. 

It  was  about  ten  o'clock  on  the  26th  of  June  that  the  Rebel  forces 
issued  in  vast  multitudes  from  their  camps  before  Kichmond,  and  com 
menced  their  bold  and  desperate  assaults  upon  the  Federal  army.  Their 
first  demonstration  was  an  attack  on  the  cavalry  commanded  by  General 
Stoneman,  which  were  posted  in  the  vicinity  of  Hanover  Court  House,  on 


282  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

the  extreme  right.  While  this  operation  was  progressing,  they  extended 
their  assault  to  the  troops  stationed  nearest  to  these,  which  were  posted  in 
the  vicinity  of  Mechanicsville.  They  crossed  the  Chickahominy  at 
Meadow  bridge,  above  that  town,  with  the  evident  intention  of  turning 
the  right  wing  of  the  Federal  forces.  The  troops  placed  here  were  -the 
eighth  Illinois  cavalry,  six  companies  of  the  Bucktail  regiment,  and  five 
companies  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves.  These  were  protected  by  rifle- 
pits  and  breastworks.  As  soon  as  the  assault  of  the  enemy  began,  their 
vast  numbers,  which  appeared  to  swarm  inexhaustibly  in  front  and  around 
the  Federal  lines,  clearly  proved  that  an  attempt  at  resistance  by  so  small 
a  corps  would  be  wholly  useless.  General  Keynolds  immediately  des 
patched  a  messenger  to  General  McCall  for  reinforcements.  During  the 
interval  which  occurred  before  these  could  arrive,  the  Federals  made  a 
firm  resistance,  and  the  Bucktails  maintained  their  position  with  such 
obstinacy  that  a  large  number  of  them  were  captured.  About  two 
o'clock  the  engagement  became  more  general  and  more  desperate.  While 
advancing  down  by  the  rear  of  Mechanicsville,  through  low,  swampy 
ground,  the  enemy  were  attacked  by  the  Federals  frsm  the  cover  of  their 
rifle-pits  and  earthworks  with  immense  effect.  A  scene  of  great  carnage 
and  tumult  ensued.  Many  of  their  men  and  horses  sank  in  the  mire,  and 
became  helpless  targets  for  the  Federal  sharpshooters.  By  this  time  the 
action  had  spread  along  the  line  toward  the  left,  and  the  troops  of  General 
McCall  having  been  attacked,  now  engaged  the  enemy. 

A  vigorous  contest  then  took  place,  which  occupied  the  remainder  of 
the  afternoon  of  the  26th.  In  vain  the  Eebels,  advancing  repeatedly  with 
great  resolution,  endeavored  V>  drive  the  Federals  from  their  position. 
The  latter  remained  immovable.  At  six  o'clock,  apparently  becoming 
desperate  at  the  want  of  success,  the  Rebels  brought  fresh  toops  to  bear 
upon  the  assault,  and  the  battle  perceptibly  increased  in  fury.  At  that 
period  General  Morrell's  division  arrived  opportunely  on  the  field  as  a 
reinforcement.  The  second  brigade  of  this  division  was  called  into  imme 
diate  action.  It  was  ordered  to  relieve  the  centre  of  General  McCall's 
column.  The  fourth  Michigan,  the  fourteenth  New  York  volunteers,  the 
sixty-second  Pennsylvania,  and  the  ninth  Massachusetts,  together  with  a 
battalion  of  Berdan's  sharpshooters,  were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle.  The 
struggle  which  followed  was  well-sustained  and  desperate  on  both  sides. 
It  continued  without  any  advantage  to  either  party  till  half-past  nine 
o'clock.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  during  thib  period  must  have  been  very 
heavy,  as  they  were  confronted  by  the  Federal  forces  while  protected  in 
a  great  measure  by  their  rifle-pits  and  breastworks.  All  their  efforts  to 
dislodge  the  latter  proved  fruitless.  Late  in  the  day  they  made  a  furious 
charge  with  cavalry.  They  were  met  by  a  squadron  of  Federal  horse, 
and  driven  back,  many  of  their  horses  sticking  fast  in  the  marsh,  and 
being  abandoned  by  their  riders.  General  Fitz  John  Porter,  who  com- 


BATTLE   OF  GAINES'   MILL.  283 

mancled  the  entire  corps  to  which  the  division  engaged  on  this  day 
belonged,  was  present  in  every  part  of  the  field,  and  was  ably  assisted  by 
Generals  McCall,  Morrell,  and  Griffin.  During  the  whole  battle  the 
artillery  on  both  sides  did  the  chief  execution.  Easton's  Pennsylvania 
battery  was  particularly  effective.  At  some  periods  the  firing  shook  the 
earth,  and  the  rapidity  of  the  discharges  indicated  a  most  furious  combat. 
At  seven  o'clock  the  enemy  made  a  special  effort  to  break  the  centre  of 
the  Federal  troops  engaged.  This  effort  was  confronted  and  defeated  with 
great  gallantry  by  General  Griffin.  The  Pennsylvania  Reserves  on  the 
left,  commanded  by  Seymour  and  Reynolds,  also  fought  with  much  heroism, 
and  succeeded  in  defeating  the  attempts  of  the  Rebels  to  cross  the  bridge 
over  the  Chickahominy.  Thus,  when  the  close  of  the  first  day's  fight 
arrived,  the  enemy  had  really  gained  nothing  and  had  lost  heavily.  But 
they  were  not  disheartened.  They  had  merely  made  a  beginning  of  the 
gigantic  enterprise  which  they  had  conceived,  and  were  resolute  in  its 
prosecution  to  a  successful  issue. 

During  the  night  which  ensued,  orders  were  given  to  commence  the 
removal  of  the  camp  equipage,  the  stores,  and  the  ammunition  of  the 
Federal  army  toward  the  James  river.  Soon,  long  trains  of  wagons, 
several  thousand  in  number,  began  their  slow  line  of  march,  extending 
four  miles  in  the  direction  indicated.  The  sick  and  wounded  were  also 
conveyed,  some  toward  the  White  House,  some  toward  Harrison's  Landing. 
General  Porter  had  been  ordered  to  withdraw  his  forces  from  their  recent 
position,  nearer  to  the  river.  While  these  movements  were  progressing 
in  the  Federal  camp,  the  Rebels  were  not  idle.  Immense  reinforcements 
were  promptly  brought  forward.  The  early  dawn  of  the  next  day,  the 
27th  of  June,  beheld  sixty  thousand  Rebels  under  arms,  ready  to  renew 
the  assault.  The  Federals  had  gained  some  slight  repose  during  the  night, 
and  though  wearied,  and  about  to  be  assailed  by  superior  numbers,  were 
undaunted  by  the  impending  terrors  of  their  situation.  General  Porter 
had  received  orders  to  fall  back  to  a  position  two  miles  beyond  Gaines' 
Mills.  In  obeying  this  order,  General  Sykes'  division  led  the  retreating 
column.  Next  came  the  division  of  General  Morrell.  During  the  march 
perfect  order  was  maintained ;  but  the  enemy,  mistaking  the  movement 
for  a  hasty  flight,  pressed  forward  in  enormous  masses,  overtook  the  Fed 
erals  near  Gaines'  Mill,  and  there  resumed  the  assault  upon  them.  Their 
advance  had  been  temporarily  impeded  by  the  destruction  of  the  bridge 
at  the  mill.  But  soon  they  constructed  a  temporary  causeway,  by  which 
their  artillery  was  conveyed  over,  and  the  pursuit  of  the  Federals  was 
renewed.  As  their  retreat  was  made  at  an  unhurried  and  leisurely  pace, 
it  was  not  long  before  they  were  overtaken  by  the  eager  enemy. 

Then  ensued  the  bloody  action  of  Gaines'  Mill.  The  scene  of  this  con 
flict  was  an  extensive  area,  about  two  miles  in  length,  and  one  mile  in 
breadth.  This  space  was  made  up  of  green  meadows,  waving  grain  fields 


284  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

thick  woods,  boggy  marshes,  and  rude  ravines.  Several  farm  houses  ex 
isted  within  its  limits,  which  were  afterward  used  as  hospitals.  General 
Porter  had  been  ordered  to  engage  the  advancing  foe,  if  he  were  attacked 
in  this  position.  Accordingly  at  eleven  o'clock  all  was  ready  to  receive 
them  ;  each  division,  each  brigade,  each  regiment,  and  each  gun  had  then 
been  placed  in  its  proper  position.  Along  the  far  extending  lines  at 
proper  intervals  the  immortal  banners  of  the  Republic  appeared  in  view, 
waving  majestically  and  gracefully  in  the  breeze,  and  bidding  defiance  to 
the  approaching  host.  Bright  guns  in  endless  succession  flashed  in  the 
morning  light.  The  long  ranks  of  Federal  troops  presented  a  firm  and 
dauntless  front.  Generals  with  their  staffs  were  seen  riding  rapidly  from 
regiment  to  regiment,  giving  orders  and  perfecting  their  positions.  After 
a  short  interval  of  silence  and  expectation,  the  sudden  roar  of  the  enemy's 
artillery,  and  the  falling  and  bursting  of  their  shells;  gave  evidence  that 
they  had  recommenced  the  contest. 

The  first  firing  came  from  the  woods  and  from  the  roads  on  the  right. 
The  Federal  cannon  instantly  thundered  in  reply  at  the  still  invisible 
enemy.  At  length,  after  a  considerable  period  of  time  had  been  expended 
in  this  manner,  masses  of  the  Rebels  emerged  from  the  woods,  deployed 
into  positions  in  front  of  the  Federal  lines,  and  the  engagement  became 
general.  It  was  fiercely  contested  on  both  sides.  Several  desperate 
attempts  were  made  by  the  enemy  to  break  through  the  Federal  lines  on 
the  right  and  on  the  left;  but  they  were  met  in  every  instance  with  the 
unflinching  firmness  of  veterans,  and  were  invariably  repulsed  with  heavy 
losses  to  the  assailants. 

The  battle  continued  to  rage  during  the  whole  day,  with  the  usual 
vicissitudes  which  characterize  engagements  in  which  brave  men  contend 
for  the  mastery  with  equal  degrees  of  resolution  and  obstinacy.  As  even 
ing  approached,  the  energy  of  the  attack  of  the  Rebels  diminished,  and  a 
sudden  lull  occurred  ;  but  after  a  short  respite  the  contest  was  renewed 
by  them  with  greater  fury  than  before.  It  then  became  evident  that 
during  this  mysterious  interval  the  enemy  had  been  largely  reinforced. 
Their  troops  now  rushed  forward  in  overwhelming  masses  with  savage 
and  frantic  yells.  With  answering  shouts  the  two  armies  approached  each 
other,  and  dealt  their  death-blows  upon  their  opposing  ranks  with  in 
creased  ferocity.  The  combat  now  became  most  desperate  and  sanguinary. 
The  Federals  performed  many  deeds  of  the  noblest  daring  and  fortitude ; 
but  soon  the  superior  energy  and  vigor  which  portions  of  the  Confederate 
columns  exhibited,  demonstrated  that  they  had  the  advantage  not  merely 
of  a  preponderance  of  numbers,  but  also  of  physical  freshness.  It  was 
well  that  at  this  critical  moment  the  Federals  received  some  reinforce 
ments  from  the  other  side  of  the  Chickahominy.  They  consisted  of  the 
brigades  of  Generals  Palmer,  French,  and  Meagher,  with  some  cavalry. 
These  Irish  regiments,  as  was  their  usual  custom,  went  into  the  fight  with 


DESPERATE  FIGHTING.  285 

their  coats  off,  and  their  sleeves  rolled  up,  and  fought  the  exultant 
traitors  with  the  fury  and  ferocity  of  tigers.  Hundreds  of  Rebels  then  bit 
the  dust,  laid  low  forever  by  the  stalwart  blows  of  the  gallant  and  pugna 
cious  sons  of  Erin. 

The  carnage  was  still  progressing  all  over  the  wide-spread  field,  when 
the  sun  disappeared  in  the  western  heavens,  and  the  shadows  of  night 
were  about  to  descend  upon  the  tumultuous  and  sanguinary  scene.  The 
enemy  had  repeatedly  endeavored  to  force  the  Federals  into  the  low, 
marshy  tract  lying  between  Games'  Mill  and  the  bridge.  To  have  been 
driven  into  that  perilous  position  would  have  insured  the  destruction  of 
a  large  number  of  troops,  for  it  was  impassable  ground,  and  would  have 
proved  the  weltering  grave  of  thousands.  At  one  time  the  Rebels  had 
nearly  succeeded  in  this  undertaking.  It  was  when  the  danger  here  was 
most  imminent,  that  the  wild  rush  and  determined  assault  of  the  Irish 
regiments  saved  that  portion  of  the  army  from  destruction.  During  the 
progress  of  the  day  several  partial  panics  had  occurred,  and  some  rapid 
and  frantic  running  to  the  rear  bad  been  achieved,  by  frightened  frag 
ments  of  the  Federal  forces.  But  the  vast  majority  of  them  fought 
nobly  and  well.  About  twenty-seven  thousand  Union  troops  took  part 
in  this  battle.  In  addition  to  those  composing  the  corps  of  General  Fitz 
John  Porter,  the  divisions  of  Generals  Hooker,  Kearney,  and  Sumner 
were  also  engaged.  The  number  of  Rebels  who  figured  in  the  contest 
was  at  least  sixty  thousand,  as  has  already  been  stated ;  and  a  large  por 
tion  of  these  were  fresh  troops,  who  were  substituted  from  time  to  time 
for  those  who  had  become  wearied  during  the  progress  of  the  struggle. 
Notwithstanding  this  disparity  of  numbers,  at  the  close  of  the  day  the 
Federals  had  not  been  driven  from  their  position.  The  main  body  were 
still  in  their  first  lines  near  Games'  Mill.  The  losses  on  both  sides  were 
very  heavy.  Many  valuable  Federal  officers  were  slain,  among  whom 
was  Colonel  Black,  of  the  sixty-second  Pennsylvania  regiment.  The  field 
was  covered  in  many  places  with  heaps  of  the  dead  and  the  dying.  The 
plaintive  groans  of  the  wounded,  after  the  roar  of  the  conflict  ceased, 
burdened  the  midnight  air,  and  added  to  the  horrors  of  the  scene.  The 
combatants  on  both  sides  slept  upon  their  arms,  except  those  who  were 
detailed  to  bury  the  dead,  to  convey  the  wounded  from  the  field,  and  to 
perform  picket  duty. 

While  these  operations  were  progressing  on  thq  right  wing  of  the  Fed 
eral  army,  an  engagement  took  place  on  the  left,  where  General  Smith 
held  a  position  consisting  of  breastworks  and  two  redoubts.  He  was  at 
tacked  on  Friday  evening  at  seven  o'clock,  by  the  Georgia  brigade,  com 
manded  by  General  Toombs.  The  latter  were  encountered  by  Hancock's 
brigade,  consisting  of  the  sixth  Maine,  fifth  Wisconsin,  forty-third  New 
York,  and  forty-ninth  Pennsylvania  regiments,  and  by  Brooks's  fifth  Ver 
mont  regiment.  The  guns  in  the  redoubts  assisted  in  the  engagement, 


286  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

which  was  brief  but  desperate.  After  losing  a  hundred  killed,  whom  they 
left  on  the  field,  the  Georgians  retired  in  disorder  before  the  deadly  and  con 
tinuous  fire  of  the  Federal  troops.  This  was  the  first  battle  at  Golding's 
Farm.  The  second  ensued  on  the  following  morning.  Mortified  at  their 
defeat,  the  chivalrous  Georgians  determined  to  renew  the  contest.  At  eight 
o'clock  they  again  advanced  toward  the  redoubts,  and  resumed  the  attack. 
The  Federal  troops  were  either  protected  by  the  breastworks,  or  were 
concealed  by  lying  on  the  grass.  They  gave  the  Georgians  a  deadly  re 
ception.  Colonel  Lamar  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  commencement  of 
the  engagement,  and  his  lieutenant-colonel  was  taken  prisoner.  The 
result  of  the  contest  was  the  same  as  before,  the  Kebels  being  compelled 
to  retire,  after  suffering  very  severe  losses. 

During  the  following  night  the  removal  of  the  baggage  trains,  of  the 
sick,  and  the  disabled,  toward  James  river  and  the  White  House,  was  con 
tinued.  The  enemy' had  thus  far  gained  but  little  advantage,  and  had 
been  very  severely  punished.  Still,  however,  deluded  by  the  absurd  and 
fantastic  conceit  that  the  retrograde  movement  of  the  Federal  army  was  a 
mere  flight  before  their  invincible  forces,  they  were  determined  to  con 
tinue  the  contest.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  27th  the  headquarters  of  Gen 
eral  McClellan  were  removed  across  the  Chickahominy,  to  the  vicinity  of 
Savage's  Station.  Thither  vast  masses  of  stores  and  ammunition  had 
been  transported,  on  their  way  to  their  new  depot  on  James  river. 
Throughout  this  whole  route  the  houses  were  converted  into  hospitals, 
and  were  occupied  by  the  wounded  of  the  Federal  army.  During  Friday 
night  the  larger  portion  of  the  Federal  forces  crossed  the  Chickahominy, 
and  thus  obtained  some  advantage  over  the  pursuing  enemy.  It  should 
oe  observed  here,  that  the  battles  of  Mechanicsville  and  Gaines'  Mill  took 
place  on  the  left  side  of  that  stream.  Those  which  afterward  ensued  were 
fought  on  the  right  side.  This  arrangement  will  be  understood  when  it 
is  remembered  that  the  Chickahominy  flows  southward  into  James  river; 
that  in  describing  the  events  connected  with  it,  the  observer  is  supposed 
to  be  facing  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  and  that  the  points  of  the  compass 
are  to  be  taken  accordingly.  Notwithstanding  the  enormous  losses  which 
the  Rebels  had  suffered,  and  although  they  had  not  as  yet  driven  their 
opponents  from  a  single  one  of  their  chosen  positions,  they  persisted  in 
claiming  continual  victories.  Under  this  pleasing  delusion  they  prepared, 
after  the  interval  of  a  day,  to  renew  the  contest,  and  to  endure  additional 
and  still  more  sanguinary  slaughters,  in  the  pursuit  of  a  favorite  and  fan 
ciful  chimera. 

No  attack  was  made  on  the  main  body  of  the  Federal  army  on  Satur 
day,  the  28th  of  June.  Early  in  the  morning  of  that  day  the  entire  force 
which  had  so  valiantly  confronted  the  Rebel  hosts  had  crossed  the  Chicka 
hominy  by  four  bridges.  These  were  then  blown  up  or  burnt,  to  inter 
cept  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  Later  in  the  day  it  was  ascertained  that 


CARAVAN  OF  WAGONS,  CATTLE,   AND  FUGITIVES.  287 

they  were  crossing  the  stream  at  New  bridge,  with  the  apparent  intention 
of  moving  round  toward  Bottom  bridge,  to  cut  off  the  communication  of 
the  Federals  with  their  railroad  and  telegraph.  But  Saturday  wore  away 
without  any  hostile  operations  on  the  part  of  the  Rebels;  The  reason  of 
this  apparent  inactivity  was  that  a  large  number  of  their  troops  were 
busily  engaged  in  burying  their  dead,  and  in  conveying  their  wounded 
from  the  scenes  of  the  late  sanguinary  engagements  into  Richmond. 
Many  of  the  wounded  Federal  soldiers  also  fell  into  their  hands.  During 
this  day  the  Union  army  was  withdrawn  as  far  as  Savage's  Station. 
From  that  point  several  separate  trains  of  cars,  filled  with  the  wounded, 
were  sent  down  to  White  House.  A  third  trip  was  about  to  be  made 
when  it  was  ascertained  that  the  enemy  had  cut  the  telegraph  wires,  and 
had  gained  possession  of  Despatch  Station.  A  large  proportion  of  the 
sick  and  wounded  who  were  at  Savage's  Station  were  on  this  day  placed 
in  ambulances,  and  their  removal  to  Harrison's  Landing  was  commenced. 
But  a  sufficient  number  of  these  conveyances  were  not  to  be  obtained; 
and  except  those  who  were  able  to  walk,  or  even  to  crawl  toward  a  place 
of  safety,  the  remainder  ultimately  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
During  Saturday  night  a  vast  amount  of  commissary  stores,  ammunition, 
and  hospital  supplies,  for  which  there  were  no  means  of  removal  at  com 
mand,  were  destroyed  by  orders  of  General  McClellan.  Four  car-loads  of 
ammunition,  which  had  arrived  from  the  White  House  during  the  pre 
vious  week,  were  replaced  in  the  cars,  and  the  entire  train,  headed  by  an 
engine,  was  let  loose,  sent  down  the  railroad,  and  run  into  the  Chicka- 
hominy  at  the  bridge  which  had  been  burnt,  to  prevent  h  from  falling 
into  the  possession  of  the  Rebels.  This  train  rushed  forward  on  its  path 
way  to  destruction  with  fearful  velocity,  and  at  length  plunged  into  the 
tranquil  stream  with  a  prodigious  crash.  Strange  spectacles  were  ex 
hibited  by  the  multitudes  of  the  wounded,  and  by  the  long  lines  of  ambu 
lances  and  wagons  which,  during  this  day,  were  toiling  on  their  way 
toward  James  river.  Hundreds  of  men  went  limping  along,  some  with 
their  arms  in  slings,  some  hobbling  on  crutches.  The  ambulances  were 
all  filled,  and  often  the  wounded  would  be  seen  sitting  in  the  end  of  the 
wagons,  their  broken  legs  or  crushed  ankles  hanging  out,  and  the  blood 
dripping  from  them  upon  the  ground  beneath.  The  heavy  siege  guns 
formed  a  conspicuous  part  of  this  singular  and  melancholy  cortege.  These, 
together  with  droves  of  cattle,  crowds  of  negroes,  teamsters,  sutlers,  and 
frightened  fugitives  of  every  kind,  together  with  the  noise  and  tumult,  the 
swearing  and  screaming,  which  inevitably  attended  such  a  throng,  at  such 
a  time,  presented  a  most  extraordinary  combination  of  contrasts.  Some 
times  a  sudden  terror  pervaded  the  mass,  for  then  a  report  had  arrived 
that  the  enemy  were  interposing  a  powerful  column  between  them  and  the 
James  river,  thereby  cutting  off  their  only  means  of  escape.  Then  again, 
when  the  falsity  of  this  rumor  was  ascertained  by  the  return  of  messen- 


288  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

gers  who  had  been  sent  to  the  front,  hope  would  revive,  and  a  gayer  tone 
would  animate  the  volatile  and  motley  assemblage. 

Meanwhile,  orders  had  been  sent  to  White  House  to  hasten  the  depar 
ture  of  the  Federal  troops  from  that  station.  These  orders  were  obeyed 
with  ^11  possible  despatch,  and  the  place  was  finally  abandoned  by  the 
assembled  transports  and  steamers  at  four  o'clock  on  Saturday  afternoon, 
June  28th.  All  the  stores,  ammunition,  and  wounded  had  been  previously 
embarked  and  safely  removed.  About  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  the 
pickets  of  the  enemy  began  to  make  their  appearance  in  the  vicinity,  but 
they  found  only  desolation  and  solitude.  Even  the  insignificant  building 
which  had  given  a  name  and  some  celebrity  to  this  locality,  had  been 
burned,  although  the  author  of  the  superfluous  and  barbarous  deed  re 
mained  unknown. 

At  three  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  June  29th,  General  McClellan, 
attended  by  his  staff  and  body-guard,  left  the  scene  of  his  night's  repose, 
and  rode  forward  toward  Charles  City.  He  had  directed  his  generals  to 
abandon  their  intrenchments,  to  follow  with  their  several  divisions  until 
intercepted  by  the  enemy,  and  then  to  give  them  battle.  At  daylight  on 
Sunday  morning  General  Smith  began  to  retire.  Generals  Sumner, 
Heintzelman,  Keys,  and  Franklin  soon  followed  with  their  respective 
forces.  Then  came  McCall's  division,  and  last  of  all,  those  of  Hooker 
and  Kearney,  who  brought  up  the  rear.  As  soon  as  the  Rebel  com 
manders  observed  that  the  Federal  army  was  again  in  motion,  they  com 
menced  to  close  in  upon  them  ;  but  it  was  not  till  later  in  the  day  that  a 
regular  engagement  took  place  between  them.  Then  ensued  the  battle  of 
Peach  Orchard.  The  enemy  approached  the  Federal  troops  by  the  Wil- 
liamsburg  road,  and  had  reached  a  position  three  hundred  yards  from  the 
Federals,  when  the  latter  opened  upon  them  with  their  powerful  guns. 
The  effect  of  the  discharge  upon  the  serried  lines  of  the  enemy  was  ter 
rific.  Their  ranks  wavered  and  staggered  like  drunken  men  before  the 
continuous  hailstorm  of  shot  and  shell  which  was  poured  upon  them. 
The  battle  lasted  from  eight  in  the  morning  until  noon.  During  this 
period  the  Rebels  endeavored  to  outflank  the  Federals  on  the  left,  and 
intercept  them  on  the  Williamsburg  road,  but  without  effect.  They 
charged  several  times  on  the  brigades  of  Burns,  Gorman,  and  Dana,  with 
the  evident  intention  of  crushing  them  in  detail,  but  with  no  better  suc 
cess.  The  troops  of  Richardson,  Heintzelman,  Sedgwick,  Sumner,  and 
M»-:igher,  fought  with  distinguished  gallantry.  All  the  efforts  made  by 
the  Rebels  to  drive  the  Federals  into  a  retreat  from  their  position,  were 
absolute  failures;  and  it  was  not  until  the  Federal  generals  had  become 
assured  that  the  caravan  of  wagons,  ambulances,  and  cattle  of  their  army 
had  crossed  the  White  Oak  swamp,  and  were  safe  from  the  immediate 
pursuit  of  the  enemy,  that  they  gave  the  order  to  fall  back.  This  order 


BATTLE   OF   SAVAGE'S   STATION.  289 

was  executed  leisurely ;  and  having  reached  Savage's  Station,  they  again 
drew  up  in  line  of  battle,  to  receive  the  advancing  foe. 

The  contest  which  ensued  at  Savage's  Station  on  the  same  day,  was 
still  more  fierce  and  sanguinary.  It  commenced  about  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  and  did  not  terminate  until  eleven  o'clock  at  night.  Before 
the  attack  began,  the  Rebels  had  been  largely  reinforced ;  their  next 
assault  therefore  was  much  more  vigorous  and  destructive.  They  ap 
proached  through  a  dense  wood,  which  concealed  them  from  view  until 
they  were  within  a  short  distance  of  the  Federal  lines.  They  then  sud 
denly  emerged  from  the  edges  of  the  forest,  ran  out  three  or  four  batteries 
to  commanding  positions,  and  opened  a  rapid  fire  of  shot  and  shell.  This 
salute  they  kept  up  with  such  skill  and  resolution,  that  a  portion  of  the 
Federals  were  overpowered  and  gave  way.  The  one  hundred  and  sixth 
Pennsylvania  regiment  broke,  and  then  fled  in  a  panic,  after  losing  a  hun 
dred  men  in  killed  and  wounded.  The  Federal  artillery  could  not  for  a 
time  be  served,  all  the  men  being  either  picked  off  or  driven  away  from 
their  guns.  Never  had  the  Rebels  fought  with  more  desperate  courage. 
During  the  progress  of  the  battle  the  Federal  forces  were,  on  several  oc 
casions,  in  a  very  critical  position.  At  one  time  an  entire  brigade  of  the 
enemy  were  observed  to  be  moving  stealthily  down  to  the  right,  with  the 
design  of  making  an  attack  upon  the  flank.  This  intention  was  defeated 
by  the  promptitude  with  which  Captain  Pettit  placed  a  battery  in  such  a 
position  as  to  sweep  the  entire  column  with  grape  and  canister,  which 
eventually  compelled  them  to  recoil,  and  to  relinquish  their  purpose. 
During  the  progress  of  the  fight  the  Irish  brigades  greatly  distinguished 
themselves,  charging  in  some  cases  up  to  the  very  cannon  of  the  enemy. 
One  of  the  Rebel  batteries  they  hauled  off,  spiked  the  guns,  demolished 
the  carriages,  and  then  abandoned  them. 

At  length  the  shades  of  darkness  descended  upon  this  mortal  combat, 
but  they  brought  no  termination  to  its  horrors.  The  roar  of  the  cannon, 
and  the  sharper,  shriller  sound  of  the  musketry,  continued  to  be  deafen 
ing  and  incessant.  The  night  was  made  as  light  as  noonday  at  rapid  in 
tervals,  by  the  lurid  flashes  of  the  artillery,  and  each  discharge  enabled 
the  combatants  to  ascertain  the  position  of  their  foes  with  more  distinct 
ness.  To  add  to  the  terrors  of  the  scene,  the  adjacent  woods  were  set  on 
fire  by  the  bursting  shells,  and  soon  the  conflagration  rolled  vast  heaving 
volumes  of  smoke  and  flame  far  up  into  the  vault  of  heaven,  giving  to  the 
battle-field  the  appearance  of  a  pandemonium.  Thus  the  carnage  and  the 
contest  raged  until  midnight.  The  losses  on  both  sides  were  very  heavy. 
The  Rebels  had  done  much  damage  by  firing  into  the  hospitals  in  which 
many  of  the  wounded  had  been  placed ;  and  they  perpetrated  this  bar 
barity  in  spite  of  the  significant  white  and  red  flags  which  were  placed 
upon  them.  At  twelve  o'clock  the  Federal  commanders  received  orders 
from  General  McClellan  to  fall  back  rapidly  from  Savage's  Station 


290  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

across  White  Oak  swamp,  inasmuch  as  the  Kebels  were  endeavoring  to 
intercept  them.  A  desperate  race  ensued  to  determine  who  should  first 
gain  possession  of  that  position.  The  Federals  were  compelled  to  leave 
all  their  wounded  at  Savage's  Station  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  And 
now  the  movement  toward  James  river,  which  had  begun  in  a  leisurely 
and  voluntary  march  thither,  unavoidably  degenerated  into  a  flight  on  the 
part  of  the  Federals,  and  into  a  pursuit  on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  The 
Federal  soldiers  knew  this  fact,  and  the  resolution,  not  of  hope,  but  of 
despair,  now  actuated  them.  That  wearied,  overworked,  but  heroic  band, 
who  had  engaged  the  enemy  so  often  and  so  bravely,  were  compelled  to 
exhaust  the  last  powers  of  human  endurance,  in  order  to  escape  complete 
destruction.  The  race  to  reach  the  swamp  was  one  of  desperate  energy, 
accompanied  by  equally  desperate  righting ;  for  the  superiority  of  num 
bers  which  the  Rebels  possessed  enabled  them  to  keep  up  an  attack  on 
the  rear  of  the  Union  army,  while  their  main  body  strained  every  nerve 
to  overreach  and  intercept  the  front.  The  divisions  of  Heintzelman, 
Sumner,  and  Franklin,  were  compelled  to  keep  continually  in  line  of  bat 
tle  across  the  country,  during  this  part  of  the  retreat,  in  order  to  beat  off 
the  hordes  of  the  enemy,  as  from  time  to  time  they  renewed  the  assault. 
At  length  the  last  wagon  and  the  last  cannons  plashed  through  the  waters 
of  White  Oak  creek.  It  was  eight  o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  June  the 
30th.  The  day  was  bright  and  hot.  The  fugitives  were  exhausted  with 
their  superhuman  efforts  in  fighting  and  retreating.  After  crossing  the 
creek,  hundreds  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  to  rest,  or  crawling  to 
the  green  margin  of  the  limpid  stream,  leaned  over,  and  drank  to  slake 
the  burning  thirst  which  consumed  them. 


THE   BATTLE   OF   WHITE   OAK   SWAMP.  291 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THK    BATTLE  OF  WHITE  OAK    SWAMP POSITION  AND    ORDER  OF    THE  FEDERAL   TROOPS TEM 
PORARY    PANIC DESPERATE    FIGHTING FORTUNATE    ASSISTANCE    OF     THE     GUNBOATS    ON 

JAMES    RIVER — HEROISM    AND    SKILL    OF    GENERAL    HEINTZELMAN A    GENERAL    BAYONET 

CHARGE  ON  THE  REBELS — ITS  RESULT FIRST  ENGAGEMENT  AT  MALVERN  HILLS INCIDENTS 

OF  THE  FIGHT THE    IRISH    BRIGADE COMPLETE    DEFEAT  OF  THE    REBELS THE    FEDERAL 

ARMY     REMOVES     TO    HARRISON'S    LANDING RESULTS    OF    THE    SEVERAL    BATTLES    BEFORE 

RICHMOND ARTILLERY     DUEL    ON  THE    JAMES    RIVER — GENERAL    HOOKER  SENT    TO  RECON 
NOITRE    AND    OCCUPY     MALVERN     HILL THE     MARCH    THITHER — ENGAGEMENT    WITH    THK 

ENEMY THEIR    DEFEAT — IMMENSE    REINFORCEMENTS    ORDERED    FROM    RICHMOND RETURN 

OF  THE  FEDERAL  TROOPS  TO  HARRISON'S  LANDING FINAL  EVACUATION  OF  THEIR  CAMP  BY 

THE  FEDERAL  ARMY ITS  FUTURE  DESTINATION FEDERAL  LOSSES    DURING  THE  PENINSULA 

CAMPAIGN. 

A  VERY  brief  period  for  repose  was  allowed  to  the  Federal  troops. 
They  had  indeed  won  the  race  to  White  Oak  swamp  ;  but  the  vast  army 
of  the  Rebels  was  in  eager  pursuit  of  them,  and  in  a  short  time  were  upon 
their  rear.  Then  followed  another  desperate  engagement,  named  after  the 
locality  in  which  it  took  place.  Soon  after  crossing  the  White  Oak  creek 
the  Federal  generals  formed  their  new  line  of  battle  with  great  energy 
and  promptness.  The  chief  of  .these  officers  were  Heintzelman,  Sumner, 
Kearney,  Porter,  and  Hancock.  The  new  position  of  the  Federal  forces 
extended  about  four  miles  in  length.  On  the  extreme  right  wing  General 
Hancock  was  posted  with  his  brigade.  Next  to  him  were  placed  the 
troops  of  Brooks  and  Davidson.  The  batteries  belonging  to  this  division 
were  commanded  by  Captain  Ayres.  Then  came  the  divisions  of  Sumner, 
Heintzelman,  and  Porter.  The  battle  commenced  with  an  attack  by  the 
enemy  on  the  column  of  General  Hancock.  They  opened  with  about 
twenty  batteries,  which  were  served  with  such  vigor  and  skill  that  they 
soon  blew  up  several  of  Captain  Mott's  caissons,  shattered  his  guns,  and 
spread  confusion  among  the  teamsters,  cannoniers  and  troops  who  came 
within  their  range.  It  was  at  this  period  that  so  complete  a  terror  per 
vaded  some  of  the  regiments,  that  one  of  them,  the  twentieth  New  York, 
fled  in  the  utmost  disorder,  and  scattered  in  fragments  in  every  direction. 
For  this  disgraceful  proceeding  General  McClellan,  on  the  following  day, 
ordered  the  provost  marshal  to  arrest  all  the  stragglers  as  they  came  into 
camp. 

After  a  short  time,  however,  the  Federals  who  had  been  attacked  re 
covered  their  self-possession,  and  their  guns  responded  to  those  of  the 
enemy.  The  latter  had  not  yet  crossed  the  White  Oak  creek,  and  the 
engagement  was  still  confined  to  the  operations  of  the  artillery.  At  length 
a  portion  of  the  Rebels  made  an  attempt  to  cross  the  stream,  but  were 


292  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

met  and  repulsed  with  success  by  General  Smith,  whose  brisk  fire  of  in 
fantry  extended  continuously  along  whole  columns.  Finding  it  impossible 
to  cross  in  front,  the  enemy  detached  a  powerful  force  to  proceed  four 
miles  due  south  to  Charles  City  Cross  Roads,  for  the  purpose  of  interposing 
between  the  Federal  forces  and  James  river,  thereby  intercepting  their 
retreat.  The  position  which  they  purposed  to  reach  was  within  a  mile 
and  a-half  of  Turkey  Bend,  on  that  river;  and  had  they  succeeded  in 
their  intention,  they  would  have  inevitably  accomplished  the  ruin  of  the 
army,  and  prevented  its  successful  establishment  at  Harrison's  Landing. 
Fortunately,  information  of  this  movement  of  the  Rebels  was  obtained  in 
time ;  and  Generals  Porter  and  Keyes  so  marshalled  their  wearied  troops 
as  to  prevent  its  achievement.  They  reached  the  advancing  columns  of 
the  enemy  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  attacked  them.  The 
Rebels  fought  desperately,  and  their  artillery  produced  a  dreadful  havoc 
in  the  Federal  ranks.  The  latter  were  nearly  dead  already  from  the  effects 
of  heat,  exhaustion,  and  thirst ;  and  so  little  discipline  remained  that  a 
portion  of  those  regiments  which  were  nearest  the  James  river,  at  one 
time  broke  ranks,  rushed  to  its  shores,  plunged  in,  and  after  slaking  their 
thirst  returned  to  their  colors,  and  resumed  the  fight.  But  the  resistance 
of  the  Federal  troops  gradually  became  weaker.  Human  nature  could 
endure  no  more.  The  fresh  masses  of  the  exultant  Rebel  army  continued 
to  press  forward  with  still  greater  resolution.  An  overwhelming  and  de 
cisive  victory  seemed  about  to  crown  the  persevering  efforts  of  the  Rebel 
hosts  when,  at  the  critical  moment,  a  delivery  suddenly  appeared.  As  at 
Pittsburg  Landing,  so  in  the  present  instance,  the  gallant  navy  of  the 
Union  rescued  the  land  forces  from  destruction.  At  that  crisis  the  gun 
boats  on  the  James  river  opened  their  .fire  upon  the  enemy.  At  five 
o'clock  the  enormous  rifled  guns  of  the  Jacob  Bell,  Galena,  and  Aroostook, 
which  were  anchored  in  Turkey  Bend,  belched  forth  their  colossal  shells, 
with  a  detonation  which  completely  drowned  the  feebler  chorus  of  all  the 
artillery  on  land,  and  terrified  the  foe  by  the  unexpected  presence  of  a 
more  formidable  antagonist.  As  the  shells  descended  upon  the  serried 
masses  of  the  Rebels,  and  burst  among  them,  whole  ranks  were  battered 
to  the  earth  by  the  flying  fragments.  Horrible  havoc  ensued.  Confusion 
and  terror  were  quickly  diffused  through  their  columns,  and  they  who,  a 
few  moments  before,  were  confident  of  driving  the  Federal  army  into  the 
James  river,  or  of  compelling  it  to  surrender,  themselves  began  to  give 
way. 

Encouraged  by  the  evident  effect  of  the  shot  of  the  gunboats,  the  Fed 
eral  commanders,  of  whom  the  most  distinguished  on  this  memorable  field 
was  General  Heintzelman,  determined  to  recover  the  fortunes  of  the  day 
by  making  a  combined  and  desperate  charge.  The  gunboats  were  there 
fore  signalled  to  suspend  their  firef  Preparations  were  quickly  made  to 
effect  the  intended  movement.  The  great-hearted  veteran  whom  we  have 


FIRST  ENGAGEMENT   AT  MALYERN  HILL.  2D3 

just  named,  galloped  from  column  to  column.  He  announced  the  purpose 
to  charge  in  brief  and  thrilling  words.  He  then  returned  to  his  position, 
and  passed  down,  to  right  and  to  left,  the  stern  order  to  advance.  The 
bugles  sounded,  and  like  the  surging  of  a  mighty  deluge  which  had  long 
been  compressed  within  narrow  limits,  that  mass  of  heroes,  having  caught 
new  energy  and  strength  from  reviving  hope,  moved  forward  sublimely 
to  the  assault.  The  steady  Massachusetts  men  of  G rover,  the  fierce  and 
fiery  brigades  of  Meagher  and  Sickles,  the  well  drilled  soldiers  of  Hooker, 
Kearny  with  his  brave  Jersey  Blues,  the  resolute  troops  of  Heintzelman, 
and  others  equally  gallant,  marched  defiantly  against  the  foe,  with  the 
determination  to  conquer  or  to  perish.  The  enemy  met  their  rushing  tides 
at  first  with  firmness;  but  nothing  could  long  resist  such  a  delirium  of 
fortitude  as  seemed  to  pervade  and  to  inflame  their  assailants.  They 
gradually  gave  way ;  their  lines  broke,  and  they  eventually  fled  from  the 
field  iii  complete  confusion.  During  this  famous  battle-shock,  many  were 
slain  on  both  sides,  and  many  prisoners  were  taken.  The  Rebels  had 
previously  captured  a  large  number  of  guns,  being  portions  of  the  batteries 
of  Randall,  Mott,  and  Ayres.  In  the  entire  engagement  at  White  Oak 
swamp  the  Federal  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  not  less  than  three 
thousand  five  hundred.  That  of  the  enemy  was  undoubtedly  as  great,  if 
not,  much  greater.  But  the  contest  saved  the  Federal  army  from  ruin  or 
from  capitulation,  and  covered  both  the  generals  who  commanded,  and 
the  soldiers  who  fought  in  it,  with  enduring  renown.  In  vain  had  the 
best  Rebel  officers  repeatedly  put  in  practice  their  favorite  tactics  of  hurl 
ing  fresh  masses  of  troops  on  the  Federal  lines,  first  on  one  wing,  then  on 
the  other,  and  suddenly  in  the  centre.  All  was  in  vain.  The  goal  had 
been  safely  reached.  The  glancing  placid  waters  of  the  James  river  had 
at  last  greeted  the  longing  eyes  of 'the  soldiers  of  the  Union,  and  the  pos 
sibility  of  their  destruction  or  of  a  still  more  disastrous  capture  was 
forever  averted. 

At  the  close  of  the  battle  of  White  Oak  swamp  the  Federal  army  took 
possession  of  Malvern  Hill  in  the  vicinity  of  the  river.  General  McClel- 
lan  had  selected  Harrison's  Landing,  six  miles  below,  as  his  future  per 
manent  camp,  and  thither  the  convoy  of  wagons,  ammunition  stores,  and 
supplies  of  all  sorts  continued  to  be  directed.  The  James  river  was 
crowded  with  transports  and  vessels  of  all  kinds,  to  assist  in  the  work  of 
transportation.  During  Monday  night  the  heroes  of  a  seven  days'  battle 
rested  from  their  herculean  labors.  But  their  task  was  not  yet  completed. 
On  Tuesday,  July  the  1st,  the  last  of  this  memorable  series  of  engage 
ments,  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  was  fought. 

As  an  attack  from  the  enemy  was  anticipated,  the  Federal  army  was 
drawn  out  in  battle  array  at  an  early  hour.  Their  line  formed  a  magnifi 
cent  semicircle,  which  presented  a  formidable  front.  General  Keyes,  with 
his  command;  was  posted  on  the  extreme  right.  General  Franklin's 


294  THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

corps  came  next;  then  the  troops  of  Sumner,  comprising  the  divisions  of 
Sedgwick  and  Kichardson.  The  extreme  left  was  occupied  by  Fitz  John 
Porter.  Heintzelman's  corps,  embracing  the  divisions  of  Hooker,  Kearny, 
and  Couch,  occupied  the  centre.  Fifty  heavy  guns  bristled  along  the 
lines  from  their  freshly  made  earthworks.  The  battle  commenced  about 
noon  with  a  vigorous  cannonading  on  both  sides.  The  enemy  were  com 
manded  by  Generals  Lee,  Magruder,  and  Jackson,  and  opened  the  en 
gagement  with  great  spirit.  Several  hours  passed  away  before  the 
infantry  came  into  action.  At  four  o'clock  the  Rebels  advanced,  fiercely 
attacked  the  troops  commanded  by  General  Couch,  and  attempted  to  break 
the  Federal  line.  The  effort  failed,  and  the  assailants  were  driven  back 
with  great  slaughter  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  But  they  were  not  easily 
disheartened.  After  a  short  interval  they  made  a  still  more  desperate 
effort  to  accomplish  their  purpose.  The  Rebel  commanders  threw  for 
ward  heavy  masses  of  troops,  assisted  and  protected  by  artillery,  against 
the  ranks  of  Porter  and  Couch,  and  continued  for  more  than»an  hour  to 
hurl  forward  fresh  columns  upon  the  Federal  line.  At  one  crisis  their 
determined  efforts  seemed  about  to  be  successful  in  driving  back  the 
Federals.  At  that  critical  moment  General  Porter  despatched  a  messen 
ger  to  General  Sumner,  requesting  immediate  reinforcements.  The  Irish 
brigade  of  Meagher,  whose  valorous  troops  seemed,  in  almost  every  emer 
gency,  to  be  the  protecting  ^Egis  of  the  Federal  army  in  the  peninsula, 
were  immediately  sent  to  the  rescue.  They  advanced  to  meet  the  enemy 
with  their  usual  enthusiasm.  The  wavering  Federal  lines  were  quickly 
steadied ;  the  Rebel  host  in  turn  recoiled,  and  the  periled  fortune  of  the 
day  was  recovered.  Thus  the  fight  was  continued  until  after  nightfall.  At 
ten  o'clock  the  last  gun  was  fired.  During  the  progress  of  the  engage 
ment  the  most  signal  service  had  been  rendered  by  the  gunboats  on  James 
river.  The  immense  shells  from  their  rifled  cannon  tore  shrieking  and 
howling  through  the  forests,  and  often,  exploded  within  the  lines  of  the 
enemy,  with  a  concussion  which  shook  the  solid  earth,  and  scattered  piles 
of  dead  and  wounded  on  every  hand.  In  all  their  efforts  to  drive  the 
Federal  forces  from  their  position  the  enemy  had  signally  failed.  After 
each  advance  they  had  been  repulsed  with  heavy  losses.  The  battle  was 
to  them  an  unqualified  defeat.  To  prove  that  this  statement  should  not 
be  regarded  as  exaggerated  or  inaccurate,  we  might  adduce  many  admis 
sions  made  by  the  Rebels  themselves.  One  of  the  most  impartial  of  these 
will  suffice.  A  leading  Richmond  journal  said :  l<  Officers  and  men  went 
down  by  the  hundreds ;  but  yet,  undaunted  and  unwavering,  our  line 
dashed  on,  until  two  thirds  of  the  distance  across  the  interval  was  accom 
plished.  Here  the  carnage  from  the  withering  fire  of  the  enemy's  com 
bined  artillery  and  musketry  was  dreadful.  Our  line  wavered  a  moment, 
and  fell  back  into  the  cover  of  the  woods.  Twice  again  the  effort  to  carry 
the  position  was  renewed,  but  each  time  with  the  same  results.  Night  at 


COMPLETE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  REBELS.  295 

length  rendered  a  further  attempt  injudicious,  and  the  fight,  until  ten 
o'clock,  was  kept  up  by  the  artillery  on  both  sides."* 

Thus  ended  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill.  Thus  terminated  the  last 
assault  made  by  the  troops  of  the  Rebel  Confederacy  at  this  period,  upon 
the  army  of  the  Union  in  the  Peninsula.  Thus  concluded  one  of  the 
most  extraordinary  series  of  engagements  which  has  ever  occurred  in  the 
blood-stained  annals  of  ancient  or  modern  warfare.  The  losses  endured 
on  both  sides  were  appalling ;  and  impartial  history  will  hereafter  affirm 
from  her  high  seat,  that  the  Rebels  had  little  of  which  to  boast,  in  the 
incidents  and  results  of  the  battles  which  were  fought  near  their  capital. 
It  is  unquestionably  true,  that  the  Federal  forces  would  have  been  with- 
drawn  to  James  river  without  these  assaults  having  been  made  upon  them. 
While,  therefore,  the  Confederates  inflicted  superfluous  wounds  and  death 
upon  them,  they  were  themselves  in  turn  punished  and  mulcted  to  a  much 
more  destructive  and  ruinous  extent.  The  Federal  losses  in  these  various 
engagements  were  as  follows :  in  the  battle  of  Mechanicsville,  the  number 
in  killed  and  wounded  was  about  two  hundred ;  in  that  of  Games'  Mill, 
seven  thousand  five  hundred ;  in  that  of  Peach  Orchard,  two  hundred ; 
at  Savage's  Station,  one  thousand  two  hundred ;  in  White  Oak  swamp, 
three  thousand  five  hundred ;  at  Golding's  Farm,  four  hundred ;  at 
Malvern  Hill,  two  thousand ;  making  a  grand  total  of  fifteen  thousand. 
This  estimate  does  not  include  the  missing,  whose  exact  numbers  are 
unknown.  It  is  probable  that  the  losses  of  the  Rebels  were  not  far  from 
twenty  thousand. 

During  Tuesday  night,  and  on  Wednesday,  the  2d  of  July,  the  con 
centration  and  establishment  of  the  Union  forces  at  Harrison's  Landing 
were  completed.  The  enemy  were  too  much  broken  and  exhausted  to 
continue  the  pursuit  or  to  renew  the  assault.  Their  self-imposed  task 
had  been  finished,  with  greater  infliction  of  suffering  and  calamity  on 
themselves  than  on  their  opponents.  The  new  position  which  General 
McClellan  had  selected,  consisted  of  a  strip  of  land  along  the  northern 
bank  of  the  James  river,  five  miles  in  length,  where  a  number  of  suitable 
wharves  existed,  at  which  the  transports  could  discharge  their  cargoes  of 
supplies;  and  whose  external  form  toward  the  enemy  was  admirably 
adapted  to  the  purpose  of  defence.  It  was  soon  made  impregnable  against 
all  attacks,  by  the  skilful  use  of  the  spade ;  for  such  formidable  breast- 

*  Richmond  Examiner  of  Friday,  July  4th,  1862.  The  same  journal  presents  the 
following  graphic  picture  of  the  ground  which  the  Rebels  had  occupied  during  the 
progress  of  the  engagement : 

"  The  battle-field,  surveyed  through  the  cold  rain  of  "Wednesday  morning,  presented 
scenes  too  shocking  to  be  dwelt  on  without  anguish.  The  woods  and  the  field  before 
mentioned  were,  on  the  western  side,  covered  with  our  dead,  in  all  the  degrees  of  vio 
lent  mutilation,  while  ir  the  woods  on  the  west  of  the  field  lay,  in  about  equal  num 
bers,  the  blue  uniformed  bodies  of  the  enemy." 


296  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

works  were  quickly  thrown  up,  as  to  convince  the  Kebels  of  the  impolicy 
of  any  attempt  to  carry  them  by  assault.  On  the  4th  of  July,  General 
-McClellan  issued  an  address  to  his  troops,  in  which  he  bestowed  upon 
them  that  praise  for  heroism  and  endurance  which  they  had  richly 
merited,  and  which  will  continue  to  be,  until  the  end  of  time,  the  just 
reward  of  the  brave  and  patriotic  men  whose  undying  glory  and  mis 
fortune  it  was  to  have  belonged  to  the  Federal  army  in  the  Peninsula. 

The  repose  of  that  army  at  Harrison's  Landing  remained  undisturbed 
by  the  enemy  during  the  period  of  nearly  a  month.  It  was  not  until  the 
night  of  the  31st  of  July  that  their  hostile  presence  and  spirit  were  again 
exhibited.  The  Rebels  had  crossed  the  James  river  in  considerable 
numbers,  above  the  Federal  camp;  had  posted  several  batteries  opposite 
to  the  Landing,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Union  fleet  of  transports;  and 
then  began  a  vigorous  cannonading,  both  upon  the  camp  and  the  fleet. 
The  assault  continued  during  an  hour  and  a-half.  Their  guns  threw  shell 
of  six  and  twelve  pounds  weight,  both  round  and  conical.  They  effected 
but  little  damage,  inasmuch  as  they  generally  fell  short  of  their  mark. 
A  few  of  them  exploded  within  the  Federal  camp,  and  some  of  them 
reached  the  shipping.  In  consequence  of  the  fact  that  no  attack  was 
expected  from  the  foe  in  that  direction,  all  the  Federal  guns  had  been 
posted  in  the  front;  so  that  a  considerable  interval  elapsed  before  a  suffi 
cient  number  could  be  transferred  to  the  proper  position  to  respond  to  the 
enemy.  In  half  an  hour  the  latter  commenced  to  reply,  and  in  a  short 
time  the  Rebels  were  silenced.  They  had  made  a  futile  assault ;  for, 
although  they  discharged  several  hundred  shells,  so  inaccurate  was  their 
aim  that  the  loss  on  the  Union  side  was  only  six  killed  and  nine  wounded. 
During  the  attack  the  Rebels  frequently  changed  the  position  of  their 
batteries,  and  as  the  night  was  extremely  dark,  it  was  only  by  the  flashes 
of  the  guns  that  their  location  could  be  discovered.  The  vessels  on  the 
James  river  did  not  return  any  shots,  as  by  so  doing  they  would  have 
revealed  their  own  location  more  distinctly  to  the  enemy. 

This  brief  and  unimportant  episode  was  the  mere  prelude  to  the  last 
military  operation  which  was  destined  to  take  place  between  the  Federal 
and  the  Rebel  armies  in  the  Peninsula.  The  hideous  carnival  of  blood 
and  death  which  had  rendered  that  spot  so  sadly  famous  in  all  coming 
time,  was  now  about  to  terminate  with  the  second  battle  at  Malvern  Hill. 
On  Monday,  the  4th  of  August,  a  portion  of  the  Federal  army  was 
ordered  to  make  a  reconnoissance  in  the  direction  of  the  Rebel  lines.  It 
consisted  of  the  divisions  commanded  by  Generals  Hooker  and  Sedgwick, 
a  brigade  of  cavalry  under  General  Pleasanton,  and  four  batteries. 
General  Hooker  was  chief  in  command.  Leaving  the  camp  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  they  marched  along  the  road  to  Charles  City  for 
some  distance.  They  then  diverged  through  several  by-roads  as  far  as 
Nelson's  Farm.  At  that  point  they  bivouacked  for  the  night.  Early  on 


EVACUATION    OF   THEIR   CAMP   BY   THE   FEDERAL   ARMY.  297 

the  following  morning  they  resumed  their  march,  and  in  an  hour  they 
reached  the  rear  of  Malvern  Hill,  upon  which  the  enemy  were  posted. 
They  thus  occupied  a  position  between  the  latter  and  the  remainder  of 
their  army,  as  well  as  their  depot  of  supplies  at  Richmond.  An  admirable 
opportunity  was  thus  afforded  to  surround  and  capture  a  large  portion  of 
the  Rebel  force. 

Immediately  after  coming  within  view  of  the  latter,  the  Federal  troops 
were  formed  in  line  of  battle.  The  artillery  were  posted  in  the  front ;  the 
cavalry  and  infantry  were  ranged  on  the  flanks.  The  Rebels  commenced 
the  battle  promptly  at  six  o'clock  with  their  guns.  The  Federal  cannon 
responded  with  spirit.  The  enemy  were  much  inferior  in  number  to  the 
Union  troops,  comprising  only  three  regiments  of  infantry,  a  small 
portion  of  cavalry,  with  four  pieces  of  artillery.  They  maintained  the 
contest  during  two  hours  with  great  determination ;  but  the  vast  superi 
ority  of  the  Union  troops  in  numbers  rendered  a  further  resistance  on 
their  part  useless.  They  then  retired  in  good  order  toward  the  James 
river.  The  Federal  victors  did  not  pursue.  Their  loss  was  only  six 
killed  and  twenty-four  wounded.  The  enemy  took  with  them  all  their 
guns,  their  killed  and  their  wounded.  This  fight  enabled  General  Hooker 
to  take  possession  of  Malvern  Hill,  which  gave  him  a  position  six  miles 
nearer  to  Richmond  than  that  at  Harrison's  Landing. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon,  General  McClellan,  accompanied  by  a  number 
of  officers,  visited  the  spot,  and  greatly  commended  General  Hooker  for 
his  achievement.  It  was  perfectly  evident,  however,  that  though  the 
small  body  of  Rebel  troops  stationed  there  had  been  overpowered,  large 
reinforcements  would  be  quickly  sent  from  Richmond  to  recover  the  lost 
position.  A  general  engagement  would  therefore  soon  occur  to  decide 
the  permanent  possession  of  the  place.  Accordingly,  General  McClellan 
immediately  sent  messengers  to  his  camp  ordering  a  large  number  of  his 
troops  to  march  toward  Malvern  Hill,  to  support  the  column  already 
posted  there.  If  these  troops  had  arrived  in  time,  the  issue  of  the  sub 
sequent  operations  might  have  been  different.  But  the  messengers  who 
conveyed  the  order  pursued  the  wrong  road,  were  unaccountably  delayed 
on  their  journey,  and  thus  the  reinforcements  did  not  approach  until  the 
position  had  been  hopelessly  lost.  Only  a  portion  of  those  Federal  troops 
which  were  sent  arrived,  and  these  made  their  appearance  only  in  time  to 
join  in  the  general  retreat.  On  Wednesday  the  Rebels  marched  to 
Malvern  Hill  in  large  masses,  and  as  the  Federal  forces,  by  this  manoeuvre, 
would  have  been  greatly  inferior  in  numbers,  a  retrograde  movement  was 
precipitately  made  to  Harrison's  Landing.  Thus  ended  the  capture,  the 
occupation,  and  the  evacuation  of  the  position  at  Malvern  Hill.  The 
Federal  loss  during  the  operation  was  four  killed  and  fifteen  wounded. 

It  had  now  become  evident  to  the  Federal  Government  that  the  expe 
dition  against  Richmond,  through  the  Peninsula,  had  proved  a  total  and 


298  THE   CIVIL,  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

irremediable  failure.  It  was  quite  as  evident  that  the  longer  delay  of  the 
army  of  the  Union  in  that  unpropitious  clime  would  be  productive  of  no 
good,  while  it  would  entail  a  continued  and  lavish  waste  of  the  national 
treasure  and  of  valuable  lives.  General  McClellan,  therefore,  received 
orders  to  evacuate  Harrison's  Landing.  This  order  was  obeyed  on  the 
16th  and  17th  of  August,  1862.  Through  the  energy  and  skill  of  Colonel 
Ingalls,  all  the  stores  of  subsistence  and  ammunition  were  safely  removed 
on  board  the  fleet  of  Federal  transports  which  then  lay  at  Harrison's 
Landing.  Nothing  of  the  least  value  was  left  behind.  The  Kebel  com 
manders,  intensely  gratified  to  witness  the  departure  of  their  formidable 
visitors,  did  not  offer  any  resistance  to  the  movement.  The  army  crossed 
the  Chickahominy  by  a  pontoon  bridge  two  thousand  feet  in  length,  con 
sisting  of  a  hundred  boats.  The  troops  then  marched  forward  toward 
Williamsburg,  while  the  transports  and  gunboats  sailed  down  James 
river  to  Fortress  Monroe.  The  future  destination  of  the  army  of  the 
Peninsula  was  then  as  yet  unknown.  It  was,  however,  intended  to  be 
consolidated  with  the  forces  which  had  been  placed  under  the  orders  of 
General  Pope.  This  arrangement  was  afterward  completed;  and  the 
fortunes  of  war  were  again  tried  under  new  auspices,  against  the  desperate, 
yet  by  no  means  contemptible  conspirators,  who  had  risen  in  rebellion 
against  their  legitimate  government,  and  had  thus  far  struck,  with  such 
marvelous  energy,  ferocity,  and  skill,  against  its  sacred  bosom.  Nor  can 
the  patriot  and  philanthropist  fail  to  experience  the  most  poignant  emo 
tions  of  regret,  when  reflecting  upon  the  varied  incidents  and  results  of 
the  campaign  in  the  Peninsula;  when  he  remembers  the  brilliant  hopes 
which  threw  so  bright  and  fair  a  radiance  around  the  advance  of  the 
Union  army  toward  the  Rebel  capital ;  when  he  recalls  the  many  glorious 
prodigies  of  heroism  and  valor  which  were  vainly  performed  by  the 
soldiers  and  officers  of  that  army,  in  the  sanguinary  battles  which  they 
fought;  when  he  computes  how  many  thousands  of  valiant  and  devoted 
men,  from  different  and  distant  portions  of  the  continent,  were  left  behind 
by  their  departing  comrades  to  moulder  in  their  unknown  and  unhonored 
graves,  the  victims  of  a  climate  and  of  labors  more  deadly  than  the 
bullets  and  cannon  of  the  foe ;  in  a  word,  when  he  meditates  upon  the 
complete  and  melancholy  discomfiture  of  one  of  the  greatest  and  noblest 
enterprises  which  the  checkered  page  of  history  presents. 


SPIRIT    AND   PURPOSE  OF  THE  FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT.     299 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

RETURN  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC  FROM  THE  PENINSULA — SPIRIT  AND  PURPOSE  OF  THE 
FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT — APPOINTMENT  OF  GENERAL  HALLECK  AS  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF  OF 

LAND  FORCES — OPERATIONS  OF  GENERAL  POPF MESSAGES  OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN  IN 

FAVOR  OF  EMANCIPATION  OF  THE  SLAVES  AND  CONFISCATION  OF  THE  PROPERTY  OF 

REBELS — RECONNOISSANCE  OF  GENERAL  KING  TO  BEAVER  DAM BATTLE  OF  BAYOU  CACHE, 

IN  ARKANSAS — ENGAGEMENT  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI  WITH  THE  RAM  ARKANSAS BOLDNESS 

AND  DETERMINATION  OF  THE  REBELS ENGAGEMENT  NEAR  MEMPHIS,  MISSISSIPPI — OPERA 
TIONS  OF  THE  REBEL  JOHN  MORGAN  IN  KENTUCKY CONTEST  AT  CYNTHIANA — MORGAN 

ABANDONS  KENTUCKY ADDITIONAL  ANTI-SLAVERY  MESSAGE  OF  MR.  LINCOLN — EXPEDITIONS 

SENT  FROM  NEWBERN  TO  TRENTON  AND  POLLOCKSVILLE THEIR  RESULTS ATTACK  MADE 

ON  THE  ARKANSAS  BY  COLONEL  ELLET — INCIDENTS  OF  THE  ENGAGEMENT — DEFEAT  OF  THE 
QUEEN  OF  THE  WEST CAUSES  OF  TUK  DISASTER CREATION  OF  NEW  GRADES  IN  THE  FED 
ERAL  NAVY PRESIDENT  LINCOLN  ORLKRS  A  DRAFT  OF  THREE  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  MEN. 

THE  disastrous  termination  of  the  campaign  of  the  Federal  army  in  the 
Peninsula,  under  General  McClellan,  and  its  withdrawal  from  the  vicinity 
of  Richmond  without  having  accomplished  the  magnificent  purpose  of  its 
mission,  filled  the  loyal  community  in  the  United  States  with  disappoint 
ment  and  regret.  The  remains  of  that  once  formidable  force  subsequently 
returned  by  way  of  the  Potomac  to  positions  which  were  then  assigned 
them  nearer  to  the  Federal  capital.  But  the  reverses  which  had  occurred 
produced  no  other  effect  upon  the  administration  of  Mr.  Lincoln  than  to 
induce  it  to  put  forth  more  strenuous  exertions  to  increase  the  military 
strength  of  the  nation,  and  to  resume  offensive  operations  against  the  Con 
federates  at  the  earliest  possible  period  with  greater  energy  and  efficiency 
than  before.  At  the  suggestion  of  the  Governors  of  nearly  all  the  loyal 
States,  the  President  called  out  an  additional  levy  of  three  hundred  thou 
sand  men,  and  preparations  were  immediately  made  to  comply  with  the 
requisition.  General  John  Pope,  who  had  distinguished  himself  by  his 
operations  at  New  Madrid  and  Island  Number  Ten,  was  transferred  to  the 
command  of  the  consolidated  army  of  Virginia,  composed  of  the  three 
corps  of  Fremont,  Banks,  and  McDowell,  to  which  were  added,  during  the 
last  days  of  August,  Burnside's,  Sumner's,  and  Fitz  John  Porter's  corps. 
A  short  time  afterward  General  Halleck  was  summoned  to  Washington, 
and  invited  to  occupy  the  position  and  discharge  the  functions  of  General 
in-Chief  of  the  land  forces  of  the  United  States.  The  evident  purpose  of 
this  appointment  was  to  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  administration  of 
affiiirs  at  the  Federal  capital,  and,  in  effect,  to  place  a  portion  of  the  oper- 
ntions  of  the  War  Department  under  the  control  of  a  professional  soldier, 
familiar  with  the  principles  of  military  science. 

General  Pope  took  command  of  the  army  of  Virginia  on  the  14th  of 


300  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

July,  1862.  On  that  day  he  issued  a  proclamation  to  his  troops,  in  which 
he  announced  his  appointment  over  them,  referred  to  the  successes  of  his 
operations  in  the  southwest,  expressed  his  confidence  in  his  new  asso- 
ciates-in-arms,  and  informed  them  of  his  determination  not  to  pursue  the 
timid  and  tardy  policy  of  his  predecessor,  but  to  advance  without  delay  to 
the  attack  and  conquest  of  the  enemy.  Tie  proceeded  to  visit  every  por 
tion  of  his  army,  that  he  might  make  himself  acquainted  with  its  condi 
tion,  might  provide  for  strengthening  its  shattered  columns,  and  might 
arrange  his  plans  for  the  future. 

On  the  same  day,  President  Lincoln  communicated  a  message  to  Con 
gress,  which  was  still  in  session,  in  which  he  recommended  the  adoption 
of  a  bill  by  them  in  reference  to  the  abolition  of  slavery.  The  bill  in 
question  provided  that  whenever  the  President  should  become  satisfied 
that  any  State  had  abolished  slavery  throughout  its  limits,  either  imme 
diately  or  gradually,  it  should  become  the  duty  of  the  President,  assisted 
by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  to  prepare  and  deliver  to  such  State  an 
amount  of  interest-bearing  bonds  of  the  United  States  equal  in  amount  to 
the  aggregate  value  of  all  the  slaves  which  were  reported  to  have  existed 
in  that  State  according  to  the  census  of  1860.  The  bill  provided,  further, 
that  if  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  any  State  should  have  been  made  immedi 
ate,  the  payment  of  the  designated  sum  should  also  be  immediate ;  if  it  were 
gradual,  the  payment  should  be  gradual;  and  if  any  State  should  restore 
slavery  within  its  limits  after  its  abolition  therein,  the  bonds  held  by  it 
against  the  United  States  should  thereby  become  null  and  void. 

The  Senate,  after  some  discussion,  referred  his  message  to  the  Com 
mittee  on  Finances.  The  House  sent  it  to  the  Committee  on  the  Aboli 
tion  of  Slavery  in  the  Border  States.  The  impression  produced  by  this 
act  of  the  President  was  important  in  its  effects  on  the  citizens,  both  of 
the  loyal  and  the  disloyal  States.  It  revealed  to  the  former  what  the 
future  policy  of  the  administration  would  be  in  reference  to  the  vexed 
question  of  slavery,  while  it  convinced  the  latter  that  it  was  the  determi 
nation  of  the  Federal  Government  to  use  every  means  in  its  power  to 
diminish  the  supremacy  of  that  institution,  which  had  been  one  of  the 
most  potent  causes  in  producing  the  Kebellion. 

In  pursuance  of  the  policy  thus  inaugurated,  the  President  addressed 
an  appeal  to  the  representatives  of  the  border  States  in  Congress,  in  which 
he  requested  them  to  use  the  influence  which  they  possessed  over  their 
constituents,  to  induce  them  to  adopt  the  policy  of  emancipation  as  indi 
cated  in  his  message.  Two  replies  were  made  to  this  appeal.  The  one 
came  from  the  majority  of  the  representatives  referred  to,  including  those 
from  Kentucky,  Virginia,  Missouri,  and  Maryland,  and  was  evasive  in 
its  character.  Its  authors  denied  that  any  necessity  existed  for  the  aboli 
tion  of  slavery  in  the  several  States  which  they  represented ;  and  they 
doubted  whether  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  Kebel  States,  by  Federal 


RECONNOTSSANCE  OF  GENERAL  KING  TO   BEAVER  DAM.    301 

power,  would  assist  in  securing  the  triumph  of  the  Federal  arms.  The 
answer  of  the  minority  was  more  approbative  and  compliant.  They  ad 
mitted  that  slavery  was  the  "Lever-power  of  the  Rebellion;''  that  they 
were  willing  to  make  any  sacrifice  to  restore  the  Union ;  and  they  con 
cluded  by  affirming  that  if  the  Rebels  could  take  the  initiative,  and  give 
up  slavery  to  destroy  the  Union,  "they  could  surely  ask  their  people  to 
consider  the  question  of  emancipation  to  save  the  Union." 

On  the  22d  of  July,  the  policy  of  Mr.  Lincoln  on  this  subject  was  fur 
ther  indicated  by  the  publication  of  an  order  from  the  Secretary  of  War, 
acting  under  the  direction  of  the  President,  to  the  effect  that  the  military 
commanders  in  the  States  of  Virginia,  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Florida, 
Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Texas,  and  Arkansas,  should  employ  as 
laborers  within  the  said  States  so  many  persons  of  African  descent  as  can 
be  advantageously  used  for  military  or  naval  purposes,  giving  them  reason 
able  wages  for  their  labor,  while,  at  the  same  time,  accounts  should  be 
kept  showing  from  whom  such  slaves  shall  have  been  taken,  and  the  value 
of  their  labor,  "as  a  basis  upon  which  compensation  can  be  made  in  proper 
cases."  These  measures,  which  were  generally  termed  radical,  in  oppo 
sition  to  the  more  conservative  views  of  the  advocates  of  slavery,  were 
subsequently  followed  up  by  others  still  more  effective  and  decisive. 

General  Pope  commenced  the  performance  of  his  duties  as  commander 
of  the  army  of  Virginia,  with  energy  and  resolution.  He  introduced 
material  and  propitious  changes  in  the  method  of  Ms  operations.  He  dis 
carded  the  use  of  those  immense  nnd  cumbrous  wagon-trains  for  the  trans 
portation  of  supplies,  which  had  heretofore  retarded  the  movements  of  the 
troops ;  and  he  ordered  his  men  to  derive  their  subsistence  from  the  enemy 
through  whose  country  he  purposed  to  march.  The  headquarters  of 
General  Pope  still  remained  at  Washington,  from  which  position  he  con 
tinued  to  issue  his  orders.  He  henceforth  prohibited  guards  of  Union 
soldiers  to  be  placed  around  the  property  of  citizens,  especially  around 
those  of  acknowledged  Secessionists,  in  the  line  of  his  march,  and  an 
nounced  his  determination  to  hold  commanding  officers  responsible  for  the 
good  behavior  of  their  men.  He  indicated,  by  various  preliminary 
measures,  that  he  was  determined  to  carry  on  the  war  with  vigor,  and  to 
use  his  utmost  efforts  to  secure  the  speedy  triumph  of  the  Federal  arms. 

The  first  movement  that  occurred  took  place  on  the  19th  of  July. 
General  Pope  had  ordered  General  King  to  send  out  a  small  cavalry  force 
from  Warrenton,  to  reconnoitre  the  position  of  the  enemy  toward  Gcr- 
donsville.  The  expedition  left  Fredericksburg  on  the  evening  of  the 
19th,  and  after  marching  all  night,  reached  the  Virginia  Central  railroad 
at  Beaver  Dam.  This  point  is  only  thirty -five  miles  distant  from  Rich 
mond.  They  there  destroyed  the  railroad  track  for  several  miles,  to 
gether  with  the  telegraph  line,  and  burned  the  depot,  which  contained 
a  hundred  barrels  of  flour  and  forty  thousand  rounds  of  musket  ammu- 


302  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

nition.  Having  ascertained  that  a  large  portion  of  the  Confederate 
army,  under  General  Jackson,  was  posted  near  Gordonsville,  the  expedi 
tion  returned  to  Warrenton,  having  marched  eighty  miles  in  thirty 
hours.  Several  additional  reconnoissances  were  subsequently  made  by 
order  of  General  Pope,  by  which  important  information  was  obtained  re 
specting  the  strength  and  operations  of  the  enemy. 

During  the  interval  which  occurred  between  this  period,  and  that  at 
which  the  Federal  and  Kebel  armies  were  sufficiently  concentrated  to 
bring  on  those  colossal  engagements  which  afterward  took  place  between 
them,  events  of  considerable  interest  were  transpiring  in  other  portions 
of  the  arena  of  conflict,  to  which  we  will  now  direct  our  attention. 

In  pursuance  of  the  plans  of  the  campaign  in  the  West  which  had 
been  adopted,  General  Curtis,  the  hero  of  Pea  Eidge,  commenced  his 
march  from  Batesville  to  Helena,  in  Arkansas,  on  the  24th  of  May, 
1862.  Various  detachments  of  Rebel  troops  annoyed  his  men  upon  the 
route;  but  it  was  not  until  the  7th  of  July  that  they  appeared  in  suffi 
cient  numbers  to  warrant  an  engagement.  On  that  day  a  battle  took 
place  near  Bayou  Cache,  in  Arkansas,  the  importance  of  which  entitles 
it  to  a  place  in  the  annals  of  the  Rebellion.  At  that  point  the  march 
of  the  army  had  been  obstructed  by  the  enemy  by  a  blockade  of  fallen 
timber.  Colonel  Hovey  was  ordered  to  advance  with  a  portion  of  the 
thirty-third  Illinois  and  the  eleventh  Wisconsin  regiments,  to  open  the 
way  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Cache,  and  effect  a  reconnoissance  along 
the  Clarendon  road.  Three  hundred  and  fifty  men  were  appropriated 
to  this  service.  A  detachment  of  these  first  encountered  two  Texan 
regiments,  which  were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  to  receive  them.  The 
latter  poured  into  the  Federal  troops  a  volley  of  musketry,  which  killed 
five,  and  wounded  a  much  larger  number.  The  fire  was  quickly  re 
turned,  but  the  immense  preponderance  of  numbers  on  the  Rebel  side 
soon  compelled  the  Federals  to  fall  back.  The  enemy  followed  up  their 
advantage,  and  made  a  charge,  which  gradually  converted  the  retreat  into 
a  rout.  At  this  crisis  Colonel  Hovey  hastened  to  the  assistance  of  his 
men  with  the  remaining  companies  of  the  thirty-third  Illinois.  Placing  his 
men  in  ambush  behind  a  fence,  he  saluted  the  advancing  Rebels  with  a 
volley,  which  killed  twenty-five  of  them,  wounded  many  more,  and  made 
their  column  reel  and  stagger,  and  eventually  break  away  in  disorder. 
Colonel  Hovey  then  rallied  all  his  men.  At  the  same  time  Major  Wood 
arrived  upon  the  scene  with  reinforcements,  consisting  of  a  battalion  of 
the  first  Indiana  cavalry,  and  two  rifled  steel  guns.  The  latter  were  then 
ordered  to  advance  against  the  foe.  The  cannon  were  brought  to  the 
front,  and  the  attack  resumed.  After  the  first  charge  the  enemy  retired 
within  the  shelter  of  a  wood.  The  Federals  then  pushed  forward  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  to  continue  the  assault.  A  similar  result  again  ensued,  for  after 
an  exchange  of  volleys  the  Rebels  retreated,  and  were  pursued  for  nearly 


ENGAGEMENT   WITH   THE   RAM  ARKANSAS.  303 

the  distance  of  a  mile.  Major  Wood  then  gave  the  order  to  the  cavalry 
to  charge.  The  enemy  received  them  with  another  destructive  volley, 
and  then  fled.  The  Federal  guns  were  again  brought  to  be'ar  upon  their 
retiring  foe,  who  continued  to  fall  back  until  they  were  entirely  lost  to 
view.  The  number  of  Rebels  killed  during  the  engagement  was  a  hun 
dred  and  ten ;  of  wounded,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty.  The  Federal 
loss  was  ten  killed,  fifty-seven  wounded.  This  unusual  disparity  of  num 
bers  in  killed  and  wounded  resulted  from  the  fact  that  the  enemy  uni 
formly  aimed  too  high.  The  action  was  a  brilliant  success  on  the  part  of 
the  Federal  troops  engaged,  and  conferred  distinction  upon  the  command 
ing  officer,  Colonel  Hovey. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  a  spirited  engagement  took  place  on  the  Missis 
sippi  river,  near  Yicksburg,  between  a  famous  and  formidable  battering- 
ram,  which  the  Rebels  had  constructed,  named  the  Arkansas,  and  a  por 
tion  of  the  Federal  fleet,  then  riding  at  anchor  near  that  city.  The 
Arkansas  was  a  powerful  and  dangerous  vessel.  She  was  a  hundred  and 
eighty  feet  in  length,  sixty  in  breadth  of  beam.  Her  bow  and  stern  were 
sharp,  and  she  was  propelled  by  engines  of  nine  hundred  horse-power, 
placed  below  the  water-line.  Her  sides  were  covered  with  railroad-iron 
plates,  dove-tailed  together,  and  strongly  bolted.  Her  bow  was  armed 
with  an  enormous  beak,  constructed  of  cast-iron,  with  which  she  per 
forated  her  opponents.  She  was  provided  with  six  heavy  guns.  She 
was  commanded  by  Captain  I.  N.  Brown,  who  was  renowned  on  the 
western  waters  for  his  skill  and  daring  in  naval  warfare.  At  the  period 
of  the  engagement  in  question,  she  was  lying  quietly  in  the  Yazoo  river, 
at  some  distance  above  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi.  The  Rebels, 
who  then  held  possession  of  Yicksburg,  expected  her  speedy  arrival  at 
that  city,  to  co-operate  with  them  in  its  defence.  To  prevent  this  result 
Colonel  Ellet  was  sent  by  Commodore  Farragut  up  the  Yazoo,  with  two 
Union  gunboats,  and  a  battering  ram,  namely — the  Carondelet,  Queen  of 
the  West,  and  Lancaster,  to  attack,  and,  if  possible,  to  disable  her,  and 
thereby  intercept  her  outward  passage. 

Colonel  Ellet,  after  sailing  eight  miles  up  the  Yazoo,  encountered  the 
Arkansas  suddenly,  as  she  lay  under  a  bank,  with  the  apparent  intention 
to  escape  detection.  But  as  soon  as  her  commander  discovered  that  he 
was  observed,  he  commenced  an  assault  with  his  heavy  guns  upon  the 
Federal  vessels.  The  Yazoo  being  a  very  deep  and  narrow  stream,  the 
Union  boats  dropped  down  the  river  to  obtain  more  sea-room.  The 
Arkansas  immediately  followed,  continuing  to  fire.  When  both  parties 
had  reached  a  position  near  the  entrance  of  the  river,  the  Carondelet  ap 
proached  the  Arkansas  for  the  purpose  of  .grappling  and  boarding  her 
This  achievement  was  nearly  accomplished,  when  suddenly  the  Rebel 
craft  opened  her  steam-pipe,  and  threw  a  deluge  of  steam  and  hot  water 
over  the  plank  by  which  the  men  were  about  to  cross.  The  Carondelet 


304  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

then  did  the  same,  and  while  the  vessels  were  inundating  each  other  in 
this  manner,  both  of  them  grounded.  The  Arkansas  was  able  to  relieve 
herself — the  Carondelet  was  not  so  fortunate — and  while  the  former 
sailed  out  triumphantly  upon  the  broad  bosom  of  the  Mississippi,  her 
antagonist  remained  firmly  aground.  By  this  fortunate  accident  the 
Arkansas  was  able  to  escape,  and  continue  her  way  toward  Yicksburg. 

But  in  order  to  reach  her  destination  it  was  necessary  for  her  to  run  the 
gauntlet  of  the  Federal  fleet,  which  intervened.  As  she  rounded  the 
point  above  the  anchorage  of  the  latter,  her  presence  and  character  ex 
cited  much  astonishment,  but  soon  both  of  these  became  sufficiently 
known.  A  small  flag  floating  from  her  jackstaff  was  quickly  discovered 
to  be  the  notorious  Rebel  ensign.  The  first  Union  vessel  in  the  line  of 
her  approach  was  the  Louisville.  The  Arkansas  immediately  turned  her 
heavy  prow  in  the  direction  of  her  position,  and  opened  on  her  with  her  guns. 
One  of  her  shot  struck  the  casemating  of  the  Louisville,  near  the  centre 
of  the  bow,  and  glanced  off  harmlessly.  The  latter  responded  with  three 
heavy  Dahlgren  guns,  one  of  the  shot  of  which  took  effect  on  the  Arkan 
sas.  Meanwhile,  the  latter  was  steadily  approaching,  and  at  last  struck 
the  Louisville  with  prodigious  violence  on  the  side.  But  her  blow  was 
deprived  of  a  portion  of  its  effect,  from  the  fact  that  she  did  not  succeed 
in  striking  squarely,  but  diagonally,  so  that  she  glided  off  by  her  own 
impetus.  As  she  passed  by  she  received  three  shots  from  the  guns  of  her 
antagonist,  at  half-cable's  length,  which  perforated  her  side,  and  produced 
a  considerable  rent  in  her. 

Undaunted  by  this  disaster,  the  Arkansas  boldly  pursued  her  way 
through  the  Federal  fleet,  dispensing  her  favors  on  all  sides.  While 
doing  so,  one  of  her  shot  struck  the  Benton  on  the  larboard  side,  and 
perforated  it,  killing  one  man.  She  was  herself  somewhat  damaged  during 
her  progress.  The  Cairo,  Hartford,  Richmond,  together  with  three  gun 
boats,  all  assailed  her  in  passing,  and  she  saluted  each  of  them  in  return. 
But  she  arrived  at  length  in  comparative  safety  before  Vicksburg,  where 
her  gallant  and  daring  exploit  caused  her  to  be  received  with  the  greatest 
enthusiasm  by  the  Rebel  forces  commanded  there  by  Generals  Breckin- 
ridge  and  Van  Dorn. 

The  Federal  loss  during  these  engagements  was  fourteen  killed,  fifteen 
wounded.  The  result  was  by  no  means  favorable  to  the  commanders  of 
the  Federal  vessels,  inasmuch  as  the  success  with  which  the  Rebel  ram 
defied  so  numerous  a  flotilla,  proved  that  an  unusual  want  of  vigilance 
and  skill  at  that  time  characterized  them.  At  a  subsequent  period,  as 
if  conscious  of  this  fact,  the  officers  who  were  engaged  on  this  occasion, 
endeavored  to  recover  the  lost  lustre  of  their  arms,  by  a  more  efficient  and 
more  successful  assault  upon  their  foe. 

At  this  period  the  Southwest  was  the  scene  of  a  number  of  spirited 
movements,  both  on  the  part  of  the  Federal  and  the  Rebel  troops  distrib- 


OPERATIONS   OF  JOHN   MORGAN   IN   KENTUCKY.  305 

uted  in  that  quarter,  several  of  which  merit  attention.  On  the  15th  of 
July  a  desperate  guerrilla  combat  took  place  near  Memphis,  Missouri,  be 
tween  a  portion  of  Colonel  Merrill's  cavalry,  about  three  hundred  strong 
and  a  detachment  of  the  battalion  of  Major  Rodgers,  one  hundred  in  num 
ber,  who  jointly  attacked  six  hundred  men,  comprising  the  lawless  Rebel 
bands  of  Dunn  and  Porter.  The  latter  were  concealed  behind  heavy 
brush  and  timber  when  the  battle  began,  but  they  were  assaulted  with 
such  vigor  and  determination  by-  the  troops  already  named,  commanded 
by  Major  Clopper,  that  they  were  driven  from  their  position,  leaving  a 
large  number  of  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field.  But  the  enemy  fought 
bravely  before  yielding,  for  they  repulsed  fi've  successive  charges  across 
the  open  field ;  and  it  was  not  until  after  the  sixth  assault,  and  a  desper 
ate  hand-to-hand  struggle,  that  they  yielded.  The  Federal  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  was  eighty-three;  that  of  the  Rebels  amounted  to  a  hundred 
and  twenty.  This  action  was  an  important  blow  to  the  formidable  and 
destructive  hordes  of  guerrillas  who  had  invaded  and  desolated  that  region 
of  country. 

On  the  -16th  of  July,  the  Rebel  marauder,  John  Morgan,  who  com 
manded  an  assemblage  of  outlaws  and  adventurers  in  Kentucky,  crossed  the 
Kentucky  river  from  Lawrenceburg,  in  command  of  a  thousand  men, 
and  approached  Paris,  in  that  State.  Intelligence  of  this  event  soon 
reached  Lexington,  and  immediately  General  Green  Clay  Smith  started 
with  a  troop  of  cavalry,  inferior  in  number  to  those  of  Morgan,  to  attack 
him.  He  reached  the  position  of  the  enemy  and  gallantly  assailed  him. 
The  guerrilla  chief  and  his  men  made  but  a  feeble  resistance,  and  then  fled. 
Having  stolen  the  fleetest  horses  in  the  country,  during  the  progress  of 
their  incursions,  they  were  pursued  to  little  purpose,  and  escaped  beyond 
the  reach  of  their  assailants.  They  proceeded  toward  Winchester,  in 
Clarke  county,  where  they  purposed  to  rendezvous  in  greater  strength 
and  numbers. 

Nearly  contemporary  with  this  action  a  similar  one  occurred  at 
Cynthiana,  Kentucky,  between  the  same  Rebel  leader  and  the  armed  in 
habitants  of  that  place.  As  soon  as  the  approach  of  Morgan  was  known, 
the  Home  Guards  of  the  town,  three  hundred  in  number,  together  with  a 
hundred  and  fifty  of  the  seventh  Kentucky  cavalry,  under  Captain  Glass, 
were  mustered  to  resist  the  threatened  assault.  Fifty  of  the  Home  Guards 
were  posted  a  quarter  of  a  mile  on  the  road  leading  to  Paris.  About 
sixty  of  the  Rebels  approached  their  position,  when  they  were  received 
with  a  destructive  fire  of  musketry.  This  band  of  guerrillas  fled  precipi 
tately.  But  a  much  larger  force — five  hundred  .strong — having  dismoun 
ted,  were  in  the  meantime  approaching  the  town  from  another  direction. 
Captain  Glass  posted  a  twelve-pounder  in  such  a  position,  that  his  shells 
exploded  in  the  midst  of  that  body,  and  did  some  execution  on  them.  A 
company  of  the  Union  troops,  together  with  several  cannon,  which  had 
20 


306  THE   CIY1L   WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

been  posted  in  front  of  the  Licking  bridge,  prevented  a  third  detachment 
of  Morgan's  troops  from  entering  the  town  by  another  route.  But  their 
resistance  was  only  temporary,  for  soon  the  want  of  ammunition  on  the 
part  of  the  Federals,  and  the  overwhelming  masses  of  the  guerrillas,  gave 
the  latter  the  preponderance.  At  this  crisis  Colonel  Landrum,  who  com 
manded  the  Union  men,  called  upon  the  remaining  citizens  of  the  town 
to  come  forward  and  assist  in  defending  it  against  the  common  enemy. 
Many  complied  with  the  requisition,  and  an  extemporaneous  force  charged 
upon  Morgan's  troops,  through  one  of  the  streets.  But  it  was  soon  ap 
parent  that  even  this  effort  would  be  unavailing.  The  horde  of  the  Rebel 
chief  was  pressing  gradually  into  the  town  by  different  openings  and 
avenues,  ^nd  resistance  at  last  became  wholly  futile.  Colonel  Landrum 
then  gave  the  order  to  retreat.  The  Rebels  took  possession  of  the  place. 
Their  object  was  merely  rapine  and  plunder.  They  supplied  themselves 
with  horses,  carriages,  provisions,  and  other  property,  wherever  they 
found  them.  They  were  sadly  disappointed,  however,  in  not  finding 
money.  After  the  marauders  had  accomplished  their  purpose,  as  far  as 
they  were  able,  they  evacuated  the  town,  leaving  behind  them  their  dead 
and  wounded.  The  Federal  loss  was  two  killed,  twenty-eight  wounded. 
After  these  achievements  Morgan  was  compelled  to  retreat  from  the  limits 
of  Kentucky.  By  the  end  of  July  that  -State  was  free  from  his  presence. 
The  difficult  task  of  capturing  him  had  been  undertaken  by  several  Union 
officers  of  rank ;  but  in  vain.  The  fault  lay  not  so  much  in  them,  as  in 
the  peculiar  nature  of  the  service  in  question.  Morgan  and  his  men  were 
mounted  on  the  swiftest  steeds  in  the  country.  His  march  was  not  en 
cumbered  by  baggage  or  wagons.  He  might  be  easily  pursued,  but  not 
so  easily  overtaken ;  and  the  utmost  that  could  be  accomplished  was  to 
drive  him  away  before  the  approach  of  a  more  regular  and  substantial 
force. 

On  the  17th  of  July,  an  important  event  took  place  in  connection  with 
the  civil  and  political  history  of  the  Southern  Rebellion.  On  that  day 
President  Lincoln  approved,  and  by  his  approval  converted  into  law,  the 
Confiscation  and  Emancipation  Act,  which  had  already  been  passed  by 
both  Houses  of  Congress.  This  act  was  a  continuance  of  the  vigorous 
measures  which  had  been  adopted  by  the  administration,  to  crush  by  every 
lawful  means  the  power  of  the  insurgent  States.  It  provided  in  substance 
that  whoever  should  thereafter  be  guilty  of  treason  against  the  United 
States,  should  either  suffer  death,  or  be  fined  and  imprisoned,  and  his  slaves, 
if  he  have  any,  should  be  declared  free ;  and  also,  that  if  any  person 
should  in  any  way  encourage  and  assist  the  existing  rebellion,  he  should 
be  fined  and  imprisoned,  and  his  slaves,  if  he  have  any,  should  be  set  free. 
It  enacted  that  no  person  thus  aiding  the  rebellion,  in  any  way,  should 
thenceforth  be  competent  to  collect  debts  which  might  be  due  him  in  the 
loyal  States,  or  in  the  District  of  Columbia :  and  that  the  slaves  of  persons 


EXPEDITION  SENT  TO   TRENTON  AND  POLLOCKSYILLE.      307 

who  had  been  engaged  in  hostility  against  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  who  had  escaped  within  the  lines  of  the  Federal  armies,  should 
not  be  restored  to  their  masters,  but  be  declared  free.  It  provided  that 
no  fugitive  slave  who  had  thus  escaped  should  be  restored  to  his  master, 
unless  the  master  should  prove  that  he  was  loyal  to  the  Federal  Govern 
ment,  and  had  taken  no  part  in  the  Rebellion  against  it,  or  in  any  manner 
assisted  it;  that  it  should  be  proper  for- the  President,  if  he  desire  so  to 
do,  to  employ  persons  of  African  descent  to  assist  in  the  suppression  of 
the  Rebellion,  in  such  manner  as  he  may  deem  expedient ;  and  that  it  may 
also  be  lawful  for  him  to  make  provision  for  the  colonization  and  settle 
ment  of  such  negroes,  who,  having  been  set  free  through  the  operation  of 
this  act,  might  desire  to  locate  themselves  beyond  the  limits  of  the  United 
States.  These  various  provisions,  which  were  evidently  founded  on  in 
disputable  principles  of  abstract  justice  and  political  wisdom,  indicated 
more  clearly  than  ever,  the  determination  of  the  Federal  Government  not 
to  trifle  with  its  enemies ;  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  they  thereby  in 
flicted  a  heavy  blow  upon  the  insurgents,  in  the  most  tender  and  jealously 
guarded  portion  of  their  interests. 

General  Burnside  having  been  ordered  to  transfer  a  large  portion  of  his 
troops  from  Newbern,  in  North  Carolina,  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
under  General  McClellan,  the  remainder  of  the  force  which  he  left  behind 
him  was  placed  under  the  orders  of  General  Foster.  That  officer  deemed 
it  expedient,  on  the  29th  of  July,  to  send  two  expeditions  inland  from 
Newbern,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  strength  of  the  enemy  in  that 
vicinity,  and  to  demonstrate  to  the  Rebels  that,  though  the  Federal  forces 
had  been  diminished,  they  still  remained  formidable  and  efficient.  Ac 
cordingly,  one  detachment  under  Colonel  Lee  was  sent  to  Trenton,  on  the 
Trent  river,  another,  under  Colonel  Fellows,  was  despatched  to  Pollocks- 
ville,  thirteen  miles  distant  from  Newbern.  The  former  body,  in  their 
march  toward  Trenton,  encountered  a  portion  of  the  pickets  of  the  enemy, 
who  instantly  fled.  A  number  of  the  third  Xew  York  cavalry  started  in 
pursuit,  but  were  unable  to  overtake  them.  At  the  bridge  which  spanned 
the  Trent,  a  few  shots  were  exchanged  between  the  parties,  after  which 
the  Rebels  again  retreated,  having  set  fire  to  the  bridge.  After  some 
effort  the  conflagration  was  extinguished,  and  the  Federals  proceeded  into 
the  town.  They  found  it  entirely  evacuated  by  the  troops  who  had  been 
posted  there,  and  deserted  by  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants.  The  Fed 
erals  proceeded  to  refresh  themselves  after  their  journey  of  twenty  miles, 
and  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  resumed  their  march  for  the  purpose 
of  forcing  a  junction  with  the  force  under  Colonel  Fellows  at  Pollocksville. 
This  result  was  effected  without  difficulty.  The  latter  town  was  also 
found  to  have  been  abandoned  by  the  Rebel  force  which  had  previously 
occupied  it,  and  an  easy  triumph  awaited  the  visitors.  On  the  third  day 
after  the  expedition  started  out,  it  returned  to  Newbern,  without  having 


308  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

incurred  any  loss,  but  having  accomplished  an  important  purpose  in  de 
monstrating  to  the  disloyal  inhabitants  of  the  adjacent  country  that  the 
Federal  forces  in  their  vicinity  were  on  the  alert,  and  prepared  to  crush 
any  attempt  which  might  be  made  to  resist  their  supremacy. 

The  successful  effort  recently  made  by  the  Rebel  battering  ram  Arkan 
sas,  to  defy  the  Federal  fleet  which  opposed  her  approach  toVicksburg, 
was  a  just  ground  of  mortification  to  the  officers  who  should  have  defeated 
the  attempt ;  and  the  demoralizing  effect  of  her  triumph  upon  the  Federal 
troops,  and  the  cause  of  the  Union  in  that  vicinity,  was  so  potent  that  it 
was  evident  that  something  should  be  done  to  diminish  its  influence. 
Accordingly,  Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  W.  Ellet  proposed  to  Commodore 
Davis  to  renew  the  attack  upon  her,  and  offered  himself  to  command  the 
steam  ram  Queen  of  the  West,  which  should  make  the  assault  upon  her, 
on  condition  that  Commodores  Davis  and  Farragut  would  occupy  the 
batteries  above  and  below  Vicksburg  during  the  operation.  The  purpose 
of  this  stipulation  was  to  prevent  the  Rebel  batteries  from  damaging  or 
disabling  the  Queen  of  the  West  while  making  her  approach  to  the  Ar 
kansas. 

After  a  short  deliberation,  the  proposition  of  Colonel  Ellet  was  accepted. 
It  was  arranged  that  the  expedition  should  start  at  daylight,  and  every 
preparation  was  previously  made  that  prudence  and  tact  could  devise  to 
secure  success.  Colonel  Ellet  manned  his  battering-ram,  with  a  selected 
crew  of  the  best  material  in  the  fleet.  The  plan  of  attack  adopted  was  as 
follows :  three  of  the  vessels  of  Commodore  Davis — the  Benton,  the  Cin 
cinnati,  and  the  Louisville — were  to  commence  an  assault  upon  the  upper 
Rebel  batteries ;  and  the  Bragg  was  to  lie  behind  the  bend  of  the  river, 
ready  to  attack  the  Arkansas  in  case  she  escaped  above.  The  Essex  was 
to  precede  the  Queen  of  the  West  down  the  river,  grapple  the  Arkansas, 
draw  her  out  into  the  stream,  and  thus  give  the  Queen  of  the  West  sea- 
room  to  run  at  her,  and  destroy  her  by  her  herculean  and  resistless  blows 
During  the  progress  of  these  events,  the  vessels  under  the  command  of 
Commodore  Farragut  were  to  attack  and  engage  the  Rebel  batteries  below 
the  city.  A  better  plan  could  not  possibly  have  been  devised.  The 
issue,  however,  furnished  a  marvelous  illustration  of  the  familiar  adage — 
man  proposes  but  God  disposes. 

At  the  time  appointed,  the  Essex,  which  was  to  occupy  the  van,  led  off 
in  gallant  style  down  the  river.  The  Queen  of  the  West  then  followed ; 
but  as  she  passed  the  flagship  of  Commodore  Davis,  the  latter,  waving  his 
hand,  exclaimed — "Good  luckl  good  luck."  These  propitious  words 
were  unfortunately  misunderstood  by  Colonel  Ellet  for  an  order  to  "  go 
back."  He  obeyed,  though  surprised  at  such  a  command  ;  and  it  was  not 
till  after  the  lapse  of  some  time  that  the  mistake  was  corrected.  The  Queen 
then  resumed  her  progress  toward  the  Arkansas,  but  the  delay  had  sepa- 


ATTACK    ON  THE   ARKANSAS   BY    COLONEL   ELLET.          309 

rated  her  so  far  from  the  Essex,  that  the  latter,  having  delivered  a  broad 
side  at  the  Rebel  ram,  and  being  defeated  in  her  attempt  to  grapple  her, 
passed  on.  down  the  stream.  As  the  Queen  approached  the  Arkansas,  the 
batteries  on  the  shore  opened  on  her  with  tremendous  fury.  In  vain 
Colonel  Ellet  listened  for  the  promised  assistance  of  the  gunboats  of  the 
two  commodores.  Instead  of  their  drawing  the  hostile  fire  of  the  foe,  it 
was  all  concentrated  on  the  devoted  Queen  of  the  West.  It  was  now  evi 
dent  to  Colonel  Ellet  that  his  position  was  a  desperate  one.  He  seemed 
to  have  been  mysteriously  abandoned  to  destruction  by  every  vessel  of 
the  Federal  fleet  which  should  have  co-operated  with  him.  Nevertheless 
he  did  not  despair,  though  a  deluge  of  flaming  thunderbolts  hemmed  him 
in  on  all  sides.  He  determined  to  strike  or  to  perish. 

To  increase  the  peril  of  his  position  he  found  the  Arkansas  moored  in 
an  unfavorable  position  for  hu  assault.  He  was  compelled  to  approach 
her  by  a  circular  route,  and  to  strike  her  against  the  current,  which  would 
necessarily  diminish  both  the  accuracy  of  his  aim,  and  the  momentum  of 
his  blow.  Consequently,  when  he  charged  upon  her,  the  eddies  of  the 
stream  altered  his  course  so  far  that  he  struck  her  aft  of  her  aft  side  gun, 
and  the  blow,  though  violent,  was  glancing.  Notwithstanding  these  dis 
advantages,  the  Arkansas  reeled  and  quivered  beneath  the  assault,  and  it 
was  at  first  thought  that  she  was  sinking.  But  it  soon  became  evident 
that  the  rebound  was  almost  harmless,  and  that  no  very  serious  damage 
had  been  inflicted.  Colonel  Ellet  was  now  convinced  that  his  only  possi 
bility  of  escape  was  by  a  rapid  retreat,  but  even  that  was  a  forlorn  and 
hopeless  un/lertaking.  Four  Rebel  batteries  were  now  playing  upon  his 
boat,  and  as  she,  partially  crippled  as  she  already  was,  slowly  struggled 
up  the  river,  she  was  assailed  by  all  their  guns,  together  with  the  guns  of 
the  Arkansas.  Her  situation  was  terrible.  Already  she  had  been  struck 
twenty-five  times.  Her  chimney-stacks  were  perforated  with  balls.  One 
of  her  steam-pipes  had  been  shot  away.  Large  holes  had  been  bored 
through  her  sides  and  her  bow.  Several  immense  round  shot  passed  over 
the  head  of  Colonel  Ellet,  who,  during  the  passage,  lay  flat  upon  the  deck. 
A  fifty-pound  round  rifled  shot  passed  through  the  pilot-house,  within  a  few 
inches  of  the  helmsman.  Two  engineers  were  thrown  down  by  the  wind 
of  the  passing  shot.  Shells  exploded  in  the  cabin,  shivering  every  thing 
within  it  to  pieces.  The  machinery  of  the  vessel  was  damaged  and 
wrenched  in  various  places.  She  was  blackened,  splintered,  and  shattered 
in  every  part  of  her  exterior  and  her  interior.  Her  appearance  when  she 
reached  a  point  beyond  the  range  of  the  guns  of  the  enemy,  resembled 
that  of  a  complete  wreck.  And  yet  she  did  not  sink  ;  and  what  is  still 
more  marvelous,  not  a  man  on  board  of  her  had  been  killed — several  had 
been  slightly  wounded.  The  engineers  and  firemen  below  expected  at 
every  moment  t;>  see  a  shot  explode  her  boilers,  which  accident  would 


310  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

have  inflicted  instant  death  upon  them;  but  that  catastrophe  did  not 
occur.* 

At  length  the  Queen  of  the  West  regained  her  anchorage.  The  excuses 
given  by  Commodores  Davis  and  Farragut  for  not  rendering  her  the 
promised  assistance,  were  remarkable.  The  former  urged  that  after  the 
Queen  of  the  West  passed  him  on  her  downward  way,  he  found  the  bat 
teries  of  the  enemy  on  the  shore  become  so  dangerous  to  several  of  his 
gunboats,  that  he  ordered  them  to  sail  up  the  river  beyond  their  reach. 
After  having  done  so,  he  remembered  his  promise  to  assist  the  operations 
of  the  Queen  of  the  West,  and  returned.  But  it  was  then  too  late  to  ren 
der  her  any  assistance.  Commodore  Farragut  plead  that  he  found  it 
impossible  to  weigh  his  anchors,  and  thus  come  within  range  of  the  bat 
teries  at  the  appointed  time,  and  was  thereby  prevented  from  taking  part 
in  the  engagement. 

Notwithstanding  the  failure  of  this  enterprise,  the  success  with  which 
the  Queen  of  the  West  ran  the  gauntlet  of  the  batteries  of  the  enemy, 
rivalled,  and  even  excelled,  the  boasted  heroism  displayed  by  the  Arkansas 
on  a  previous  occasion,  in  defying  the  guns  of  the  Federal  fleet;  and  in  so 
far,  the  achievement  was  a  success,  by  causing  the  laurels  of  the  foe  to 
wither,  in  presence  of  the  greater  daring  and  glory  of  the  resolute  com 
mander  of  the  Federal  ram. 

Tbe  important  part  which  the  navy  of  the  United  States  had  performed 
during  the  progress  of  the  Eebellion,  on  many  important  occasions,  very 
justly  attracted  to  it  the  special  attention  of  the  people  and  the  Govern 
ment  of  the  United  States.  Serious  objections  were  made  to  the  manner 
in  which  the  several  ranks  and  grades  of  the  officers  were  then  constituted, 
and  a  change  was  demanded  by  the  popular  voice  on  the  subject.  The 
result  was,  that  a  new  arrangement  was  made,  and  new  grades  were  estab 
lished,  which  gave  a  more  favorable  opportunity  for  the  promotion  of 
those  who  distinguished  themselves  in  the  service,  while  it  conferred 
higher  dignities  upon  those  veteran  commanders  who  had  already  attained 
eminence  by  a  long  term  of  patriotic  devotion  to  the  service.f 

*  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  heroism  of  these  men  on  this  memorable  occasion, 
was  astonishing.  Not  a  single  indication  of  fear  or  terror  was  exhibited ;  and  it  is 
equally  deserving  of  notice,  that  the  firemen,  who  were  negroes  recently  taken  from 
the  ad'acent  plantations,  displayed  a  fortitude  and  firmness  under  these  appalling  cir- 
cumstancers,  quite  equal  to  that  of  their  white  associates. 

t  It  was  on  the  16th  of  July,  1862,  that  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
made  this  alteration,  and  ordered  as  follows :  That  the  active  lists  of  line  officers  of 
the  United  States  Navy  shall  be  divided  into  nine  grades,  taking  rank  according  to 
the  date  of  their  commission  in  each  grade,  as  follows  : 

I ....  Rear  Admirals.  VI ....  Lieutenants. 

II....  Commodores.  VII. ..  .Masters 

III Captains.  VIII Ensigns. 

IV ....  Commanders.  IX ....  Midshipmen. 

V ....  Lieutenant-Commanders. 


DRAFT   OF  THREE  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  MEN.  311 

During  the  progress  of  these  minor  events,  an  unusual  degree  of  enter 
prise  and  spirit  pervaded  the  operations  of  the  Federal  Government  in 
preparing  for  the  energetic  contiuance  of  the  war.  On  the  4th  of  August, 
an  order  was  issued  by  the  President,  through  the  War  Department,  to. 
the  effect,  that  a  draft  of  three  hundred  thousand  militia  should  be  made, 
and  immediately  placed  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  for  the  period 
of  nine  months,  unless  sooner  discharged ;  at  the  same  time  setting  forth, 
that  proper  arrangements  would  be  speedily  made  for  assigning  the  re 
spective  quotas  of  this  number  to  each  of  the  States.  The  order  also 
announced,  that  if  by  the  15th  of  August,  any  State  had  not  furnished  its 
quota  of  the  three  hundred  thousand  volunteers  already  demanded  by  a 
previous  order,  a  special  draft  should  be  made  in  the  State  to  make  up 
that  number,  and  thus  supply  the  deficiency.  This  requisition  was  sub 
sequently  complied  with,  and  the  loyal  States  presented  to  the  world  the 
marvelous  spectacle  which  has  never  before  been  exhibited  in  the  history 
of  mankind,  of  the  enormous  mass  of  six  hundred  thousand  men,  raised, 
armed,  equipped,  and  marched  into  the  field,  during  the  brief  period  of 
three  months. 

And  further,  That  the  relative  rank  between  officers  of  the  navy  and  the  army 
Bhall  be  as  follows,  lineal  rank  only  to  be  considered  : 

Rear  Admirals with Major-Generals. 

Commodores with Brigadier-Generals. 

Captains writh Colonels. 

Commanders with Lieutenant-Colonels. 

Lieutenant-Commanders with Majors. 

Lieutenants with Captains. 

Masters with First  Lieutenants. 

Ensigns with Second  Lieutenants. 


312  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

DESIGNS  OF  THE  REBEL  GENERALS  IN  VIRGINIA — MEASURES  TAKEN  TO  COUNTERACT  THEM — 
THE  ARMIES  OF  BANKS  AND  JACKSON  APPROACH  EACH  OTHER — BATTLE  OF  CEDAR  OR 
SLAUGHTER  MOUNTAIN POSITION  OF  THE  COMBATANTS — COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  ENGAGE 
MENT — INCIDENTS  OF  ITS  PROGRESS — ITS  TERMINATION  AND  RESULTS — LOSS  ON  BOTH  SIDES 

HEROISM  OF    GENERAL    BANKS — SUBSEQUENT    MOVEMENTS    OF    THE  REBELS — SKIRMISHES 

ALONG  THE  LINE  OF  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK — DESIGNS  OF  THE  REBEL  GENERALS — ARRANGE 
MENTS  OF  GENERAL  POPE — ENGAGEMENT  AT  CATLETT's  STATION FEDERAL  LOSS  OF  BAG 
GAGE  AND  STORES THE  REBELS  CROSS  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK — BATTLE  WITH  THE  TROOPS 

OF  GENERAL  SIGEL APPROACH  OF  REBELS  TOWARD  MANASSAS — CONFLICT  AT  KETTLE  RUN 

—AT  BRISTOW'S  STATION — THE  GREAT  BATTLE  AT  MANASSAS  ON  AUGUST  TWENTY-NINTH  — 
INCIDENTS  OF  THE  STRUGGLE — ENGAGEMENT  RENEWED  ON  THE  THIRTIETH — ITS  INCIDENTS 
AND  RESULTS — RETREAT  OF  THE  FEDERAL  ARMY — BATTLE  OF  CHANTILLY — DEATH  OF  GEN 
ERALS  KEARNY  AND  STEVENS — RETURN  OF  THE  FEDERAL  ARMY  TO  WASHINGTON — LOSSES 
DURING  THE  CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  POPE  IN  VIRGINIA — SKETCHES  OF  GENERALS  KEARNY 
AND  STEVENS — A  COURT-MARTIAL  SUMMONED  AT  WASHINGTON  TO  INVESTIGATE  CHARGES 
AGAINST  GENERAL  PORTER — ITS  VERDICT. 

DURING  the  first  week  of  August,  1862,  the  military  authorities  at  Wash 
ington  obtained  authentic  information,  which  convinced  them  that  the 
Confederate  generals  were  assembling  a  formidable  force,  for  the  purpose 
of  crushing  the  army  commanded  by  General  Pope,  and  advancing  to 
the  capture  either  of  Washington  or  of  Baltimore.  General  llalleck  im 
mediately  authorized  General  Pope  to  summon  the  forces  under  General 
Cox,  in  Western  Virginia,  to  join  him  with  all  possible  despatch  ;  while 
the  former  was  directed  to  cross  the  Rappahannock,  occupy  Culpepper, 
and  threaten  Gordonsville.  This  movement  at  once  excited  the  appre 
hensions  of  the  Rebel  leaders.  Jackson  and  Ewell  immediately  crossed 
the  Rapidan  at  Barnett's  Ford,  approached  the  position  occupied  by  the 
corps  of  General  Banks,  near  Cedar  or  Slaughter  Mountain,  and  on  Sat 
urday,  the  9th  of  August,  a  battle  was  fought  between  the  two  armies, 
scarcely  second  in  fury  and  stubbornness  to  any  which  had  occurred 
during  the  war. 

The  point  at  which  this  contest  took  place  was  about  five  miles  south 
of  Culpepper  Court  House,  on  the  road  to  Gordonsville.  The  enemy  took 
their  position  on  the  side  of  Cedar  Mountain,  where  they  were  protected 
in  a  large  degree  by  thick  forests.  They  numbered  at  least  twenty-five 
thousand  men.  The  advantages  of  their  position  were  very  great,  for  it 
commanded  a  full  view  of  the  operations  of  the  Federal  troops  below 
them,  and  enabled  them  to  post  their  batteries  in  several  successive  tiers, 
semicircular  in  their  outline,  by  which  they  could  simultaneously  can 
nonade  the  whole  body  of  their  assailants.  The  position  of  the  latter  was 


THE  BATTLE   OF  CEDAR   MOUNTAIN.  313 

completely  exposed  to  the  enemy,  having  no  advantage  of  natural  or  arti 
ficial  defence  whatever.  On  the  day  previous  to  the  battle,  the  brigade  of 
General  Crawford  had  been  thrown  forward  to  observe  the  movements  of 
the  enemy,  and  oppose  his  advance.  General  Banks  occupied  this  posi 
tion  with  his  entire  corps  on  the  day  of  the  engagement.  Rickett's  di 
vision  of  McDowell's  corps  was  three  miles  in  his  rear.  The  corps  of 
Sigel,  which  had  been  marching  during  all  the  night  preceding  the  battle, 
w  is  allowed  to  halt  in  Culpepper  to  recruit  for  a  few  hours.  Thus  the 
engagement  commenced  between  the  enemy  and  the  corps  of  Banks,  which 
comprised  about  seven  thousand  men. 

The  combat  opened  with  an  artillery  duel,  at  a  quarter-past  two  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.  It  was  at  once  evident  that  the  Rebels  possessed  an  im 
mense  superiority  in  the  number  of  their  guns.  The  firing  of  the  Fed 
erals  was  also  up  hill,  resulting  from  the  disadvantage  of  their  position; 
but  the  greater  accuracy  of  their  aim  was  equally  apparent.  In  an  hour 
one  of  their  six  batteries  was  silenced.  The  Federals  then  closed  up  their 
lines  on  the  right  and  left,  and  advanced  toward  the  enemy.  The  left 
wing  having  approached  two  hundred  yards  nearer  than  their  first  posi 
tion,  lay  on  the  ground,  while  the  contest  between  the  artillery  continued, 
so  that  the  deluge  of  shot  discharged  by  the  foe  passed  over  them  harm 
lessly,  though  they  could  not  escape  the  effect  of  their  bursting  shells. 
At  four  o'clock  another  of  their  batteries  was  silenced.  At  that  moment 
they  advanced  from  their  position,  and  made  a  bold  attempt  to  flank  the 
left  of  the  Federals.  This  movement  was  repelled  and  defeated  by  the 
gallant  advance  of  Geary's  brigade.  At  half-past  four  the  troops  under 
Generals  Prince,  Green,  and  Geary,  were  ordered  to  charge  the  batteries 
of  the  enemy  on  the  left.  As  the  Federals  approached  they  were  assailed 
with  a  terrific  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  which  might  have  appalled  even 
veteran  warriors.  As  they  approached  the  base  of  the  mountain,  the 
Refers,  whom  the  woods  till  then  had  concealed,  rushed  forward  in  im 
mense  numbers,  and  attacked  the  Federals  with  musketry.  The  latter 
were  mowed  down  like  grain  before  the  reaper ;  but  still  they  advanced 
without  flinching.  In  a  desperate  collision  they  forced  the  enemy  back 
upon  the  mountain,  and  held  them  there  firmly.  But  soon  heavy  rein 
forcements  of  infantry,  consisting  of  about  eight  regiments,  enabled  the 
Rebels  to  overpower  the  heroes  before  them,  and  compelled  them  eventually 
to  retire.  This  movement  was  performed  quietly  and  in  good  order. 

It  was  now  half-past  six,  and  the  engagement  became  general.  It  was 
marked  by  special  fury  on  the  Federal  right  wing.  During  an  hour  the 
most  sanguinary  slaughter  was  inflicted  here  by  both  sides.  At  one  time 
the  enemy  were  successful  in  surrounding  the  right  flank,  by  the  use  of 
an  artifice  scarcely  excusable  by  the  laws  of  honorable  warfare.  Hoisting 
the  stars  and  stripes,  a  large  body  suddenly  emerged  from  the  woods  in 
such  a  position  as  to  assume  the  appearance  of  a  reinforcement  to  the 


314  THE  CIVIL   WAE  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

Federals.  The  latter,  deceived  by  the  imposition,  permitted  the  enemy 
to  approach  until  they  were  near  enough  to  inflict  upon  them  a  destructive 
volley  of  musketry.  Convinced  by  this  argument  of  their  mistake,  the 
Federal  troops  instantly  returned  the  salute,  and  charged  upon  the  foe 
with  such  ferocity  as  to  break  their  ranks,  and  compel  them  to  retreat  in 
the  utmost  disorder  behind  their  first  position.  As  night  approached,  the 
contest  became  more  and  more  furious.  General  Banks  still  held  the 
position  which  he  occupied  in  the  morning.  At  seven  o'clock  General 
Pope  arrived  upon  the  field,  and  sent  an  order  to  General  McDowell  to 
advance  General  Rickett's  division  to  support  the  troops  engaged  ;  and  he 
also  directed  General  Sigel  to  join  in  the  engagement  as  soon  as  possible. 
Rickett's  division  being  close  at  hand,  was  quickly  upon  the  field,  and 
took  up  their  position  on  the  right.  The  battle  was  then  renewed  with 
greater  desperation  and  destructiveness  than  before.  But  it  did  not  long 
continue,  in  consequence  of  the  spread  of  the  partial  darkness  of  night 
over  the  scene.  The  discharge  of  artillery  alone  was  kept  up,  and  cast 
its  lurid  horrors  around  the  combat  until  near  midnight.  At  one  time, 
before  the  charges  of  infantry  and  cavalry  terminated,  the  Rebels  drove 
back  the  Federal  troops  for  a  considerable  distance,  and  occupied  their 
position.  But  during  the  night  the  enemy  receded  up  the  mountain  to 
their  fastnesses,  and  on  the  following  day  occupied  a  line  of  defence  still 
nearer  to  its  summit. 

On  the  following  day  neither  side  seemed  disposed  to  renew  the  en 
gagement.  The  desperate  struggles  which  had  already  taken  place,  the 
overpowering  heat  of  the  weather,  the  immense  number  of  dead  and 
wounded  of  both  armies,  whose  bodies  covered  the  plain  below,  and  the 
mountain  above,  who  must  be  cared  for,  removed,  or  buried,  rendered  it 
indispensable  that  the  fighting  should  be  suspended.  It  was  not  until 
Monday  evening  that  the  process  of  burying  was  completed,  or  at  least 
terminated.  During  Sunday  all  the  available  Union  forces  were  hurfied 
forward  to  join  the  corps  of  General  Banks.  It  was  then  confidently  ex 
pected  that  the  ba.ttle  would  be  renewed,  and  an  attempt  made  to  dislodge 
the  enemy  from  their  position  on  the  mountain.  But  during  Monday 
night  they  voluntarily  withdrew  from  their  stronghold  and  crossed  the 
Rapidan.  General  Buford  was  sent  forward  with  four  regiments  of  cav 
alry  in  pursuit,  to  watch  their  movements,  and  ascertain  their  route. 
Many  of  the  Rebel  dead  were  left  unburied ;  many  of  their  wounded  were 
abandoned  to  their  fate  by  their  departing  comrades.  The  Federal  loss 
in  this  battle  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  was  about  two  thousand. 
Generals  Augur  and  Geary  were  severely  wounded.  General  Prince  and 
his  staff  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  enemy.  The  loss  of  the  Rebels  was 
at  least  three  thousand  in  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the  former  was 
General  Winder.  In  this  conflict  the  skill  and  gallantry  of  General 
Banks  were  conspicuous,  and  contributed  greatly  to  the  partial  success 


PERILOUS   POSITION   OF  GENERAL    POPE.  315 

of  the  day.  The  struggle  was  one  of  unusual  fierceness  and  determination 
on  both  sides.  The  ground  was  covered  for  several  miles  with  the  killed 
and  maimed,  whose  great  numbers  and  horrible  mutilations  attested  the 
sanguinary  nature  of  the  contest.  The  ground  in  innumerable  places  was 
ploughed  in  deep  and  rugged  gullies,  by  the  cannon-balls  or  exploding 
shells  of  the  enemy.  It  was  therefore  an  honor  to  the  Federal  troops 
engaged,  under  such  great  disadvantages  of  numbers  and  position,  that 
bv  their  heroism  and  fortitude  they  had  fought  at  Cedar  Mountain  a 
drawn  battle. 

General  Pope  had  become  satisfied  by  this  battle  that  he  had  in  his  im 
mediate  vicinity  not  a  single  corps,  but  the  entire  army  of  General 
Lee,  and  that  his  only  hope  of  success  lay  in  fighting  a  series  of  retreating 
battles,  until  he  could  receive  reinforcements  from  the  army  of  the  Poto 
mac,  now  on  its  way  to  Aquia  creek  and  Alexandria.  General  Pope 
proceeded  on  the  17th  of  August  to  take  a  position  in  the  rear  of  the  Rap- 
pahannock,  where  he  could  more  easily  obtain  reinforcements,  and  oppose 
the  passage  of  the  enemy.  He  was  soon  joined  by  the  division  of  General 
King,  and  by  that  part  of  Burnside's  corps  commanded  by  Reno.  Several 
attempts  which  were  made  by  the  Rebels  to  cross  the  river  were  defeated, 
and  every  effort  was  made  to  gain  time,  so  that  McClellan's  forces  might 
be  able  to  reach  the  scene  of  the  impending  conflict.  One  of  the  most 
signal  repulses  which  the  Rebels  received,  was  effected  by  the  troops  of 
General  Rickett's  division,  on  Thursday,  August  21st,  when  they  attempted 
to  cross  the  Rappahannock  near  the  railroad.  They  were  equally  unsuc 
cessful  at  Beverly  ford,  five  miles  distant  from  the  railroad.  But  on  the 
22d  the  Rebels  made  a  bold  charge  near  Catlett's  station,  in  the  rear  of 
Pope's  army,  upon  a  portion  of  his  baggage  and  supply  trains.  They 
were  resisted  bravely  for  a  short  time  by  the  Purnell  Legion  and  the 
Bucktail  regiment;  but  overwhelming  numbers  at  length  compelled  these 
to  give  way.  The  enemy  then  took  possession  of  a  passenger  train,  to 
gether  with  a  number  of  wagons  filled  with  the  private  stores  of  Generals 
Pope  and  McDowell,  and  other  officers.  They  also  obtained  a  portion  of 
the  papers  of  General  Pope,  though  none  of  much  importance,  They 
obtained  two  hundred  horses  from  Pope's  train,  and  twenty  from 
McDowell's ;  a  quantity  of  medicines  from  the  hospitals  erected  at  the 
station,  and  some  money.  This  bold  and  successful  raid  was  led  by  Gen 
eral  Stuart,  and  its  sudden  and  unexpected  character,  together  with  its 
disastrous  results,  were  a  source  of  mortification  to  the  Federal  generals 
who  were  the  chief  sufferers.  None  of  the  Federal  officers  who  were  en 
gaged  in  the  brief  but  spirited  contest  which  occurred  on  this  occasion, 
displayed  more  energy  and  presence  of  mind  than  Colonel  Kane  of  the 
Bucktails,  and  Colonel  Myers  of  the  staff  of  General  Pope.  The  former 
was  captured,  but  afterward  succeeded  in  making  his  escape. 

During  the  progress  of  these  events  the  Rebels  were  gradually  transfer- 


316  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

ring  the  main  body  of  their  troops  across  the  Rappahannock.  They  threw 
a  pontoon  bridge  over  the  river,  between  the  Waterloo  and  Rappahannock 
stations,  during  the  night  of  Thursday,  the  21st  of  August,  and  passed 
over  in  immense  numbers.  They  were  confronted  by  the  corps  of  Gen 
eral  Sigel,  who  assailed  them  with  a  deluge  of  canister-shot  during  the 
passage,  slaying  hundreds  of  them,  and  compelling  them  to  retreat  across 
the  river.  On  the  next  day  a  brigade,  among  whom  was  the  seventy- 
fourth  Pennsylvania  regiment,  were  ordered  by  General  Sigel,  to  cross 
the  stream,  drive  in  the  pickets  of  the  enemy,  and  attack  them.  But  the 
latter  being  suddenly  reinforced,  overwhelmed  the  Federals  with  numbers, 
compelled  them  to  retreat  to  the  river,  and  while  they  were  in  th^water 
slew  many,  after  having  taking  a  number  of  prisoners.  During  this  dis 
astrous  movement,  General  Bohlen,  a  Union  officer  of  distinction,  was 
killed.  On  the  following  day  the  batteries  of  both  armies,  which  were 
posted  along  the  river,  continued  their  exchange  of  shots.  These  various 
skirmishes,  of  greater  and  of  less  importance,  were  preliminary  to  the  more 
decisive  engagements  which  were  destined  soon  to  take  place.  While 
they  progressed  many  were  slain  on  both  sides,  much  property  was  de 
stroyed,  bridges  were  burned,  and  desolation  was  spread  over  the  face  of 
the  country,  without  any  important  results  having  been  attained  by  either 
party. 

Notwithstanding  the  resistance  made  by  portions  of  the  Federal  army 
to  the  advance  of  the  enemy  upon  Washington,  the  latter  gradually  threw 
their  forces  across  the  Rappahannock,  at  Waterloo  bridge  and  elsewhere, 
and  advanced  toward  Manassas.  The  purpose  of  the  resistance  of  the 
Union  troops  at  that  stream  was  to  enable  General  McClellan  to  reach 
the  scene  of  action  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac  prior  to  the  impending 
general  engagement.  In  vain  had  General  Halleck,  as  commander-in- 
chief,  ordered  McClellan  not  to  wait  for  transportation,  but  to  march  for 
ward  at  once.  A  mysterious  delay  characterized  the  movements  of  that 
officer,  and  General  Pope  was  ultimately  compelled  to  encounter  the  whole 
military  strength  of  the  Rebel  Confederacy  in  Virginia  without  the  assis 
tance  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 

The  operations  of  the  generals  of  the  enemy  at  this  period  were  ex 
tremely  complicated  and  skilful.  Lee  and  Longstreet  had  been  thus  far 
manoeuvring  on  the  Rappahannock  in  order  to  detain  and  occupy  Pope, 
while  Jackson  and  Ewell  were  reaching  a  position  in  his  rear.  As  soon 
as  the  Federal  commander  discovered  the  adroit  intention  of  the  Rebels, 
he  withdrew  his  forces  from  Warrenton.  He  directed  General  McDowell, 
with  his  troops,  and  with  those  of  Sigel,  to  proceed  to  Gainesville ;  he 
ordered  Heintzelman  and  Reno  to  march  to  Greenwich ;  while  he,  together 
with  Porter's  and  Hooker's  columns,  hastened  to  Manassas  Junction. 
The  troops  of  Hooker  encountered  the  enemy  at  Kettle  Run,  and  after 
a  brisk  engagement  routed  them.  Meanwhile,  the  enemy,  under  Jack- 


tie* 


SUBSEQUENT   MOVEMENTS   OF  THE  REBELS.  3l7 

son,  had  passed  around  the  north  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  and  to 
gether  with  Lee,  Ewell,  and  Longstreet,  had  poured  a  formidable  body 
of  troops  through  Thoroughfare  gap,  north  of  Warrenton,  and  occupiod 
a  position  in  the  rear  of  Pope's  army.  This  general,  at  length  com 
prehending  his  position,  ordered  McDowell  and  Sigel  to  attack  the  Rebels 
opposed  to  them.  He  directed  Hooker  to  assail  those  posted  at  Bristow's 
station,  and  drive  them  back.  A  severe  action  took  place  at  this  point 
with  the  forces  under  Ewell,  in  which  the  Federals  obtained  the  advan 
tage.  By  these  operations  General  Pope  retrieved  his  position,  and  again 
placed  himself  in  the  rear  of  the  Rebel  army.  His  front  now  faced  to 
ward  Washington.  On  Thursday  night,  August  28th,  Pope  obtained 
possession  of  Manassas,  and  effected  such  a  consolidation  of  his  troops, 
about  fifty-five  thousand  in  number,  as  to  be  able  to  attack  the  enemy, 
though  more  numerous  than  his  own  troops,  with  a  prospect  of  success. 
It  was  thought  that  the  decisive  battle  of  the  war  was  about  to  take 
place,  and  that  an  overwhelming  victory,  on  one  side  or  on  the  other, 
would  terminate  the  long  and  desperate  agony  of  the  conflict.  This 
great  battle  was  commenced  at  daylight  on  Friday,  August  29th,  1862. 

The  dispositions  which  General  Pope  had  made  at  this  stage  of  the 
contest  for  confronting  the  enemy  were  judicious.  The  troops  com 
manded  by  McDowell,  Sigel,  and  Reynolds,  were  ordered  to  take  post  at 
Gainesville ;  those  of  Kearny  and  Reno  at  Greenwich,  and  Hooker  along 
the  railroad  toward  Thoroughfare  gap.  It  seemed  impossible  that  the 
Rebel  General  Jackson  could  escape  the  toils  which  were  so  adroitly 
thrown  around  him.  During  Thursday  night,  the  28th  of  August,  Gen 
eral  Sigel,  having  been  ordered  to  attack  the  enemy  the  following  morn 
ing,  made  the  necessary  preparations  for  so  doing.  When  the  next  day 
dawned,  his  division  was  already  formed  in  line  of  battle  near  Bull  Run. 
The  left  wing  of  the  enemy  also  appeared,  resting  on  Catherine  creek, 
his  front  facing  toward  Centreville,  his  centre  posted  in  a  long  range  of 
;woods,  his  right  stationed  on  the  hills  on  both  sides  of  the  Centreville  road. 
General  Sigel  made  several  important  changes  in  the  position  of  his 
troops,  to  adapt  it  to  that  of  the  enemy ;  and  at  half-past  six  o'clock  the 
engagement  began. 

During  a  struggle  of  four  hours'  duration,  the  whole  of  the  Federal  in 
fantry  and  artillery,  commanded  by  Sigel,  were  engaged.  The  result  was 
that,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  the  troops  of  Schurz  and  Milroy  had  driven 
the  enemy  back  one  mile,  and  those  under  Schenck,  two  miles  from  their 
original  positions.  This  reverse  spurred  the  enemy  to  renewed  exertions, 
and  at  half-past  ten  they  made  a  desperate  effort  to  turn  the  extreme  left 
of  the  Federals.  They  attempted  to  outflank  the  latter  on  both  wings,  and 
to  consolidate  a  heavy  mass  of  troops  in  the  centre,  for  the  purpose  of 
breaking  the  Federal  lines.  It  was  a  critical  moment.  Jackson's  salvation 
seemed  to  depend  upon  the  success  with  which  this  grand  coup  on  his  part 


318  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

would  be  attended.  Fortunately  for  the  Federal  cause,  General  Kearny 
arrived  on  the  field  with  his  forces,  and  deployed  to  Sigel's  right  by  the 
Sudley  road.  General  Keno  also  came  up  at  the  same  time  by  the  Gaines 
ville  turnpike.  This  reinforcement  was  opportune ;  for  scarcely  were  these 
troops  placed  in  the  positions  which  most  needed  strengthening,  when  the 
grand  assault  of  the  evening  was  commenced,  along  the  whole  line,  from 
right  to  left.  A  desperate  combat  ensued.  The  German  regiments  fought 
with  the  firmness  and  enthusiasm  which  generally  characterize  the  stern 
soldiers  of  the  Teutonic  race.  In  vain  did  the  bold  and  spirited  Jackson 
hurl  upon  their  steady  ranks  the  furious  masses  of  his  Rebel  hordes.  They 
remained  steadfast,  like  an  immovable  rock,  surrounded,  and  assailed  by 
the  raging  eddies  of  a  stormy  sea.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  Gen 
eral  Hooker  reached  the  scene  of  conflict.  He  instantly  ordered  his 
troops  forward  to  participate  in  the  battle.  Their  assistance  was  valuable, 
but  still  the  preponderance  of  numbers  on  the  part  of  the  Rebels  rendered 
the  issue  doubtful.  General  Sigel  had  been  informed  by  General  Pope 
that  Fitz  John  Porter  had  been  ordered  by  him,  on  the  evening  of  the 
27th,  to  hasten  forward  with  his  division  to  his  assistance,  and  would  join 
him  on  the  left,  on  the  morning  of  the  29th.  This  expectation  was  not 
realized.  During  two  hours  more,  from  four  o'clock  until  six,  a  vigorous 
contest  progressed  between  the  contending  hosts.  General  Kearny  made 
a  desperate  charge  upon  the  extreme  left  of  the  lines  of  the  enemy,  arid 
compelled  them  to  retire.  Here  was  gained  the  most  signal  success  of 
the  day.  At  six  o'clock  a  portion  of  General  McDowell's  corps  reached  the 
scene  of  conflict.  It  was  now  evening,  and  after  a  continued  struggle  of  ten 
hours  the  battle  ceased.  The  general  result  of  this  day's  engagement  was 
favorable  to  the  Federal  troops.  The  latter  had  driven  the  whole  Rebel 
line  some  distance  from  the  position  which  they  occupied  when  the  battle 
began.  Nevertheless,  the  result  was  indecisive,  and  the  conflict  must 
necessarily  be  renewed  on  the  following  day,  before  any  definite  conse 
quences  could  be  produced  by  the  exertions  and  sacrifices  of  either  side. 
The  fate  of  the  entire  campaign,  the  issue  of  the  war,  the  destiny  of  two 
rival  republics,  seemed  to  depend  upon  the  events  of  the  succeeding 
day;  and  the  commanders  of  both  armies,  during  the  silent  hours  of 
the  intervening  night,  prepared  themselves  diligently  for  the  final 
struggle. 

In  this  engagement,  Banks  commanded  the  right  wing  of  the  Federals, 
Sigel  the  centre,  and  McDowell  the  left.  The  object  of  the  Rebel  Gen 
eral  Jackson  was  to  force  his  way  through  the  Federal  lines,  so  as  to  be 
able  to  form  a  junction  with  the  remainder  of  the  Confederate  forces  under 
Generals  Lee  and  Longstreet.  The  evident  aim  of  Pope  was  to  prevent 
this  achievement,  and  by  a  powerful  and  vigorous  assault  at  all  points  to 
surround  Jackson,  crush  his  forces,  and  take  him  and  them  prisoners.  It 
is  probable  that  if  all  the  orders  which  were  issued  by  General  Pope  for 


ENGAGEMENT   OF   THE  THIRTIETH   OF   AUGUST.  319 

this  purpose,  especially  those  sent  to  Fitz  John  Porter,  had  been  promptly 
obeyed,  the  Rebel  general  would  have  been  completely  overwhelmed 
before  he  could  be  assisted  by  General  Longstreet.  But  General  Porter 
did  not  execute  the  orders  sent  to  him  by  General  Pope,  and  it  may  with 
truth  be  affirmed,  that  to  the  failure  of  that  officer,  whether  it  were  volun 
tary  or  involuntary  on  his  part,  a  large  portion  of  the  disasters  which  oc 
curred  on  this  day  :nay  be  attributed. 

The  battle  on  the  30th  of  August  did  not  commence  with  much  energy 
until  noon.  The  troops'  on  both  sides  had  been  too  greatly  exhausted  by 
the  protracted  struggles  on  the  previous  day  to  be  very  eager  for  the  com 
bat.  During  the  day  Lee  succeeded  in  bringing  a  large  number  of  his 
troops  through  Thoroughfare  gap  to  the  assistance  of  Jackson,  and  Long- 
street  joined  him.  The  magnitude  and  diversity  of  this  engagement  may 
be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that  when  the  Federal  line  of  battle  was  formed, 
it  extended  along  the  slope  of  the  ridges  stretching  down  to  Bull  Run 
over  a  space  ten  miles  in  length,  and  two  and  a  half  miles  in  breadth. 
The  artillery  of  the  Rebels  was  posted,  as  usual,  with  great  skill,  upon  the 
most  advantageous  positions,  ranging  opposite  to  those  of  the  Federals. 
This  battle  was  rendered  memorable  by  the  circumstance  that  it  was  fought 
upon  the  scene  of  the  conflict  of  the  21st  of  July,  1861,  and  thus  the  same 
ground  was  detsined  to  witness,  on  two  occasions,  the  futile  valor,  the 
patriotic  devotion,  and  the  sanguinary  losses  of  thousands  of  the  defenders 
of  the  Union. 

It  was  not  till  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  that  the  battle  became  gen 
eral  along  the  whole  line.  The  Rebels  had  been  so  strongly  reinforced 
that  by  that  time  the  flower  of  their  whole  army  had  been  brought  into 
action.  All  the  troops  commanded  by  Lee,  Jackson,  Longstreet,  Hill, 
Ewell,  and  Johnston,  were  hurled  in  ferocious  masses  on  the  Federal 
lines.  It  is  probable  that  their  colossal  columns  numbered  not  far  from 
a  hundred  thousand  men.  These  were  met,  and  were  frequently  repulsed 
with  the  utmost  heroism  by  the  Federal  troops,  and  the  issue  of  the  day 
remained  undecided  until  about  half-past  five  o'clock.  At  that  time  an 
overwhelming  host  of  the  foe  was  precipitated  on  the  weakest  point  in  the 
Federal  lines,  that  on  the  left  wing,  commanded  by  General  McDowell. 
He  was  compelled  to  fall  back,  both  from  the  fury  of  the  assault  and  the 
threatened  danger  of  being  outflanked  by  the  enemy.  This  retrograde 
movement  changed  the  position  of  the  Federal  lines.  The  latter  still  re 
mained  on  the  right  and  centre,  where  they  were  posted  at  the  commence 
ment  of  the  engagement.  On  one  occasion  the  Rebels  boldly  advanced, 
took  a  portion  of  a  hill,  and  planted  a  battery  on  the  flank  and  almost  on 
the  rear  of  the  Federal  centre.  General  Sigel  ordered  three  regiments  of 
infantry  to  attack  them  and  dislodge  them.  Colonel  Koltes  commanded 
the  movement,  but  its  execution  failed,  the  brigade  was  nearly  decimated, 
and  Colonel  Koltes  was  killed  while  gallantly  leading  forward  his  men. 


320  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

It  was  now  evident  to  General  Pope  that  the  advancing  hosts  of  the 
Rebels,  as  they  became  more  indomitable,  enthusiastic,  and  desperate, 
from  hour  to  hour,  rendered  victory  hopeless.  Accordingly,  after  dark 
ness  had  put  an  end  to  the  combat,  he  ordered  a  general  retreat  toward 
Centreville.  During  the  following  night  the  order  was  executed  by  the 
whole  army.  At  Centreville  the  reinforcements  under  Generals  Franklin 
and  Surnner  joined  the  forces  of  Pope.  Had  these  divisions  been  sent  by 
General  McClellan  a  day  earlier,  the  issue  of  the  conflict  might  have  been 
different.  At  Centreville  the  whole  army  bivouacked,  awaiting  the 
further  movements  of  the  enemy. 

It  was  scarcely  to  be  expected  that  the  triumphant  Rebels  would  not 
follow  up  the  advantages  which  they  had  gained.  During  Sunday, 
August  31st,  no  movement  of  importance  took  place  on  either  side.  The 
immense  exertions  which  both  had  put  forth,  and  the  heavy  losses  which 
both  had  suffered,  rendered  a  short  interval  of  delay  and  of  repose  indis 
pensable.  During  Monday,  however,  General  Pope  received  information 
that  the  Confederates  were  advancing  and  concentrating  a  powerful  body 
of  troops  on  the  road  to  Fairfax  Court  House,  with  the  evident  purpose 
of  attacking  his  wagon  trains,  a  portion  of  which  they  had  already  cap 
tured.  He  instantly  ordered .  General  Heintzelman  to  proceed  with  his 
division  to  the  spot  indicated,  to  attack  and  to  repulse  the  enemy.  Generals 
Reno  and  Stevens  had  already  confronted  the  foe,  and  an  engagement  had 
already  commenced  between  them,  when  a  portion  of  Heintzelman's 
corps,  commanded  by  the  gallant  and  heroic  Kearny,  reached  the  scene 
of  conflict.  Even  then  the  troops  of  General  Stevens,  who  had  just  been 
killed,  were  retreating  from  the  field,  their  ammunition  being  exhausted. 
The  Federal  reinforcements  passed  on  toward  the  foe,  and  immediately 
engaged  them.  The  combat  quickly  became  desperate,  and  the  enemy 
were  driven  back  several  miles,  a  running-fight  being  kept  up  during  the 
chase.  A  number  of  brilliant  charges  were  made  by  the  Federal  troops 
during  the  pr-gress  of  the  conflict. 

Shortly  before  its  conclusion,  an  incident  occurred  which  led  to  the 
death  of  that  admirable  officer  who  commanded  the  Federal  heroes. 
General  Kearny  had  been  informed  that  the  gap  in  the  Federal  lines 
which  had  been  produced  by  the  retreat  of  the  troops  of  General  Stevens, 
had  been  filled  up.  At  this  moment  he  discovered  that  this  had  not  been 
done,  and  that  this  neglect  endangered  the  safety  of  the  Federal  linea. 
He  instantly  rode  forward  into  the  gap,  unattended  by  any  of  his  staff, 
who  had  been  distributed  on  various  and  distant  missions,  in  order  to 
examine  the  ground.  lie  was  never  seen  again,  alive.  He  had  not  pro 
ceeded  very  far  before  he  was  killed  by  a  well-directed  shot  from  the 
enemy.  The  cause  of  his  death  was  a  Minie  rifle-ball,  fired  by  one  of  the 
sharpshooters  of  the  foe,  who,  from  the  direction  taken  by  the  missile, 
must  have  been  concealed  in  some  deep  gully  or  rifle-pit.  The  ball 


RETREAT  OF  THE  FEDERAL  FORCES.  321 

entered  below  the  hip,  and  passed  upward  through  the  chest  and  lungs. 
On  the  next  morning  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  into  the  Federal  lines, 
bearing  with  it  the  remains  of  the  deceased  hero,  which  had  been  found 
upon  the  blood-stained  field.  After  his  absence  from  his  troops  became 
known,  General  Birney  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  men.  They  held 
possession  of  the  field  from  which  they  had  driven  the  enemy  until  three 
o'clock  the  next  morning.  They  then  returned  to  their  camp  near  Fairfax 
Court  House. 

This  spirited  engagement  took  place  near  Chantilly,  three  miles  distant 
from  Centreville.  The  enemy,  in  attempting  a  flank  movement,  had 
boldly  placed  themselves  between  General  Pope  and  Washington.  In 
the  earlier  portion  of  the  battle,  General  Reno  commanded  on  the  right, 
and  General  Stevens  on  the  left,  before  the  arrival  of  General  Kearny. 
The  death  both  of  General  Stevens  and  General  Kearny  may  be  attributed 
to  their  reckless  and  daring  valor.  The  former  led  forward  his  troops  in 
person,  and  was  slain  at  the  head  of  his  column.  The  manner  of  Kearny's 
death  also  indicated  that  he  was  brave  to  a  fault.  Their  loss  was  a  serious 
calamity  to  the  Federal  cause ;  and  their  ardent  devotion  to  the  welfare 
of  the  Union,  with  the  sacrifice  which  they  freely  made  to  it  of  their 
lives,  will  justly  entitle  them  to  the  gratitude  and  veneration  of  the  lovers 
of  their  country  during  all  coming  time.  The  greater  part  of  this 
singular  battle  was  fought  in  the  midst  of  darkness  and  tempest.  The 
rain  descended  in  a  deluge.  The  thunder  was  deafening.  The  lightning 
was  blinding.  Yet  these  comparatively  harmless  horrors  were  transcended 
by  the  more  destructive  fury  and  vengeance  of  the  human  combatants. 
After  the  death  of  General  Kearny  the  battle  was  conducted  to  the  con 
clusion  with  great  bravery  and  skill  by  General  Birney,  his  second  in 
command. 

The  retreat  of  the  whole  Federal  army  from  Centreville  to  Fairfax  was 
resumed  on  Monday  night,  September  1st.  The  Rebels  followed,  and  on 
Tuesday  morning  again  took  possession  of  their  old  line  of  intrenchments, 
from  which  they  had  so  haughtily  threatened  Washington  during  the 
preceding  winter,  and  defied  the  advance  of  the  Federal  armies.  During 
September  2d  the  retreat  was  continued ;  and  on  the  3d  the  ignominious 
boast  might  again  have  been  made  with  truth,  that  the  grand  armies  of 
Virginia  and  the  Potomac  had  arrived  safely  back  again  in  their  former 
quarters,  protected  by  the  thirty  forts  which  frowned  so  fiercely  around 
the  Federal  capital.  The  wounded  in  the  preceding  battles  had  all  been 
brought  away  with  them,  in  immense  caravans  of  ambulances  and  wagons, 
which  drew  their  sluggish  length  for  miles  along  the  road  from  Fairfax 
to  Alexandria.  The  retreat  was  made  without  much  order.  The  immense 
exertions  through  which  the  commanding  officers  had  passed  during  the 
preceding  fifteen  days,  in  which  as  many  different  engagements  of  more 
or  less  importance  had  taken  place,  had  so  completely  overcome  them 
21 


322  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

that  they  were  scarcely  able  to  enforce  discipline,  or  exercise  any  control 
over  their  brave  but  broken  and  disheartened  troops. 

Thus  ended  the  campaign  of  General  Pope  in  Virginia.  It  was  the 
most  disastrous  to  the  Federal  cause  which  had  yet  occurred.  The  losses 
suffered  were  very  great ;  though  the  precise  extent  can  only  be  conjec 
tured.  It  is  probable  that  during  all  the  contests  which  took  place  while 
General  Pope  held  the  command,  they  amounted  to  eight  thousand  killed, 
twenty  thousand  wounded  and  missing.  The  chief  cause  of  the  disasters 
which  occurred  was  the  fact,  that  the  army  of  the  Potomac  under 
McClellan  was  not  combined  with  the  army  of  Virginia,  in  time  to  meet 
and  overpower  the  enemy.* 

One  of  the  chief  disasters  connected  with  these  events  was  the  death  of 
General  Philip  Kearny.  This  officer  had  won  for  himself  a  high  reputa 
tion.  His  loss  at  that  crisis  was  a  national  calamity.  He  had  earned  by 
his  unrivalled  heroism  and  romantic  boldness  the  distinction  of  being 
regarded  as  the  Ney  or  the  Lannes  of  the  armies  of  the  Union.  He  was 
a  stranger  to  fear,  and  in  every  engagement  he  was  to  be  seen,  moving 
with  grand  and  majestic  energy,  in  the  thickest  and  fiercest  of  the  combat. 
So  well  had  the  Rebel  generals  and  soldiers  learned  to  recognize  his  per 
son  and  his  spirit,  that  they  usually  designated  him  by  the  expressive 
sobriquet  of  the  "  one-armed  devil."  He  served  with  distinction  during 
the  Mexican  war,  with  the  rank  of  major,  and  lost  an  arm  in  one  of  its 
bloodiest  battles.  He  had  subsequently  spent  some  years  in  Europe,  and 
had  borne  a  distinguished  part  as  a  volunteer  in  the  French  army  in  Alge 
ria,  the  Crimea,  and  at  Solferino.  In  1861,  he  was  the  thirteenth  on  the 
roll  of  two  hundred  brigadier-generals  who  were  rapidly  appointed.  It 
was  but  a  few  weeks  before  his  death  that  his  services  and  merits  were 
tardily  remembered,  and  he  received  the  rank  of  major-general.  He  was 
the  favorite  warrior  of  New  Jersey,  and  led  the  gallant  troops  of  that 
patriotic  State  "  to  glory  or  the  grave,"  in  the  memorable  battles  of  the 
Peninsula,  at  Yorktown,  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  White  Oak  swamp, 

*  General  Halleck,  in  his  official  report  to  the  War  Department,  of  December  2d, 
1862,  said:  "I  repeatedly  urged  upon  General  McClellan  the  necessity  of  promptly 
moving  his  army,  so  as  to  form  a  junction  with  that  of  General  Pope.  The  evacua 
tion  of  Harrison's  Landing  was  not  commenced  till  the  14th,  eleven  days  after  it  was 
ordered."  "  Had  the  army  of  the  Potomac  arrived  a  few  days  earlier,  the  Rebel  army 
could  have  been  easily  defeated,  and  perhaps  detroyed."  In  connection  with  this 
statement  it  may  be  proper  to  add  the  following  extract  from  the  letter  sent  by 
General  Halleck  to  Pope,  which  indicates  the  very  just  estimate  which  he  had  formed 
of  the  services  of  the  latter.  It  was  dated,  "  Washington,  August  31st,  1862,  11 
A.  M. — Major  General  Pope: — My  dear  General: — You  have  done  nobly.  Don't 
yield  another  inch  if  you  can  avoid  it.  All  reserves  are  being  sent  forward ;  1  am 
doing  all  in  my  power  for  you  and  your  noble  army.  God  bless  you  and  it.  Send 
me  news  more  often  if  possible.  H.  W.  Halleck."— See  "Pope's  Campaign  in 
Virginia,  its  Policy  and  Results,  frc.  By  a  General  Officer,"  p.  30. 


SKETCH    OF   GENERAL  STEVENS.  323 

Cross  Roads,  and  Malvern  Hill.  He  was,  as  all  «uch  men  are  apt  to  be, 
frank,  bold,  and  generous  in  his  temper;  intense  in  his  attachments  and 
in  his  hatreds;  but  usually  just  and  equitable  in  his  estimate  of  others. 

Equally  remarkable,  though  very  dissimilar,  was  the  character  of  Gen 
eral  Isaac  Ingalls  Stevens,  who  also  fell  at  Chantilly.  He  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts.  When  he  graduated  at  West  Point,  in  1839,  he  was  not 
only  at  the  head  of  the  best  class  which  had  ever  graduated  there,  but  so 
great  was  his  superiority  to  all  his  classmates,  that  there  were  fifteen  de 
grees  in  the  scale  of  merit  between  himself  and  the  first  cadet  below  him. 
He  served  with  distinction  in  the  Mexican  war.  He  was  breveted  cap 
tain  for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  at  Contreras,  Churubusco,  and 
Chapultepec.  His  bravery  at  the  city  of  Mexico,  in  the  storming  of  the 
San  Cosme  gate,  procured  him  the  brevet  of  major.  His  eminent  scientific 
abilities  were  afterward  employed  by  the  Government  in  conducting  the 
survey  of  the  route  for  the  Northern  Pacific  railroad.  President  Pierce 
appointed  him  Governor  of  Washington  Territory  ;  and  he  subsequently 
represented  that  Territory  in  Congress.  He  was  absent  in  his  distant 
Pacific  home  when,  the  Rebellion  commenced.  He  immediately  started 
for  the  Federal  capital,  travelled  thousands  of  miles  by  land  and  sea,  ar 
rived  at  the  period  of  the  first  battle  of  Manassas,  and  tendered  his  ser 
vices  to  the  Government.  He  was  placed  in  command  of  the  seventy- 
ninth  New  York  regiment,  whose  colonel,  Cameron,  had  fallen  on  that 
disastrous  field.  He  subsequently  accompanied  General  Sherman  to  South 
Carolina,  and  participated  in  the  conflicts  which  took  place  around  Port 
Royal.  He  was,  at  a  later  period,  transferred  to  North  Carolina,  whence 
he  returned  with  General  Reno  to  the  army  of  Virginia.  His  character 
was  peculiar.  He  also  was  ignorant  of  the  emotion  of  fear ;  but  he  was 
in  many  respects  the  opposite  of  the  impetuous,  bold,  and  reckless  Kearny. 
He  was  quiet  and  gentle  in  demeanor,  reticent  and  reserved  in  speech, 
thoughtful  and  prudent  in  action,  scientific  and  masterly  in  his  profes 
sional  knowledge,  firm,  heroic,  and  sagacious  on  the  battle-field. 

After  the  return  of  the  army  of  Virginia  within  the  works  at  Wash 
ington,  General  Pope  resigned  his  command,  and  requested  to  be  trans 
ferred  to  some  other  post  of  duty.  He  was  immediately  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  Department  of  the  Northwest,  within  whose  jurisdiction 
that  territory  lay  which  had  recently  been  afflicted  by  the  sanguinary 
cruelties  of  the  revolted  Indian  tribes.  Before  leaving  Washington,  how 
ever,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  prefer  charges  against  several  of  the  officers 
who  had  received  and  disobeyed  his  orders  during  the  engagement  near 
Manassas.  The  chief  of  these  was  Fitz  John  Porter,  to  whose  neglect  or 
perfidy  he  charged  the  misfortunes  and  defeats  which  had  been  suffered 
by  the  Federal  army.  The  chief  charge  which  he  preferred  against  that 
officer,  and  which  was  investigated  at  a  later  period  by  a  court-martial 
convened  at  Washington  for  that  purpose,  was,  that  he  had  refused  to 


324  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN   THE   UNITED    STATES. 

march  against  the  enemy,  and  to  unite  his  troops  with  that  portion  of  the 
Federal  forces,  under  Hooker  at  Kettle  Run,  on  the  28th  of  August,  though 
General  Pope  had  despatched  him  repeated  and  distinct  orders  so  to  do. 
It  was  also  clearly  proved  at  the  trial,  that  General  Porter  entertained  a 
personal  hostility  to  Pope;  that  he  had  severely  censured  his  dispositions 
for  the  campaign  ;  and  that  he  had  sent  telegrams  to  his  friends  in  Wash 
ington,  ridiculing  the  orders  and  the  management  of  that  general.  The 
evidence  produced  upon  this  trial  modified  very  essentially  the  opinion 
which  the  nation  had  entertained  in  regard  to  the  merits  and  services  of 
General  Pope ;  and  convinced  them  that  the  failure  of  the  operations 
which  he  conducted,  was  to  be  attributed,  not  so  much  to  any  incapacity 
or  neglect  of  his  own,  as  to  the  inefficiency  and  perfidy  of  some  of  those 
who  held  command  under  him. 

After  a  thorough  investigation  of  the  facts  in  the  case,  the  court,  of 
which  General  Hunter  was  the  president,  and  Mr.  Holt  the  judge-advo 
cate,  rendered  a  verdict,  finding  General  Porter  guilty  of  all  the  charges 
preferred  against  him ;  and  intimating  that,  to  his  neglect  and  disobedi 
ence  of  orders,  the  disasters  of  the  campaign  of  General  Pope  were  chiefly 
attributable.  His  finding  was  approved  by  the  President  on  the  21st  of 
January,  1863,  and  General  Porter  was  cashiered  and  dismissed  from  the 
service,  and  forever  disqualified  from  holding  any  office  of  trust  or  profit 
under  the  Government  of  the  United  States. 


BATTLE   OF  BATON   ROUGE.  325 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

BATTLE    OF  BATON    ROUOK SITUATION  OP    TEE    PLACE — PEDERAL   TROOPS    POSTED    THERE — 

MOVEMENTS  OF  GENERAL  BRECKINRIDGK INCIDENTS  OF  THE  ENOAOEMENT — DEATH  OF  GEN 
ERAL  WILLIAMS — ASSISTANCE  OF    THE    FEDERAL    GUNBOATS — FINAL    DEFEAT  AND    REPULSE 

OF   THE    REBELS THE    REBEL    RAM    ARKANSAS — ITS    DESTRUCTION INDIAN    MURDERS    AND 

DEVASTATIONS  IN  MINNESOTA CAUSES  WHICH  LED  TO  THEM — INCIDENTS  CONNECTED  WITH 

THEM — THEIR  SUPPRESSION  AND    PUNISHMENT GENERAL    8IBLEY BATTLB    FOUGHT  NKAR 

RICHMOND,  KENTUCKY FEDERAL  TROOPS  ENGAGED — FEDERAL  ADVANTAGE FEDERAL  RE 
PULSE UNION  TROOPS  ARE  RE-FORMED  IN  LINE  OF  BATTLE  THREE  TIMES GENERAL  NELSON 

— FEDERAL  LOSSES — BATTLE  AT  TAZEWELL EXPEDITION  OF  COLONEL    ELLET  ON  THE  MIS 
SISSIPPI  AND  UP  THE    YAZOO CAPTURE  OF  THE    TRANSPORT  FAIR  PLAY — RESULTS   OF    THE 

EXPEDITION — BATTLE     NEAR     DENMARK,    TENNESSEE — INCIDENTS    OF    THE    ENGAGEMENT 

HEROISM  OF    CAPTAIN    FRISBIE FEDERAL    VICTORY APPREHENSIONS  OF  AN    INVASION  OF 

OHIO  BY  THE  REBELS — PROCLAMATION  OF  GOVERNOR  TOD PREPARATIONS  MADE  TO  RECEIVE 

THE  ENEMY GENERAL  LEWIS  WALLACE — RETREAT    OF    THE  REBELS TERMINATION  OF  THE 

POPULAR  EXCITEMENT — SUMMARY  OF  UNIMPORTANT  EVENTS  IN  AUGUST,  1862. 

WHILE  these  important  events  were  transpiring  in  the  vicinity  of 
Washington,  the  champions  and  the  enemies  of  the  Federal  Union  were 
active  in  other  portions  of  the  country  ;  and  hostilities  were  carried  on  at 
various  points  with  unremitting  energy. 

On  the  5th  of  August,  1862,  a  spirited  engagement  took  place  at  Baton 
Rouge,  Louisiana,  in  which  the  Rebel  forces  were  commanded  by  John 
C.  Breckinridge.  This  town  is  situated  on  the  first  high  bluff'  which 
exists  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  above  its  mouth.  It  stretches  along 
the  margin  of  the  river;  and  in  its  rear,  a  number  of  Federal  troops  had 
been  stationed,  commanded  by  General  Williams.  These  troops  consisted 
of  the  twenty-first  Indiana,  fourteenth  Maine,  the  seventh  Vermont,  the 
sixth  battery,  the  thirteenth  Massachusetts,  the  fourth  Wisconsin,  the 
ninth  Connecticut,  and  the  sixth  Michigan.  But  among  all  these  regiments 
there  were  not  more  than  twenty-five  hundred  effective  men.  The  posses 
sion  of  Baton  Rouge  was  of  importance  to  the  contending  parties,  inas 
much  as  it  controlled  the  navigation  of  that  portion  of  the  Mississippi. 
The  Rebel  forces  sent  to  assault  it  were  detached  from  those  which  occu 
pied  and  defended  Yicksburg.  These  were  about  five  thousand  in  number, 
and  when  they  approached  Baton  Rouge,  before  dawn  on  the  5th,  a 
mistake  occurred  on  their  part  which  inflicted  upon  them  a  serious  calamity. 
As  their  column  was  advancing  three  miles  from  the  town,  they  were 
suddenly  assailed  by  a  volley  of  musketry  from  an  adjoining  field  of 
sugar  cane,  by  which  a  number  were  slain  and  wounded.  Among  the 
former  of  these,  was  Alexander  H.  Todd,  whose  relationship  to  Mr.  Lin 
coln  gave  him  a  notoriety  which  delivered  him  from  an  otherwise  inevi- 


326  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

table  oblivion.  Cobb's  Kentucky  battery  was  also  disabled,  and  their  gun- 
carriages  broken.  This  deadly  salute  came  from  the  allies  of  the  Rebel 
forces.  As  soon  as  order  was  restored,  the  latter  continued  to  advance, 
and  having  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Federal  forces,  their  line  of  battle 
was  formed.  Their  object  soon  became  apparent.  It  was  to  concentrate 
their  fire  upon  the  centre  of  the  Federal  lines  where  the  Indiana  regiment 
was  posted.  This  regiment  made  a  brave  resistance;  but  though  the 
fourteenth  Maine  soon  came  to  their  assistance,  both  were  eventually 
compelled  to  give  way  and  retire  from  their  position.  The  Rebels  pur 
sued  their  advantage,  and  advanced  into  a  portion  of  the  Federal  camp 
which  had  thus  been  evacuated.  This  they  instantly  plundered  and  burned. 
They  also  obtained  possession  of  a  single  gun  of  Everett's  battery.  But 
the  victors  were  destined  to  experience  a  warm  reception.  The  sixth 
Michigan  now  opened  upon  them  with  musketry  and  artillery,  and  as 
sisted  by  the  Indiana  troops  who  had  rallied,  charged  upon  the  foe,  ex 
pelled  them  from  the  camp  which  they  had  gained,  and  recovered  the  lost 
cannon.  It  was  during  this  brilliant  charge  that  General  Williams  was 
slain.  He  received  a  musket  ball  in  the  breast  while  at  the  head  of  his 
troops,  and  as  he  was  carried  to  the  rear,  he  cheered  on  his  men  to  victory 
with  his  expiring  breath.  In  the  centre,  the  success  against  the  enemy 
was  at  this  moment  complete.  Being  repulsed  at  this  point,  the  attack 
of  the  Rebels  was  then  directed  against  the  sixth  Michigan,  who  had  re 
sumed  their  first  position.  The  enemy  attempted  to  scale  a  high  picket- 
fence  which  intercepted  them.  This  intention  was  opposed  for  some  time 
with  desperate  determination  by  one  of  the  companies  of  this  regiment, 
who  deployed  along  the  fence,  and  running  their  muskets  through  the 
openings  of  the  pickets,  fired  in  the  faces  of  the  enemy.  The  latter  quickly 
returned  the  assault  in  the  same  manner ;  and  thus  the  combatants  were 
fighting  on  opposite  sides  of  the  fence  and  within  arm's-length  of  each 
other.  At  length  the  Rebels  succeeded  in  tearing  down  the  pickets,  and 
the  combat  continued  until  they  were  driven  back. 

After  the  battle  had  progressed  an  hour,  a  portion  of  the  enemy  were 
discovered  approaching  the  right  wing  of  the  Federals,  for  the  purpose  of 
flanking  it.  The  latter  reserved  their  fire  until  the  Rebels  came  within 
fifty  paces.  Both  sides  then  commenced  an  exchange  of  musketry  which 
was  very  destructive.  The  Federals  were  driven  back  into  a  ditch,  but 
they  quickly  rallied;  a  portion  of  the  sixth  Michigan  came  to  their  aid, 
and  they  charged  upon  the  enemy  in  return.  Panic-stricken  at  this  sud 
den  reverse,  the  Rebels  retreated,  abandoning  their  flag,  a  piece  of  artillery, 
and  some  prisoners.  Meanwhile,  along  other  portions  of  the  line  the 
battle  raged  with  fury.  Nim's  battery,  supported  by  the  thirtieth  Massa 
chusetts,  was  charged  upon  three  times  successively,  and  as  often  they 
repulsed  the  enemy  with  immense  slaughter.  Everett's  battery  was  also 
worked  with  great  effect.  After  the  death  of  General  Williams,  Colonel 


DESTRUCTION   OF  THE  RAM  ARKANSAS.  327 

Cahill  took  command,  and  displayed  superior  skill  and  energy  in  the 
conduct  of  the  engagement. 

The  Rebels  had  confidently  anticipated  the  co-operation  of  the  ram 
Arkansas  during  the  battle.  In  this  expectation  they  were  disappointed. 
But  they  suffered  from  an  assault  which  they  had  not  apprehended.  After 
the  battle  had  continued  from  four  in  the  morning  until  noon,  the  Federal 
gunboats  Essex,  Sumter,  and  Kineo,  shelled  the  enemy  in  the  woods  in 
which  they  were  ensconced,  and  effectually  prevented  them  from  advancing 
farther  in  their  attack  upon  the  Federal  troops.  The  latter  had  retreated 
within  the  reach  of  the  protection  of  these  valuable  allies,  and  doubtless 
owed  their  subsequent  safety  and  escape  from  the  overwhelming  masses 
of  the  enemy  to  their  proximity  and  their  interposition.  When  Breck- 
inridge  discovered  the  efficiency  of  the  Federal  gunboats,  he  gave  the 
order  for  a  general  retreat  from  the  scene  of  conflict.  His  attack  proved 
a  total  failure.  He  was  unable  to  drive  the  Federal  troops  from  the  town, 
or  to  obtain  possession  of  it.  Among  the  Rebel  slain,  was  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  Clarke.  The  losses  on  both  sides  were  heavy.  That  of  the  Federal 
troops  was  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  killed,  six  hundred  wounded. 
That  of  the  Rebels  was  much  greater,  in  consequence  of  the  much  greater 
efficiency  of  the  Federal  batteries. 

The  fate  of  the  ram  Arkansas  was  singular.  She  left  Vicksburg  at  two 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  August  3d,  and  had  ample  time  to 
reach  Baton  Rouge  in  time  to  assist  the  Rebel  forces.  But  when  she 
arrived  within  fifteen  miles  of  Baton  Rouge  her  starboard  engine  broke 
down,  and  she  suffered  other  derangements  in  her  machinery,  which  for 
bade  her  farther  progress,  and  wholly  unfitted  her  to  confront  the  Federal 
gunboats,  which  were  already  at  Baton  Rouge.  The  Arkansas,  however, 
drifted  helplessly  down  the  stream,  and  finally  grounded.  On  the  6th  of 
August,  after  the  battle,  the  Federal  gunboats  steamed  up  the  river,  and 
at  nine  o'clock  came  within  view  of  the  Rebel  ram.  They  instantly 
opened  upon  their  foe,  who  responded  from  her  rear  guns.  But  as  she 
was  in  a  comparatively  harmless  and  useless  condition,  her  chief  officer 
Lieutenant  Stevens,  ordered  her  crew  to  abandon  her,  and  to  escape  to  the 
shore.  After  this  had  been  done,  he  prepared  to  blow  her  up.  Soon  the 
match  was  applied,  a  tremendous  explosion  took  place,  and  the  vessel  was 
shattered  to  fragments.  Thus  ended  the  career  of  the  famous  ram  Arkan 
sas.  Commodore  W.  D.  Porter  was  the  commodore  of  the  Federal  flotilla 
which  rendered  such  efficient  service  to  the  land  forces  in  the  defence  of 
Baton  Rouge,  without  whose  aid  the  enemy  would  unquestionably  have 
achieved  a  victory,  and  obtained  possession  of  the  place. 

After  a  long  period  of  propitious  peace  and  harmony  had  existed  be 
tween  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  the  Indian  tribes  who  inhabit 
the  remote  western  frontier,  the  horrors  of  civil  war  were  introduced  by 
the  savages  in  August,  1862,  and  deeds  of  blood  were  perpetrated,  com- 


328  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

pared  with  which  the  worst  excesses  of  civilized  warfare  appear  insignifi 
cant.  This  insurrection  of  the  Indians  extended  along  the  western  border 
of  Minnesota,  from  Fort  Ripley  to  the  southern  boundary  of  the  State. 
Two  causes,  doubtless,  contributed  to  its  occurrence.  The  most  potent 
of  these  was  the  neglect  of  the  Federal  Government,  or  of  its  agents,  to 
pay  the  sums  of  money  due  them,  according  to  the  stipulations  existing 
between  the  two  races,  in  exchange  for  their  bartered  territories ;  together 
with  the  outrageous  frauds  which  the  agents  of  the  Government  had  con 
tinually  practised  upon  them.  During  a  number  of  years,  these  agents 
had  cheated  the  Sioux  and  Chippewas  in  the  most  scandalous  manner.  A 
single  incident  will  illustrate  the  truth  of  this  accusation.  Out  of  the 
seventy -five  thousand  dollars  which  Congress  had  appropriated  for  the 
education  of  the  Sioux,  not  five  thousand  dollars  reached  its  intended  and 
legitimate  destination.*  The  other  cause  which  led  to  this  outbreak  of 
savage  ferocity  was  the  influence  exerted  by  a  number  of  emissaries  of 
the  Rebel  government,  who  represented  that  the  Federal  Union  had  fallen 
into  chaos,  and  that  the  propitious  hour  of  their  deliverance  and  revenge 
had  at  length  arrived. 

The  most  terrible  scenes  of  cruelty,  on  the  part  of  the  savages,  occurred 
at  the  Upper  and  Lower  Sioux  agencies,  at  New  Ulm,  and  at  Fort 
Ridgley.  But  the  slaughter  was  not  confined  to  these  localities.  Through 
out  the  whole  country  already  designated,  farm-houses  were  attacked, 
plundered,  and  burned,  and  their  inmates  murdered.  No  mercy  was 
shown  to  sex  or  age.  Furious  bands  of  savages  raged  through  the  land, 
carrying  desolation  and  ruin  with  them,  and  hundreds  of  estimable  and 
innocent  citizens  were  made  to  suffer  calamities  which  had  been  prompted 
by  the  knaveries  of  government  agents,  and  the  instigations  of  Rebel 
emissaries.  At  New  Ulm,  an  attack  was  made  by  two  hundred  mounted 
Indians  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  village,  a  portion  of  which  they 
burned.  During  a  series  of  assaults  which  they  made,  several  hundred 
were  slain  and  wounded.  The  citizens  barricaded  the  streets,  and  made 
such  defence  as  they  were  able  against  their  inhuman  foes ;  but,  had  not 
reinforcements  opportunely  arrived,  consisting  of  men  and  arms  from  the 
State  government  at  St.  Paul,  the  whole  town  would  have  been  ultimately 
destroyed,  and  its  inhabitants  murdered.  The  roads  which  led  from  New 
Ulm  to  the  several  Sioux  agencies  were  lined  with  the  bodies  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  who  had  been  overtaken  in  their  efforts  to  escape 
the  tomahawks  and  rifles  of  the  ruthless  foe,  and  murdered.  .The  several 
forts  which  had  been  erected  in  that  vicinity  were  attacked.  On  the  20th 
of  August,  a  horde  of  Indians  appeared  near  Fort  Ripley,  which  was  de 
fended  by  one  hundred  Federal  troops.  It  was  evidently  their  intention 

*  A  certain  Indian  agent  is  well  known  to  have  affirmed  publicly  that  his  office 
was  worth  a  hundred  thousand  dollars. 


1 


INDIAN   MURDERS   AND   DEVASTATIONS   IN   MINNESOTA.     329 

to  make  an  assault  upon  the  barracks,  though  they  approached  the  works 
warily,  under  cover  of  the  woods  and  ravines.  After  driving  in  the 
pickets,  they  discharged  a  volley  upon  a  detachment  which  was  stationed 
at  one  of  the  northern  entrances.  Lieutenant  Sheehan,  who  commanded 
the  fort,  responded  with  musketry  Sergeant  Jones,  who  had  charge  of 
several  six-pound  mountain  howitzers,  sent  a  shell,  which  exploded 
among  the  crowd  of  the  enemy,  and  killed  a  number  of  them.  The  In 
dians,  who  seemed  to  be  nearly  one  thousand  in  number,  then  surrounded 
the  fort,  and  continued  to  pour  a  flood  of  rifle  and  musket-balls  into  every 
point  which  was  assailable.  The  garrison  and  the  guns  of  the  fort  re 
sponded  briskly,  and  the  contest  was  continued  with  unremitting  fury, 
until  the  darkness  of  night  spread  over  the  scene.  The  skill  and  fortitude 
exhibited  by  Lieutenant  Sheehan,  in  the  defence  of  the  fort,  deserve  the 
highest  praise,  and  preserved  the  lives  of  hundreds  who  had  taken  refuge 
within  its  walls. 

A  second  attack  was  made  by  a  numerous  body  of  Indians,  on  New 
Ulm,  on  the  23d  of  August.  The  place  was  then  defended  by  Captain 
Flandreau,  with  a  small  number  of  troops.  The  savages  made  a  desperate 
attack  upon  the  town.  They  were  met  with  fortitude  by  the  soldiers,  and 
such  of  the  inhabitants  as  were  furnished  with  arms,  who  fired  from  the 
houses  upon  the  enemy  when  they  charged  through  the  streets.  Some 
of  them  were  on  foot,  and  some  on  ponies.  The  conflict  continued  till 
dark,  and  many  of  the  buildings  in  the  town  were  burned.  On  the  fol 
lowing  morning,  the  attack  was  renewed,  and  was  continued  until  noon. 
At  that  time  a  detachment  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  volunteers  arrived, 
under  command  of  Captain  Julian  Cox,  who  had  been  sent  by  Colonel 
Sibley  to  the  relief  of  the  town.  This  reinforcement  induced  the  Indians 
to  suspend  their  attack,  and  retire.  But  the  Union  officers  thought  it 
wiser  that  the  inhabitants  should  evacuate  the  place,  rather  than  endure 
the  horrors  of  further  assault  and  persecution  by  the  savages.  Accord 
ingly,  preparations  were  made  to  transport  two  thousand  people,  including 
the  sick  and  wounded,  to  a  safer  asylum.  At  daylight,  the  barricades 
were  broken  open,  and  a  train  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  wagons,  filled 
with  the  sick  and  wounded,  women  and  children,  commenced  their  peril 
ous  march  through  a  country  in  which  the  treacherous  and  bloodthirsty 
savages  constantly  hovered  around  them.  Their  journey  was  thirty  miles 
in  length.  They  were  escorted  through  the  whole  distance  by  the  troops 
under  Captain  Flandreau's  command,  and  reached  their  destination  in 
safety.  But  though  they  escaped  with  their  lives,  they  were  stripped  of 
almost  every  thing  they  possessed.  In  a  single  day,  hundreds  who  had 
been  in  opulent  or  comfortable  circumstances  were  rendered  destitute  and 
miserable. 

Similar  scenes  occurred  at  other  places,  the  horrid  details  of  which  may 
well  be  spared.  During  a  number  of  weeks,  terror  and  desolation  reigned 


330  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

throughout  the  country,  and  an  immense  number  of  murders  and  other 
outrages  were  committed,  attended  with  every  circumstance  to  aggravate 
their  atrocity  which  the  human  mind  can  conceive.  During  their  pro 
gress  the  State  government  had  not  been  idle.  Governor  Ramsey  issued 
a  proclamation,  calling  upon  the  militia  of  the  valley  of  the  Minnesota, 
nnd  the  counties  adjoining  the  frontier,  to  arm  and  equip  themselves, 
:»nd  unite  with  the  expedition  which,  under  Colonel  Sibley,  was  about 
to  move  up  the  Minnesota  river,  to  the  scene  of  hostilities.  He  placed 
a  regiment  of  infantry,  comprising  a  thousand  men,  with  three  hundred 
cavalry,  under  the  orders  of  that  officer,  which  force  was  to  be  addi 
tional  to  the  volunteers  who  might  tender  their  services. 

This  call  received  a  ready  response,  and  a  large  number  of  armed  citi 
zens  joined  the  expedition,  which  at  length  began  its  march  from  Fort 
Ridgley,  on  the  19th  of  September.  On  the  22d,  Colonel  Sibley  reached 
Wood  Lake,  near  Yellow  Medicine.  During  his  progress,  he  saw 
various  groups  of  savages,  who  hovered  around  his  column,  acting  in 
the  capacity  of  spies  to  the  main  body.  On  the  morning  of  the  23d  the 
camp  of  the  Union  troops  was  attacked  by  three  hundred  Indians,  who 
rushed  forward  suddenty,  sounding  their  savage  war-whoops.  This  body 
was  met  by  a  detachment  under  Lieutenant  Gorman  and  Major  Welch, 
who,  after  a  furious  conflict  with  musketry,  repulsed  them.  While  this 
was  going  on  another  portion  of  the  Indian  force  passed  through  a  ravine 
<>n  the  right,  with  the  intention  of  making  an  attack  on  the  flank.  The 
third  regiment,  with  a  portion  of  the  seventh,  was  ordered  by  Colonel 
Sibley  to  confront  these  savages.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Marshal  commanded 
these  troops,  and  after  a  few  volleys  of  musketry,  assisted  by  one  six- 
]>« muder,  cleared  the  ravine,  and  compelled  the  savages  to  retire.  An 
attack  was  also  made  by  the  Indians  upon  the  extreme  left  of  the  camp. 
This  was  also  repulsed  after  a  vigorous  contest  by  the  troops  under  Major 
McLaren.  The  Indians,  after  the  battle  had  raged  two  hours,  retired  at 
nil  points,  having  suffered  a  complete  defeat.  Their  killed  were  thirty  in 
number,  their  wounded  two  hundred.  After  the  battle,  they  sent  a  flag 
of  truce  to  the  commanding  officer,  stating  that  a  portion  of  the  attacking 
force  desired  peace,  as  they  were  not  sufficiently  strong  to  fight  the  Union 
troops.  Colonel  Sibley  replied  that  it  would  be  time  enough  to  talk  of 
pence,  after  they  had  released  the  numerous  captives  they  had  taken,  and 
h;nl  treated  with  the  utmost  barbarity.  The  savages  were  commanded 
in  this  battle  by  a  notorious  and  desperate  brave,  named  Little  Crow. 
The  defeat  which  they  suffered  at  Yellow  Medicine  produced  a  decisive 
eft'ect  upon  their  fortitude.  Though  other  collisions  of  minor  consequence 
subsequently  occurred  between  them  and  the  Federal  forces,  they  were 
eventually  overpowered ;  the  insurrection  was  crushed  ;  a  large  number 
of  prisoners  were  taken,  including  some  of  their  most  ferocious  warriors, 
whose  atrocities  richly  deserved  the  penalty  of  death  ;  and  tranquillity 


BATTLE   NEAR   RICHMOND,  KENTUCKY.  331 

was  again  restored  to  a  region  which  had  been  desolated  by  all  the  horrors 
of  the  most  inhuman  and  savage  warfare. 

On  the  30th  of  August,  1862,  a  desperate  conflict  took  place  at  Rodgers- 
ville,  six  miles  from  Richmond,  Kentucky,  between  the  Federal  and 
Rebel  forces,  which  resulted  in  a  complete  and  disgraceful  overthrow  to 
the  champions  of  the  Union.  The  Federal  troops  consisted  of  the  ninety- 
fifth  Ohio,  the  twelfth,  sixteenth,  sixty-sixth,  sixty-ninth,  and  seventy-first 
Indiana,  the  eighteenth  Kentucky,  together  with  two  regiments  of  cavalry, 
under  Colonel  Metcalf,  and  nine  field-pieces.  These  troops  amounted  to 
about  eight  thousand  men,  and  were  commanded  by  General  M.  D.  Manson. 
The  Rebel  forces  numbered  fifteen  thousand,  and  were  under  the  orders 
of  General  Kirby  Smith.  On  the  day  preceding  the  battle,  the  Union 
pickets  were  driven  in  from  Big  Hill,  ten  miles  south  of  Richmond. 
General  Manson  then  attacked  the  Rebels,  with  a  portion  of  his  men,  and 
gained  a  decided  advantage.  After  this  skirmish,  he  moved  his  troops  to 
Rodgersville  and  halted  for  the  night,  waiting  for  the  approach  of  the 
enemy.  When  the  next  day  dawned,  the  pickets  of  the  Rebels  were 
encountered.  The  line  of  battle  was  soon  formed,  and  after  some  partial 
and  preliminary  operations,  the  engagement  became  general  between  all 
the  forces.  At  first  the  fortune  of  the  day  seemed  in  favor  of  the  Federals. 
The  sixty-ninth  Indiana,  commanded  by  Colonel  Korf,  being  ordered  to 
support  the  troops  on  the  left,  who  were  heavily  pressed,  executed  the 
movement  •with  great  gallantry.  They  assailed  the  enemy  with  spirit, 
and  drove  them  back.  But  all  their  heroism  was  vain.  The  immense 
superiority  in  numbers  which  the  enemy  possessed,  compelled  the  sixty- 
ninth  to  give  way.  The  panic  now  spread  from  regiment  to  regiment. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Topping  was  killed.  Major  Conkling  also  fell.  The 
fire  and  fury  of  the  Rebels  became  resistless,  and  a  general  rout  ensued. 
The  chase  was  continued  two  miles  and  a-half.  General  Manson  then 
succeeded  in  reforming  his  men  in  line  of  battle,  and  renewed  the  engage 
ment.  His  artillery  was  posted  on  his  right  and  left  wings,  and  his  troops 
fought  with  some  steadiness,  though  with  much  irregularity  and  confusion. 
This  circumstance  resulted  from  the  fact  that  they  were  nearly  all  raw 
recruits,  who  had  scarcely  borne  arms  a  month.  They  soon  became  panic- 
stricken,  again  broke,  and  fled  in  the  utmost  disorder  toward  Richmond. 
Before  reaching  that  town,  they  were  met  by  Major-General  Nelson,  who 
was  approaching  from  Lexington.  He  endeavored  to  stem  the  ignomini 
ous  tide ;  succeeded,  with  the  assistance  of  the  officers,  in  again  rallying 
the  fugitives;  and  for  the  third  time  they  were  placed  in  line  of  battle. 
But  it  was  now  ascertained  that  the  ammunition  of  the  artillery  was  ex 
hausted.  During  the  flight,  the  immense  number  of  stragglers,  deserters, 
and  captives,  had  reduced  the  Federal  force  to  about  three  thousand  men. 
These  were  now  very  nearly  surrounded  by  the  enemy.  They  again  fled 
in  greater  disorder  than  before.  It  was  necessary  for  them  to  cut  their 


332  THE   CIVIL   WAK  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

way  through  a  portion  of  the  Rebel  host,  to  escape  capture.  In  effecting 
this  operation,  General  Nelson  was  wounded  by  a  musket-ball  in  the 
thigh  ;  though  he  afterward  succeeded  in  reaching  Lexington.  The  enemy 
pursued  the  Federals  into  Richmond,  expelled  them  thence,  and  took  pos 
session  of  the  place  before  night.  The  broken  remains  of  the  Union  force 
continued  their  flight  beyond  the  reach  of  the  enemy.  Their  loss  was 
heavy.  Their  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  amounted  to  one  third  of 
their  entire  body.  This  defeat  was  one  of  the  most  overwhelming  and 
unfortunate  which  had  afflicted  the  Federal  cause  during  the  progress  of 
the  war.  It  was  a  fitting  continuation  of  the  disgraceful  retreat  of  the 
troops  commanded  by  General  DeCourcy,  from  Tazewell  to  Cumberland 
gap,  on  the  preceding  9th  of  August,  where  the  bravery  of  the  men  was 
rendered  wholly  unavailable  through  the  apparent  incompetence  of  the 
commanding  officer. 

The  remarkable  success  which  the  arms  of  the  Con  federates  had  recently 
obtained,  and  the  vigor  with  which  they  were  able  to  repel  the  most  de 
termined  efforts  of  the  Federal  Government  to  crush  and  conquer  them, 
inspired  them  with  confidence  and  increased  their  audacity.  The  result 
was  that  they  now  conceived  the  resolution  no  longer  to  act  on  the  defen 
sive,  but  to  become  themselves  the  invaders  of  the  loyal  territory.  The 
Rebel  leaders  confidently  expected  to  find  sympathy  and  co-operation  in 
Maryland.  They  imagined  that  a  powerful  disunion  sentiment  lay  slum 
bering  within  the  breasts  of  a  large  proportion  of  the  population  of  that 
Stute,  which  only  required  the  presence  of  Confederate  armies  in  their 
midst,  to  evoke  into  active  and  resistless  operation.  Accordingly,  that 
portion  of  their  troops  which  had  engaged  Pope  at  Manassas,  commenced 
to  move  from  their  position  in  the  vicinity  of  Fairfax  Court  House,  and 
approached  the  Potomac  on  the  5th  of  September.  Proceeding  through 
Leesburg  they  crossed  at  the  ferries  of  Edwards,  Conrad,  Nolen,  and  Smith, 
which  are  situated  about  forty  miles  above  Washington.  In  their  progress 
they  destroyed  the  bridge  over  the  Monocacy.  On  the  morning  of  the 
6th,  their  advance  under  General  Hill,  reached  Frederick,  and  took  pos 
session  of  the  town.  They  also  held  Point  of  Rocks  and  Poolesville.  The 
advance  of  the  invading  force  was  commanded  by  General  Jackson.  Such 
property  of  the  Federal  Government  as  fell  into  their  hands,  they  retained 
or  destroyed.  The  property  of  individuals,  they  protected  in  accordance 
with  the  promise  contained  in  the  proclamation  which  General  Lee  ad 
dressed  to  the  inhabitants  of  Maryland,  when  he  entered  the  State.  In 
that  proclamation,  being  dated  at  Frederick,  September  8th,  1862,  he 
endeavored  to  convince  the  people  of  Maryland  that  they  had  suffered 
innumerable  wrongs  at  the  hands  of  the  Federal  Government ;  and  he 
tendered  his  services  and  those  of  his  troops  to  assist  them  in  recovering 
their  inalienable  rights  as  freemen,  of  which  they  had  been  ignominiously 
deprived.  But  the  inhabitants  of  Maryland  were  not  aware  of  the  fact 


THE  RP;BEL  ARMY  IN  MARYLAND.  333 

that  they  had  endured  so  much  ;  and  the  pathetic  story  of  their  sufferings 
was  an  interesting  and  somewhat  amusing  novelty  to  them.  Consequently, 
the  Rebel  commander  and  his  army  received  little  of  that  sympathy  and 
co-operation  from  the  citizens  of  the  State,  in  the  execution  of  their  be 
nevolent  design,  which  they  expected.  The  vast  majority  of  them  regarded 
their  proffered  commiseration  with  contempt.  Already,  however,  had 
shrewd  observers  apprehended  that  this  invasion  would  not  terminate  in 
Maryland.  The  popular  excitement  became  intense  throughout  the  border 
counties  of  Pennsylvania.  On  the  10th  of  September,  Governor  Curtin 
issued  a  proclamation  in  which  he  called  upon  all  the  able-bodied  men  in 
the  Commonwealth  to  organize  military  companies,  and  hold  themselves 
in  readiness  to  march  against  the  approaching  foe.  This  order  was 
promptly  and  willingly  obeyed.  The  several  counties  of  the  State,  espe 
cially  those  near  the  border,  were  instantly  alive  with  military  activity ; 
the  busy  hum  of  martial  preparations  was  heard  on  every  hand,  and  a 
single  mind  seemed  to  animate  the  entire  population. 

From  Frederick,  the  Rebel  army  advanced  through  Middletown,  Boons- 
borough,  Williamsport,  and  reached  Hagerstown  on  the  9th  of  September. 
While  these  forces  were  proceeding  northward,  a  detachment  of  Federal 
cavalry,  under  General  Pleasonton,  were  passing  to  their  rear.  These  took 
possession  of  Frederick  after  it  had  been  abandoned  by  the  Rebels,  for 
the  purpose  of  intercepting  their  return.  Skirmishing  occurred  frequently 
between  the  rear  of  the  Rebel  forces  and  the  Federal  troops.  Colonel 
Farnsworth,  on  the  13th  of  September,  charged,  with  the  eighth  Illinois 
cavalry,  upon  two  regiments  of  the  enemy,  at  some  distance  from  Hagers 
town,  by  which  movement  he  took  forty  prisoners.  In  the  afternoon  of 
that  day,  four  squadrons  of  the  third  Indiana  cavalry  attacked  a  regiment 
of  Rebel  cavalry  on  the  Middletowu  road.  The  Federal  loss  was  thirty 
killed  and  wounded  ;  that  of  the  Rebels  about  fifty.  But  the  wagon  trains 
of  the  latter  were  so  fiercely  assailed,  that  they  were  compelled  to  burn  a 
large  number  of  them,  to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
Federals.  On  the  14th,  General  Burnside  passed  through  Frederick  with 
a  considerable  force,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  At  this  period,  General 
McClellan  had  put  his  whole  army  in  motion,  except  so  much  of  it  as  was 
necessary  for  the  defence  of  Washington,  and  was  approaching  the  enemy 
near  Hagerstown.  This  circumstance,  together  with  the  disgust  and  dis 
appointment  of  the  Rebel  generals  at  the  unexpected  measure  of  loyalty 
which  they  encountered  among  the  citizens  of  Maryland,  induced  them, 
at  this  moment,  to  abandon  any  design  to  extend  their  invasion  into 
Pennsylvania,  which  they  might  have  entertained.  General  Lee,  therefore, 
suddenly  returned,  with  the  intention  of  recrossing  the  Potomac  at  Wil 
liamsport  and  Harper's  Ferry.  But  General  McClellan  had  now  succeeded 
in  placing  his  forces  in  such  a  position  as  to  intercept  the  purposed  retreat. 
It  was  impossible  for  the  enemy  to  escape  without  a  battle.  The  left  wing 


334  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

of  the  Federal  army  pursued  a  part  of  the  Rebel  forces  to  South  Mountain, 
where  a  desperate  engagement  was  fought  on  the  14th  of  September,  to 
be  followed  by  the  still  more  important  conflict  of  Antietam.  But  before 
we  proceed  to  narrate  the  details  of  these  engagements,  we  will  briefly 
direct  our  attention  to  several  events  which  occurred  elsewhere,  and 
which  require  to  be  noticed  here,  in  their  chronological  order. 

On  the  16th  of  August,  Colonel  .Ellet,  who  commanded  the  Federal 
ram  fleet  on  the  Mississippi,  stationed  at  Helena,  Arkansas,  conducted  a 
spirited  expedition  down  the  river,  consisting  of  seven  rams  and  three 
gunboats.  The  object  of  this  expedition,  was  to  encounter  the  flotilla  of 
the  enemy,  which  might  be  cruising  in  those  waters,  especially  to  meet 
the  Star  of  the  West,  which  the  Rebels  had  captured  and  fitted  up  as  a 
gunboat;  and,  if  possible,  by  some  spirited  achievement,  to  break  the 
monotony  and  inactivity  which  had  for  some  time  prevailed  in  the  opera 
tions  of  the  Federal  officers  in  that  region. 

Nothing  of  importance  occurred  in  the  passage  down  the  stream,  until 
at  Milliken's  Bend  they  met  the  Rebel  transport  Fair  Play.  She  had  on 
board  a  cargo  of  five  thousand  stand  of  arms,  with  a  large  amount  of 
ammunition,  provisions,  and  other  property,  which  were  to  be  disembarked 
at  Little  Rock.  The  presence  of  the  Federal  boats  was  entirely  unex 
pected  ;  and  when  surrounded  by  so  numerous  and  powerful  an  armament, 
resistance  was  impossible.  She  became  an  easy  yet  valuable  prey.  From 
this  point,  the  land  forces  on  board  the  flotilla  were  sent  eight  miles  inland, 
along  the  Yicksburg  and  Shreveport  railroad,  to  Richmond  station,  where 
they  destroyed  the  depot,  a  number  of  cars,  and  a  quantity  of  sugar. 
Returning  to  the  vessels,  the  latter  then  fell  down  the  river  as  far  as  the 
mouth  of  the  Yazoo.  They  then  steered  up  that  narrow  and  lonely  stream, 
to  Haines'  Landing,  where  some  Rebel  earthworks  had  been  erected.  The 
Benton  approached  these  works  and  commenced  to  shell  them.  The 
reverberation  of  the  guns  awakened  the  unfamiliar  echoes  of  that  desolate 
and  deserted  land  for  miles  around,  and  compelled  the  few  Rebel  troops 
and  citizens  who  remained,  to  flee  in  hot  haste  over  the  hills.  The  works 
were  taken  without  difficulty ;  and  among  their  contents,  were  two  forty- 
two  pounders,  two  thirty-two  pounders,  one  brass  twenty  pounder,  one 
brass  twelve  pounder,  and  a  quantity  of  ammunition.  The  quarters  of 
the  officers  were  plundered,  a  few  buildings  were  burned,  and  the  expedi 
tion  then  proceeded  up  the  Yazoo  as  far  as  Liverpool.  Not  finding  any 
vessels  of  the  enemy  in  that  stream,  as  far  as  the  Federal  boats  were  able 
to  proceed,  they  returned.  The  gunboat  Bragg,  and  the  ram  Monarch, 
were  left  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo,  to  watch  the  operations  of  the  enemy. 
The  expedition  landed  its  troops  at  Greenville,  and  chased  a  small  body  of 
Rebels  who  had  assembled  there  several  miles  inland.  It  then  returned 
bo  Helena.  Such  were  the  chief  incidents  of  the  brief  and  rapid  excursion 
made  by  Colonel  Ellet,  which,  after  the  recent  failure  of  the  Federal  fleet 


FEDERAL  VICTORY   NEAR   DENMARK,   TENNESSEE.  -j&j 

against  the  ram  Arkansas,  as  already  narrated,  served  to  diminish  the 
exultation  of  the  Rebels,  and  recover  the  lost  renown  of  the  Union  forces 
in  that  vicinity. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  1862,  a  battle  took  place  at  Brittan's  Lane, 
near  Denmark,  Tennessee,  in  which  a  decided  victory  was  achieved  by 
the  Federals.  The  troops  engaged  consisted  of  six  Rebel  regiments  of 
infantry  and  one  of  cavalry,  commanded  by  General  Armstrong,  num 
bering  nearly  four  thousand  men,  and  a  single  regiment  of  Federal  in 
fantry  from  Illinois,  commanded  by  Colonel  Dennis.  The  skirmishers  of 
both  parties  first  came  in  contact,  and  the  approach  of  the  Rebel  host 
was  quickly  afterward  discovered.  Colonel  Dennis  immediately  formed 
his  men  in  line  of  battle,  in  a  favorable  position  on  a  ridge.  A  heavy 
cloud  of  dust  only  indicated  as  yet  the  position  of  the  foe,  and  Captain 
Foster  was  sent  out  with  his  cavalry  to  ascertain  their  movements  more 
accurately.  He  soon  encountered  them,  approaching  rapidly  and  with 
great  confidence,  with  the  apparent  determination  of  riding  over  and 
exterminating  the  small  band  of  heroes  opposed  to  them.  They  com 
menced  to  discharge  their  muskets  while  out  of  range,  and  their  shots 
fell  harmlessly.  The  Federals  reserved  their  fire  until  the  disorderly 
mass  came  close  upon  them.  They  then  sent  a  well  directed  volley  into 
the  cavalry  in  advance,  which  instantly  emptied  many  saddles.  The 
Rebels  fell  back  in  the  utmost  disorder,  but  being  soon  rallied,  they  again 
advanced  to  the  attack.  They  charged  upon  the  whole  Federal  line,  at 
the  same  time  making  a  movement  upon  both  flanks.  Their  intention 
was  to  surround  and  crush  an  enemy  so  much  inferior  in  numbers  to  them 
selves.  A  very  desperate  hand-  to-hand  combat  ensued.  The  Federal 
troops  fought  with  great  determination  and  heroism ;  but  numbers 
prevailed,  and  the  Rebels  succeeded  in  capturing  the  Federal  cannon  and 
transportation  train.  At  this  moment  a  portion  of  the  thirtieth  Illinois, 
which  had  not  yet  been  engaged,  came  into  action,  fell  upon  the  disor 
dered  foe,  and  after  another  furious  clash  of  arms  the  Rebels  were  re 
pulsed.  A  pause  then  ensued.  The  enemy  reformed  their  lines  at  a 
distance,  and  at  length  again  came  forward.  The  Federals  reserved  their 
fire  as  before  until  the  enemy  were  close  upon  them,  when  they  discharged 
a  volley  which  effectually  checked  their  advance.  After  a  time,  however, 
they  gained  possession  of  a  hill  on  the  Federal  right.  It  became  impor 
tant  that  they  should  be  dislodged  from  this  position,  and  Captain  Frisbie 
called  out  for  volunteers  to  follow  him  to  the  charge  against  them.  A 
large  number  responded,  and  rushed  forward  with  him.  The  foe  did  not 
await  the  onslaught,  but  fled  from  their  position.  In  the  meanwhile,  the 
enemy  had  continued  their  attack  upon  the  centre  and  left  wing  of  the 
Federals.  Thrice  they  assaulted  the  Federal  lines,  and  thrice  were  they 
repulsed.  After  a  desperate  battle  of  four  hours'  duration,  the  Rebels 
retreated  at  all  points,  and  left  the  Union  troops  in  full  possession  of  the 


336  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

field.  Their  loss  was  heavy.  They  left  a  hundred  and  eleven  dead  be 
hind  them.  Their  wounded  were  about  four  hundred.  The  Federal 
loss  was  thirty  killed,  a  hundred  and  twenty  wounded.  The  heroism 
and  resolution  exhibited  by  the  Union  soldiers  in  this  battle  were  remark 
able;  and  the  issue  of  the  conflict  against  such  an  immense  preponder 
ance  of  numbers,  covered  them  with  well  merited  distinction. 

At  the  same  time  that  an  intense  excitement,  not  unmingled  with  terror, 
pervaded  Pennsylvania  at  an  apprehended  invasion  by  the  Rebel  armies, 
a  similar  state  of  public  mind  existed,  produced  by  the  same  cause,  in 
Ohio.  It  became  known  to  the  citizens  of  that  State  during  the  month 
of  August,  1862,  that  some  of  the  Confederate  generals  in  Kentucky 
contemplated  such  a  movement ;  and  soon  the  terrors  which  arose  from 
this  fact  were  increased  by  authentic  information  which  was  received,  to 
the  effect  that  a  powerful  army,  led  by  Generals  Kirby  Smith  and  Heth, 
were  steadily  advancing  to  the  attack  and  capture  of  Cincinnati. 

The  same  scenes  were  immediately  exhibited  in  Ohio  which  had  been 
presented  in  Pennsylvania.  Governor  Tod  issued  a  proclamation,  dated 
September  2d,  setting  forth  that  the  southern  border  of  the  State  was 
then  threatened  with  invasion;  and  recommending  that  the  loyal  citizens 
of  the  river  counties  should  organize  military  companies  to  assist  in  re 
pelling  the  common  foe.  General  Lewis  Wallace  was  placed  in  command 
of  all  the  Federal  troops  assembled  at  Cincinnati.  The  male  inhabitants 
of  that  city  were  ordered  to  form  companies  for  the  purpose  of  drilling. 
All  business,  except  that  of  druggists,  bakers,  and  grocers,  was  entirely 
suspended.  The  city  was  placed  under  martial  law.  Fortifications  and 
breastwoks  were  thrown  up  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town  ;  and  in  a  few 
days  an  enthusiastic  army  of  thirty  thousand  men,  with  formidable  de 
fences,  had  been  extemporized  to  resist  the  approaching  enemy,  with  a 
degree  of  celerity  and  efficiency  which  could  be  seen  in  no  other  country 
on  the  globe.  An  attitude  of  defiance  was  assumed,  which,  together  with 
the  admirable  preparations  which  were  thus  made,  soon  cooled  the  ardor 
of  the  enemy.  They  had  doubtless  anticipated  an  easy  conquest.  But 
on  the  llth  of  September,  at  night,  General  Kirby  Smith,  who  had  ad 
vanced  as  far  as  Florence,  gave  the  order  to  his  troops  to  retreat.  The 
enemy  retired  from  the  vicinity  of  their  intended  conquest  without  an 
assault ;  the  volunteer  defenders  of  the  Queen  City  returned  to  their  peace 
ful  homes;  business  was  resumed;  and  one  of  the  most  sudden  and 
violent  popular  paroxysms  which  this  war,  so  prolific  in  surprise  and 
excitements,  had  yet  produced,  vanished  from  existence  as  rapidly  as  it 
had  arisen. 

In  addition  to  the  leading  events  of  the  war,  which  occurred  during 
the  month  of  August,  1862,  which  we  have  narrated  at  length,  other  in 
cidents  of  inferior  consequence,  which  took  place  during  that  month,  and 
may  be  briefly  alluded  to,  were  the  following:  On  the  2d,  there  was  a 


SUMMARY   OF   EVENTS   IN   AUGUST,   1862.  337 

skirmish  on  the  Rapidan,  Virginia.  On  the  3d,  the  Rebel  guerrillas  took 
possession  of  Alexandria,  Missouri.  On  the  4th,  skirmishes  took  place 
at  Forsythe,  Missouri,  and  at  Sparta  and  Memphis,  in  Tennessee.  On  the 
7th,  conflicts  took  place  near  Helena,  Arkansas,  and  Kirksville,  Missouri. 
On  the  llth,  a  fight  occurred  at  Clarendon,  Arkansas,  and  the  Union 
troops  at  Independence,  Missouri,  surrendered  to  the  Confederates.  On 
the*  14th,  a  combat  between  guerrillas  occurred  in  Charleston  county, 
Alabama,  and  the  Union  troops  occupied  Gallatin,  Tennessee.  On  the 
16th,  the  rebels  took  possession  of  Hopkinsville,  Kentucky.  On  the  18th, 
they  occupied  Barbourville,  in  the  same  State.  On  the  20th,  a  fight  took 
place  at  Edgefield  Junction,  Tennessee.  On  the  24th,  Bayou  Sara,  in 
Louisiana,  was  shelled.  On  the  25th,  the  Rebels  retreated  from  Lexing 
ton,  Missouri;  and  were  severely  repulsed  at  Fort  Donelson.  On  the 
27th,  a  skirmish  took  place  at  Greenville,  Mississippi.  On  the  28th,  the 
Federal  mortar  fleet  made  a  futile  attack  on  Vicksburg.  On  the  30th.  a 
fight  occurred  at  Bolivar,  Tennessee,  and  at  Buckhannon,  Virginia.  On 
the  31st,  conflicts  took  place  at  Meadow  station  and  Middletown,  Ten 
nessee,  and  near  Centreville,  Virginia. 

22 


338  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN    TIIK    UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE    BATTLE     OF    SOUTH    MOUNTAIN — POSITION    OF    TIJK    COMBATANTS TROOPS     OF     OENRRAL 

1:1  N<>       INCIDENTS     OF     THK    ENGAGEMENT — HEROISM    OF     GENERAL    HOOKER — VICTORY    OF 

THE  FEDERAL  ARMY — KKTRKAT  OF  TIIK  REBELS  —  DEATH  OF  OKNKRAL  RENO SKETCH  OF 

HI*   CAREER ATTACK   OF  THE  REBELS  ON   HARPER'S   FERRY — FORCES  COMMANDED  BY 

COLONEL  MILKS—  INCIDENTS  OF  TIIK  BOMBARDMENT SURRENDER  OF  THK  WORKS  TO  THE 

KNKMY- --DEATH  OF  COLONEL  MILES — RETREAT  OF  THK  REBELS  TOWARD  THK  POTOMAC 

THE  GREAT  BATTLE  OF  ANTIETAM POSITIONS  ASSIGNED  THE  FEDERAL  FORCES DESPERATK 

FIGHTING  OF  HOOKER'S  DIVISION — INCIDENTS  OF  THE  BATTLE  ON  THE  RIGHT  WING — OPERA 
TIONS  OF  BURNSIDE  ON  THE  LEFT — EVENTS  IN  THE  FEDERAL  CENTRE CONCLUSION  OF  THK 

KNOAGKMKNT — RETREAT  OF  THE    REBEL  ARMY   ACROSS    THE    POTOMAC SKETCHES    OF    GEN- 

EKALS     HOOKER     AND     SUMNER BATTLK     AT    MUMFORDVILLE,    KENTUCKY — ITS    RESULTS — 

FEDERAL  TROOPS   ENGAGED BATTLE  AT    WASHINGTON,  NORTH  CAROLINA THE  REBELS  DR- 

FEATED — EXPLOSION  OF  THE  GUNBOAT    PICKET — CIVIL    ASPECTS  OF  THE  WAR — PRESIDENT 

LINCOLN'S   PROCLAMATION  OF  SEPTEMBER,  22o,  1862 — ITS     CONTENTS — ITS   INFLUENCE 

UPON  SLAVERY  AND  UPON  THK    REBEL  GOVERNMENT — MR.  LINCOLN  SUSPENDS    THK  HABEAS 
CORPUS  AOT,  ON  8KPTKMBKR  24TH,  1862. 

THK  Confederate  forces,  commanded  by  General  Robert  E.  Lee,  had 
ivnched  the  range  of  mountains  known  as  the  Blue  Ridge,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Middletown,  Maryland,  in  their  flight  toward  the  Potomac,  when  they 
were  overtaken  by  the  army  under  General  McClellan.  Then  ensued  the 
battle  of  South  Mountain,  on  the  14th  of  September,  1862.  The  enemy 
selected  their  position  with  their  usual  skill,  on  the  sides  and  summit  of 
this  portion  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  on  both  sides  of  a  gap  through  which 
the  turnpike  from  Middletown  to  Ilagerstown  passed.  The  Federal  army 
being  posted  in  the  ground  below,  fought  with  some  disadvantage,  and 
even  as  they  advanced  and  drove  back  the  foe,  during  the  progress  of  the 
day,  they  continued  to  labor  under  the  same  misfortune.  The  Rebels 
seemed  eager  for  the  encounter.  They  opened  their  fire  at  seven  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  Robinson's  battery  of  four  light  field-pieces  responded 
to  the  salute.  It  was  not,  however,  until  the  division  of  General  Cox 
advanced  toward  them,  that  they  seriously  commenced  the  work  of  the 
day.  Gradually,  battery  after  battery  opened  their  fires  from  different  points 
along  the  spurs  and  sides  of  the  mountain,  where  they  had  been  stationed 
This  operation  called  out  the  response  of  the  guns  of  the  several  bat 
teries  commanded  by  Ilaynes  and  Cook.  The  latter  posted  his  guns  in 
advance,  in  a  somewhat  exposed  position.  Scarcely  had  he  opened  his  fire 
when  his  cannoniers  were  assailed  by  a  tremendous  volley  of  musketry 
from  infantry  concealed  in  the  brushwood,  which  was  several  times  re 
peated  with  marvelous  rapidity.  This  assault  overpowered  the  men 
with  a  sudden  panic,  the  result  of  which  was  that  they  retreated  from 
their  guns,  leaving  them  exposed  to  the  enemy.  Two  companies  of 


THE   BATTLE   OP   SOUTH   MOUNTAIN.  339 

cavalry,  who  had  beon  placed  as  a  support  to  this  battery,  followed  their 
example,  and  plunged  into  a  disgraceful  retreat,  rushing  through  the  lines 
of  infantry  stationed  in  the  rear.  At  the  same  time  the  Rebels  advanced 
to  take  possession  of  the  abandoned  artillery.  The  twenty-third  Ohio 
and  one  hundredth  Pennsylvania  regiments  were  ordered  forward  to  resist 
this  attempt.  A  desperate  combat  then  ensued  around  the  guns.  While 
the  issue  yet  remained  undecided,  and  after  a  number  had  fallen  on  both 
sides,  the  forty-fifth  New  York  came  to  the  assistance  of  the  Federals. 
After  a  furious  resistance,  the  Rebels  were  driven  away  from  the  guns, 
and  retreated  in  confusion  to  their  main  lines.  The  victors  intensified 
the  bitterness  of  their  defeat  by  filling  the  air  with  their  exultant  cheers. 

After  this  incident,  the  battle  was  continued  for  two  hours  by  the  artil 
lery  of  both  armies  alone.  Several  times  the  enemy  changed  the  position 
of  their  chief  batteries,  but  at  the  expiration  of  the  time  named,  they  were 
all  silenced.  At  two  o'clock,  the  front  of  General  Hooker's  division 
reached  the  scene  of  conflict,  to  reinforce  the  troops  of  General  Reno, 
which  had  thus  far  been  those  engaged.  At  three  o'clock  the  whole  line 
of  battle  was  formed  from  right  to  left.  The  first  brigade  of  Rickett's 
division  occupied  the  extreme  right.  The  Pennsylvania  Reserves  came 
next.  The  second  regiment  of  United  States  sharpshooters  were  posted 
near  the  Middletown  turnpike.  Then  came  the  remainder  of  Rickett's 
division  ;  then  General  King's  division.  General  Reno's  troops  occupied 
the  extreme  left,  about  two  miles  distant  from  the  opposite  end  of  the 
line.  The  batteries  were  distributed  at  proper  intervals,  according  to  the 
varying  nature  of -the  ground. 

As  soon  as  this  arrangement  was  completed,  the  Federal  right,  centre, 
and  left,  commenced  to  advance  against  the  enemy.  The  latter  received 
them  as  they  approached  with  discharges  of  artillery.  But  their  shells 
for  the  most  part  passed  over  the  heads  of  the  Federal  troops  harmlessly. 
The  vast  line  of  advancing  troops  steadily  approached  nearer  and  nearer 
to  the  position  of  the  foe.  The  right  wing,  under  Rickett,  first  became 
closely  engaged.  A  vigorous  fire  of  musketry  from  both  sides  ensued. 
In  this  part  of  the  action  the  gallant  Pennsylvania  Reserves  specially  distin 
guished  themselves  by  their  coolness  and  their  fortitude.  Thirty  minutes 
were  occupied  by  the  action  here,  the  result  of  which  was  that  the  Con 
federates  were  forced  back  from  their  position,  and  driven  up  the  mountain 
to  its  summit.  In  accomplishing  this  result  General  Hooker  displayed 
his  superior  qualities  as  a  commander,  and  assisted  materially  in  gaining 
the  victory.  The  troops  in  this  part  of  the  field  moved  on  steadily, 
advancing  forward  and  upward,  pouring  volley  after  volley  into  the  masses 
of  the  enemy,  until  at  last  they  broke  and  ran  with  precipitation  to  the 
top  of  the  mountain. 

The  engagement  on  the  left  was  more  protracted  and  more  desperate. 
This  continued  an  hour  and  a-half  before  the  Rebels  were  driven  from 


340  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

their  position.  General  Reno  fought  his  troops  here  with  great  skill  and 
heroism.  He  was  slain  while  directing  their  movements,  and  cheering 
them  on  to  victory  and  glory.  Every  foot  of  ground  was  fiercely  con 
tested  ;  but  the  foe  at  last  gave  way,  and  abandoned  the  contest.  The 
centre  of  the  Federal  line  was  the  last  to  get  into  action.  It  advanced 
while  the  two  wings  were  driving  the  Rebels  over  the  top  of  the  moun 
tain,  and  rendered  the  victory  complete.  At  six  o'clock,  after  a  battle  of 
three  hours'  duration,  the  enemy  were  driven  over  the.  summit  of  the  Blue 
Ridge.  The  Federal  victors  bivouacked  during  the  night  upon  the  airy 
spot  which  their  valor  had  won,  while  the  discomfited  foe  pursued  his 
flight  under  the  friendly  covering  of  the  darkness  of  night. 

The  Federal  loss  in  this  battle  was  four  hundred  and  thirty-three  killed, 
eighteen  hundred  and  six  wounded,  seventy-six  missing.  But  one  of  the 
most  lamentable  incidents  connected  with  it  was  the  death  of  General  Reno. 
This  officer,  whose  services  contributed  so  materially  to  the  success  of  the 
Federal  arms  on  this  occasion,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  was  appointed 
from  Pennsylvania  to  West  Point  in  1842.  He  graduated  in  1846,  and 
was  breveted  second  lieutenant  of  ordnance.  He  accompanied  the  Ameri 
can  army  to  Mexico,  and  was  present  in  every  battle  which  was  fought 
between  Vera  Cruz  and  the  capital.  He  was  breveted  first  lieutenant  for 
his  gallantry  at  Cerro  Gordo.  He  was  breveted  captain  for  his  valor  at 
Chapultepec,  where  he  commanded  a  battery,  and  was  wounded.  After 
the  close  of  the  Mexican  war  he  served  for  six  months  as  assistant  pro 
fessor  of  mathematics  at  West  Point.  He  was  afterward  employed  in 
various  capacities  by  the  Government — as  secretary  to  the  artillery  board, 
on  the  coast  survey,  and  in  topographical  and  military  duty  in  the  West. 
He  was  on  duty  at  Leaven  worth,  Kansas,  when  the  Rebellion  commenced. 
When  General  Burnside  organized  his  expedition  to  Roanoke,  he  selected 
General  Reno  as  one  of  the  officers  to  accompany  him.  He  distinguished 
himself  in  all  the  engagements  which  took  place  during  the  operations  of 
that  expedition.  When  General  Burnside  was  ordered  to  join  the  army 
in  Virginia,  General  Reno  accompanied  him,  and  commanded  a  division 
in  the  battles  which  subsequently  occurred  near  Washington.  He  had 
already  won  a  high  place  among  the  rising  generals  of  his  country,  when 
the  missile  of  death  terminated  his  brilliant  career. 

Nearly  cotemporary  with  this  success  of  the  Federal  arms  was  a  reverse 
at  Harper's  Ferry,  which  tended  very  considerably  to  diminish  the  gratifi 
cation  caused  by  the  victory.  This  famous  locality,  which  had  so  often 
been  the  scene  of  conflict  and  of  disaster  during  the  progress  of  the  Rebel 
lion,  had  been  entrusted  to  the  command  of  Colonel  Dixon  H.  Miles.  In 
additional  to  its  natural  advantages,  important  artificial  defences  had  re 
cently  been  erected  upon  it.  A  heavy  line  of  earth  intrenchments,  protected 
by  a  deep  trench  in  front,  had  been  constructed  on  the  summit  of  Harper's 
Ferry,  extending  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Shenandoah.  Earthworks  had 


ATTACK    ON    HARPER'S   FERRY   BY   THE   REBELS.  341 

also  been  thrown  up  on  "Bolivar  heights,  intended  to  protect  the  infantry 
from  the  musketry  of  the  enemy.  On  the  left  of  these  heights,  hedge  in- 
trenchments  had  been  interposed,  which  would  prevent  a  sudden  approach 
or  a  surprise  from  that  direction.  Immediately  after  the  Rebels  entered 
Maryland,  Colonel  Miles  made  preparations  to  resist  any  attack  which 
might  be  made  upon  him.  The  troops  placed  under  his  command  num 
bered  about  eleven  thousand  men.*  The  conquest  of  Harper's  Ferry 
formed  an  important  item  in  the  programme  which  the  enemy  had 
adopted  in  reference  to  the  recovery  of  Maryland.  Accordingly,  they 
made  their  appearance  in  the  vicinity  of  the  place  on  Monday,  the  8th 
of  September,  on  Maryland  heights,  three  miles  distant.  They  employed 
the  ensuing  week  in  constructing  a  barricade  of  trees  four  hundred  yards 
in  front  of  the  look-out.  Colonel  Ford  was  appointed  by  Colonel  Miles 
to  guard  the  heights  from  the  attack  which  was  apprehended. 

The  enemy  having  completed  all  their  preparations,  commenced  the 
assault  upon  the  position  on  Friday,  September  the  12th.  They  began 
with  skirmishing,  at  half-past  three  in  the  afternoon,  which  they  continued 
until  sundown.  The  decisive  action  was  expected  to  occur  on  the  ensuing 
day.  During  the  night,  the  Federal  line  of  battle  was  formed  three  hun 
dred  yards  in  front  of  the  barricade.  At  seven  o'clock,  on  the  following 
day,  the  Rebels  commenced  a  vigorous  onslaught  upon  the  defenders  of 
the  place.  They  soon  attempted  to  drive  them  from  their  position  by 
several  charges.  But  all  of  these  were  handsomely  repulsed.  The 
fighting  then  became  general  between  the  combatants.  After  a  contest 
of  one  hour's  duration,  the  Rebels  were  reinforced,  and  advanced  toward 
the  Federal  lines  with  yells  of  rage  and  fury.  They  intimidated  the  one 
hundred  and  twenty-sixth  New  York  regiment  so  completely,  that  they 
broke  and  fled  behind  the  barricades.  There  they  were  rallied,  principally 
through  the  exertions  of  Colonel  Sherrill,  and  afterward  took  part  in  the 
engagement.  Soon  afterward  the  enemy  succeeded  in  turning  the  left 
flank  of  the  Federals,  which  compelled  them  to  fall  back.  The  Rebels 
themselves  retired  soon  after,  and  at  about  four  P.M.  again  advanced  to  the 
contest,  but  made  no  vigorous  attack,  and  night  soon  put  an  end  to 

*  His  force  consisted  of  the  twelfth  New  York  State  militia,  Colonel  Ward;  eighty- 
seventh  Ohio,  three  months'  regiment.  Colonel  Bannine  ;  one  hundred  and  twenty-sixth 
New  York,  Colonel  Serrill ;  one  hundred  and  eleventh  New  York,  Colonel  Segoine ; 
first  Maryland  Home  Brigade,  Colonel  Halsby  ;  eightn  New  York  cavalry.  Colonel 
Davis  ;  first  Maryland  cavalry,  Colonel  Russell ;  a  detaclunent  of  first  Maryland  cav 
alry,  (Home  Brigade) ;  two  companies  of  fifth  New  York  artillery,  commanded  by 
Captains  McGrath  and  Graham;  fifteenth  Indiana,  and  one  or  two  western  batteries. 
All  the  infantry,  with  the  exception  of  the  three  months'  men,  were  raw  troops. 
General  White  retreated  about  this  time  to  Martinsburg,  via  Harper's  Ferry,  leaving 
a  portion  of  his  command  at  that  place.  On  Thursday  evening,  being  obliged  to 
evacuate  Martinsburg,  in  consequence  of  the  approach  of  "Stonewall"  Jackson,  the 
remainder  of  General  White's  brigade  fell  back  to  the  ferry. 


342  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

the  contest.  It  was  evident  that,  unless  reinforcements  arrived  to  the 
Federals,  the  following  day  would  witness  their  defeat,  and  the  entire 
evacuation  of  the  place.  Such  dispositions  as  could  be  made  to  oppose 
the  enemy,  were  promptly  effected  during  the  night.  At  four  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  Saturday  all  the  Federal  troops  posted  there  were  ordered 
to  retreat  down  the  mountain,  and  thus  Maryland  Heights  were  abandoned 
to  the  enemy ;  but  they  did  not  occupy  them  till  the  afternoon  of  Satur 
day.  The  line  of  battle  was  again  formed  on  the  breastworks  behind 
Bolivar  Heights,  very  nearly  as  it  had  been  on  the  previous  day.  Colonel 
D'Utassy  occupied  the  extreme  right,  Colonel  Trimble  commanded  on  the 
left,  General  White  held  a  position  on  the  heights,  and  Major  Mcllvaine 
directed  the  operations  of  the  artillery.  The  Federals  were  disappointed 
in  being  attacked  early  in  the  day.  It  was  not  till  two  o'clock  that  the 
enemy  renewed  the  assault.  At  that  hour,  however,  they  opened  a  furious 
and  simultaneous  cannonade  from  Maryland  Heights,  Loudon  Heights, 
and  Sandy  Hook,  and  from  batteries  posted  on  the  Sheppardstown  and 
Charlestown  roads.  The  Federal  guns  responded  with  spirit  during  the 
day.  As  night  approached,  however,  the  Federal  lines  were  contracted 
somewhat,  in  consequence  of  the  fact  that  the  Rebels  had  succeeded  in 
turning  their  left  flank.  At  eight  o'clock  the  enemy  attempted  to  take 
Rigby's  battery  by  storm,  but  were  repulsed  with  signal  slaughter.  The 
second  day's  struggle  had  produced  no  very  decisive  results  either  way — 
its  final  issue  still  seemed  uncertain.  During  the  following  night,  the 
Kebels  improved  their  position,  and  planted  new  batteries,  which  were  so 
skilfully  placed  as  to  enfilade  the  Federal  forces  completely.  On  Monday 
morning  the  enemy  renewed  the  contest  with  increased  energy  at  five 
o'clock.  It  soon  became  evident  that  they  had  been  reinforced,  and  now 
possessed  the  advantage  of  superior  numbers.  In  vain  had  Colonel  Miles 
implored  General  McClellan,  on  Sunday,  to  send  him  assistance.  The 
enemy  had  been  threatening  to  attack  Harper's  Ferry  during  a  whole 
week ;  and  yet  it  had  not  been  defended  by  a  competent  force.  To  add 
to  the  desperate  nature  of  the  situation,  the  ammunition  of  the  Federal 
troops  became  exhausted  at  eight  o'clock.  Colonel  Miles  immediately 
summoned  a  council  of  war.  The  result  of  their  deliberations  was,  that 
he  determined  to  capitulate,  as  further  resistance  could  only  lead  to  greater 
and  more  superfluous  loss  of  life.  White  flags  were  then  hoisted  over  the 
intrenshmcnts,  and  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  to  General  Hill,  the  commander 
of  the  Rebel  troops,  to  propose  terms  of  capitulation.  The  only  conditions 
allowed  by  the  Rebel  general  were,  that  the  Federal  officers  would  be  per 
mitted  to  go  out  with  their  side-arms  and  private  effects,  the  rank  and 
file  with  every  thing  except  their  arms  and  equipments.  The  entire 
number  of  men  who  thus  became  prisoners  of -war,  and  were  afterward 
paroled,  were  eleven  thousand  five  hundred  and  eighty-three.  The  cannon 
captured  were  forty-seven,  of  various  calibre.  Previous  to  the  capitulation 


BATTLE   AT  MUNFORDSVILLE,   KENTUCKY.  349 

fire  of  musketry  upon  the  Federal  troops,  from  the  cover  of  the  adjacent 
woods  and  batteries. 

The  attack  of  the  Rebels  was  received  and  repelled  with  firmness  and 
vigor  by  the  Federal  troops,  especially  by  those  on  the  left  wing.  A  bat 
tery  which  they  planted  in  that  part  of  the  field  was  soon  disabled,  and 
they  withdrew  in  confusion.  But  the  right  wing  of  the  enemy  was  partly 
protected  by  a  breastwork  of  fallen  timber,  and  from  that  point  their 
operations  were  more  successful.  They  maintained  a  destructive  fire 
from  this  position  during  some  hours.  Meanwhile,  their  line  on  the  left 
was  again  brought  forward,  and  the  attack  renewed  from  a  better  situation 
near  the  Woodsonville  turnpike.  An  hour  was  occupied  by  the  enemy 
in  effecting  these  new  dispositions.  When  all  was  ready  the  Rebels 
again  advanced,  and  made  an  attack  of  unusual  determination,  chiefly 
on  the  Federal  right  wing.  Conspicuous  in  this  movement  were  a  Mis 
sissippi  and  Georgia  regiment,  both  of  which  greatly  distinguished  them 
selves  by  their  reckless  and  ferocious  daring.  The  Colonel  of  the  one, 
and  the  Major  of  the  other,  were  slain  during  the  assault.  They  broke 
and  fled,  after  being  completely  riddled  by  the  artillery  fire,  whose  balls 
passed  through- and-th rough  their  crowded  ranks.  As  soon  as  the  retreat 
of  this  part  of  the  Rebel  force  was  discovered,  the  gallant  Indiana  troops, 
who  were  the  victors,  sprang  over  the  trenches  and  started  in  the  pursuit. 
They  were  encouraged  in  this  bold  deed  by  the  voice  and  the  example  of 
Major  Abbot,  of  the  sixty-seventh  Indiana,  who  led  the  way.  During 
this  charge  he  was  slain  by  a  rifle-shot  sent  from  the  woods  as  a  parting 
salute  by  the  retreating  foe. 

The  Rebel  troops  on  their  right  wing  advanced  after  their  first  repulse 
in  admirable  order.  As  they  approached,  they  fell  into  a  double-quick 
and  rushed  at  the  intrenchments  with  loud  cheers,  in  spite  of  the  hail 
storm  of  musketry  which  thinned  their  ranks.  On  the  breastworks  the 
most  desperate  struggle  took  place.  It  seemed  the  turning  point  of  the 
battle.  After  a  contest  of  some  duration  the  valor  of  the  Federal  heroes 
prevailed ;  the  assailants  recoiled,  and  they  eventually  fled  in  disorder 
from  that  portion  of  the  field.  But  the  battle  was  not  yet  ended.  After 
the  repulse  of  the  14th  the  enemy  sent  in  a  flag  of  truce,  again  demanding' 
that  Colonel  Wilder  should  surrender,  and  stating  the  force  they  had,  and 
the  near  approach  of  General  Bragg's  army.  Colonel  Wilder  again  de 
clined  peremptorily.  He  had  on  that  morning  received  a  reinforcement 
of  about  four  hundred  men  of  the  fiftieth  Indiana.  The  Rebels  next  asked 
the  privilege  of  removing  their  dead  and  wounded,  which  was  permitted. 
They  withdrew  that  night  from  the  immediate  front  of  the  Federal  gar 
rison,  who  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  fortify  their  position 
to  the  best  of  their  ability.  There  was  no  fighting  on  Monday,  the  15th, 
on  which  day  Colonel  Dunham,  of  the  fiftieth  Indiana,  being  the  ranking 
officer,  took  command,  and  further  reinforcements  to  the  number  of  about 


350  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

one  thousand  men  came  up.  On  Tuesday  morning,  about  nine  and  a-balf 
A.M.,  the  Rebels  renewed  the  attack,  having  been  reinforced  by  one  entire 
wing  of  Bragg's  army,  and  a  severe  battle  ensued,  lasting  till  four  and  a-half 
P.M.  Soon  after  General  Bragg  himself  sent  a  flag  of  truce  demanding  their 
surrender,  and  though  Colonel  Dunham  at  first  declined,  yet  rinding  him 
self  surrounded  by  a  force  of  twenty-five  thousand  Rebels,  with  sixty  pieces 
of  artillery,  he  asked  a  suspension  of  hostilities,  which  finally  eventuated 
in  his  surrender,  with  all  the  honors  of  war.  The  Union  loss  in  this  en 
gagement  was  about  thirty-seven  killed  and  wounded,  and  nearly  three 
thousand  one  hundred  prisoners.  The  Rebel  loss  was  nearly  one  thousand 
killed  and  wounded. 

At  the  same  time  General  Morgan  evacuated  Cumberland  gap.  On  the 
18th  a  fight  took  place  near  Cave  City,  in  Kentucky,  between  a  portion 
of  Buell's  army  an.d  a  portion  of  General  Bragg's.  The  former  attacked 
the  rear-guard  of  the  latter,  and  defeated  it. 

On  the  6th  of  September  a  desperate  assault  was  made  by  a  body  of 
Rebel  troops  upon  the  Union  forces  posted  at  Washington,  North  Carolina. 
The  former  were  commanded  by  General  Martin,  the  latter  by  Colonel 
Potter.  The  enemy  made  the  attack  upon  the  Federal  intrench ments  at 
an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  with  the  hope  of  taking  the  occupants  by 
surprise.  Their  object  was  to  destroy  the  works,  to  burn  the  town  of 
Washington,  to  murder  the  North  Carolinians  whom  they  might  find 
under  arms  in  the  Federal  service,  and  to  carry  away  as  captives  the 
most  prominent  loyal  citizens.  An  accident  prevented  their  success.  It 
happened  that  a  portion  of  the  Federal  troops  had  been  ordered  under 
arrns  before  daylight,  on  that  very  day,  and  was  preparing  to  depart  on 
an  expedition.  Had  this  not  been  the  case,  it  is  probable  that  the  whole 
Federal  force  would  have  been  taken  by  surprise,  and  disastrous  results 
would  have  ensued. 

The  advance  of  the  Rebel  troops  consisted  of  four  hundred  cavalry. 
These  rushed  through  the  main  street  of  the  town  of  Washington,  and 
succeeded  in  passing  some  of  the  batteries  unharmed.  At  the  other  end 
of  the  town  they  were  met  and  attacked  by  a  portion  of  the  third  New  York 
cavalry,  under  Captain  Gerrard.  A  confused  struggle  ensued,  which,  in 
consequence  of  the  fog  and  the  darkness  which  still  prevailed,  amounted 
to  nothing.  But  the  noise  of  the  concussion  aroused  the  whole  Federal 
force.  Additional  troops  now  advanced,  and  charged  upon  the  enemy  in 
the  streets  of  the  town.  Some  North  Carolina  volunteers,  a  portion  of  the 
twenty-fourth  Massachusetts,  and  a  part  of  the  third  New  York  artillery, 
charged  manfully  upon  the  foe.  In  this  encounter  Colonel  Potter  had  his 
horse  shot  under  him.  At  length  a  portion  of  the  streets  was  cleared  of 
the  Rebels,  and  the  colonel  then  requested  the  commander  of  the  gun 
boat  Louisiana,  which  opportunely  lay  in  the  river,  to  shell  that  portion 
of  the  town  which  was  still  held  by  the  enemy.  Soon  a  storm  of  grape 


THE   PRESIDENT'S  PROCLAMATION  OF  SEPTEMBER,   1862.      351 

and  canister  overwhelmed  that  locality,  and  the  Rebels  who  were  congre 
gated  there,  the  result  of  which  was  to  compel  them  to  take  refuge  be 
hind  houses,  and  to  disperse  in  various  directions.  Several  buildings  were 
destroyed  by  the  deadly  missiles;  but  the  assistance  of  the  gunboat  was 
very  important  to  the  land  forces. 

After  the  engagement  had  continued  four  hours,  the  enemy  failed  at  all 
points,  and  were  driven  from  the  town  and  the  intrenchments.  Their  as 
sault  had  been  signally  repulsed.  They  were  pursued  the  distance  of 
eight  miles  by  Captain  Murphy,  with  a  squadron  of  cavalry.  The  attack 
ing  troops  numbered  about  a  thousand  men.  The  Federals  did  not  ex 
ceed  five  hundred.  They  had  been  placed  there  to  man  Fort  Washington. 
The  chief  misfortune  of  the  day  to  the  Federal  side  was  the  accidental 
explosion  of  the  gunboat  Picket,  which  lay  in  the  stream  above  the  town. 
She  mounted  a  thirty-two  pound  rifled  Parrott  gun  and  a  twenty-four  pound 
howitzer.  The  cause  of  the  explosion,  though  doubtless  accidental,  was 
never  accurately  ascertained.  Its  effects  were  melancholy.  Nineteen 
persons  were  instantly  killed,  including  Captain  Nichols,  the  commander, 
and  eight  men  were  severely  wounded.  Ten  only  of  the  crew  escaped 
uninjured.  The  vessel  became  a  total  wreck,  and  the  surface  of  the  stream 
was  soon  covered  with  the  floating  bodies  and  torn  fragments  of  the  un 
happy  victims  of  the  disaster. 

On  the  same  day,  the  6th  of  September,  the  Rebel  General  Bragg  ad 
vanced  upon  Nashville ;  the  Federal  gunboats  shelled  Hamlet,  Mississippi ; 
and  the  Rebel  army  of  Virginia,,  under  General  R.  E.  Lee,  crossed  into 
Maryland,  and  occupied  Darnestown,  Frederick,  and  Poolesville. 

From  the  everlasting  monotony  which  characterizes  the  details  of  the 
battles,  slaughters,  and  sieges  which  necessarily  form  so  prominent  a  fea 
ture  in  the  annals  of  this  extraordinary  war,  we  turn  with  pleasure  to 
notice  a  civil  and  pacific  aspect  of  it  which  now  demands  our  attention. 

On  the  22d  of  September,  1862,  President  Lincoln  issued  a  proclama 
tion  which  will  ever  form  a  landmark  in  the  history  of  the  great  Republic. 
It  announced  his  determination  to  recommend  to  Congress,  at  its  next 
meeting,  the  adoption  of  a  practical  measure  tendering  pecuniary  aid  and 
compensation  to  all  the  slave  States  whose  citizens  would  not  then  be  in 
Rebellion  against  the  Federal  Government,  and  who  might  then  have 
adopted,  or  who  should  afterward  adopt,  the  immediate  or  the  gradual 
abolition  of  slavery  within  their  respective  limits ;  and  advising  that  the 
colonization  of  free  negroes  at  some  distant  place  on  the  American  conti 
nent  should  be  continued.  This  proclamation  further  announced  that  the 
President  would,  on  the  first  of  January,  1863,  designate  those,  States, 
and  parts  of  States,  which  were  then  in  Rebellion  against  the  Federal 
Government,  and  would  decree  that  the  slaves  of  the  citizens  of  such 
Rebel  regions  should  then  become  free,  and  that  all  the  slaves  of  those 
engaged  in  hostilities  against  the  United  States  should  thenceforth  be  en- 


352  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

franchisee!.  He  also  reiterated  the  details  of  the  several  acts  of  Congress 
of  March  13  and  July  17,  1862,  forbidding  the  fugitive  slaves  of  Rebels 
who  came  within  the  Federal  lines  to  be  restored  to  their  former  owners, 
or  employing  the  Federal  forces  in  any  way  to  restore  them  to  their  former 
owners.* 

These  were  the  chief  features  of  this  remarkable  proclamation.  It  in 
flicted  a  deadly  blow  upon  slavery,  which  had  been  one  of  the  chief  causes 
and  supports  of  the  Southern  Rebellion.  It  was  wise  and  prudent,  when 
viewed  either  as  a  simple  war  measure,  as  a  tribute  to  the  spirit  of  pure 
humanity,  or  as  a  response  to  the  loud,  fervent,  and  enlightened  require 
ments  of  the  present  age.  And  although  it  cannot  with  truth  be  affirmed 
that  the  original  and  legitimate  purpose,  in  the  commencement  of  hostilities, 
on  the  part  of  the  Federal  Government,  was  the  abolition  of  slavery  as 
such,  yet  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  measures  thus  recommended  by  the 
President  had  become  desirable,  perhaps  they  had  even  become  indis 
pensable,  to  the  subjugation  of  the  revolting  States,  and  to  the  restoration 
of  the  dissevered  Union. 

To  assist  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  result,  the  President  issued 
another  proclamation  on  the  24th  of  September,  1862,  by  which  he  en 
acted,  that  during  the  existence  of  the  "  insurrection,"  all  Rebels  and  in 
surgents,  their  aiders  and  abettors,  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States, 
and  all  persons  who  should  discourage  volunteer  enlistments,  or  resist  the 
militia  drafts,  or  be  guilty  of  any  other  disloyal  practices  -against  the 
authority  of  the  Federal  Government,  should  be  thenceforth  subject  to 
martial  law,  and  be  tried  and  punished  by  courts-martial  or  military  com 
missions  In  the  same  proclamation  he  ordained  that  the  writ  of  habeas 
corpus  should  be  suspended  in  respect  to  all  persons  who  should  be  ar 
rested  for  these  causes  during  the  continuance  of  the  Rebellion,  and  were 
imprisoned  by  any  military  authority,  by  the  sentence  of  any  court-mar 
tial,  or  by  the  decree  of  any  military  commission. 

*See  Appendix. 


VICTORY   OF   THE   FEDERAL   FORCES   AT   1UKA.  353 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

THK  BATTLE  AT  IUKA — DISPOSITIONS  MADE  BY  GENERAL  GRANT — INCIDENTS  OF  THE  ENGAGK- 
MKNT — VICTORY  OF  THE  FEDERAL  TROOPS — REBELS  REPULSED  AT  BOONSBO ROUGH— <"N- 
VENTION  OF  THE  GOYERNORS  OF  LOYAL  STATES  AT  ALTOONA,  PENNSYLVANIA — THKIR 
ADDRESS  TO  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN — HIS  REPLY — PROPOSAL  OF  PEACE  DISCUSSED  IN  THE 

CONFEDERATE  CONGRESS ARGUMENT    OF  MR.  FOOTE — FATE    OF  THE  PROPOSITION BATTLE 

OF  AUGUSTA,  KENTUCKY — ENGAGEMENT  AT  CORINTH,  MISSISSIPPI — POSITION  OF  THE  REBELS 

FIRST  DAY'S  FIGHTING INCIDENTS  OF  THE  SECOND  DAY DESPERATE  CHARGES  MADE  BY 

THE  REBELS — THEIR  FINAL  DEFEAT  AND  FLIGHT — SKETCH  OF    MAJOR-GENERAL    RO8ECRANS 
— INVASION  OF  PENNSYLVANIA  BY   THE    REBEL  GENERAL  STUART — HIS    ROUTE — INCIDENTS 

WHICH  OCCURRED  AT  CHAMBKRSBURG — STUART'S  SAFE  RETURN  TO  VIRGINIA SKIRMISHES 

ON  THE  POTOMAC RESULTS  OF  HIS   RAID. 

Ox  the  19th  of  September,  1862,  General  Rosecrans  gained  a  brilliant 
victory  over  the  Rebel  forces  under  Sterling  Price,  at  the  village  of  luka, 
in  Mississippi.  The  latter  had  left  Tupelo,  with  about  twenty  thousand 
men,  for  the  purpose  of  crossing  the  Tennessee  river  at  Muscle  Shoals, 
and  forming  a  junction  with  General  Bragg.  General  Grant,  the  com 
mander  of  the  Federal  forces  in  that  vicinity,  having  obtained  information 
of  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  determined  if  possible  to  defeat  them. 
For  this  purpose,  he  despatched  Rosecrans  with  a  body  of  troops,  twenty 
thousand  strong,  to  Rienzi.  General  Ord  was  sent  with  another  toward 
luka,  while  his  own  army  retained  its  position  at  Corinth.  By  this  ar 
rangement,  the  enemy  would  be  enclosed  within  the  lines  of  a  triangle, 
and  his  escape  would  be  rendered  difficult  if  the  plan  adopted  by  the 
Federal  commander  were  vigorously  executed. 

General  Rosecrans  reached  Rienzi  promptly.  •  But  Price,  having  de 
tected  the  snare  which  had  been  laid  for  him,  adroitly  evaded  it  by 
diverging  from  his  right  line  of  march,  and  advanced  diagonally  across 
the  country  toward  luka.  Of  this  unexpected  movement,  Rosecrans  also 
•obtained  speedy  information,  which  enabled  him  to  pursue  the  foe.  He 
reached  luka,  after  marching  twenty  miles,  at  the  moment  the  vanguard 
of  the  Rebels  were  evacuating  it.  Though  his  men  were  exhausted  by  a 
long  and  rapid  march,  he  continued  the  pursuit,  and  overtook  the, enemy 
two  miles  beyond  the  town.  Skirmishing  immediately  began  between  the 
hostile  forces ;  but  as  the  darkness  of  night  soon  spread  over  the  scene  ' 
the  decisive  engagement  was,  by  a  mutual  impulse,  reserved  until  the 
next  morning.  The  two  armies  reposed  in  sight  of  each  other  during  the 
night,  and  with  the  early  dawn  they  resumed  the  contest.  The  Rebels 
had  taken  an  admirable  position.  But  Rosecrans  arranged  his  troops  so 
as  partially  to  surround  them.  General  Hamilton  commanded  his  right 
wing  ;  General  Stanley  his  left;  he  himself  led  the  centre.  The  fighting 
23 


354  THE  CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

continued  with  desperate  energy  and  with  changing  vicissitudes  until 
about  twelve  o'clock.  At  one  time,  the  enemy  made  a  resolute  charge, 
and  cut  their  way  through  tbe  eleventh  Missouri,  and  the  twenty-seventh 
Illinois.  It  was  here  that  the  Federal  loss  was  the  heaviest.  But  the 
admirable  effect  of  the  Federal  artillery  broke  their  victorious  tide  ;  and 
having  thus  failed  in  their  most  determined  effort,  the  Rebel  lines  gradu 
ally  gave  way,  broke,  and  a  general  retreat  ensued.  The  enemy  were 
pursued  for  some  distance,  but  they  succeeded,  with  the  loss  of  three  hun 
dred  prisoners,  and  five  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  in  making  good 
their  escape.  The  Federal  loss  was  also  heavy,  being  three  hundred  and 
fifty  killed  and  wounded. 

On  the  same  day,  the  20th  of  September,  the  fortunes  of  war  were  again 
adverse  to  the  Confederate  cause  at  Boonsborough,  Kentucky ;  though 
the  number  of  men  engaged,  and  the  results  of  the  combat,  were  not  of 
sufficient  importance  to  require  a  more  particular  notice. 

On  the  24th  of  this  month,  an  unusual  convention  of  the  Governors  of 
all  the  loyal  States  took  place  at  Altoona,  Pennsylvania.  Their  deliber 
ations  were  secret,  but  they  finally  adopted  an  address  to  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  which  they  afterward  presented  to  him  in  person  at 
the  Federal  capital.  That  address  contained  an  expression  of  sincere  per 
sonal  and  official  respect  for  the  Chief  Executive.  It  tendered  a  pledge 
that,  under  all  circumstances,  they  would  support  his  constitutional  au 
thority  throughout  their  respective  States.  It  offered  him  their  assistance 
in  all  measures  calculated  to  bring  the  war  to  such  a  speedy  termination, 
as  should  lead  to  victory,  and  the  return  of  the  Rebels  to  their  obedience 
to  the  Federal  Government.  It  also  congratulated  the  President  upon  his 
"  Emancipation  proclamation,"  and  expressed  the  conviction  that  it  would 
be  productive  of  the  most  beneficial  results.  It  concluded  with  bestowing 
well  deserved  praise  upon  the  services  rendered  by  the  Federal  soldiers 
in  the  field,  and  of  sympathy  with  their  sufferings.  The  President  re 
ceived  the  Governors  with  great  courtesy.  His  reply,  however,  was  brief. 
He  thanked  them  for  what  they  had  done,  and  for  what  they  promised  to 
do,  in  support  of  the  Federal  Government.  He  was  greatly  encouraged 
by  the  approval  which  they  had  expressed  of  his  proclamation  respecting 
the  abolition  of  slavery.  He  promised  to  give  the  suggestions  which 
their  address  contained  his  serious  attention,  and  would  follow  them  as 
far  as  the  interests  of  the  Union  and  his  sense  of  duty  permitted.  After 
the  official  interview  terminated,  an  informal  conversation  ensued  between 
the  Governors  and  the  President,  of  the  most  cordial  and  harmonious 
character.  The  effect  produced  upon  the  public  mind,  by  this  spontane 
ous  movement  of  the  chief  executives  of  so  many  States,  was  extremely 
beneficial  in  its  influence  upon  the  further  prosecution  of  the  war  against 
the  armed  enemies  of  the  Federal  Union. 

It  was  at  this  period  that  an  incident  occurred  in  the  Confederate  Con- 


PEACE   PROPOSITION   IN   THE   REBEL  CONGRESS.  355 

gress,  then  in  session  at  Richmond, -which  deserves  notice.  It  was  the 
introduction  of  a  resolution  by  Mr.  Foote,  of  Tennessee,  to  the  following 
effect:  "  Resolved  by  the  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America, 
That  the  signal  success  with  which  Divine  Providence  has  so  continually 
blessed  our  arms,  for  several  months  past,  would  fully  justify  the  Confed 
erate  Government  in  despatching  a  commissioner  or  commissioners  to  the 
Government  at  Washington  city,  empowered  to  propose  the  terms  of  a 
just  and  honorable  peace."  This  proposition  for  peace  was  advocated  by 
Mr.  Foote  with  ability ;  and  its  author  exhibited  unusual  boldness  in 
bringing  it  forward  at  that  crisis  of  the  Rebellion.  But  the  arguments 
with  which  he  advocated  its  adoption  formed  a  singular  medley  of  shrewd 
ness,  prejudice,  and  folly.  He  began  by  asserting  that  he  entertained 
little  hope  that  the  insolent  and  cruel  enemy  of  the  Confederate  States,  the 
Federal  Government,  would  listen  to  the  proposition  with  favor.  Nor 
had  he  any  confidence  in  the  wisdom,  sagacity,  or  true  manliness  of  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  his  deluded  Cabinet.  He  was  aware  that  those  functionaries 
had  been  spurred  on  ever  since  their  commencement  of  hostilities  at  Fort 
Sumter,  by  a  numerous  host  of  infuriated  fanatics  and  unscrupulous  dem 
agogues,  until  they  had  almost  reached  the  lowest  depths  of  hopelessness 
and  ruin;  nor  had  he  any  confidence  that  the  weak  and  vacillating  Fed 
eral  Executive  at  Washington  possessed  sufficient  moral  courage  to  re 
ceive  the  commissioners  of  the  Confederate  Congress  if  they  should  be  sent 
thither.  Nevertheless,  there  were  reasons  which  strongly  commended  the 
adoption  of  the  measure.  If  the  Federal  authorities  should  madly  reject 
the  tenders  of  a  just  and  honorable  peace  which  should  thus  be  made  to 
them,  all  the  responsibility  of  a  continuance  of  bloodshed,  and  of  the  un 
speakable  horrors  which  would  attend  the  prosecution  of  the  war,  would 
be  accumulated  on  their  heads.  The  civilized  world  would  hold  them 
alone  accountable  for  their  infliction.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Confederate 
Government  would  be  exculpated.  The  Confederate  soldiers  would  be 
justified  in  using  still  more  determined  and  unrelenting  efforts  to  crush 
the  power  of  the  common  enemy.  Moreover,  the  armies  of  the  Confederate 
States  had  uniformly  been  the  victors  in  the  contest  thus  far.  They  had 
driven  the  vandals  of  the  North  with  irresistible  energy  and  with  match 
less  valor  from  their  confines.  The  Federal  Government  and  its  armies 
had  been  humbled  on  every  battle-field.  "Such  a  succession  of  brilliant 
and  decisive  triumphs,"  said  Mr.  Foote,  "had  never  heretofore  adorned 
the  pages  of  history."  Therefore  it  was  the  part  of  a  sublime  magnanimity 
in  them,  as  conquerors,  to  tender  the  olive  branch  to  their  humbled  and 
enervated  foes.  Notwithstanding  these  potent  arguments,  and  these 
glowing  appeals,  the  Confederate  Congress  was  either  so  stupid  or  so  wise 
as  to  vote  down  the  proposition,  by  an  overwhelming  majority. 

The  town  of  Augusta,  Kentucky,  was  the  scene  of  a  spirited  contest, 
on  the  27th  of  September,  between  six  hundred  mounted  Rebels  under 


356  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Colonel  Morgan,  and  a  small  Union  force  of  a  hundred  and  twenty  infan 
try  under  Colonel  Bradford,  who  were  posted  at  that  place.  The  latter 
maintained  the  fight  with  heroism  until  they  were  overpowered  by  the 
superior  numbers  of  the  enemy.  They  were  eventually  compelled  to  sur 
render,  but  before  doing  so  they  had  set  their  fatal  mark  on  the  ranks 
of  the  enemy.  A  large  number  of  Rebels  were  slain,  among  whom  was 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Prentice,  a  son  of  the  patriotic  George  D.  Prentice, 
of  Louisville.  The  Federal  loss  was  nine  killed  and  fifteen  wounded. 
That  of  the  enemy  was  seventy-five  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 
A  portion  of  the  town  was  burnt  during  the  progress  of  the  engagement. 

The  next  scene  in  this  grand  martial  drama  which  demands  our  atten 
tion,  occurred  at  Corinth,  in  Mississippi.  A  desperate  battle  was  fought 
in  its  vicinity  on  the  3d  and  4th  of  October,  1862.  The  Rebel  force, 
numbering  about  thirty -five  thousand  men,  was  commanded  by  Generals 
Van  Dorn  Price,  and  Villipigue.  The  Federal  troops  were  led  on  by  Gen 
eral  Rosecrans,  the  hero  of  luka.  The  right  wing  of  the  enemy  rested  on 
the  Chevalla  road,  their  left  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad,  their  centre 
on  the  space  between  them.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  3d  the  pickets 
of  the  two  armies  commenced  to  skirmish.  They  were  gradually  rein 
forced,  until  the  engagement  became  general.  This  part  of  the  contest 
took  place  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  redoubts  occupied  by  the  Union 
troops ;  but  the  nature  of  the  ground,  which  was  covered  with  heavy 
timber,  prevented  the  use  of  the  heavy  guns.  The  day  was  spent  in 
irregular  and  fragmentary  charges  and  repulses  on  both  sides,  in  which 
the  advantage  was  generally  obtained  by  the  Rebels.  The  undergrowth 
of  wood  being  very  dense  interfered  materially  with  the  operations  of  the 
troops.  During  the  day  the  enemy  succeeded  in  outflanking  the  Federal 
right  wing,  by  which  operation  the  Federal  troops  in  that  part  of  the  line 
were  compelled  to  give  way.  Subsequently,  however,  the  line  was  re 
formed,  a  charge  was  made  by  the  seventeenth  Wisconsin  and  Baldwin's 
brigade,  by  which  the  Rebels  were  driven  back  half  a  mile.  Some  pieces 
of  artillery  which  had  been  lost  were  recaptured. 

Thus  ended  the  operations  of  the  first  day.  The  armies  then  took  their 
several  positions  for  the  night.  They  proceeded  leisurely  to  light  their 
camp-fires,  to  cook  their  rations,  to  take  their  rest,  in  close  and  quiet 
proximity  to  each  other,  as  if  they  had  not  but  an  hour  before  been  en 
gaged  in  mortal  combat,  and  as  if  they  did  not  intend  to  resume  the 
struggle  on  the  following  day.  At  half-past  three  o'clock  on  the  morning 
of  the  4th  the  battle  was  promptly  commenced  by  Lieutenant  H.  C. 
Robinet,  of  the  first  United  States  infantry,  with  his  battery  of  siege 
guns.  The  enemy,  who  had  planted  some  cannon  during  the  night  in  an 
appropriate  position,  as  promptly  responded.  This  exchange  of  shots 
continued  until  six  o'clock,  when  an  enfilading  fire  was  commenced  upon 
the  enemy  by  several  additional  batteries,  which  compelled  them  to  aban- 


9UAN  Cf 

CORINTH 

AND   ITS 

DEFENCES 

I  MILEG 


DEFEAT   OF   THE   REBELS   AT   CORINTH.  357 

don  their  position.  A  portion  of  the  eighty -third  Ohio  captured  a  num 
ber  of  the  Rebel  caissons.  Some  of  Robi net's  men  obtained  possession  of 
a  splendid  battery  of  James's  rifled  cannon.  The  thirty-ninth  Ohio  re 
covered  two  Parrott  guns  which  the  Federals  had  lost  on  the  day  before. 
At  ten  o'clock  the  enemy  prepared  to  make  a  determined  charge  upon  the 
Federal  redoubts.  They  were  led  forward  in  this  desperate  undertaking 
by  General  Rodgers.  During  their  advance  the  Federal  artillery  made 
fearful  havoc  in  their  columns.  One  huge  shell  exploded  in  the  midst  of 
their  solid  ranks,  and  instantly  placed  thirty  men  hors  du  combat.  A 
deluge  of  grape  and  canister  from  the  Federal  guns  in  their  front  and  on 
their  left  could  not  dampen  their  intense  ardor.  They  still  pressed  for 
ward.  They  at  length  entered  the  streets  of  the  town.  Then  ensued  a 
ferocious  struggle.  The  Rebels  seemed  determined  to  get  possession  of 
the  Robinet  battery,  which  had  already  inflicted  such  heavy  damage  upon 
them.  The  acquisition  of  that  prize  would  doubtless  have  decided  the 
issue  of  the  day.  It  would  have  secured  them  at  least  the  permanent  oc 
cupation  of  the  place.  This,  then,  was  the  critical  moment  of  the  engage 
ment.  General  Rodgers,  to  whom  was  entrusted  the  conduct  of  the  charge 
upon  this  battery,  led  his  men  forward  with  the  greatest  gallantry.  The 
Federals  were  equally  determined  and  energetic.  Every  gun  was  brought 
to  bear  upon  the  advancing  columns.  Whole  ranks  crumbled  to  the 
earth  like  frost-work  before  that  withering  fire.  The  vacant  spaces  were 
instantly  filled  up,  and  still  the  Rebel  column  steadily  advanced.  They 
then  charged  up  to  the  battery.  They  mounted  the  parapet.  They  were 
met  by  a  heroic  resistance  from  a  firm  wall  of  dauntless  warriors.  They 
were  compelled  to  recoil.  But  they  renewed  the  attempt,  and  were 
again  driven  back.  After  a  third  still  more  desperate  struggle,  they  suc 
ceeded  in  gaining  the  outer  works.  The  Rebel  banner  was  quickly 
hoisted  from  the  parapet.  It  was  instantly  shot  away.  Again  it  was 
raised,  and  again  it  was  obliterated.  For  a  time,  however,  the  enemy  held 
possession  of  those  works.  Then  came  the  master-deed  of  the  day.  Two 
batteries,  those  of  Williams  and  Robinet,  commenced  from  opposite  points 
to  play  upon  the  adventurous  Rebels  in  the  position  they  had  won.  It 
was  such  a  fire  as  no  body  of  men  could  possibly  endure.  After  being 
slaughtered  like  sheep  for  a  short  time,  they  abandoned  the  Federal 
works.  So  fearful  had  been  that  cannonade  that  they  left  two  hundred 
and  sixty  dead  bodies  behind  them  in  their  retreat.  As  the  disordered 
and  broken  column  retired,  they  were  pursued  and  routed  by  Colonel 
Mower's  regiment.  They  had  lost  the  greater  part  of  their  officers,  and 
among  them  was  Colonel  Rodgers.  At  half- past  twelve  the  defeat  of 
the  Rebels  was  complete.  They  retired  from  Corinth  in  disorder  to  their 
former  encampment,  but  General  Rosecrans  gave  them  no  time  for  repose. 
He  commenced  the  pursuit,  and  chased  the  enemy,  whose  entire  force  fled 
in  the  direction  of  Chevalla.  Skirmishing  and  fighting  took  place  during 


358  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

Sunday  between  the  retreating  and  pursuing  forces.  The  enemy  even 
tually  effected  their  escape.  They  lost  an  immense  quantity  of  ammuni 
tion,  of  guns,  and  of  baggage,  which,  with  more  prisoners  than  they 
wanted,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Federal  victors. 

General  William  Starke  Rosecrans,  the  hero  of  this  important  victory, 
was  born  in  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  in  December,  1819.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  was  admitted  to  West  Point,  in  which  institution  he  graduated 
with  honor  in  1842.  He  was  third  in  merit  in  a  class  containing  fifty-six 
cadets.  His  first  promotion  was  as  assistant  to  Colonel  De  Russey  at 
Fortress  Monroe.  In  1843  he  officiated  as  assistant  professor  of  engineer 
ing  at  West  Point.  In  1847  he  was  ordered  to  Newport,  where  he  took 
charge  of  the  fortifications,  and  superintended  the  construction  of  a  large 
military  wharf.  In  1853  he  completed  the  survey  of  the  harbors  of  New 
Bedford,  Providence,  and  the  Taunton  river.  In  1854  he  was  employed 
by  the  Government  in  the  Washington  navy-yard.  In  that  year  he  ten 
dered  his  resignation  to  Jefferson  Davis,  at  that  time  Secretary  of  War, 
which  was,  after  considerable  delay,  accepted.  He  then  spent  some  years 
in  Cincinnati,  in  the  capacity  of  civil  engineer  and  architect.  Subse 
quently,  the  Legislature  of  Ohio  appointed  him  chief  engineer  of  that 
State.  When  the  Rebellion  commenced  Governor  Den nison  conferred  on 
him  the  rank  of  colonel  of  the  twenty-third  regiment  of  Ohio  volunteers. 
In  June,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln  nominated  him  a  brigadier-general  in  the 
regular  army.  When  the  army  of  Western  Virginia,  under  McClellan, 
marched  against  the  foe,  Rosecrans  commanded  a  brigade  of  Ohio  and 
Indiana  troops,  and  on  the  12th  of  July  he  fought  the  battle  of  Rich 
Mountain.  He  approached  the  enemy  by  cutting  a  passage,  nine  miles 
in  length,  through  the  dense  forest,  thereby  falling  unexpectedly  upon 
their  rear.  After  a  contest  of  two  hours'  duration  he  defeated  the  enemy, 
compelled  them  to  flee  in  disorder,  and  took  their  commanding  officer, 
General  Pegram,  prisoner.  Whea  General  McClellan  was  summoned 
to  Washington,  Rosecrans  was  entrusted  with  the  command  of  the  army 
of  Western  Virginia.  On  the  10th  of  September  he  routed  General 
Floyd  at  Carnifex  ferry,  thus  clearing  the  territory  of  the  Kanawha  of  the 
presence  and  power  of  the  foe.  In  March,  1862,  he  was  made  a  major- 
general  of  volunteers,  and  being  sent  to  the  southwest,  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  the  third  division  of  the  army  of  the  Mississippi,  under  the 
superior  orders  of  General  Grant.  His  headquarters  were  located  at 
Corinth.  In  this  last  capacity  he  performed  those  brilliant  achievements 
at  luka  and  Corinth,  the  details  of  which  are  contained  in  the  present 
chapter.  His  career  has  been  one  of  the  most  uniformly  successful  and 
prosperous  which  the  history  of  any  Federal  commander  presents  in  con 
nection  with  the  Southern  Rebellion. 

It  was  in  August,  1862,  that  Robert  E.  Lee,  the  commanding  general 
of  the  forces  in  Virginia,  conceived  the  idea  of  making  a  sudden  raid  into 


INVASION   OF  PENNSYLVANIA.  35<J 

Pennsylvania,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  plunder.  Such  excursions  are 
doubtless  justifiable  according  to  the  recognized  laws  of  warfare,  but  they 
would  seem  to  be  beneath  the  dignity  of  a  great  and  honorable  belligerent. 
General  Lee  issued  his  orders  to  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  on  the  8th  of 
October,  directing  him  to  proceed  with  a  detachment  of  about  fifteen  hun 
dred  cavalry  across  the  Potomac  above  Williamsport,  to  leave  Hagers- 
town  and  Greencastle  on  the  right,  to  proceed  to  the  rear  of  Chambers- 
burg,  and  destroy  the  railroad  bridge  over  the  Concocheague,  and  to  inflict 
any  other  damage  upon  the  Federal  community  which  he  might  deem  de 
sirable.  At  the  same  time,  General  Lee  directed  Colonel  Imboden  to 
make  a  demonstration  with  a  small  force  toward  Cumberland,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  diverting  and  distracting  the  attention  of  the  Union  forces. 

In  accordance  with  this  order  General  Stuart  started  from  Darksville 
on  his  raid,  on  the  9th  of  October,  accompanied  by  four  pieces  of  horse 
artillery.  He  crossed  the  Potomac  at  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  10th, 
at  McCoy's  ford,  between  Williamsport  and  Hancock.  Thence  he  pro 
ceeded  northward  until  he  reached  the  great  national  road  running  from 
Hagerstown  to  Hancock.  Near  this  point  the  Federals  had  erected  a 
signal  station,  but  so  sudden  and  so  unexpected  was  the  appearance  of 
the  enemy  that  the  signal  party,  their  flags  and  apparatus,  were  captured, 
together  with  ten  prisoners  of  war.  From  this  point  Stuart  proceeded  in 
the  direction  of  Mercersburg,  which  town  he  reached  about  noon.  At  this 
time  the  news  of  this  singular  apparition  had  spread  throughout  the  sur 
rounding  country,  and  terror  overwhelmed  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants. 
The  enemy  did  not  tarry  in  Mercersburg,  but  pressed  forward  toward 
Chambersburg.  It  had  been  the  intention  of  Stuart  to  proceed  to  Hagers 
town  where  immense  supplies  for  the  Federal  army  had  been  stored.  He 
was  deterred  from  carrying  out  this  purpose  by  the  fact  that  he  appre 
hended  the  approach  and  interference  of  a  part  of  the  Union  forces,  which 
were  still  detained  by  McClellan  at  Antietam.  He  therefore  turned  to 
ward  Chambersburg,  where  his  presence  would  be  wholly  unexpected. 
He  reached  that  place  on  the  evening  of  the  10th. 

As  soon  as  Stuart  and  his  motley,  dust-covered  force  approached  Cham 
bersburg,  he  despatched  an  order  into  the  town,  demanding  its  surrender. 
His  emissaries  were  taken  to  the  office  of  the  provost  marshal,  to  whom  the 
requirements  of  the  invaders  were  made  known.  No  other  civil  or  mili 
tary  officer  could  be  found  in  the  town — none  who  would  admit  that  they 
possessed  the  honors  and  responsibilities  of  office.  The  terms  offered  by 
General  Stuart  were  an  immediate  surrender  of  the  place,  and  a  threat 
that  if  any  resistance  was  offered  "it  would  be  shelled  in  three  minutes." 
Several  prominent  citizens  then  came  forward,  assumed  the  responsibility 
of  acting  in  behalf  of  the  terrified  inhabitants,  proceeded  toward  the  place 
where  General  Stuart  was,  at  a  short  distance  from  the  town,  and  held  an 
interview  with  the  Rebel  commander.  They  admitted  that  they  had  no 


360  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

means  of  resistance,  and  would  therefore  surrender  the  place  on  condition 
that  security  of  persons  and  property  would  be  guaranteed  from  the  pri 
vate  plunder  of  the  invaders.  These  conditions  being  agreed  to,  the 
Rebels  entered  the  town.  Each  soldier  led  one  or  two  horses,  which  he 
had  already  stolen.  They  distributed  themselves  up  and  down  the  streets 
and  lanes,  breaking  open  the  stables,  and  taking  from  them  all  the  good 
horses  they  could  find.  They  then  proceeded  through  the  adjacent  coun 
try,  entered  the  barns  of  the  farmers,  took  from  them  their  horses,  together 
with  as  much  forage  as  they  could  carry.  In  the  town  they  entered  sev 
eral  stores,  and  plundered  them  of  clothing.  In  one  of  the  warehouses 
they  secured  a  large  quantity  of  government  clothing.  In  such  enter 
prising  activity  they  spent  the  night.  On  the  following  morning  at  nine 
o'clock  they  fired  the  machine  shops  and  warehouses  of  the  Valley  rail 
road.  These  were  exploded  or  destroyed,  after  which  the  unwelcome 
visitors  departed  in  the  direction  of  the  South  Mountain.  They  had  en 
tered  the  bank  during  their  visit,  but  the  funds  had  /been  previously  re 
moved,  so  that  they  were  disappointed  in  regard  to  the  acquisition  of 
money.  They  cut  all  the  telegraph  wires.  They  paroled  about  two  hun 
dred  and  seventy-five  sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  who  were  in  the  hos 
pital.  The  route  they  took  on  their  return  was  toward  Leesburg.  But 
this  purpose  Stuart  disguised  from  the  loyal  community  by  commencing 
his  return  on  a  false  route.  They  proceeded  at  first  toward  Gettysburg, 
in  Adams  county,  and  having  crossed  the  Blue  Ridge,  turned  back  toward 
Hagerstown  for  six  or  eight  miles,  then  diverged  toward  Emmettsburg, 
and  took  the  direct  road  toward  Frederick.  Before  reaching  Frederick 
they  crossed  the  Monocacy,  and  marching  all  night,  passed  through  Lib 
erty,  New  Market,  and  Monrovia,  on  the  Baltimore  railroad.  At  Hayatts- 
town  they  captured  a  few  of  McClellan's  wagons.  Thence  they  proceeded 
toward  Poolesville.  Before  reaching  that  place  they  encountered  a  de 
tachment  of  Federal  cavalry  under  General  Pleasonton,  who  had  been 
sent  out  to  confront  them.  He  crossed  the  Monocacy  with  portions  of  the 
eighth  Illinois,  the  third  Indiana,  and  two  guns  of  Remington's  battery. 
Several  miles  from  the  ford  where  they  crossed  the  stream  they  encoun 
tered  the  foe.  A  brisk  engagement  ensued.  A  duel  followed  between 
the  artillery  of  the  two  forces.  Several  of  the  guns  of  the  enemy  were 
posted  at  White's  ford.  While  the  contest  progressed  between  the  artillery 
the  main  body  of  the  Rebels  retired  toward  the  Potomac.  They  eventu 
ally  crossed  the  river  at  that  place  without  difficulty  or  opposition.  Gen 
eral  Pleasonton's  force,  which  was  only  five  hundred  strong,  was  too  small 
to  be  able  to  make  any  effectual  resistance  to  their  movements.  During 
the  whole  expedition  the  Rebels  did  not  lose  a  single  man,  though  a  few 
of  them  were  wounded.  The  adventure  proved  a  complete  success  on 
their  part,  and  gave  ample  evidence  of  the  energy,  sagacity,  and  vigor 
which  characterized  both  the  officers  and  the  men  concerned  in  it. 


FEDERAL   VICTORY   AT  LAVERUNE,   TENNESSEE.  361 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

THE    FEDERAL    VICTORY     AT    LAVERGNE,    TENNESSEF — GENERAL     NEGLET — BATTLE     ON     THM 

HATCHIE     RIVER — EXPEDITION    OF    GENERAL     BRANNAN     UP     THE     ST.   JOHN'S     RIVER ITS 

RESULTS — THE     BATTLE    OF    PERRYVILLE — HEROISM     OF     GENERAL     ROUSSEAU — INCIDENTS 

OF  THIS  ENGAGEMENT ITS    CONSEQUENCES — FINAL    ESCAPE  OF  GENERAL    BRAGG    AND    HIS 

ARMY    FROM    KENTUCKY — INEFFICIENCY     OF     GENERAL     BUELL HIS     REMOVAL    FROM    THE 

COMMAND    OF    THE    ARMY    OF    THE    OHIO — APPOINTMENT    OF    GENERAL    ROSECRANS  AS  HIS 

SUCCESSOR — FRUITS    OF    GENERAL    BRAGG's    INVASION    OF    KENTUCKY SUMMARY  VIEW  OF 

MINOR    EVENTS    WHICH    OCCURRED    IN    SEPTEMBER    AND    OCTOBER,    1862. 

A  BRILLIANT  and  successful  movement  was  made  on  the  7th  of 
October,  1862,  by  order  of  General  James  Negley,  upon  a  detachment  of 
the  enemy  posted  at  Lavergne,  near  Nashville,  commanded  by  General 
Samuel  Anderson,  by  which  their  camp  was  completely  broken  up. 
The  expedition  was  placed  under  the  direction  of  Colonels  Palmer  and 
Miller.  The  Federal  force  amounted  to  about  five  thousand  men.  Those 
led  by  Palmer  approached  Lavergne  by  the  Murfreesboro  road ;  those 
under  Miller  took  a  route  on  the  left  of  the  railroad.  As  soon  as  they 
arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Rebel  camp,  they  were  promptly  attacked 
by  the  foe,  who  attempted  to  outflank  them,  by  concentrating  the  thirty- 
second  Alabama  on  their  right.  A  shot  from  the  Federal  guns  fortu 
nately  entered  the  powder  magazine  of  the  Confederates,  and  exploded 
it.  This  unexpected  catastrophe  very  materially  confused  and  damaged 
them.  Meanwhile  the  struggle  continued  with  increasing  fury.  The 
operations  of  the  Alabama  regiment  were  valiantly  confronted  by  the 
force  under  Colonel  Miller.  The  seventv-eighth  Pennsylvania  assisted  in 
a  vigorous  charge  upon  them,  and  compelled  them  to  give  way.  They 
formed  again,  and  made  in  turn  a  cavalry  charge  upon  this  regiment. 
But  they  met  so  destructive  a  volley  of  musketry,  that  they  quickly 
broke  and  fled.  They  were  pursued,  and  the  thirty-second  Alabama 
threw  down  their  arms.  The  Federal  artillery  continued  to  keep  up  the 
assault  upon  the  position  of  the  enemy  with  great  energy,  and  the  Rebel 
cavalry  were  unable  to  stand  before  it.  They  fted  in  confusion  until  they 
reached  the  cover  of  the  woods.  The  fourteenth  Michigan  and  the 
twenty-first  Ohio  took  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  During  the  day 
General  Negley,  apprehending  that  his  troops  might  need  reinforcements 
marched  out  from  Nashville  with  three  regiments  and  a  battery.  But 
before  his  arrival  a  decisive  victory  had  already  been  gained.  The 
enemy  had  fled  in  confusion  from  their  position,  leaving  their  camp  in 
*he  possession  of  the  victors.  The  latter  captured  one  gun,  four  hundred 
small  arms,  a  regimental  color,  fifty-six  loads  of  flour,  and  a  large 


362  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

amount  of  other  provisions.  The  Federal  loss  was  five  killed,  nine 
wounded,  four  missing.  The  Rebel  loss  was  about  thirty  killed  and 
eighty  wounded.  The  number  of  prisoners  taken  was  three  hundred, 
including  two  colonels,  Langford  and  Maury,  with  a  squad  of  inferior 
officers. 

The  brilliant  victory  of  Rosecrans  at  Corinth  was  followed,  on  the  5th 
of  October,  by  the  rout  of  the  rebels  on  the  Ilatchie,  in  Mississippi,  which 
was  achieved  by  a  portion  of  the  same  forces  who  had  distinguished 
themselves  at  Corinth.  The  troops  of  the  enemy  engaged  on  this  occa 
sion  consisted  of  two  army  corps,  commanded  by  Van  Dorn  and  Price, 
and  comprised  fifty-six  regiments  of  infantry  and  three  thousand  cavalry, 
which  amounted  to  at  least  thirty  thousand  men.  The  Federal  force 
engaged  was  about  equal  in  number,  and  consisted  of  the  divisions  com 
manded  by  Generals  Ord  and  Hurlbut.  These  officers  had  been  directed 
to  pursue  the  Rebels  as  they  returned  from  Corinth.  In  executing  this 
order  they  overtook  a  portion  of  their  columns  near  the  Ilatchie  river. 
Skirmishing  took  place  on  the  4th,  but  the  Federal  forces  had  on  that 
day  marched  twenty-four  miles  in  the  excessive  heat  and  dust,  and  the 
chief  attack  was  postponed  until  the  next  day.  The  enemy  intrenched 
themselves  during  the  interval  with  considerable  skill.  Early  on  the 
morning  of  the  6th,  the  Federals  commenced  to  move.  The  fourteenth 
Illinois  and  the  twenty-eighth  Indiana  were  thrown  forward  as  skir 
mishers.  At  nine  o'clock  the  first  serious  encounter  took  place.  It  was 
to  obtain  possession  of  a  hill,  whose  gentle  slopes  stretched  nearly  a  mile 
to  the  bridge  which  spanned  the  stream.  The  Rebels  had  planted  a 
battery  in  front  of  this  bridge  to  protect  their  infantry  as  they  advanced. 
These  guns  were  responded  to  by  Bolton's  battery.  The  enemy  then 
attempted  with  their  infantry  to  outflank  the  Federal  right  wing ;  but 
this  purpose  was  defeated  by  the  effective  fire  of  Burnap's  battery,  and 
by  the  expert  marksmen  of  the  infantry,  which  broke  the  advancing 
line  of  the  enemy,  routed  them,  and  threw  them  into  such  confusion  that 
they  retired  wholly  from  the  field. 

And  now  all  the  troops  on  both  sides,  excepting  those  just  referred  to, 
joined  in  battle.  General  Veatch  commanded  the  first  line  of  the 
Federal  forces  with  great  gallantry.  His  men  were  quickly  engaged 
with  those  whom  the  enemy  had  thrown  across  the  bridge.  A  des 
perate  contest  here  ensued,  which  lasted  twenty  minutes,  after  which 
four  hundred  Rebels  threw  down  their  arms  and  surrendered.  At  the 
same  time  hundreds  of  them  fled  to  the  river,  plunged  in,  and  swam  to 
the  opposite  shore.  In  this  contest  Colonel  Davis,  of  the  forty-sixth 
Illinois,  was  severely  wounded.  While  this  operation  was  progressing, 
General  Hurlbut  was  bringing  forward  the  remainder  of  the  Federal 
forces  to  the  charge.  These  all  pressed  forward  toward  the  bridge,  driv 
ing  the  enem^  before  them.  The  latter  were  soon  compelled  to  cross 


EXPEDITION    UP  THE  ST.  JOHN'S  RIVER.  3f,-t 

The  Federals  promptly  folk>wed.  The  twenty-fifth  and  fifty-third  In 
diana,  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  Illinois,  began  the  passage,  amid  a 
deluge  of  canister  and  grape-shot,  which  swept  the  bridge.  Nothing, 
however,  could  dampen  their  ardor,  though  many  fell  in  that  desperate 
charge.  The  twenty-fifth  Indiana,  led  by  Colonel  Morgan,  was  the  first 
to  gain  the  opposite  side  of  the  bridge.  As  soon  as  these  troops,  together 
with  General  Lanman's  brigade  had  passed  over,  they  charged  upon  the 
enemy  with  renewed  determination.  They  soon  drove  them  from  every 
position  which  they  had  taken.  The  twelfth  Michigan,  sixty-eighth 
Ohio,  and  forty-sixth  Illinois,  fought  with  unusual  determination.  The 
Rebels,  unable  to  maintain  their  position,  removed  their  guns  to  new 
points  in  the  rear.  The  Federal  batteries  were  in  turn  brought  forward, 
and  the  exchange  of  shot  and  shell  resumed.  But  soon  the  guns  of  the 
enemy  were  silenced,  and  at  four  o'clock  they  moved  off  from  the  scene 
of  combat.  The  Federal  cavalry  pursued.  The  Rebels  hastened  up  the 
river  six  miles  to  Cram's  Mills,  whence  they  continued  their  flight  south 
ward.  The  fruits  of  the  victory  were  four  rifled  howitzers,  a  thousand 
stand  of  arms,  and  four  hundred  prisoners.  The  Federal  loss  was 
thirty  killed  and  ninety  wounded.  After  this  success  they  continued  to 
explore  the  surrounding  country  for  several  days  to  capture  fugitive  and 
vagabond  Rebels,  after  which  they  returned  to  their  camp  at  Bolivar. 
The  routed  Rebels  pursued  their  way  to  Holly  Springs,  where  they  formed 
a  junction  with  the  troops  stationed  there  under  General  Pillow. 

During  the  first  week  of  October,  1862,  an  expedition  was  sent  out 
from  Hilton  Head,  South  Carolina,  under  the  command  of  General  Bran- 
nan,  foi  the  purpose  of  attacking  the  Rebel  batteries  erected  at  St.  John's 
bluff,  and  any  other  works  which  the  enemy  might  have  constructed  on 
the  St.  John's  river,  in  Florida.  The  land  forces  appropriated  to  this  ser 
vice  numbered  sixteen  hundred  men,  and  were  composed  chiefly  of  Con 
necticut  and  Pennsylvania  troops.  They  were  conveyed  by  the  trans 
ports  Boston,  Cosmopolitan,  Neptune,  and  Ben  Deford.  The  expedition 
was  accompanied  by  the  gunboats  Paul  Jones,  "Water  Witch,  Cimerone, 
Hale,  Uncas,  and  Patroon,  the  last  commanded  by  Captain  Charles  Steed- 
man.  After  entering  the  mouth  of  St.  John's  river,  several  of  these  boats 
were  sent  up  to  the  works  on  the  bluff,  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitering 
them.  But  they  were  soon  engaged  in  a  spirited  contest  with  them, 
which  developed  their  real  strength.  A  landing  of  the  troops  was  subse 
quently  effected  at  Mayport  Mills,  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  nearly 
forty  miles  distant  from  the  scene  of  action.  The  march  over  the  inter 
vening  country  threatened  to  be  one  of  great  difficulty,  being  intersected 
by  numerous  swamps  and  creeks,  in  consequence  of  which  the  troops 
were  reembarked,  and  the  infantry  were  subsequently  landed  at  Buck 
Horn  creek.  It  was  found  impossible  to  land  the  cavalry  and  artillery  at 
that  point.  Colonel  T.  H.  Good  was  ordered  to  proceed  with  the  infantry 


364  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

and  marine  howitzers  to  the  head  of  Mount  Pleasant  creek,  and  there  es 
tablish  a  position  to  protect  the  landing  of  the  cavalry  and  artillery.  This 
movement  was  effected  with  skill  and  success,  and  on  the  3d  of  October 
the  whole  Federal  force  was  disembarked,  and  placed  in  position  at  the 
head  of  Mount  Pleasant  creek,  about  two  miles  distant  from  the  Rebel 
works  on  St.  John's  bluff. 

The  force  which  the  enemy  had  assembled  here  consisted  of  about 
twelve  hundred  troops,  both  cavalry  and  artillery.  Their  batteries  con 
tained  nine  heavy  pieces  of  artillery.  It  was  naturally  expected  that  they 
would  have  made  a  vigorous  resistance.  The  surprise  of  the  Federal 
officers  and  men  was  therefore  intense  when,  having  advanced  toward  the 
works  and  commenced  a  regular  bombardment  of  them,  no  reply  was 
made.  Their  astonishment  increased  when  it  was  subsequently  discovered 
that  the  fortifications,  and  the  guns  in  them,  had  been  abandoned  by  their 
chivalrous  defenders.  They  were  instantly  taken  possession  of,  the  stars 
and  stripes  unfurled  from  the  flag-staff,  and  the  camps  and  batteries  occu 
pied  by  the  entire  Federal  force.  The  position  was  found  to  be  one  of 
superior  strength.  The  works  had  been  skilfully  constructed.  The  natural 
advantages  of  the  position  were  great,  and  they  had  been  improved  by 
every  appliance  of  military  art.  The  artillery  was  soon  placed  on  board 
the  Federal  gunboats.  The  magazines  in  the  forts  were  blown  up,  and  the 
works  on  the  bluff  were  completely  destroyed. 

After  this  easy  and  agreeable  achievement,  the  expedition  proceeded  up 
the  St.  John's  river  as  far  as  Jacksonville,  for  the  purpose  of  overtaking 
the  fugitive  Rebels.  Having  arrived  at  that  point,  General  Brannan  dis 
covered  that  not  only  were  there  no  troops  of  the  enemy  in  the  vicinity, 
but  that  the  town  had  been  deserted  by  nearly  all  of  its  inhabitants.  Few 
were  left  behind  but  old  men  and  children.  A  more  perfect  spectacle  of 
desolation  than  the  place  presented  could  not  possibly  be  conceived.  Here 
it  was  ascertained  that  the  enemy  commenced  to  evacuate  their  works  on 
St.  John's  bluff  immediately  after  the  arrival  of  the  Federal  troops  at 
Mount  Pleasant  creek,  on  the  3d  of  October.  On  the  6th,  General  Bran- 
nan  was  informed  that  several  Rebel  steamers  had  been  secreted  in  a  creek 
some  distance  up  the  St.  John's  river.  He  immediately  despatched  the 
Darlington,  with  a  hundred  men  of  the  forty-seventh  Pennsylvania,  a 
crew  of  twenty-five  men,  and  two  twenty-four  pounders,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant  Williams,  together  with  a  convoy  of  gunboats,  to  se 
cure  them.  This  party  returned  to  Jacksonville  on  the  9th,  having  in  tow 
the  steamer  Governor  Milton,  which  they  had  captured  about  thirty 
miles  from  the  town  of  Enterprise.  Subsequently,  General  Brannan  con 
ducted  the  whole  expedition  back  again  to  Hilton  Head,  and  arrived  on 
the  13th  of  October.  The  enterprise  was  completely  successful,  though 
in  consequence  of  the  cowardice  of  the  enemy  in  abandoning  their  works 
on  St.  John's  bluff,  no  engagement  occurred  during  its  progress.  The  only 


THE   BATTLE   OF  PERRYVILLE.  3C5 

disaster  which  had  occurred  was  to  the  transport  Cosmopolitan,  which 
grounded  in  crossing  the  bar  off  Hilton  Head,  and  was  temporarily  ren 
dered  unfit  for  service. 

A  much  more  important  and  decisive  event  which  occurred  at  this 
period  was  the  desperate  battle  of  Perry ville,  or  Chaplin  Hills,  in  Ken 
tucky,  in  which  General  Buell  encountered  the  Rebel  hero  Braxton 
Bragg,  on  the  8th  of  October.  The  immense  army  of  Buell  had  been  fol 
lowing  in  leisurely  pursuit  of  the  enemy  for  some  time,  and  the  uniform 
distance  between  them  on  their  route  seemed  to  indicate  that  they  would 
never  approximate  each  other.  Nevertheless,  the  Rebels  having  proceeded 
from  Frankfort  toward  Harrodsburg,  were  overtaken  by  General  McCook's 
corps,  of  Buell's  army,  near  Perryville,  and  an  action,  though  probably 
not  desirable  by  either  commander-in-chief,  became  at  length  unavoidable. 

The  two  armies  were  drawn  up  on  opposite  sides  of  the  town  of  Perry 
ville.  Of  Buell's  army  only  McCook's  corps,  with  a  part  of  Thomas's, 
were  engaged.  The  division  commanders  were  Rousseau,  Sheridan,  Jack 
son,  and  Gilbert.  The  action  began  before  daylight.  The  mellow  light 
of  the  moon  still  threw  its  pale  splendors  over  the  sleeping  world,  when 
the  skirmishers  of  the  enemy  commenced  a  sharp  fire  upon  the  eighty- 
fifth  Illinois.  Soon  the  contest  became  more  general.  New  batteries  of 
the  enemy  commenced  to  shell  the  Federal  forces,  who,  upon  the  first 
alarm,  had  instantly  formed  in  line  of  battle  throughout  the  whole  of  the 
army.  The  enemy  carne  on,  pouring  destructive  volleys  into  the  Federal 
ranks.  They  compelled  the  second  Michigan  cavalry  to  retire  by  the  fury 
of  their  onset.  They  pressed  forward,  and  came  near  taking  the  hill  on 
which  the  thirty-sixth  brigade  had  been  stationed.  This  hill  was  in  the 
centre  of  the  Federal  line,  and  its  possession  was  a  matter  of  the  utmost 
importance.  At  that  crisis,  which  was  of  importance  to  the  issue  of  the 
day,  the  second  Missouri  regiment,  commanded  by  Captain  Hoppe,  which 
had  distinguished  itself  in  the  great  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  rushed  forward 
with  cheers  and  charged  upon  the  enemy.  They  were  opportunely  sup 
ported  by  the  second  Michigan  and  the  fifteenth  Missouri.  After  a  des 
perate  battle-shock  the  Rebel  ranks  recoiled  and  broke  up  in  confusion. 
They  were  pursued  for  more  than  a  mile,  and  the  defeat  of  this  portion  of 
their  troops  was  for  the  time  being  complete. 

But  this  operation  was  only  preliminary  to  the  chief  combat  of  the  day 
It  was  now  after  ten  o'clock.  Thus  far  the  cavalry  had  distinguished  them 
selves,  prominent  among  whom  was  a  portion  of  the  ninth  Pennsylvania. 
The  artillery  now  came  prominently  into  action  on  both  sides.  In  front 
the  legions  of  the  enemy  lay  massed  on  wooded  hills,  which  partially  con 
cealed  their  strength  and  precise  position.  At  length,  about  eleven 
o'clock,  the  enemy,  with  their  usual  promptness  and  spirit,  opened  the 
struggle  with  a  cannonade  on  the  batteries  of  Simonson  and  Loomis,  in 
whose  vicinity  the  division  of  General  Rousseau  was  posted.  The  Fed 


366  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

eral  guns  responded  with  vigor,  and  soon  new  batteries  of  the  foe  were 
revealed  successively  from  new  positions,  as  their  forces  came  more  com 
pletely  into  action.  At  two  o'clock  the  cannonade  had  become  general 
and  terrific  along  the  whole  line  of  both  armies.  Many  were  slain  on  both 
sides  by  this  distant  assault.  At  three  o'clock  General  Bragg  brought  his 
infantry  into  action.  He  led  the  charge  in  person.  He  made  a  ferocious 
assault  upon  the  centre  and  left  centre  of  the  Federal  lines.  At  this 
point  he  made  a  combined  attack  of  infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery. 
General  Eousseau  maintained  his  position,  and  hurled  back  the  tumultu 
ous  and  ferocious  masses  of  the  advancing  foe  with  complete  success.  His 
guns  ploughed  bloody  avenues  of  death  through  their  serried  columns. 
Volleys  of  musketry  mowed  down  whole  ranks  of  them  as  their  tides 
rolled  forward  frantically  toward  the  Federal  lines.  They  retired  from 
this  portion  of  the  field  in  confusion,  leaving  the  ground  covered  with 
multitudes  of  their  dead  and  wounded. 

But  the  Confederates  gained  more  success  in  another  portion  of  this 
field.  Compelled  to  retire  before  Rousseau,  they  made  a  charge  upon  the 
division  of  General  Jackson  with  better  effect.  This  division  was  on  the 
extreme  left  wing.  Buckner  led  the  assault  in  this  portion  of  the  field, 
which  exceeded  in  ferocity  any  thing  which  the  war  had  yet  exhibited. 
In  spite  of  a  brave  reception  at  the  beginning  of  this  charge,  the  Rebels 
soon  proved  themselves  irresistible,  and  the  twenty-first  Wisconsin, 
eightieth  Illinois,  and  one  hundred  and  fifth  Ohio,  gave  way  and  fled 
before  the  mad  onset  of  the  foe.  The  artillery  connected  with  Captain 
Parsons'  battery  abandoned  their  guns,  all  of  which  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy.  Soon  the  panic  spread.  The  entire  division  of  Jackson  be 
came  disorganized,  and  fled  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  At  that  point  they 
were  stopped,  and  gradually  reformed.  In  this  deadly  charge  Generals 
Jackson  and  Terrell  were  slain,  while  heroically  attempting  to  steady 
their  men,  and  correct  the  disgraceful  rout  and  panic  which  had  overtaken 
them. 

Emboldened  by  this  success  General  Bragg  determined  to  resume  his 
attack  upon  the  division  of  Rousseau,  and  particularly  on  the  seventeenth 
brigade,  commanded  by  Colonel  Lytle.  His  chosen  legions  now  ap 
proached  the  Federal  lines  in  heavy  and  formidable  masses.  As  they 
emerged  from  the  woods  to  which  they  had  retreated,  and  advanced  down 
the  slopes  of  the  hills,  their  appearance  was  extremely  imposing.  Their 
long  lines  of  burnished  bayonets  gleamed  brightly  in  the  sun.  The  pre 
cision  and  regularity  of  these  movements,  their  many  proud  secession 
banners  waving  gracefully  in  the  passing  breeze,  the  spirit-stirring  sounds 
of  martial  music  ;  above  all,  the  singular  apparition  of  their  commander 
in-chief,  who  could  be  seen  marching  at  their  front,  mounted  on  a  magnifi 
cent  white  charger,  surrounded  by  a  numerous  and  brilliant  staff,  all  rid  ing 
horses  of  the  same  color — these  features  of  the  scene  presented  one  of  those 


INCIDENTS    OF  THE  BATTLE    AT  PERRYVILLE.  367 

sublime  spectacles  of  the  glorious  pomp  and  circumstance  of  war  which 
form. the  bright,  delusive  side  of  a  picture  in  which  horror,  misery,  and 
death  so  sadly  and  so  universally  predominate. 

Having  arrived  within  artillery  range  the  enemy  quickly  planted  a 
dozen  cannon,  so  as  to  rake  the  third  Ohio  and  forty-second  Indiana  with 
terrible  effect.  Their  infantry  continued  to  advance  under  the  cover  of 
their  fire.  These  two  Federal  regiments  responded  to  the  Rebel  fire  with 
great  gallantry,  until  a  full  third  of  their  numbers  strewed  the  ensanguined 
field  with  their  fallen  bodies.  Colonel  Bently,  of  the  third  Ohio,  was  re 
markable  for  his  dauntloss  heroism  in  the  midst  of  that  terrific  storm  of 
musketry.  His  men  stood  as  firmly  as  rocks  in  the  midst  of  an  ocean 
tempest,  and  hurled  continuous  volleys  of  flame  and  shot  into  the  ranks 
of  the  enemy;  but  they  were  compelled  at  last  to  give  way  by  a  cause 
which  they  could  not  control.  A  barn  filled  with  hay,  near  which  the 
right  wing  of  the  third  Ohio  rested,  took  fire.  It  soon  became  enveloped 
in  flames.  The  heat  was  so  intense  that  the  faces  of  many  of  the  men 
were  blistered.  At  length  they  were  compelled  to  break  their  ranks,  and 
retire  from  their  position.  The  fifteenth  Kentucky,  after  resisting  the 
enemy  for  a  while  with  great  heroism,  was  also  compelled  to  retire.  But 
the  success  of  the  enemy  in  this  part  of  the  field  was  not  yet  ended.  The 
retreat  of  the  third  Ohio  and  fifteenth  Kentucky  left  the  gallant  tenth 
Ohio  regiment  in  an  exposed  position.  Colonel  Ly  tie  expected  to  receive 
a  charge  on  his  front.  But  the  Rebels,  whom  theyising  ground  here  par 
tially  concealed,  stole  around  unobserved  to  their  flank,  and  suddenly 
rushed  upon  them  from  an  unexpected  quarter.  The  tenth  had  been 
ordered  to  lie  upon  their  faces.  The  Rebels  surprised  them  in  that  unfa 
vorable  position.  They  sprang  to  their  feet  instantly,  and  made  a  des 
perate  effort  to  change  their  front  and  charge  upon  the  foe.  It  was 
impossible,  however,  to  accomplish  this  under  the  withering  fire  which 
assailed  them,  and  they  soon  broke  and  fled.  It  was  in  this  awful  mo 
ment  of  chaos  and  terror  that  the  gifted  and  dauntless  Lytle  fell  pierced 
with  balls  while  in  vain  attempting  to  stem  the  overwhelming  tide  of 
disaster  and  defeat. 

During  the  progress  of  these  events  an  immense  body  of  Rebels,  filing 
to  the  left,  attacked  the  divisions  of  Generals  Sheridan  and  Mitchel,  who 
occupied  the  Federal  right  and  right  centre.  They  charged  up  the  hills 
on  which  these  troops  were  posted ;  but  their  audacious  valor  was  vain. 
They  met  a  reception  which  shattered  their  masses  into  bloody  fragments. 
They  were  eventually  compelled  to  retire,  and  were  pursued  by  the 
valiant  legions  of  Mitchel  beyond  Perry ville.  By  this  time  the  seven 
teenth  brigade  had  been  reformed,  and  charged  on  the  foe,  supported  by 
the  ninth  and  twenty-eighth  brigades.  Then  ensued  a  desperate  combat 
half  an  hour  in  duration.  It  was  now  nearly  sundown.  Once  more  the 
Rebels  made  a  furious  charge  upon  the  Federal  lines,  as  if  determined  to 


368  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATUS. 

grasp  the  victory  from  unwilling  fate.  The  discharges  of  artillery  oil 
both  sides  became  terrific.  At  length  its  thunder  ceased,  as  darkness 
spread  its  sable  mantle  over  the  scene.  The  Union  army  reposed  upon 
their  arms  during  the  night,  while  the  enemy  leisurely  resumed  their 
retreat,  and  ultimately  escaped  into  Tennessee  through  Powell's  gap.  The 
Federal  forces  did  not  pursue  them.  It  was,  in  fact,  little  better  than  a 
drawn  battle.  The  Federal  loss  in  the  division  of  General  Rousseau  was 
nineteen  hundred  and  fifty  killed  and  wounded.  The  loss  in  the  remain 
ing  portiDns  of  the  army  was  about  four  thousand,  including  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  The  enemy  captured  three  hundred  of  theseduring 
the  engagement, 

The  invasion  of  the  soil  of  Kentucky,  which  General  Bragg  had  con 
ducted,  proved  eminently  successful  to  the  Rebel  interest,  and  the  oppo 
sition  which  General  Buell  had  effected  to  his  purposes  amounted  to  very 
little.  Bragg  succeeded  in  capturing  fifteen  hundred  wagon  loads  of  pro 
visions,  clothing,  and  other  necessaries  for  his  army.  He  obtained 
several  thousand  valuable  horses  and  mules,  five  thousand  beeves  and 
other  cattle,  together  with  an  immense  amount  of  groceries  and  domestic 
goods,  gathered  from  the  stores  of  Lexington,  Frankfort,  Danville,  Har- 
rodsburg,  and  other  places.  In  consqeuence  of  Buell's  slow  pursuit  he 
was  permitted  to  retire  to  a  safe  retreat,  in  possession  of  all  this  plunder, 
without  having  been  attacked  more  than  once  during  the  period  of  five 
months,  in  which  that  general  held  command  of  the  numerous  and  power 
ful  army  of  the  Ohio.  Bragg  had  been  allowed  to  traverse  the  richest 
portions  of  the  State  of  Kentucky  undisturbed  ;  to  perpetrate  the  farce 
of  inaugurating  a  governor  at  Frankfort ;  to  rob,  defraud,  and  terrify  the 
citizens  of  one  of  the  most  wealthy  and  populous  States  in  the  Union,  and 
then  to  make  good  his  escape  without  the  least  interference.  It  is  not 
singular,  therefore," that  this  commander  was  removed  by  the  Federal 
Government.  This  was  done  on  the  30th  of  October,  and  General  Rose- 
crans  was  appointed  in  his  stead.  The  campaigns  of  General  Buell  had 
borne  so  little  fruit  in  the  way  of  Union  successes  that  a  more  energetic 
and  efficient  commander  was  needed. 

During  the  concluding  portion  of  the  month  of  September,  and  in  Octo 
ber,  1862,  a  number  of  events  occurred  of  minor  importance,  a  brief  allu 
sion  to  which  will  here  be  sufficient.  On  the  20th  of  September,  a  con 
flict  took  place  at  Shepardstown  ferry,  Virginia,  in  which  the  Corn 
Exchange  regiment  of  Philadelphia  fought  bravely  and  suffered  severely. 
On  the  22d  of  that  month  General  Bragg  advanced  upon  Louisville,  and 
on  the  next  day  he  demanded  its  surrender  to  the  Rebel  forces.  On  the 
28th  a  skirmish  took  place  on  the  Blackwater  river,  Virginia.  On  the 
1st  of  October  skirmishing  occurred  near  Louisville,  Kentucky;  and  the 
Sabine  Pass,  in  Texas,  was  captured  by  Federal  troops.  On  the  4th  of 
October  Federal  gunboats  shelled  Galveston,  Texas,  and  compelled  the 


SUMMARY   OF   EVENTS   IN    OCTOBER,   1862.  369 

Rebels  to  evacuate  the  place.  On  the  same  day  a  battle  was  fought  at 
Bardstownf  Kentucky,  after  which  the  town  was  occupied  by  the  Union 
troops.  On  the  6th  of  October  Richard  lEewes  was  inaugurated  by  Brax- 
ton  Bragg  at  Frankfort,  as  Governor  of  Kentucky.  Treasonable  speeches 
were  made  on  the  occasion  by  that  general,  and  by  Humphrey  Marshall. 
On  the  same  day  they  burned  the  railroad  bridge  at  Frankfort,  and  the 
new  governor  evacuated  the  place  immediately  afterward.  On  the  9th  an 
engagement  took  place  between  a  small  number  of  Union  and  Rebel 
troops  in  the  same  vicinity.  On  the  llth  spirited  skirmishes  occurred  at 
Helena,  Arkansas,  and  at  Danville,  Kentucky.  On  the  15th  a  successful 
Federal  expedition  proceeded  up  the  Apalachicola  river,  Florida.  On  the 
same  day  Union  troops  occupied  the  town  of  Paris,  Kentucky.  On  the 
16th  skirmishes  took  place  near  Shepardstown  and  Charlestown,  Virginia. 
On  the  20th  a  battle  occurred  at  Neuga  creek,  Missouri.  On  the  22d 
skirmishes  were  fought  at  Hedgesville,  Virginia ;  at  Maysville,  Arkansas ; 
at  Pocotaligo  and  Frampton,  South  Carolina.  On  the  25th  another  fight 
occurred  on  the  Blackwater,  Virginia,  and  the  Union  troops  entered 
Donaldsonville,  Louisiana.  On  the  30th  skirmishes  took  place  at  Upper- 
ville  and  Petersburg,  Virginia,  and  the  Union  troops  occupied  Thibo- 
deaux,  Louisiana.  On  the  31st  of  October  another  contest  occurred  on  the 
Blackwater,  and  the  town  of  Franklin,  Virginia,  was  destroyed.  On  the 
same  day  Union  gunboats  bombarded  the  Rebel  batteries  at  Lavaca,  in 
Texas,  and  took  possession  of  Tampa  Bay,  in  Florida. 

24 


370  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

EXPLOITS    OF    THE    CONFEDERATE    CRUISER,    THE    ALABAMA HER     PECULIAR     STRUCTURE 

EFFORTS    MADE   TO    CAPTURE    HER THEIR    FAILURE — THE   EXPEDITION    SENT    BY  GENERAL 

MITCHEL     AGAINST     THE     CHARLESTON     AND     SAVANNAH     RAILROAD — INCIDENTS     OF     THE 

UNDERTAKING — BATTLES THEIR  RESULTS RETURN  OF  THE  EXPEDITION VARIOUS  RECON- 

NOISSANCES    MADE    BY  THE  ARMY  OF    THE    POTOMAC — IMPORTANT    RESULTS    ACCOMPLISHED 

BY  THEM OCCUPATION  OF  SNICKER'S,  ASHBY's,  AND  THOROUGHFARE  GAPS  BY  THE  FEDERAL 

TROOPS BRILLIANT  ENGAGEMENT  NEAR  MAY8VILLE,  ARKANSAS FLIGHT  OF  THE  REBELS 

SUCCESSFUL    RECONNOISSANCE    OF    CAPTAIN    DAHLGREN  TO    FREDERICKSBURG,  VIRGINIA 

SKIRMISHES    AT    PHILOMEL    AND     NEW    CREEK,    VIRGINIA,    AND    AT    WILLIAMSTON,     NORTH 

CAROLINA ABORTIVE  ATTEMPT  OF  THE  REBELS  UNDER  MORGAN  AND  FORREST  TO  CAPTURK 

NASHVILLE,  TENNESSEE FEDERAL  EXPEDITION   TO  THIBODEAUXVILLE,  LOUISIANA  —  RECON- 

NOISSANCE  OF  GENERAL  M'PHERSON  TOWARD  HOLLY  SPRINGS,  MISSISSIPPI — APPROACH  OF 
THE  FEDERAL  ARMY  UNDER  BURNSIDE  TO  FREDERICKSBURG THE  CITY  SUMMONED  TO  SUR 
RENDER — THE  REFUSAL EMBARRASSING  DELAY  OF  BURNSIDE'S  OPERATIONS. 

AMONG  the  many  sources  of  annoyance  to  the  loyal  citizens  of  the 
United  States  which  occurred  during  the  progress  of  this  civil  war,  the 
achivements  of  the  Rebel  steamer  Alabama  were  not  the  least  trouble 
some.  This  vessel  became  the  most  renowned  of  those  piratical  cruisers 
which  were  called  into  existence  by  the  proclamation  of  Jefferson  Davis, 
referred  to  in  the  preceding  part  of  this  volume,  and  which  granted 
letters  of  marque  and  reprisal  to  such  citizens  of  the  Confederate  States 
as  might  apply  for  them.  The  boldness  and  skill  of  her  officers  and 
crew  soon  rendered  her  formidable  on  the  high  seas ;  and  the  number 
and  rapidity  of  her  conquests  earned  for  her  a  prominent  though  un 
enviable  place  in  the  annals  of  the  war. 

This  vessel  was  commanded  by  Captain  Semmes,  a  person  who,  until 
his  promotion  to  that  post,  had  been  unknown  to  fame.  Among  her 
other  officers  was  Lieutenant  Ho  well,  a  brother-in-law  of  Jefferson  Davis. 
She  registered  twelve  hundred  tons  burthen ;  was  two  hundred  and 
twenty  feet  in  length,  thirty-two  in  width,  had  two  decks,  and  was  painted 
black.  She  carried  three  long  thirty-two  pounders  on  each  side,  and  was 
pierced  for  two  more  amidships.  She  had  a  hundred  pound  rifled  pivot 
gun  forward  on  the  bridge,  and  a  sixty-eight  pounder  on  the  main  deck. 
She  had  also  tracks  laid  forward  for  a  pivot  bow-gun,  as  well  as  tracks 
aft  for  a  pivot  stern-chaser.  Her  cannon  were  all  of  English  manufac 
ture.  She  was  barque-rigged,  and  could  sail  thirteen  knots  an  hour  under 
canvas,  fifteen  knots  under  steam.  She  was  provided  with  the  flags  of 
all  nations,  which  she  used  as  occasion  required;  but  she  generally  un 
furled  the  Red  Cross  of  St.  George  to  the  breeze  when  she  approached  a 
vessel.  Her  crew  numbered  a  hundred  and  thirty  men,  whom  she  took 


EFFORTS   TO  CAPTURE  THE  ALABAMA.  371 

on  board,  near  the  Western  Islands,  from  an  English  ship.  She  was 
generally  provided  with  eight  months  provisions,  and  rarely  used  steam 
except  in  particular  emergencies.  During  the  year  1862,  her  conquests 
were  numerous,  and  she  may  be  said  to  have  checked  and  damaged  the 
commerce  of  the  loyal  States  very  materially.  Among  the  vessels  which 
she  captured  were  the  ship  Brilliant,  of  New  York ;  the  whalers  Benja 
min  Tucker,  Virginia,  and  Elisha  Dunbar,  of  New  Bedford ;  the  barque 
Ocean  Rover,  of  Mattapoisett,  and  the  ship  Tonawanda,  of  Philadelphia. 

Captain  Semmes  destroyed  the  majority  of  his  prizes,  after  plundering 
them,  and  taking  their  crews  on  board  the  Alabama.  These  were  after 
ward  set  on  shore  and  paroled.  In  a  few  instances  he  demanded  bonds 
for  the  payment  of  the  value  of  the  captured  ship  and  cargo,  as  in  the 
case  of  the  Philadelphia  vessel,  to  be  redeemed  after  the  termination  of 
the  war,  and  then  released  them. 

The  vigor  and  success  of  this  daring  cruiser  at  length  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  public  to  such  a  degree,  that  the  Federal  Government 
felt  the  necessity  of  making  special  efforts  to  capture  and  destroy  her. 
For  this  purpose  Commander  Ronckendorff  was  despatched  with  the  San 
Jacinto,  which  vessel  was  supposed  to  be  a  match  for  the  Alabama.  But 
although  he  encountered  the  object  of  his  search  on  one  occasion,  in  the 
port  of  Fort  Royal,  in  Martinique,  she  succeeded  in  eluding  his  grasp  by 
a  clever  trick,  and  escaped  to  sea.  Thus  the  year  1862  wore  away  with 
out  the  capture  of  this  redoubtable  pirate  having  been  effected.  His 
protracted  career  of  triumph  and  impunity  continued  to  be  a  reproach 
to  the  Federal  navy ;  and  the  nations  of  Europe  still  observed  his  achieve 
ments  with  mingled  astonishment  and  applause.  At  the  same  time  his 
singular  success  greatly  encouraged  the  disloyal  inhabitants  of  the  Con 
federate  States  in  their  hope  of  final  victory  over  the  Federal  Government, 
and  gained  for  him  their  enthusiastic  admiration  as  one  of  the  most 
efficient  and  valiant  agents  of  the  Rebellion. 

On  the  21st  of  October,  1862,  an  expedition  which  had  been  planned 
by  General  Mitchel,  the  enterprising  commander  of  the  Department  of 
the  South,  started  from  Hilton  Head.  Its  purpose  was  to  destroy  the 
tressel-work  bridges  of  the  Charleston  and  Savannah  railroad.  These 
bridges  crossed  three  streams,  bearing  respectively  the  euphonic  and 
mellifluous  names  of  the  Pocotaligo,  the  Taliafinney,  and  the  Coosawhat- 
chie,  which  flow  into  the  Broad  river.  As  a  necessary  preliminary  to 
the  achievement  of  this  enterprise,  it  was  important  to  make  a  landing 
of  the  troops  which  composed  the  expedition,  at  Mackay's  Point,  eleven 
miles  from  the  village  of  Pocotaligo,  where  they  could  be  disembarked 
under  the  protection  of  gunboats,  and  thence  advance,  by  a  rapid  march, 
to  the  scene  of  conflict. 

This  expedition  consisted  of  portions  of  the  first  and  second  brigades 
of  the  Tenth  army  corps,  numbering  about  four  thousand  five  hundred 


372  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

troops.  They  were  commanded  by  Generals  J.  M.  Brannan  and  A.  H. 
Terry,  the  former  being  the  senior  officer.  The  troops  were  conveyed 
to  their  destination  by  three  transports,  nine  gunboats,  and  several 
schooners.  They  left  Hilton  Head  at  midnight  on  the  21st  of  October, 
and  reached  Mackay's  Point  at  six  o'clock  the  next  morning.  Some  small 
boats  had  been  sent  in  advance,  with  a  company  of  soldiers  of  the  seventh 
Connecticut,  under  Captain  Gray,  to  surprise  and  capture  the  pickets  of  the 
enemy,  which  had  been  stationed  near  that  point;  but  the  effort  was  only 
partially  successful.  Lieutenant  Banks,  who  commanded  the  post,  was 
taken  with  three  men ;  but  a  number  escaped  arid  conveyed  to  the  Eebel 
forces  in  the  vicinity  information  of  the  invasion.  The  process  of  landing 
the  troops  was  promptly  effected  ;  and  at  ten  o'clock,  all  of  them  had  been 
transferred  to  the  shore,  except  a  detachment  of  the  third  Rhode  Island 
volunteers,  who  were  detained  at  some  distance  by  an  accident  to  the 
gunboat  Marblehead,  by  which  they  had  been  conveyed  thither. 

Having  disembarked  his  men,  General  Brannan  led  them  forward 
toward  the  village  of  Pocotaligo  without  delay.  Their  road  lay  through 
a  fertile  cotton-growing  country ;  yet  the  scourge  of  war  had  desolated 
it,  and  the  sumptuous  mansions,  once  the  abodes  of  opulence  and  luxury, 
which  lined  their  pathway,  were  abandoned,  while  a  saddening  air  of 
loneliness  and  ruin  overspread  the  once  blooming  and  flourishing  face 
of  nature.  The  forces  of  the  Rebels  advanced  bravely,  seven  miles  from 
Pocotaligo,  to  meet  the  Federal  troops.  They  had  posted  their  artillery 
on  both  sides  of  the  road,  on  the  summit  of  a  small  elevation.  In  order 
to  advance,  the  Federals  were  compelled  to  cross  a  wide  open  space,  and 
then  a  narrow  causeway,  during  which  operation  they  would  be  exposed 
to  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery.  As  the  forty-seventh  Pennsylvania, 
which  led  the  van,  approached,  they  were  assailed  by  a  vigorous  and 
well  directed  cannonade  of  grape  and  shrapnel,  to  which  they  responded 
with  musketry,  and  with  Lieutenant  Henry's  artillery.  The  fire  of  the 
enemy  was  very  effective.  The  extent  of  the  damage  done  by  them  may 
be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that  out  of  six  hundred  men  who  went  into 
the  engagement,  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  were  killed  and  wounded. 
Notwithstanding  this  terrible  havoc,  the  heroes  pressed  forward  with 
enthusiastic  cheers.  The  fourth  New  Hampshire  regiment  supported 
them  manfully,  and  also  suffered  severely,  losing  fifty  men  in  killed  and 
wounded.  The  remaining  Federal  troops  then  came  up,  and  after  a 
desperate  resistance  the  Rebels  were  driven  from  their  position  with 
heavy  losses. 

A  chase  of  several  miles  in  extent  then  ensued,  after  which  the  enemy 
halted,  again  presented  a  hostile  front,  and  made  a  determined  resistance. 
The  result,  however,  was  the  same  as  before.  They  fled,  and  at  last 
rallied  at  the  bridge  over  the  Pocotaligo,  half  a  mile  from  that  village. 
Here  again  the  artillery  of  the  foe  demonstrated  its  deadly  efficiency 


THE   EXPEDITION  UNDER   GENERAL  MITCI1EL.  373 

Their  guns  were  more  numerous  than  the  guns  of  the  Federals.  The 
former  were  twelve  in  number;  the  latter  were  only  four  Parrott  guns 
and  three  boat  howitzers.  These  were  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Phoenix. 
Notwithstanding  this  serious  disadvantage,  the  Federal  infantry  charged 
bravely  upon  the  enemy,  routed  them,  and  drove  them  in  confusion  over 
the  bridge.  As  they  made  their  retreat  across  this  structure,  they  effect 
ually  destroyed  it. 

It  was  now  six  o'clock  in  the  evening.  The  Rebels  had  escaped  be 
yond  the  reach  of  the  Federal  forces.  At  the  same  time,  the  sound  of 
locomotives  and  the  rumbling  of  trains  were  heard  in  the  distance.  It 
was  evident  that  these  were  bringing  reinforcements  from  Charleston  or 
Savannah  to  the  enemy.  It  was  therefore  high  time  to  retire.  The  ex 
pedition  had  proved  a  failure;  night  was  approaching,  and  longer  delay 
or  further  effort  would  only  lead  to  the  infliction  of  severer  losses.  Gen 
eral  Terry  conducted  the  retreat,  which  was  effected  in  admirable  order. 
The  dead  and  wounded  were  all  brought  away.  The  Federal  loss  was 
two  hundred  killed  and  four  hundred  wounded.  A  portion  of  the  ex 
pedition  had  been  detached  from  the  rest,  sent  up  the  Coosawhatchie, 
and  disembarked  near  the  village  of  that  name.  There  they  encountered 
five  car  loads  of  Rebel  troops  which  were  on  their  way  from  Savannah 
to  Pocotaligo.  Colonel  Barton,  who  commanded  this  portion  of  the  ex 
pedition,  immediately  opened  upon  them  with  small  arms  and  a  boat 
howitzer,  killed  and  wounded  about  thirty,  and  then  shelled  the  town. 
The  arrival  of  large  masses  of  the  enemy  at  the  scene  of  conflict  soon 
compelled  him  to  fall  back  to  the  steamer  Planter  and  the  gunboats 
Vixen  and  Patroon,  which  had  conveyed  his  forces  thither.  The  entire 
expedition  reached  Hilton  Head  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  the  24th  of 
October,  without  having  accomplished  the  chief  purpose  of  its  mission. 
On  the  30th  of  the  same  month,  General  O.  M.  Mitchel,  the  efficient  com 
mander  of  the  Department  of  the  South,  died  at  Port  Royal,  South 
Carolina,  of  yellow  fever. 

The  most  important  operation  of  the  Federal  armies  at  this  period,  and 
the  chief  interest  in  the  popular  mind  concerning  them,  centred,  during 
the  early  portion  of  the  month  of  November,  1862,  around  the  army  of 
the  Potomac  which  had  fought  at  Antietam,  and  which  still  remained 
under  the  command  of  General  McCleLan.  But  several  weeks  elapsed, 
which  were  occupied  in  minor  movements,  in  reconnoissances,  and  in 
skirmishes,  which,  though  not  productive  of  very  decisive  results,  may 
here  be  briefly  alluded  to.  At  this  period  it  was  evident  that  the  future 
plans  of  the  commanding  generals  of  the  two  armies  were  incomplete  or 
undeveloped,  and  these  explorations  were  necessary  to  obtain  informa 
tion  of  the  respective  positions  of  the  rival  hosts,  and  to  clear  the  way 
for  more  decisive  undertakings  afterward.  The  country  which  was  about 
to  become  the  scene  of  conflict  was  very  intricate  in  its  topographical 


374  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

peculiarities,  marked  by  a  number  of  mountain  gaps,  which  it  was  neces 
sary  to  explore  and  to  occupy  in  order  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  using 
them  as  loopholes  through  which  to  make  raids  upon  the  rear  of  the 
Federal  army. 

At  this  perod  the  Rebel  army  under  Lee  occupied  the  Shenandoah 
valley.  His  own  headquarters  were  at  Berryville.  He  had  been  rein 
forced  by  the  troops  who  had  recently  evacuated  Western  Virginia.  This 
accession  added  very  materially  to  his  strength.  The  mountain  range 
which  rung  east  of  the  Shenandoah  river  was  of  great  strategic  impor 
tance  to  both  armies.  The  gaps  which  divided  it,  especially  Snicker's, 
Ashby's,  and  Thoroughfare  gaps,  from  their  location,  could  be  used,  if 
possessed,  to  immense  advantage.  Hence,  reconnoissances  were  sent  out 
by  General  McClellan  to  explore  and  occupy  them.  One  of  these  was 
despatched  to  Snicker's  gap  on  the  2d  of  November,  under  Generals 
Hancock  and  Couch.  As  the  Federal  troops  approached  this  place  they 
discovered  that  it  was  occupied  by  a  considerable  body  of  Rebels.  Gen 
eral  Hancock  soon  placed  his  men  ih  position.  General  Caldwell  was 
posted  with  his  brigade  on  the  right,  the  left  was  occupied  by  the  Irish 
brigade,  under  Meagher,  and  the  regiment  'of  Colonel  Zook.  The  bat 
teries  were  also  planted  in  commanding  positions.  After  a  time  the  dark 
masses  of  the  enemy  were  seen  approaching  by  the  scouts  who  had  been 
sent  to  the  summit,  and  were  looking  down  into  the  valley  which  bloomed 
below  between  the  Blue  Ridge  and  Winchester.  Their  cavalry  were  in 
the  van,  then  came  the  artillery,  then  their  infantry.  When  they  reached 
a  position  within  range  of  the  Federal  guns,  they  were  saluted  with  a 
heavy  cannonade.  Several  discharges  went  directly  through  their  columns. 
The  utmost  confusion  and  panic  immediately  ensued  among  them,  and 
they  quickly  filed  to  the  left  and  disappeared  in  the  woods.  The  Federals 
then  advanced  and  took  full  possession  of  the  gap  at  Snickerville  and  the 
surrounding  country. 

At  the  same  time  a  similar  achievement  was  performed  by  Generals 
Pleasonton  and  Averill,  near  Purcellville  and  Upper ville,  in  the  valley 
of  the  Shenandoah.  There  the  Federal  troops  encountered  the  renowned 
Rebel  cavalry  under  Stuart.  The  force  of  the  enemy  numbered  four 
thousand  men,  with  two  batteries.  Various  skirmishes  took  place,  during 
several  days,  between  the  parties.  At  length  Pleasonton's  cavalry  made 
a  resolute  charge  uDon  the  Rebels,  and  drove  them  several  miles  toward 
Ashby's  gap.  The  Federals  pursued  their  advantage,  and  in  the  end 
obtained  possession  of  this  position  after  some  resistance.  On  the  3d  of 
November  General  Sigel  advanced  with  a  portion  of  his  corps,  and  occu 
pied  Thoroughfare  gap  without  much  opposition  from  the  enemy.  On 
the  same  day  a  reconnoissance  was  made  from  Fairfax  beyond  Bull  Run, 
by  a  portion  of  General  Sickles'  command,  which  revealed  the  fact  that 


FEDERAL    TRIUMPH   AT   MAYSVILLE,   ARKANSAS.  375 

the  Rebels  were  posted  there  in  force.     It  was  also  ascertained  that  a  por 
tion  of  them  were  then  posted  at  Warrenton. 

Such  are  some  of  the  preliminary  operations  which  were  progressing, 
in  anticipation,  doubtless,  of  another  decisive  engagement,  when  suddenly 
the  community  was  surprised  by  the  announcement  that  General  McClellan 
had  been  removed  from  the  command  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac;  that 
he  had  been  ordered  to  report  himself  at  Trenton,  New  Jersey ;  and  that 
he  had  been  superseded  by  General  Burnside.  This  order  was  conveyed 
to  him  by  General  Buckingham,  and  reached  him  at  eleven  o'clock  at 
night,  at  his  headquarters  in  Salem,  Virginia.  The  reasons  assigned  for 
this  act  by  the  popular  voice  were  the  apparent  tardiness  and  inefficiency 
which  had  characterized  the  movements  of  General  McClellan  since -the 
battle  of  Antietam.  Winter  was  rapidly  approaching;  several  months 
of  inactivity  had  elapsed  after  that  battle  was  fought ;  the  enemy  had  not 
been  pursued ;  and  to  the  unskilled  eyes  of  a  portion  of  the  public,  an 
inexcusable  delay,  if  not  a  treasonable  complicity  with  the  enemy,  seemed 
to  disgrace  the  conduct  of  the  commander  of  the  Potomac.  By  this 
class  in  the  community  the  removal  of  McClellan,  and  the  appointment 
of  Burnside  in  his  place,  were  regarded  as  fortunate  and  propitious  events. 
General  Burnside  announced  his  acceptance  of  this  difficult  post  to  the 
army  in  a. brief  address,  characterized  by  great  prudence  and  discretion. 
He  expressed  his  sentiments  of  regard  and  esteem  for  their  late  com 
mander,  his  diffidence  in  his  own  abilities,  his  confidence  in  the  patriotism 
and  valor  of  the  troops,  and  his  firm  hope  of  future  success  and  victory. 

While  the  two  chief  armies  of  the  rival  Republics  were  preparing  for 
their  next  colossal  engagement,  other  conflicts  of  minor  importance  were 
occurring  elsewhere,  to  which  we  will  now  direct  our  attention. 

On  the  22d  of  October,  General  Blunt,  who  commanded  a  portion  of 
the  army  of  the  frontier,  overtook  a  body  of  Confederate  troops  at  "  old 
Fort  Wayne,"  four  miles  from  Maysville,  Arkansas,  and  achieved  a  bril 
liant  triumph.  The  Rebel  army  in  that  region  had  been  divided  into  two 
parts,  one  of  which,  commanded  by  Marmaduke  and  Rains,  proceeded 
southward  toward  Huntsville ;  the  other,  under  Cooper  and  Standwaite, 
advanced  through  Bentonville  into  the  Indian  territory.  In  order  to 
confront  this  arrangement,  the  Federal  forces  were  also  separated  into  two 
bodies.  Those  under  Schofield  and  Totten  started  in  pursuit  of  Marma 
duke  and  Rains.  Those  under  Blunt  followed  after  Cooper  and  Stand 
waite.  General  Salomon  was  left  with  his  command,  including  the 
batteries  of  Stockton  and  Blair,  at  Pea  Ridge,  in  order  to  keep  open  the 
communication  of  the  Federals  with  the  rear. 

General  Blunt  led  his  troops  rapidly  in  pursuit  of  the  foe.  When  he 
came  up  with  them,  near  Maysville,  he  was  accompanied  only  by  a  portion 
of  the  second  Kansas  regiment  and  his  body-guard,  all  of  whom  together 
amounted  to  only  six  hundred  men.  Their  artillery  consisted  of  two 


376  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

small  howitzers.  General  Blunt  ordered  his  men  to  dismount  and  engage 
the  foe  on  foot.  These  had  taken  their  position,  and  were  prepared  to 
receive  the  attack.  Their  artillery  numbered  four  large  brass  pieces,  and 
were  advantageously  posted.  The  action  commenced  between  the  artil-' 
lery.  After  this  had  progressed  for  some  time,  General  Blunt  ordered  his 
men  to  charge  upon  the  enemy.  These  numbered  at  least  three  thousand  ; 
but  so  determined  and  ferocious  was  the  assault  of  the  brave  Kansas 
troops,  that  they  broke  under  the  shock,  and  fled  in  confusion,  leaving 
their  four  field-pieces  in  the  possession  of  the  Federals.  The  enemy  then 
retired  under  cover  of  the  woods.  At  this  stage  of  the  combat  the  sixth 
Kansas,  headed  by  Colonel  Judson,  came  galloping  to  the  scene  of  battle. 
They  were  followed  by  Eabb's  battery,  consisting  of  six  pieces.  These 
were  quickly  unlimbered  and  opened  upon  the  shelter  of  the  foe.  Then 
came  the  eleventh  Kansas,  and  afterward  the  first  and  third  Indiana  regi 
ments.  These  were  all  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  the  order  given  to 
advance.  The  Kebels  did  not  wait  to  receive  the  assault,  but  fled  from 
the  woods,  and  made  their  retreat  with  such  rapidity  that  the  best  efforts 
of  the  Federals  to  overtake  them  proved  unavailing.  The  result  of  the 
brief  but  successful  achievement  was  important.  It  delivered  the  south 
western  portion  of  Missouri,  and  the  northwestern  part  of  Arkansas,  from 
the  supremacy  of  the  Rebel  forces,  and  restored  the  influence  of  the  Fed 
eral  arms  and  Government.  The  loss  on  the  part  of  the  victors  was  slight, 
being  seven  killed,  fifteen  wounded. 

Not  less  heroic,  though  performed  on  a  smaller  scale,  was  tne  exploit 
of  Captain  Ulric  Dahlgren,  of  the  staff  of  General  Sigel,  who  made  a 
reconnoissance  with  sixty  men  of  the  first  Indiana  cavalry  into  Fredericks- 
burg,  Virginia,  on  the  8th  of  November.  It  was  ascertained  that  a  con 
siderable  body  of  Kebels  were  stationed  at  that  place,  forty  miles  distant, 
consisting  of  five  companies  of  the  fifteenth,  and  three  companies  of  the 
ninth  Virginia.  On  his  march  thither  Captain  Dahlgren  was  joined  by  a 
detachment  of  the  sixth  Ohio  cavalry,  under  Major  Stedman.  The  entire 
force  crossed  the  Potomac  at  half-past  seven  on  the  morning  of  the  9th 
of  November,  bravely  entered  the  town,  and  soon  encountered  the  enemy. 
A  desperate  hand-to-hand  combat  ensued,  which  continued  for  some  time. 
The  result  was  that  the  Rebels  eventually  gave  way  and  retreated.  The 
Federals  captured  thirty-nine  prisoners,  their  horses,  accoutrements,  a 
Rebel  banner,  and  several  w.agons  filled  with  army  cloth.  The  forces 
then  returned  to  camp  with  these  trophies  of  their  gallantry,  having  lost 
but  one  man  killed,  three  missing.  On  the  same  day  General  Stahel  drove 
in  the  Rebel  pickets  which  had  been  stationed  near  Snicker's  and  Ashby's 
gaps,  and  succeeded  in  gaining  important  information  respecting  the  po 
sition  and  movements  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  same  day,  the  second  brigade  of  General  Doubleday's  division, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Hoffman,  together  with  General  Pleasonton's 


EXPEDITIONS   IN  NOVEMBER,   1862.  377 

cavalry,  charged  upon  the  detachment  of  the  Kebels  posted  at  Philomel, 
on  the  Winchester  turnpike,  and  compelled  them  to  retire  beyond  Upper- 
ville.  The  enemy  consisted  of  three  thousaod  cavalry,  commanded  by 
General  Stuart.  The  Federal  loss  was  four  killed,  eighteen  wounded. 

On  the  9th  of  November,  an  expedition  under  General  Kelley,  com 
prising  eight  hundred  men,  left  their  camp  at  New  Creek,  Virginia,  for  the 
purpose  of  attacking  the  Rebels  under  General  Imboden,  who  was  sta 
tioned  four  miles  from  Moorefield.  When  they  reached  the  camp  they 
found  that  its  occupants  had  deserted  it.  They  were  rapidly  pursued,  and 
were  overtaken  fifteen  miles  beyond  it.  A  skirmish  ensued,  which  re 
sulted  in  the  total  rout  of  the  foe,  who  scattered  in  every  direction  through 
the  adjacent  mountains.  The  Federals  captured  thirty-eight  prisoners, 
among  whom  were  two  captains  and  two  lieutenants.  The  victors  then 
returned  to  their  camp,  with  the  loss  of  only  one  killed  and  two  wounded. 

On  the  10th  of  November,  General  Foster  organized  an  expedition  for 
the  purpose  of  sailing  up  the  Tar  river,  in  North  Carolina,  and  capturing 
two  Rebel  regiments,  with  artillery,  which  had  been  sent  to  attack  Ply 
mouth.  A  skirmish  took  place  at  Williamston  on  the  way  to  Tarboro', 
in  which  the  Marine  artillery,  Belger's  battery,  a  portion  of  the  third  New 
York  artillery,  and  the  forty-fourth  Massachusetts,  were  engaged.  As 
the  Federals  approached  Hamilton,  the  enemy  abandoned  their  intrench- 
ments,  nearly  a  mile  in  length,  which  they  had  erected  on  Rainbow  bluffs. 
These  were  soon  occupied  by  the  Federals.  Several  reconnoissances  were 
then  sent  out  to  ascertain  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  as  it  had  been  dis 
covered  that  they  were  receiving  large  reinforcements.  The  result  was 
that  the  general  commanding  was  convinced  of  the  impolicy  of  attacking 
the  foe  with  so  great  disadvantage  in  numbers,  and  ordered  the  expe 
dition  to  return  to  Newbern.  The  Federal  loss  during  the  operations  of 
this  fruitless  expedition,  was  six  killed,  ten  wounded. 

Nearly  contemporaneous  with  these  events,  was  the  bold  attempt  made 
by  the  Rebel  forces  under  Generals  Morgan  and  Forrest  to  capture  the 
city  of  Nashville,  Tennessee.  General  Negley  was  the  commandant  of 
the  Federal  troops  appropriated  to  the  defence  of  this  place.  The  first 
approach  to  it  by  the  enemy  was  made  by  the  cavalry  of  the  famous 
Morgan.  He  dashed  into  the  town  of  Edgefield,  captured  the  Federal 
pickets  posted  there,  fired  the  railroad  depot,  destroyed  a  number  of  cars, 
and  burned  the  tressel-work  of  the  bridge  of  the  Nashville  and  Louisville 
railroad  While  engaged  in  this  work  he  was  attacked  by  a  portion  of 
Abbot's  first  Tennessee  battery,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Beach,  and 
compelled  to  retreat  from  the  vicinity. 

But  the  more  formidable  body  of  Rebels  who  purposed  to  capture  the 
capital  of  Tennessee,  approached  it  at  the  same  time  in  two  bodies,  on  the 
Murfreesboro'  and  Franklin  turnpikes.  They  were  commanded  by  Gen 
eral  Forrest.  General  Negley  having  received  information  of  his  ap 
proach,  advanced  from  the  fortifications  of  Nashville,,  on  the  Franklin 


378  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

road,  to  confront  him.  He  was  accompanied  by  Stokes'  first  Tennessee 
cavalry,  a  portion  of  the  seventh  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  with  four  pieces 
of  artillery,  the  sixty-ninth  Ohio,  the  seventy-eighth  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  fourteenth  Michigan.  When  near  Brown's  creek,  they  encountered 
the  cavalry  of  the  foe,  accompanied  by  three  field-pieces.  General  Neg- 
ley  immediately  prepared  to  attack  them.  He  posted  his  guns  advan 
tageously,  and  ordered  them  to  open  on  the  enemy.  He  also  directed  his 
cavalry  to  charge  upon  them.  A  contest  of  some  energy  and  ferocity 
then  ensued,  the  result  of  which  was  that  the  Rebels  eventually  broke 
and  fled.  The  Union  troops  promptly  pursued  them,  and  continued  the 
chase  to  Brent  wood,  within  four  miles  of  Franklin,  and  seventeen  from 
Nashville. 

While  Negley  was  confronting  the  enemy  on  the  Franklin  road,  Colonel 
Roberts  had  advanced  with  another  Union  force  from  Nashville,  on  the 
Murfreesboro'  turnpike,  to  meet  the  Rebels  approaching  on  that  route. 
He  commanded  a  brigade  of  Palmer's  division,  consisting  chiefly  of  troops 
from  Illinois.  He  soon  met  the  approaching  enemy,  whose  cavalry,  im 
mediately  upon  perceiving  him,  advanced  to  the  charge,  with  frantic  yells. 
At  the  same  time  the  Rebels  commenced  to  shell  the  Federals  with  their 
guns,  which  they  quickly  posted  on  an  eminence.  Colonel  Roberts  re 
sponded  vigorously  to  the  latter  with  Beebe's  and  Hewitt's  Kentucky 
batteries.  The  assault  of  the  Rebel  horse  was  bravely  met,  and  effectually 
broken,  so  that  they  soon  fled  in  confusion.  The  Union  troops  of  all 
arms  promptly  pursued  them,  and  the  chase  continued  for  some  miles,  as 
far  as  Mill  Creek  hill,  where  it  was  abandoned.  In  this  fight,  the  Rebels 
lost  four  killed  and  seventeen  wounded.  The  rout  was  complete  of  both 
detachments  of  the  force  of  the  enemy  ;  and  Nashville,  whose  inhabitants 
had  been  suddenly  overwhelmed  with  terror  at  the  apprehenson  of  com 
ing  horrors  from  the  occupancy  of  the  city  by  the  Rebels,  was  relieved 
from  its  temporary  agonies  by  the  bravery  and  energy  with  which  the 
invading  troops  were  routed.  The  Federal  loss  on  this  occasion  was  sin 
gularly  small.  It  consisted  of  one  killed,  five  wounded,  twelve  missing. 
This,  immunity  is  the  more  remarkable  from  the  fact  that  the  artillery  of 
the  enemy  numbered  twelve  pieces.  The  entire  Rebel  loss  was  ten  killed, 
thirty  wounded,  forty  prisoners,  and  the  capture  of  several  hundred  valua 
ble  horses  by  the  Federals. 

On  the  24th  of  October,  an  expedition  was  sent  from  Carrollton  to  take 
possession  of  Thibodeauxville,  Louisiana.  It  was  composed  of  the  Reserve 
Brigade  of  Federal  troops  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  under  General 
Butler,  and  was  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  Weitzel.  The  troops 
consisted  of  the  eighth  New  Hampshire,  thirteenth  Connecticut,  seventy- 
fifth  New  York,  and  first  Louisiana  regiments.  These  were  embarked  on 
board  the  transports  at  Carrollton,  and  commenced  to  ascend  the  Missis 
sippi.  They  were  escorted  by  four  gunboats,  and  were  disembarked  at 
a  point  several  miles  below  Donaldsonville.  They  marched  through 


EXPEDITION   TO  THIBODEAUXVILLE,  LOUISIANA.  379 

this  deserted  town,  and  then  proceeded  down  the  Bayou  Lafourche.  As 
the  troops  advanced,  they  were  joined  by  multitudes  of  fugitive  negroes^ 
men,  women,  and  children,  who  sought  by  this  means  to  escape  from  their 
servitude  on  the  adjacent  plantations.  But  most  of  these  unfortunate  and 
half-starved  creatures  fett  back  by  the  wayside,  from  exhaustion  and 
fatigue,  after  accompanying  the  march  for  a  few  miles.  The  enemy  were  not 
encountered  in  any  strength  until,  after  three  days,  the  force  reached  the 
vicinity  of  Labadieville,  when  an  action  of  some  importance  took  place. 
Thompson's  battery  was  sent  forward  to  open  with  shot  and  shell  upon 
the  enemy,  who  were  discovered  in  the  distance.  Their  batteries,  which 
were  posted  on  both  sides  of  the  bayou,  responded  with  spirit.  The  neces 
sary  dispositions  for  attacking  the  foe  were  then  made.  The  eighth  New 
Hampshire  regiment  was  placed  on  the  right.  The  twelfth  and  thirteenth 
Connecticut  were  ordered  to  cross  the  bayou,  with  some  artillery,  and 
there  form  in  line  of  battle.  The  enemy  opposed  the  crossing  with  a  vig 
orous  discharge  of  artillery ;  but  their  resistance  was  fruitless.  The  eighth 
New  Hampshire  immediately  charged  upon  the  enemy  with  great  spirit, 
through  underbrush,  over  ditches  and  fences.  The  enemy  here  took  to 
flight;  but  their  escape  was  prevented  by  the  timely  approach  of  the 
twelfth  Connecticut,  who  succeeded  in  flanking  nearly  the  whole  of  their 
left  wing.  This  manoeuvre  intercepted  their  flight,  and  resulted  in  the 
capture  of  a  large  portion  of  them.  During  this  operation  Colonel  Mc- 
Pheeters,  the  commander  of  the  Eebels,  was  slain.  He  was  subsequently 
buried  in  a  field  by  the  roadside,  by  his  own  men  who  were  taken  prisoners. 
In  the  same  spot  were  entombed  Captains  Ealston,  Warren,  and  Kellahar, 
of  the  eighth  New  Hampshire  regiment,  who  fell  fighting  nobly  for  the 
cause  of  the  Union.  The  enemy  still  contended  with  desperation ;  and 
their  artillery  were  served  with  such  skill  and  precision  that  they  pro 
duced  considerable  havoc  in  the  Union  lines.  But  after  a  struggle  of  sev 
eral  hours'  duration,  they  retired  from  the  field  leaving  one  of  their  pieces 
in  the  hands  of  the  Federals.  The  Union  cavalry  charged  upon  them  as 
they  retreated.  The  victors  then  advanced  and  occupied  the  battle-field. 
Later  in  the  day  they  entered  Thibodeauxville,  and  took  possession  ^  of  it. 
A  further  engagement  was  expected  to  occur  in  this  town  ;  but  the  enemy 
had  retired  with  no  intention  of  renewing  the  contest.  In  their  retreat 
they  partly  destroyed  the  two  railroad  bridges  which  crossed  Bayou  La 
fourche  and  Bayou  Terrebonne.  The  route  which  they  took  was  toward 
Berwick  Bay.  The  Federal  loss  in  this  action  was  eighteen  killed,  seventy- 
four  wounded.  But  the  whole  number  of  prisoners  taken  by  them,  some 
of  whom  were  afterward  paroled,  was  two  hundred  and  eight,  including 
several  officers.  The  result  of  the  expedition  wa§  to  re-establish  the  Fed 
eral  authority  throughout  a  considerable  portion  of  the  State  of  Louisiana. 
Equally  successful  in  its  results  was  the  expedition  which  started  from 
Lagrange,  Tennessee,  on  the  8th  of  November,  under  the  command  of 
General  McPherson.  Its  purpose  was  to  make  a  reconnoissance  in  force 


380  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

in  the  direction  of  Holly  Springs,  Mississippi,  and  ascertain  the  strength 
and  movements  of  the  enemy  posted  in  that  vicinity.  The  exploring  force 
consisted  of  the  first,  second,  and  third  brigades  of  McPherson's  division 
of  Grant's  army,  together  with  a  body  of  cavalry.  Having  reached  Old 
Lamar,  the  enemy  were  discovered  in  the  front  waiting  to  intercept  their 
progress.  The  Federals  were  immediately  drawn  out  in  line  of  battle. 
Skirmishers  were  thrown  forward  to  feel  the  enemy,  who  were  found 
to  be  posted  along  the  road  to  Holly  Springs.  The  action  soon  com 
menced  with  great  energy,  between  the  artillery  and  infantry  of  both  sides. 
During  the  progress  of  this  contest  in  front,  Colonel  Lee  was  ordered  to 
make  a  detour  with  his  cavalry  along  a  road  running  southward,  attain 
the  rear  of  the  Rebels,  and  attack  them.  This  order  was  obeyed  with  ad 
mirable  promptness  and  skill.  No  sooner  did  the  enemy  perceive  that 
they  were  attacked  both  in  front  and  rear,  than  they  fled  in  disorder  and 
dismay.  At  that  moment  General  McPherson  directed  several  companies 
to  deploy  on  the  right  of  his  position  and  make  a  charge  upon  their  flank. 
This  movement  completed  the  rout  of  the  enemy.  A  general  chase  of  the 
fugitives  ensued,  which  continued  as  far  as  Coldwatcr  creek.  It  was  not 
deemed  expedient  to  advance  nearer  than  that  point,  which  was  five  miles 
distant  from  the  large  body  of  troops  who  it  was  ascertained  still  occupied 
and  defended  Holly  Springs.  The  Rebel  loss  during  the  engagement  was 
twelve  killed,  fifteen  wounded.  The  Union  loss  was.  insignificant,  being 
only  two  slightly  wounded.  A  hundred  and  sixty-five  prisoners  were  cap 
tured  from  the  foe,  among  whom  were  ten  officers.  After  this  achieve 
ment  the  Federal  troops  returned  without  any  further  casualty  to  their 
camp  at  Lagrange. 

By  the  20th  of  November,  1862,  the  immense  army  commanded  by 
General  Burnside  had  been  consolidated  in  the  vicinity  of  Falmouth,  op 
posite  Fredericksburg,  on  the  Rappahannock.  The  most  intense  interest 
of  the  nation  was  concentrated  upon  the  movements  of  this  formidable 
force.  Their  acknowleged  destination  was  known  to  be  the  Rebel  capital. 
Their  advance  would  be  the  fourth  attempt  made  by  the  most  powerful 
army  of  the  Republic  to  capture  and  reduce  the  chief  citadel  of  this  Rebel 
lion,  and  the  successful  termination  of  its  enterprise  was  confidently  ex 
pected  by  millions  of  patriots,  who  knew  the  strength  of  the  invading 
army,  who  had  boundless  confidence  in  the  valor  and  ability  of  its  generals 
and  soldiers,  and  who  had  never  despaired  for  one  moment,  even  in  the 
darkest  hour  of  preceding  discomfitures,  of  the  final  subjugation  of  the 
revolted  States. 

On  the  21st  of  November,  General  Sumner,  who  commanded  the  right 
grand  division  of  the  army,  by  order  of  General  Burnside,  sent  General 
Patrick,  the  provost  marshal  of  his  troops,  with  a  requisition  to  the  civil 
authorities  of  Fredericksburg,  demanding  the  immediate  surrender  of  the 
city  to  the  Federal  authorities.  General  Patrick  crossed  the  Rappahan 
nock  under  a  flag  of  truce.  The  written  summons  of  General  Surnher  set 


OPERATIONS   AT  FREDERICKSBURG,   VIRGINIA.  381 

forth  that  the  city  had  been  used  by  the  enemy  as  a  cover  for  their  hostile 
operations  against  the  Federal  army ;  that  shots  had  been  fired  from  the 
houses  upon  the  Federal  troops;  that  their  mills  and  manufactories  had 
furnished  provisions  and  clothing  to  the  Confederate  soldiers;  that  their 
railroads  had  been  employed  to  convey  supplies  to  the  Confederate  armies ; 
and  that  these  outrages  must  be  terminated  by  the  surrender  of  the  city 
to  Federal  authority.  Sixteen  hours  from  the  delivery  of  this  letter  were 
allowed  for  the  removal  of  women  and  children,  the  sick  and  wounded, 
before  the  bombardment  of  the  place  would  begin,  if  the  requisition  were 
not  complied  with. 

This  communication  was  conveyed  to  General  Longstreet,  who  com 
manded  the  Rebels  at  that  point.  In  a  short  time  an  answer  was  returned, 
apparently  from  the  municipal  authorities,  but  really  under  the  dictation 
of  that  general,  to  the  effect  that  the  injuries  complained  of  should  be  re 
dressed,  so  far  as  the  firing  of  pickets,  and  the  furnishing  of  supplies  to 
the  Confederate  army  were  concerned ;  but  that  the  possession  of  the  city 
by  the  Federal  forces  would  be  resisted  to  the  last  extremity.  After  the 
receipt  of  this  spirited  reply,  an  immediate  advance  upon  the  city  wag 
confidently  expected ;  but  the  events  which  ensued  illustrated  in  a  remark 
able  manner,  the  uncertainty  which  inevitably  attends  all  military  opera 
tions,  even  when  connected  with  the  designs  of  the  most  prudent  and 
patriotic  of  commanders.  General  Burnside  was  utterly  unable  to  execute 
his  threat  against  the  recreant  city.  The  neglect  or  inefficiency  of  others 
completely  paralyzed  his  efforts.  It  was  found,  upon  inquiry,  that  the 
pontoon  bridges,  by  which  his  army  must  needs  cross  the  Eappahannock, 
had  not  arrived,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  express  orders  had  been 
given  by  the  proper  authorities  to  that  effect  some  time  previously,  and 
although  General  Burnside  had  been  assured  by  the  same  authorities  that 
the  bridges  would  be  ready  for  his  use  at  the  time  he  might  require  them. 
It  was  not  until  the  llth  of  December,  that  the  crossing  of  his  army  was 
eventually  effected.  During  this  long  interval  the  commanders  of  the 
Confederate  troops  had  ample  time  to  concentrate  their  forces  in  the 
vicinity  of  Fredericksburg,  to  erect  the  most  formidable  breastworks, 
and  to  mature  every  possible  preparation  with  which  to  receive  and 
destroy  the  Federal  army  when  they  advanced  to  the  attack.  The  Rebel 
generals  improved  this  advantage  with  the  greatest  diligence  and  with 
consummate  skill.  Robert  E.  Lee  was  the  most  eminent  among  them  both 
in  rank  and  in  genius.  He  was  assisted  by  Jackson,  Longstreet,  the  two 
Hills,  and  many  others,  who  had  already  won  by  their  perverted  zeal 
and  talents  a  distinguished  name  in  the  annals  of  the  Rebellion.  But 
before  we  proceed  to  describe  the  colossal  and  sanguinary  contest  which 
subsequently  took  place  between  the  flower  of  the  Federal  and  Confed 
erate  armies  assembled  at  Fredericksburg,  we  will  notice  some  preliminary 
events  which  demand  our  attention. 


382  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

ASSEMBLING  OF  THE  FEDERAL  CONGRESS,  DECEMBER  1ST,  1862 ANNUAL  MESSAGE  OF  PRESI 
DENT  LINCOLN ITS  CHARACTERISTICS ITS  DISCUSSION  OF  THE  NATIONAL  FINANCES — OF 

THE  EMANCIPATION  OF  THE  SLAVES — PLAN  PROPOSED  BY  THE  PRESIDENT — OFFICIAL  RE 
PORT  OF  THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  TREASURY — ITS  LEADING  FEATURES — FINANCIAL  DETAILS 

SKIRMISH  AT  FRANKLIN,  ON  THE  BLACKWATER,  VIRGINIA — CAPTURE  OF  UNION  TROOPS 

AT  HARTSVILLE,  KENTUCKY GENERAL  GEARY?S  RECONNOISSANCE  TO  CHARLESTOWN  AND 

WINCHESTER SURRENDER  OF  WINCHESTER — STUART'S  RAID  ON  THE  TOWNS  OF  DUMFRIES 

AND   OCCOQUAN EXPEDITION  OF  GENERAL  WASHBURNE  FROM  HELENA  TO  COFFEEVILLE, 

MISSISSIPPI ITS  RESULTS,  AND  RETURN THE  CAPTURE  OF  THE  STEAMSHIP  ARIEL  BY  THE 

PIRATE  ALABAMA INCIDENTS  CONNECTED  WITH  IT HER  FINAL  RELEASE — DEPARTURE  OF 

THE  BANKS'  EXPEDITION  FROM  NEW  YORK — INFAMOUS  FRAUDS  PERPETRATED  UPON  THE 

GOVERNMENT ARRIVAL  OF  THE  EXPEDITION  AT  NEW  ORLEANS GENERAL  BANKS  SUCCEEDS 

GENERAL  BUTLER EFFECT  OF  BUTLER'S  ADMINISTRATION RESULTS  OF  THE  BLOCKADE  OF 

THE  SOUTHERN  PORTS. 

THE  third  session  of  the  thirty-eighth  Congress  of  the  United  States 
commenced  at  Washington  on  December  1st,  1862.  A  full  attendance  of 
the  members  of  both  houses  graced  the  splendid  halls  in  which  they  con 
vened.  The  condition  of  the  country  was  in  many  respects  critical ;  and 
the  eyes  of  a  loyal  nation  were  directed  with  eager  interest  at  that  mo 
ment  toward  their  capital.  A  still  intenser  feeling  was  experienced  in 
regard  to  the  spirit  and  measures  which  might  be  disclosed  in  the  annual 
message  of  President  Lincoln.  This  important  document  was  sent  to 
the  Senate  and  the  House  immediately  after  their  organization,  and  be 
came  at  once  the  subject  of  universal  scrutiny  and  attention.  It  was 
characterized  by  that  sound  sense,  that  earnest  and  devoted  love  of  country, 
that  simplicity,  directness,  and  clearness,  which  adorned  all  the  official 
productions  of  that  functionary.  His  message  on  this  occasion  discussed 
the  usual  topics  which  appertained  to  the  administration;  but  it  dwelt 
with  special  minuteness  and  force  upon  two  grand  cardinal  themes,  which 
exerted  a  vital  influence  upon  the  progress  of  the  waj*  and  on  the  destiny 
of  the  nation.  These  were  the  regulation  of  the  finances,  and  the  eman 
cipation  of  the  slaves. 

In  regard  to  the  national  finances,  the  President  set  forth,  with  great 
truth,  that  the  immense  expenditure  involved  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
war,  both  on  land  and  on  sea,  had  been  met  with  promptitude,  and  that 
the  public  credit  had  been  amply  sustained.  But  the  continuance  of  hos 
tilities  in  future,  and  the  accompanying  expense,  demanded  the  serious 
attention  of  the  national  legislature.  The  suspension  of  specie  payment 
by  the  banks  throughout  the  country,  soon  after  the  commencement  of  the 
Rebellion,  rendered  it  necessary  that  immense  issues  of  United  States 


ANNUAL    MESSAGE    OF   PRESIDENT   LINCOLN.  333 

notes  should  be  made.  These  notes  had  been  rendered  more  valuable  and 
reliable  by  the  judicious  action  of  Congress,  making  them  receivable  for 
the  payment  of  troops,  for  loans,  for  internal  duties,  and  as  legal  tenders 
for  other  debts,  thereby  saving  large  sums  to  the  community  in  discounts 
and  in  exchanges.  The  President,  however,  contended  that  a  return  to 
specie  payment  should  be  kept  in  view.  But  he  regarded  it  as  doubtful 
whether  a  sufficiently  large  amount  of  United  States  notes  could  be  per 
manently  maintained  to  serve  as  a  universal  equivalent  for  coin,  and  pay 
able  therein.  He  therefore  recommended  as  a  remedy  for  this  unavoida 
ble  difficulty  the  organization  of  banking  associations,  under  a  general  act 
of  Congress,  to  which  the  Federal  Government  might  furnish  circulating 
notes  on  the  security  of  the  United  States  bonds  deposited  in  the  Treasury. 
These  notes  being  always  convertible  into  coin,  would  protect  the  com 
munity  from  the  evils  of  a  vitiated  currency,  would  facilitate  commerce  by 
cheap  exchanges,  and  would  diminish  that  part  of  the  public  debt  which 
was  employed  as  securities.  The  present  condition  of  the  Treasury  was 
favorable.  During  the  preceding  year  the  virtual  receipts  had  been 
$487,788,324  97.  The  entire  expenditure  in  that  period  had  been 
$474,744,788  16,  thus  leaving  a  small  balance  in  the  Treasury.  So  far 
the  Government  of  the  United  States  had  sustained  the  colossal  burden 
imposed  upon  it  by  the  vast  expenditures  involved  in  the  war  with  mar 
velous  vigor,  prudence,  and  success. 

The  President  proceeded  to  say  that  a  much  more  difficult  and  anom 
alous  question  than  that  of  the  national  finances  demanded  the  attention 
of  the  legislature.  The  irrepressible  negro  and  his  future  fate  had  assumed 
more  than  their  usual  importance  in  connection  with  the  prosecution  of 
the  war,  and  that  great  enigma  must,  if  possible,  soon  be  solved  by  the 
assembled  wisdom  of  the  nation. 

Mr.  Lincoln  then  referred  to  his  preceding  proclamation  in  regard  to 
"  compensated  emancipation."  He  affirmed  and  demonstrated  that  dis 
union  was  no  adequate  remedy  for  the  difficulties  connected  with  the  des 
tiny  of  the  slave.  He  proved  that  there  were  inseparable  objections  to 
the  division  of  the  Union ;  that  the  geographical  features  of  the  country 
forbade  it ;  that  the  outlets  of  the  Mississippi  river,  by  an  eternal  law  of 
nature,  belonged  in  common  and  forever  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  that  great 
valley  through  whose  capacious  and  verdant  bosom  the  father  of  waters 
rolled  the  mighty  burden  of  his  flood  to  the  distant  ocean ;  that  there  was 
no  line,  either  straight  or  crooked,  which  the  ingenuity  of  man  could  devise 
that  would  form  a  propitious  boundary-line  between  the  two  hostile  sec 
tions  ;  that  even  the  institution  of  slavery  itself  would  be  damaged  and 
weakened  by  the  establishment  of  such  a  dividing  line;  that  disunion 
would  entail  countless  evils  and  miseries  on  both  communities  ;  that  slavery 
was  the  chief  producing  cause  of  the  Rebellion ;  that  the  extinction  of 
slavery  would  inflict  a  death-blow  upon  that  Rebellion,  and  that  there  waa 


384  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

a  plan  of  gradual,  prudent,  equitable  emancipation,  which,  if  adopted, 
would  remove  this  tremendous  evil  gently,  propitiously,  and  efficiently. 
That  plan  he  then  proceeded  to  reveal,  to  expound,  and  to  commend.  It 
was  as  follows : 

He  proposed  so  to  amend  the  Federal  Constitution  that  every  State  in 
which  slavery  existed  at  that  time,  which  should  abolish  the  same  within 
its  limits  at  any  period  before  the  1st  of  January,  A.  D.  1900,  should  re 
ceive  compensation  therefor  from  the  Federal  Government ;  that  the  Presi 
dent  should  deliver  to  every  such  State  bonds  of  the  United  States,  bear 
ing  interest,  in  payment  for  each  slave  proved  to  have  been  living  therein 
by  the  eighth  census  of  the  United  States ;  these  bonds  to  be  delivered  by 
instalments,  or  in  one  parcel,  at  the  completion  of  the  abolition  of  slavery 
within  such  State,  according  as  the  same  may  have  been  effected,  gradu 
ally  or  immediately.  Should  any  State,  after  having  abolished  slavery, 
and  after  receiving  these  bonds,  introduce  it  again  within  its  limits,  the 
bonds  delivered  to  it  should  be  returned  to  the  United  States,  and  be 
valueless.  The  President  suggested  further,  that  all  slaves  whom  the 
chances  and  vicissitudes  of  the  war  had  at  any  time  enfranchised  should 
continue  to  be  free,  though  their  former  masters,  if  they  had  remained 
loyal  to  the  Union,  should  be  compensated  for  their  losses  in  a  reasonable 
manner.  The  President  then  set  forth  the  advantages  of  this  plan  with 
great  earnestness.  He  said  the  measure  was  to  be  made  constitutional  by 
a  formal  amendment  of  the  Federal  Constitution.  To  accomplish  this  it 
is  necessary  that  the  concurrence  of  two  thirds  of  the  members  of  Con 
gress,  and  afterward  of  three  fourths  of  the  States  should  be  obtained. 
The  approval  of  three  fourths  of  the  States  would  involve  the  concurrence 
and  consent  of  seven  of  the  slave  States.  If  they  would  co-operate  now, 
that  act  would  effectually  terminate  the  war,  and  would  restore  the  Union. 
He  concluded  this  remarkable  message  with  the  following  appeal,  which 
was  as  impressive  as  it  was  original,  both  in  thought  and  in  language : 
"  The  dogmas  of  the  quiet  past  are  inadequate  to  the  stormy  present.  The 
occasion  is  piled  high  with  difficulty,  and  we  must  rise  with  the  occasion. 
As  our  case  is  new,  so  we  must  think  anew  and  act  anew.  We  must  dis 
enthrall  ourselves,  and  then  we  shall  save  our  country.  We  cannot  escape 
history.  We  of  this  Congress  and  this  administration  will  be  remembered 
in  spite  of  ourselves.  No  personal  significance  or  insignificance  can  spare 
one  or  another  of  us.  The  fiery  trial  through  which  we  pass  will  light  us 
down  in  honor  or  dishonor  to  the  latest  generation.  The  way  is  plain, 
peaceful,  generous,  just — a  way  which  if  followed,  the  world  will  forever 
applaud,  and  God  must  forever  bless." 

This  message  was  received  by  both  houses  of  Congress  with  that  respect 
which  was  due  to  it,  and  by  the  nation  with  very  general  admiration  and 
applause.  Even  that  portion  of  the  loyal  community  who  disapproved  of 
any  action  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  however  moderate  and  conservative 


L. 


REPORT   OF  THE  SECRETARY   OF   THE   TREASURY.  385 

it  might  be,  commended  the  unquestionable  honesty,  sincerity,  and  patri 
otism  which  illumined  and  adorned  every  line  of  this  production. 

Of  the  official  reports  made  to  the  President  by  the  members  of  the 
Cabinet  on  this  occasion,  the  most  remarkable  was  that  of  Mr.  Chase,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  It  displayed  that  profound  financial  ability 
for  which  that  officer  had  already  become  distinguished.  It  set  forth 
among  other  topics  the  state  of  the  national  finances  as  they  then  existed  ; 
and  proceeded  to  the  much  more  difficult  task  of  expounding  a  method  by 
which  the  immense  exigencies  of  the  future  might  be  met.  If  the  war 
continued  until  July  1st,  1863,  a  deficit  of  about  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven  millions  of  dollars  would  exist  over  the  receipts  from  existing  cus 
toms,  excise,  lands,  and  other  income.  If  the  war  should  be  prolonged 
until  July,  186-i,  a  deficit  of  about  six  hundred  and  twenty-three  millions 
over  all  existing  revenues  would  have  accumulated,  and  must  be  provided 
for.  To  accomplish  this  herculean  task,  Mr.  Chase  recommended  the  adop 
tion  of  two  important  measures.  The  first  was  the  passage  of  a  general 
law  authorizing  the  organization  of  banking  associations.  The  other  was 
the  acquisition  of  money  by  loans,  without  increasing  the  issue  of  the 
United  States  notes  beyond  the  amount  fixed  by  law,  unless  an  imperative 
exigency  should  demand  it.  This  report  indicated  the  line  of  policy  which 
Mr.  Chase  pursued  more  minutely,  and  to  its  practical  results,  during 
the  progress  of  the  succeeding  session,  and  was  received  by  the  Presi 
dent  and  by  the  members  of  the  Federal  Legislature  with  respect  and  at 
tention. 

While  the  several  departments  of  the  Government  at  Washington  were 
engaged  in  the  performance  of  their  respective  duties,  the  active  opera 
tions  of  the  war  progressed  in  the  field,  and  battles  and  slaughters  still 
continued  to  occur  between  the  armed  champions  and  enemies  of  the 
Union. 

On  the  2d  of  December,  1862,  a  spirited  skirmish  took  place  near 
Franklin,  on  the  Blackwater  river,  Virginia.  On  that  day  a  detachment 
of  Federal  troops  was  sent  out  from  Norfolk  under  Colonel  Spear.  It 
consisted  of  the  eleventh  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  four  regiments  of  infantry, 
and  a  battery  of  artillery.  Their  orders  were  to  proceed  to  a  point  within 
three  miles  of  the  Blackwater,  as  far  as  a  building  known  as  the  Beaver 
Dam  church,  from  which  videttes  should  be  sent  out  to  reconnoitre  the 
adjacent  country,  in  which  the  enemy  were  known  to  have  been  posted 
in  some  strength.  This  order  was  promptly  executed.  The  videttes  soon 
encountered  a  body  of  Rebels  who  were  out  on  a  foraging  expedition. 
They  were  the  second  Georgia  regiment,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Towne.  A  brisk  firing  commenced,  and  the  Federal  videttes  immediately 
sent  to  the  main  army  for  reinforcements.  Three  companies  of  the  cavalry 
under  Major  Stratton  were,  in  reponse  to  his  command,  ordered  forward 
at  a  gallop.  They  soon  reached  the  scene  of  conflict.  A  desperate  com- 
25 


386  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

bat  then  ensued.  The  Federal  troops  charged  upon  the  enemy  with  great 
gallantry,  and  after  a  short  collision  the  enemy  broke  and  fled  in  confu 
sion.  The  Federals  then  pursued  the  fugitives  with  cheers.  They  quickly 
overtook  them,  and  cutting  to  right  and  left  with  their  sabres  among  their 
disorderly  masses,  slew  many  of  them.  The  chase  was  continued  for  two 
miles,  with  great  excitement  and  disorder,  until  both  sides  reached  the 
vicinity  of  Franklin,  where  the  Rebels  had  erected  strong  fortifications. 
It -then  became  expedient  for  the  victors  to  retire  and  to  return  to  Norfolk. 
The  results  of  this  engagement  were  the  capture  of  twenty-two  prisoners, 
two  pieces  of  rocket  battery,  forty  muskets,  and  ten  horses.  The  most 
singular  feature  in  the  whole  expedition  was  that  not  a  single  person  on 
the  Federal  side  received  the  slightest  injury,  although  the  fighting  was 
at  one  time  quite  severe. 

Yery  different  was  the  result  of  a  sudden  surprise  and  assault  which 
was  inflicted  by  the  Rebel  guerrilla  Morgan  upon  the  thirty-ninth  brigade 
of  Union  troops  of  Dumont's  division,  at  Hartsville,  Kentucky.  These 
forces  were  commanded  by  Colonel  Moore,  and  consisted  of  the  hundred 
and  fourth  Illinois,  the  hundred  and  sixth  and  hundred  and  eighth  Ohio, 
a  small  portion  of  the  second  Indiana  cavalry,  and  Nicklen's  battery. 
They  were  surprised  by  an  unexpected  charge  at  daylight  on  the  7th  of 
December.  Morgan's  troops  consisted  of  three  regiments  of  cavalry  and 
two  of  infantry.  The  fight  continued  over  an  hour.  A  portion  of  the 
Federal  troops,  notwithstanding  the  unfavorable  circumstances  of  the  case, 
fought  bravely.  But  the  remainder  did  not  support  their  comrades  with 
any  alacrity,  and  at  length  broke  up  in  confusion.  The  result  was  dis 
astrous  to  the  entire  force,  who  were,  after  a  short  fight,  surrounded  and 
compelled  in  the  end  to  surrender  to  the  enemy.  Nearly  the  whole  of  the 
brigade  were  captured.  The  enemy  then  burnt  the  Federal  camp  and 
took  possession  of  the  teams  and  trains  of  the  brigade.  The  loss  of  the 
Union  troops  during  the  battle  was  sixty  killed  and  wounded.  After  the 
engagement  closed,  and  when  the  disgrace  and  injury  were  complete,  a 
body  of  troops  under  Colonels  Harlin  and  Mellen  were  sent  in  pursuit  of 
Morgan;  but  he  had  already  crossed  the  Cumberland  river  with  his 
usual  promptitude  of  movement  and  was  safely  beyond  their  reach. 

In  the  army  of  the  Potomac  there  were  some  skirmishes  and  actions 
of  no  great  moment,  but  which  displayed  in  a  creditable  light  the  courage 
and  daring  of  the  Union  officers.  General  Geary,  commanding  a  division 
in  Slocum's  (twelfth)  army  corps,  had  throughout  the  war  shown  himself 
a  skilful  and  able  officer,  and  wherever  he  had  been  entrusted  with  re 
sponsibility,  had  acquitted  himself  with  great  credit.  The  corps  to  which 
he  belonged  had  formed  the  rear-guard  in  crossing  the  Potomac  subsequent 
to  the  battle  of  Antietam,  and  his  division  was  for  some  time  assigned  to 
garrison  duty  at  Harper's  Ferry  and  the  fortifications  in  its  vicinity.  On 
Friday,  December  2d,  he  was  ordered  to  make  a  reconnoissance  in  force, 


SURRENDER  OF  WINCHESTER,   VIRGINIA.  387 

with  a  body  of  three  thousand  infantry,  twelve  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a 
squadron  of  cavalry,  toward  Winchester,  Virginia. 

At  Charlestown,  Virginia,  they  encountered  a  small  force  of  Rebel 
cavalry,  who  were  speedily  routed  and  fled  toward  Winchester.  General 
Geary  then  ordered  his  troops  to  move  forward,  and  at  a  point  two  miles 
beyond  Berry ville,  they  encountered  the  cavalry  in  still  larger  force,  and 
a  short  action  ensued  in  which  four  Rebels  were  killed,  twenty  wounded, 
and  seven  horses  disabled. 

Information  was  received  the  next  morning  that  the  Rebel  General  A. 
P.  Hill  was  at  Winchester  with  fifteen  thousand  men.  General  Geary  was 
hardly  willing  to  risk  an  engagement  with  a  force  five  times  as  large  as 
his  own,  yet  he  was  not  disposed  to  return  without  ascertaining  more  defi 
nitely  the  position  and  strength  of  the  enemy.  He  accordingly  moved 
only  a  few  miles  on  the  3d,  and  camped  at  night  on  the  banks  of  Opequan 
creek,  having  skirmished  through  the  day  with  the  Rebel  cavalry. 

On  the  4th  he  pushed  toward  Winchester.  In  sight  of  it,  he  found  a 
line  of  Rebel  cavalry  drawn  up  to  dispute  his  entrance  into  the  town.  He 
ascertained  that  the  Rebel  forces,  except  the  cavalry,  had  left  the  city, 
and  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  mayor  demanding  an  unconditional  surren 
der  of  the  place.  In  a  short  time  he  received  a  reply  from  Major  Myers, 
the  commander  of  the  Rebel  cavalry,  offering  to  evacuate  the  city  if  an 
hour's  delay  were  granted  for  such  non-combatants  as  wished  to  leave  the 
place.  This  General  Geary  refused  to  grant,  and  informed  Major  Myers 
that  he  should  move  immediately  upon  the  town,  and  the  citizens  would 
not  be  allowed  to  leave,  but  would  not  be  disturbed  unless  they  fired  upon 
his  troops.  The  Rebel  major,  however,  had  not  waited  for  a  reply,  but 
had  left  with  his  cavalry  with  all  haste,  and  the  bearer  of  the  flag  of  truce 
went  on  and  found  the  mayor  of  the  city,  who  surrendered  at  once.  The 
small-pox  was  prevalent  in  the  town,  and  General  Geary's  troops  did  not 
enter  it ;  but  the  General  and  his  staff  took  possession  of  the  forts  and  the 
town,  and  paroled  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  Rebel  soldiers  who  were 
sick  or  wounded  in  the  hospitals,  and  having  driven  off  the  Rebel  cavalry 
by  a  few  well-directed  shells,  he  returned  with  his  troops  to  Bolivar 
Heights,  Harper's  Ferry. 

General  Geary  soon  after  moved  with  his  division  southward,  and  on 
the  llth  of  December  occupied  Leesburg  without  resistance,  and  a  few  days 
later  took  possession  of  a  part  of  the  road  from  Aquia  creek  to  Alexan 
dria,  guarding  the  prominent  points  from  Fairfax  Court  House  to  Dum 
fries.  On  the  27th  of  December,  the  Rebel  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  at  the 
head  of  about  three  thousand  five  hundred  cavalry  and  a  battery  of  artil 
lery,  crossed  the  Rappahannock  for  a  raid  through  the  Union  lines.  His 
first  point  of  attack  was  Dumfries,  where  were  four  regiments  (three  of 
infantry  and  one  of  cavalry)  and  a  section  of  artillery,  belonging  to  Gen 
eral  Geary's  division,  but  under  the  immediate  command  of  Colonel 


388  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATED. 

Charles  Candy.  The  enemy  surprised  and  captured  the  pickets,  about 
fifty  in  number,  and  then  opened  upon  the  town  with  artillery,  and  made 
repeated  charges  upon  the  Union  troops,  but  were  repelled  with  great 
promptness  and  vigor.  The  fight  lasted  from  two  P.  M.  till  eight  p.  M., 
when,  after  a  desperate  but  unsuccessful  attempt  to  flank  the  Union  force, 
the  Rebels  retired,  discomfited  and  beaten,  to  the  Neobsco  river,  four  miles 
above  Dumfries. 

General  Geary  was  promptly  notified  of  the  movements  of  Stuart,  and 
moved  the  same  evening  (December  27th)  from  Fairfax  Court  House 
to  Wolf  Run  Shoals,  with  the  remainder  of  his  division,  and  the  next 
morning  crossed  the  Occoquan  and  advanced,  General  Williams'  division, 
of  the  twelfth  army  corps,  following  several  miles  in  his  rear.  The  Rebels 
left  their  camp  on  the  Neobsco  early  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  and 
moved  on  the  road  from  Brentsville  to  Occoquan,  and  on  their  way  sur 
prised  the  second  and  seventeenth  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  taking  nearly 
one  hundred  of  them  prisoners,  arid  killing  and  wounding  about  twenty. 
Some  of  these  routed  cavalrymen  took  refuge  in  General  Geary's  lines. 
Ten  minutes  later  he  came  up  and  took  position  near  the  Brentsville  road, 
and  threw  out  a  company  of  cavalry  as  a  bait  to  draw  the  Rebels  under 
his  fire.  In  a  few  minutes  about  five  hundred  of  Hampton's  Legion 
charged  down  the  hill  upon  them,  firing  and  yelling  like  demons.  The 
infantry  opened  their  lines  to  admit  the  retreating  Union  cavalry,  then 
closed  and  presented  a  solid  front,  and  greeted  the  advancing  foe  with 
volleys  of  musketry  and  a  storm  of  shell.  At  this  unexpected  reception 
they  turned  and  fled  in  confusion,  having  lost  twenty  killed  and 
wounded  in  a  very  few  moments.  They  formed  again,  with  reinforce 
ments,  in  a  wood  not  far  distant,  but  were  again  driven  back  and  across 
the  Occoquan. 

Nearly  contemporary  with  the  occurrence  of  this  engagement  was  the 
expedition  which  was  made  from  Helena  into  the  State  of  Mississippi, 
under  the  command  of  General  Washburne.  The  purpose  of  it  was  to 
reach  Coffeeville,  in  that  State,  attack  and  rout  a  detachment  of  Rebels 
posted  there,  and  destroy  the  bridges  and  telegraph  offices  which  they 
used  in  furtherance  of  their  purposes.  The  troops  appropriated  to  this 
service  were  some  cavalry,  chiefly  from  Illinois  and  Iowa,  numbering 
about  nineteen  hundred  men,  and  six  hundred  infantry.  They  left 
Helena  on  the  27th  of  November,  having  embarked  on  boats  provided  for 
their  conveyance.  They  landed  at  Delta,  and  immediately  commenced 
their  march  into  the  interior  of  the  country.  On  the  first  day  they  ad 
vanced  thirty-five  miles,  as  far  as  the  junction  of  the  Tallahatchie  river 
with  the  Coldwater.  On  the  next  day  they  succeeded  in  crossing  the 
former  stream,  and  resumed  their  march  toward  Grenada.  No  incident 
of  importance  occurred  until  they  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  Central  Mis 
sissippi  railroad.  Major  Buje  was  then  despatched  with  the  ninth  Illinois 


CAPTURE  OF   THE  ARIEL   BY  THE   PIRATE  ALABAMA.       389 

iavalry,  and  a  hundred  men  armed  with  carbines,  crow-bars,  and  axes,  to 
destroy  the  telegraph  and  the  bridges  connected  with  it.  This  service 
they  performed  with  energy  and  success.  The  expedition  then  proceeded 
toward  Coffeeville.  At  Mitchell's  Cross-Roads  they  encountered  a  detach 
ment  of  Rebel  troops,  and  a  skirmish  ensued,  in  which  the  latter  soon 
gave  way  and  retreated  in  disorder.  The  march  was  then  continued 
through  Panola  and  Oakland.  The  enemy,  numbering  fifteen  hundred, 
evacuated  the  latter  place  as  the  Federals  entered  it.  They  were  rapidly 
pursued,  and  beyond  the  town  a  brisk  engagement  occurred.  The  Rebels 
fought  for  a  while  with  considerable  resolution.  They  succeeded  in  cap 
turing  one  of  the  Federal  guns  which  had  been  imprudently  posted  too 
far  in  the  advance.  Some  Union  soldiers  were  wounded.  The  loss  of  the 
enemy  in  killed  and  wounded  was  more  severe,  as  a  number  were  after 
ward  found  in  the  houses  adjacent  to  the  battle-field.  They  fled  toward 
Coffeeville  after  having  fought  bravely  for  some  time.  At  this  point 
General  Washburne  obtained  intelligence  that  a  large  force  under  Price 
had  assembled  at  Coffeeville,  much  superior  in  numbers  to  his  own  troops. 
He  therefore  deemed  it  expedient  not  to  advance  further.  At  this  period 
also  he  received  a  despatch  from  General  Hovey,  to  the  effect  that,  as  the 
chief  object  of  the  expedition  had  been  accomplished,  he  should  imme 
diately  return.  The  order  was  instantly  obeyed ;  and  after  a  laborious 
journey  of  several  days  through  a  country  which  had  been  rendered  ex 
tremely  difficult  by  the  continual  rains  which  fell,  the  expedition  reached 
Helena  by  the  same  route  in  safety.  It  had  been  absent  six  days,  and  had 
traversed  two  hundred  miles  on  land. 

On  the  7th  of  December  the  Confederate  piratical  vessel  Alabama, 
achieved  another  of  her  signal  successes  upon  the  high  seas.  As  the  mag 
nificent  steamship  Ariel  was  sailing  from  New  York,  bound  to  Aspinwall. 
when  off  Cape  May,  near  the  eastern  extremity  of  Cuba,  she  had  the  mis 
fortune  to  come  within  sight  of  this  formidable  vessel.  She  was  crowded 
with  passengers  en  route  for  California.  She  soon  discovered  the  approach 
of  her  unwelcome  visitor,  and  increased  her  speed  to  the  utmost  of  her 
ability.  Though  she  did  her  best  it  soon  became  evident  that  the  superior 
sailing  qualities  of  the  Alabama  rendered  escape  impossible.  The  latter 
gained  upon  her  rapidly,  and  at  length  fired  a  blank  shot  at  her.  To  this 
the  Ariel  paid  no  attention.  A  more  imperative  summons  soon  followed. 
She  fired  two  shotted  guns.  One  ball  passed  over  the  hurricane  deck,  and 
the  other  struck  her  foremast  and  severed  it.  The  Ariel  then  promptly 
hove  to,  as  the  next  salute  would  have  been  a  full  broadside.  A  boat 
soon  reached  the  vessel,  which  afterward  conveyed  Captain  A.  G.  Jones, 
her  commander,  on  board  the  Alabama.  Captain  Semmes  met  him  on 
deck,  and  informed  him  that  his  ship  was  a  prize  ;  that  the  passengers 
would  be  landed  at  a  small  settlement  on  the  eastern  end  of  Cuba,  and 
that  the  vessel  should  be  destroyed.  Captain  Jones  protested  against  the 


390  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

cruelty  of  such  a  course  to  the  large  number  of  passengers,  comprising 
many  women  and  children,  who  were  on  board.  Two  days  elapsed 
during  which  time  negotiations  progressed  between  the  two  commanders 
in  regard  to  the  destination  of  the  Ariel.  In  this  interval  her  sails  were 
thrown  overboard,  and  her  steam  valve  taken  away,  to  prevent  her 
escape  in  case  the  Alabama  should  give  chase  to  any  other  vessel.  At 
length  Captain  Semmes  determined  to  put  the  passengers  on  shore  at 
Kingston,  Jamaica,  and  both  vessels  were  headed  for  that  port.  But  the 
appeals  of  Captain  Jones  eventually  prevailed,  and  Captain  Semmes 
finally  agreed  to  take  bonds  for  the  value  of  the  vessel  and  cargo,  and  re 
lease  them.  At  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  on  the  9th  of  December,  the 
arrangements  were  completed.  Securities  were  entered  into  by  Captain 
Jones  for  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-eight  thousand  dollars, 
payable  to  Jefferson  Davis  immediately  after  peace  was  declared.  The 
money  in  the  ship,  amounting  to  nine  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  was 
plundered  by  the  pirate.  A  hundred  and  twenty  United  States  marines 
were  captured  and  paroled.  All  the  arms  and  cannon  on  board  were 
taken,  but  the  private  property  of  the  passengers  was  respected  and  un 
disturbed.  It  must  also  be  admitted  that  the  conduct  of  the  officers  and 
crew  of  the  cruiser  toward  those  on  board  the  Ariel,  during  the  several 
days  of  her  detention,  was  courteous  and  gallant  in  the  extreme.  All  the 
details  of  the  capitulation  and  release  having  been  arranged,  the  Ariel  re 
sumed  her  voyage  to  Aspinwall,  and  the  Alabama  sailed  away  to  resume 
her  lawless  depredations  on  the  high  seas. 

Raphael  Semmes,  who  had  thus  distinguished  himself  by  his  energy 
and  rapacity  in  behalf  of  the  Confederate  Government,  was  born  in 
Maryland,  and  entered  the  United  States  navy  in  April,  1826.  He 
obtained  the  rank  of  lieutenant  in  February,  1837.  During  this  long 
interval  he  had  studied  law  in  Cincinnati,  and  entered  upon  its  practice 
in  that  city.  He  served  two  years  in  the  Federal  navy  under  Commodore 
Dallas,  in  1838  and  1839.  Subsequently  he  obtained  the  post  of  second 
in  command  of  the  brig  Somers,  in  which  the  famous  tragedy  of  Slidell- 
Mackenzie  was  enacted.  After  the  termination  of  that  voyage,  Semmes 
became  a  resident  of  Mobile,  and  there  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law.  His 
success  in  this  profession  was  limited,  and  he  eventually  obtained  from 
Mr.  Buchanan  the  position  of  inspector  of  the  light-house  at  Mobile.  He 
was  soon  afterward  transferred  to  Washington  as  secretary  of  the  light 
house  board.  Secretary  Dix  dismissed  him  from  this  office  at  a  later 
date  for  frauds  upon  the  Federal  Treasury.  He  remained  unemployed 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  when  he  tendered  his  services  to  the 
Confederate  Government,  was  accepted,  and  placed  in  command  of  the 
Alabama. 

During  the  month  of  November,  1862,  extensive  preparations  were 
made  in  the  city  of  New  York  to  equip  and  send  forth  an  expedition 


INFAMOUS  FRAUDS   UPON   THE   GOVERNMENT.  391 

under  the  orders  of  General  Banks,  whose  purpose  and  destination  were 
as  yet  unknown.  This  expedition  started  from  that  port  on  the  4th  of 
December.  No  warlike  undertaking  was  ever  entered  upon  by  the 
United  States,  during  the  progress  of  any  war,  in  which  the  villainy  of 
tho.se  with  whom  the  Government  had  negotiated  for  transports  and 
supplies  was  as  excessive  and  unblushing,  as  ruinous  to  the  interests  of 
the  public,  or  as  dangerous  to  the  lives  of  hundreds  of  the  brave  defenders 
of  the  Union,  as  in  this  instance.  In  purchasing  vessels  for  the  transport 
of  the  troops,  old  and  rotten  boats,  which  had  long  been  thrown  aside  as 
wholly  unfit  even  for  the  service  required  by  commerce  along  the 
seaboard  and  on  the  inland  lakes,  were  sold  at  enormous  prices  to  the 
agents  of  the  Government,  under  the  pretence  that  they  were  perfectly 
secure  and  able  to  encounter  all  the  perils  and  storms  of  the  deep.  As 
might  be  expected,  many  of  these  came  very  near  being  wrecked ;  and  all 
on  board  of  them  would  have  perished  had  they  not  in  some  cases  been 
taken  off  by  other  vessels,  and  in  others  had  they  not  put  into  some  port 
before  half  the  voyage  was  completed.  Nearly  twenty  transports  out  of 
the  whole  number  which  conveyed  the  expedition  were  ultimately  found 
to  have  been  worthless,  unseaworthy,  and  infamous  impositions  upon  the 
Government.  The  remainder  of  the  vessels  reached  their  destination  on 
the  14th  of  December.  New  Orleans  proved  to  be  the  point  for  which 
the  expedition  had  been  destined,  and  its  ultimate  purpose  was  conjec 
tured  to  be  to  proceed  up  the  Mississippi,  at  some  future  period,  to  assist 
in  the  attack  and  capture  of  Vicksburg.  On  arriving  at  New  Orleans, 
General  Banks  superseded  General  Butler  in  the  command  of  that  im 
portant  post.  The  latter  welcomed  his  successor  heartily,  and  gave  him 
all  the  information  and  advice  which  he  might  desire  for  his  guidance  in 
the  future  performance  of  his  duties.  Five  thousand  of  the  troops  who 
accompanied  the  new  commandant  were  landed  at  New  Orleans,  to  be 
ready  for  immediate  operations.  He  issued  a  proclamation,  in  which  he 
set  forth  the  motives  which  should  induce  the  people  of  that  region  to 
remain  loyal  to  the  Federal  Government,  and  announced  his  determina 
tion  to  secure  the  rights  and  just  interests  of  all  the  citizens. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  the  administration  of  General  Butler  had 
been  eminently  vigorous  and  efficient.  He  had  indeed  performed  some 
acts  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  Confederate  States  stigmatized  as 
barbarous  and  inhuman;  but  these  were  regarded  by  General  Butler  as 
unavoidable  and  imperative  under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  case 
One  thing,  however,  was  perfectly  evident,  that  the  measures  which  ha 
had  adopted  and  executed  resulted  in  the  complete  subjection  of  the  in- 
habitants  of  that  region  to  the  Federal  Government,  so  far  as  outward 
conformity  was  concerned,  whatever  the  real  sentiments  and  predilections 
were  which  many  of  them  may  have  secretly  cherished.  After  resigning 


392  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

his   important   trust   into   the   hands  of  his   successor,  General   Butler 
returned  to  the  North.* 


*  The  blockade  of  the  southern  ports,  which  had  now  been  maintained  for  nearly 
two  years,  had  produced  very  perceptible  effects  upon  the  commercial  and  social  con 
dition  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Rebel  States.  The  truth  of  this  assertion  will  be 
demonstrated  by  an  allusion  to  the  prices  of  the  necessaries  of  life  which  prevailed  at 
this  period  among  them.  We  may  instance  the  figures  which  ruled  at  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  as  a  sample  of  what  generally  existed.  Flour  was  thirty-six  dollars 
per  barrel,  corn  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  bushel,  potatoes  four  dollars  per 
bushel,  coffee  two  dollars  and  seventy-five  cents  per  pound,  common  calico  two 
dollars  per  yard,  shoes  sixteen  dollars  per  pair,  butter  one  dollar  and  thirty  cents  per 
pound,  salt  forty-seven  dollars  per  bushel,  wood  twenty-two  dollars  per  cord.  Such 
are  some  of  the  items  which  demonstrate  that  the  Federal  blockade  had  been  suffi 
ciently  "  effective." 


LAYING  OF  THE  PONTOONS  AT  FKEDER1CKSBURG.    393 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

TIIR  BATTLKOKFRKDKRICKSBURG— THE  LAVING  OF  THK  PONTOON  BRIDGES— THK  PONTONIKR8 
DRIVEN  AWAY — RENEWAL  OF  THE  ATTEMPT — ITS  SECOND  AND  THIRD  FAILURE — BOMBARD 
MENT  OF  FREDERICKSBURO —  THE  BRIDGES  ARE  CONSTRUCTED THE  FEDERAL  TROOPS  CRO88 

THE  RAPPAHANNOCK — PREPARATIONS    FOR    THE    CONFLICT — STRENGTH  OF  THE  WORKS    OF 

THE  REBELS — SUPERIOR  ADVANTAGES    OF    THEIR   POSITION  AND  NUMBERS COMMENCEMENT 

OF  THK  ENGAGEMENT  BY  GENERAL  FRANKLIN — INCIDENTS  OF  THE  BATTLE  OX  THE  LEFT 
WING — THE  RESULTS THE  CONTEST  ON  THE  RIGHT  AND  THE  CENTRE MOVEMENTS  OF  GEN 
ERALS  MEADK  AND  GIBBON HEROISM  OF  SUMNER IMPREGNABLE  POSITION  OF  THE  ENEMY 

A  GALLANT  CHARGE HEAVY   LOSSES  OF  THE  REBELS — OPERATIONS  IN  THK  CENTRE   UNDER 

GENERAL  HOOKER PLAN  OF  WILCOX  AND  BURNS GENERAL  RESULTS  OF  THK  ENGAGE 
MENT — FEDERAL  AND  REBEL  LOSSES — SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  FRANKLIN — OF  GENERALS  JACK 
SON  AND  BAYARD — EVENTS  SUBSEQUENT  TO  THK  BATTLE RESIGNATION  OF  MR.  SEWARD 

POPULAR  CENSURE — GENERAL  BURNSIDE  ASSUMES  THE  RESPONSIBILITY — THE  CABINET 
REMAINS  UNCHANGED BATTLE  AT  CAVK  HILL,  IN  ARKANSAS — FEDERAL  VICTORY. 

AT  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  tenth  of  December,  1862,  the 
tardy  pontoon  trains,  upon  which  the  army  commanded  by  General  Burn- 
side  was  to  cross  the  Rappahannock  at  Fredericksburg,  proceeded  to  the 
banks  of  the  stream.  They  were  in  charge  of  the  seventeenth  and  fiftieth 
New  York  engineers,  and  under  the  orders  of  General  Woodbury.  The 
operations  commenced  with  an  attempt  to  throw  these  bridges  across  the 
river,  two  of  which  were  opposite  Fredericksburg,  the  third  at  a  point 
where  the  railroad  bridge  had  formerly  existed".  The  weather  was  fa 
vorable  to  the  success  of  the  enterprise,  for  a  heavy  fog  concealed  the 
labors  of  the  pontoniers  from  the  observation  of  the  enemy.  One  half 
of  the  stream  had  been  spanned,  when  the  mist  partly  cleared  away,  and 
revealed  the  progress  which  had  been  made  to  the  foe.  An  attack  was 
instantly  commenced  upon  the  Federal  workmen  in  the  stream  by  the 
Rebel  sharpshooters,  who  were  posted  in  rifle-pits  along  the  opposite 
shore,  and  from  the  windows  of  the  adjacent  houses.  This  fire  was  so 
brisk  and  deadly  that  the  pontoniers  were  compelled  to  abandon  their 
work,  and  retreat  to  the  land,  beyond  the  reach  of  the  enemy. 

After  a  short  interval,  the  fugitives  were  again  formed  and  sent  back 
to  resume  their  work.  The  Rebels  immediately  commenced  the  attack, 
which  proved  to  be  more  formidable  and  destructive  than  before.  They 
swarmed  in  large  numbers  on  the  opposite  bank,  and  in  the  streets  of  the 
town,  and  soon  the  boats  and  planks  were  riddled  with  their  shot,  and 
many  of  the  pontoniers  were  slain.  Again  they  were  compelled  to  retire, 
and  it  was  evident  that  it  would  be  almost  impossible  to  construct  the 
bridges  in  the  face  of  the  foe.  The  bombardment  of  the  town  across  the 
stream  was  then  determined  on.  The  batteries  of  the  ninth  corps,  com 
manded  by  Edwards,  Benjamin,  and  Miihlenburg,  together  with  others  on 


394  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

the  right  and  left  of  the  town,  began  to  throw  their  shot  and  shell  into 
the  houses  occupied  by  the  Eebel  riflemen.  These  were  soon  demolished. 
The  bombardment  continued  from  seven  until  one  o'clock,  and  much 
damage  was  done  to  the  edifices  of  that  ancient  city.  During  the  prog 
ress  of  this  assault  the  third  attempt  was  made  to  construct  the  bridges. 
But  the  enemy  had  not  been  dislodged  from  their  position  in  the  rifle- 
pits,  and  from  these  concealed  retreats  the  attack  was  again  continued 
with  destructive  effect.  After  a  short  time  the  whole  party  was  ordered 
back  from  the  pontoons.  To  drive  these  sharpshooters  from  their  rifle- 
pits  was  indispensable,  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  llth,  volunteers  were 
called  for,  and  portions  of  the  seventh  Michigan  and  nineteenth  Massa 
chusetts  volunteered,  and  crossed  over  in  pontoon-boats  under  a  heavy 
fire,  and  charging  upon  the  sharpshooters,  drove  them  from  their  pits,  and 
secured  the  laying  of  the  bridges  without  further  interruption.  In  this 
task  they  were  assisted  by  the  eighty-ninth  New  York  regiment,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Fairchild. 

The  passage  of  the  Federal  troops  over  the  bridges  immediately  com 
menced.  This  process  occupied  the  morning  and  night  of  the  llth  of 
December.  The  corps  of  General  Franklin  composed  the  extreme  left 
of  the  line,  and  crossed  three  miles  below  Fredericksburg.  General  Sum- 
ner  commanded  on  the  right  wing.  To  General  Hooker  was  assigned  a 
position  in  the  centre.  In  a  council  of  war  which  was  called  by  General 
Burnside  some  time  previous  to  the  crossing  of  the  troops.  General  Hooker 
had  proposed  that  he  should  pass  over  the  stream  with  his  corps  at  one 
of  the  fords  ten  miles  above  the  city,  and  by  a  rapid  march  along  the 
south  banks  of  the  river  move  on  Fredericksburg  and  take  possession  of 
the  hills  in  its  vicinity ;  and  that  a  combined  attack  should  then  be  made 
upon  the  enemy  posted  in  the  rear  of  the  town  from  two  opposite  direc 
tions.  Whatever  might  have  been  the  ultimate  result  of  such  a  line  of 
operations,  it  was  rejected  by  the  commander-in-chief.  The  plan  of  battle 
adopted  was,  that  Franklin  should  open  the  assault  by  attacking  and 
breaking  the  lines  of  the  enemy  on  the  Federal  left,  and  as  soon  as  that 
was  accomplished  Sumner  was  to  fall  upon  the  centre  of  the  position  of 
the  enemy,  to  be  followed  by  a  charge  on  the  right  by  Hooker's  grand 
division.  The  assault  on  the  right  was  not  to  be  made  until  the  rest  of 
the  Federal  troops  had  obtained  possession  of  a  new  road  which  ran  in 
the  rear  of  the  city,  crossed  the  heights  which  existed  there,  and  connected 
the  two  wings  of  the  enemy  together.  By  severing  that  connection,  an 
assault  in  the  centre  and  right,  as  General  Burnside  supposed,  would  be 
made  with  destructive  effect  upon  their  whole  line.  The  issue  of  events, 
as  they  subsequently  occurred,  proved  to  be  very  different  from  that  which 
that  officer  so  confidently  anticipated. 

The  preparations  which  the  enemy  had  made  to  receive  and  repel  the 
Federal  army,  were  of  the  most  formidable  description.  They  had  erected 


rjoraocKS 

SUGAR  LOAF  MT 


SpOfTSYLVANIACJ-fi: 


:<%.    ^5 


s  SCALE  0'~  MILES 


STRENGTH  OF  REBEL  WORKS  AT  FREDERICKSBURG         395 

a  series  of  powerful  batteries,  which  extended  for  six  miles,  in  the  form 
of  a  serai-circle,  from  one  extremity  at  Port  Royal,  to  Guiney's  station, 
on  the  Richmond  railroad,  at  the  other.  The  most  important  position  in 
this  line  was  that  occupied  by  the  Washington  Artillery,  which  was  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Walton,  of  New  Orleans.  It  was  posted  on  the  heights 
immediately  in  the  rear  of  Fredericksburg.  A  short  distance  to  the 
southeast  of  this  position  stands  a  still  higher  eminence,  from  which  the 
whole  range  of  the  impending  battle  could  be  clearly  seen.  On  this 
height  General  Lee,  the  Confederate  commander-in-chief,  took  his  position. 
Stuart's  cavalry  were  posted  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Rebel  lines.  The 
troops  of  Longstreet  in  the  centre,  of  Jackson  on  the  right  of  the  hills  as 
reserves,  were  prudently  distributed  along  the  vast  extent  of  their  works. 
Impartial  as  well  as  intelligent  observers  subsequently  affirmed  that  the 
position  of  the  Rebel  host  had  been  so  strongly  and  so  skilfully  fortified 
that  it  would  have  been  impossible  for  almost  any  body  of  men,  however 
numerous  and  valiant,  to  reduce  it  by  means  of  an  assault,  or  an  open 
attack  in  front. 

During  Friday,  December  12th,  the  Federal  troops  which  were  destined 
to  take  part  in  this  memorable  engagement  were  transferred  to  their  re 
spective  positions  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  A  hundred  and  forty- 
five  cannon  were  placed  in  position.  During  the  day  skirmishing  took 
place  between  the  pickets  of  the  two  armies ;  and  in  the  afternoon  some 
of  the  Federal  guns  continued  to  thunder  across  the  stream  into  the  works 
of  the  Confederates  on  the  opposite  heights,  and  into  the  city.  During 
the  ensuing  night  the  hostile  outposts  were  within  a  hundred  yards  of 
each  other;  and  the  busy  hum  of  preparation  in  both  the  rival  hosts  was 
continually  heard  as  the  solemn  hours  of  the  night  wore  on.  But  the 
passage  of  the  Rappahannock  and  the  transfer  of  the  troops  had  not  been 
accomplished  without  heavy  loss. 

At  length  Saturday,  December  13th,  dawned.  It  was  a  day  destined 
to  be  invested  through  all  coming  time  with  a  melancholy  and  imperish 
able  interest.  The  first  few  hours  were  obscured  by  a  heavy  fog,  which 
burdened  the  horizon  on  every  hand.  At  nine  o'clock  it  partly  rose,  and 
revealed  to  view  as  magnificent  a  spectacle  of  martial  splendor  as  the 
most  glowing  imagination  could  conceive.  The  batteries  of  the  enemy, 
which  could  be  seen  extending  along  a  series  of  heights  in  the  rear  of 
Fredericksburg,  supported  by  an"  army  of  eighty  thousand  men,  frowned 
upon  the  plain  below,  in  which  forty  thousand  valiant  troops  stood  under 
their  glittering  and  gleaming  arms  ready  to  commence  the  contest.  As 
soon  as  the  combatants  became  visible  to  each  other  the  engagement 
began.  Every  advantage  both  of  numbers  and  of  position  belonged  to 
the  Confederates,  yet  the  dauntless  heroes  of  the  Union  eagerly  courted 
the  contest. 

The  action  opened  with  the  assault  of  General  Franklin's  division  on 


396  THE  CIVIL  WAR   IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

the  extreme  right  of  the  Rebel  forces.  The  enemy  had  here  advanced  a 
single  battery,  consisting  of  four  guns,  commanded  by  Captain  Carter 
Braxton,  which  annoyed  the  Federal  columns  exceedingly  by  its  spirited 
and  accurate  firing.  The  ninth  regiment  of  the  New  York  State  militia 
were  ordered  to  charge  upon  this  battery  and  capture  it.  They  advanced 
rapidly  at  a  double-quick,  with  colors  flying  and  muskets  glittering.  The 
earth  shook  beneath  their  heavy  tread.  But  the  enemy  met  them  with 
fierce  and  unflinching  fortitude,  and  after  a  desperate  struggle  the  ninth 
were  compelled  to  fall  back,  defeated  in  their  purpose.  They  were  soon 
rallied,  and  then,  supported  by  General  Tyler's  brigade,  they  advanced  a 
second  time  to  the  charge.  Another  furious  struggle  ensued,  but  the 
noblest  valor  was  in  vain.  The  enemy  again  prevailed,  and  the  Federals 
recoiled  and  again  retreated.  After  another  short  interval  the  same 
troops  were  reformed,  and  brought  forward  once  more  to  the  charge. 
The  battery  in  dispute  was  supported  by  a  numerous  body  of  Rebel 
troops  posted  in  the  adjacent  woods,  from  which,  when  the  Federals 
reached  a  point  in  their  advance  within  their  range,  a  sheet  of  flame 
issued,  masking  a  deluge  of  rifle  shots,  which  decimated  the  approaching 
column,  and  covered  the  line  of  their  march  with  wounded  and  dead. 
This  circumstance  accounts  for  the  difficulty  and  defeat  which  attended 
these  several  efforts  to  capture  the  battery  in  question.  This  battery 
finally  remained  untaken;  but  now  the  engagement  gradually  extended 
along  the  whole  left  of  the  Federal  line.  Here  Franklin  was  confronted 
by  "  Stonewall"  Jackson.  All  the  art  and  energy  of  that  able  commander 
were  summoned  to  his  support.  One  of  the  most  desperate  combats  re 
corded  in  military  annals  took  place  on  this  portion  of  the  field.  Gen 
eral  Franklin  at  length  prepared  to  storm  the  tremendous  works  erected 
on  the  hills  before  him.  He  commenced  this  effort  about  half-past  eleven 
o'clock,  and  commanded  the  movement  in  person.  He  ordered  six 
brigades  to  advance  to  the  attack.  His  chief  effort  was  to  turn  the  posi 
tion  of  the  enemy  on  the  Massaponax,  and  drive  him  beyond  that  creek. 
Then  ensued  a  long  and  sanguinary  struggle,  which  continued  with 
various  and  shifting  vicissitudes  during  some  hours.  The  Rebels  fought 
from  their  sheltered  and  elevated  positions  with  great  resolution.  But 
the  Union  troops  were  equally  determined  ;  after  a  protracted  contest  the 
enemy  began  to  yield,  and  retire  from  some  small  hills  on  which  their 
first  line  had  been  posted.  The  Federals  pressed  upon  them,  and  followed 
up  the  advantage  which  they  had  gained.  At  one  o'clock  General 
Franklin  had  a  decided  superiority  over  the  foe.  But  about  three  o'clock 
they  received  heavy  reinforcements  on  their  right  wing,  and  made  so  firm 
a  stand  that  the  Federals  in  vain  attempted  to  drive  them  further  from 
their  position.  Many  incidents  occurred  during  this  portion  of  the  con 
test  which  indicated  how  ferocious  the  struggle  was.  Here  it  was  that  the 
gallant  Bayard  was  mortally  wounded  on  the  Federal  side.  He  was  con- 


o 

txJ 


MOVEMENTS   OF   GENERALS   MEADE   AND   GIBBON.  397 

versing  with  General  Franklin,  when  a  cannon  ball  struck  him  on  the 
hip.  The  blow  threw  him  far  out  of  his  saddle,  and  it  wa-s  soon  evident 
that  it  was  mortal.  As  if  to  counterbalance  this  loss,  it  was  at  this  period 
that  General  Thomas  R.  R.  Cobb,  of  the  Kebel  army,  was  struck  in  the 
thigh  by  an  exploding  shell,  and  soon  after  expired  from  the  wound.  It 
was  here  also  that  three  hundred  of  General  A.  P.  Hill's  division,  belong 
ing  to  Jackson's  corps,  were  captured  and  marched  off  to  the  rear. 

'J  he  resolution  and  skill  with  which  the  enemy  fought  in  this  portion 
of  the  field  were  not  singular.  The  troops  engaged  here  were  the  veterans 
who  had  taken  part  in  the  battles  of  Cedar  Mountain,  the  second  Manassas, 
and  Antietam.  Nevertheless,  General  Franklin  succeeded  during  the 
progress  of  the  day  in  driving  back  the  troops  opposed  to  him  nearly 
a  mile.  When  the  day  closed  he  held  the  position  which  he  had  wrested 
from  the  enemy  by  the  most  tremendous  exertions.  In  his  portion  of 
the  field  the  Federal  forces  had  gained  a  success,  and  had  the  same 
good  fortune  attended  their  efforts  in  the  remainder  of  the  far-reaching 
scene  of  slaughter  and  blood,  the  issue  of  the  day  would  have  been  very 
different  from  that  which  actually  occurred. 

On  the  Federal  right  and  centre,  which  occupied  positions  nearer  to 
Fredericksburg,  the  action  did  not  commence  as  early  in  the  day  as  on 
the  left.  The  fog,  which  in  the  morning  rendered  every  thing  invisible, 
did  not  clear  away  until  toward  noon.  While  its  thick  and  heavy  folds 
still  enveloped  the  hills  and  vales,  random  shooting  from  artillery  was 
kept  up  by  both  sides.  But  this  produced  little  effect,  though  the  sullen 
roar  of  great  guns,  as  peal  after  peal  rang  responsively  through  the 
murky  air,  produced  a  sublime  and  solemn  effect.  As  soon  as  the  sun 
appeared,  the  infantry  of  the  divisions  of  Generals  Meade  and  Gibbon 
were  ordered  forward.  These  were  soon  engaged  in  close  action  with 
the  veterans  of  Longstreet  and  Stuart.  Soon  the  divisions  of  Doubleday 
and  Stoneman  were  sent  forward  to  their  assistance.  By  great  effort  the 
enemy  were  compelled  to  yield  somewhat  in  the  left  of  the  centre.  On 
the  extreme  right,  where  the  veteran  hero  Sumner  commanded  in  person, 
the  contest  was  equally  severe.  The  troops  engaged  here  consisted  of 
the  seventh  and  ninth  corps.  They  won  imperishable  honor  for  them 
selves,  though  they  suffered  heavily.  It  was  here  that  the  superior  ad 
vantages  of  the  elevated  and  intrenched  position  of  the  enemy  became 
most  conspicuous.  It  soon  became  evident  that  it  would  be  impossible 
to  dislodge  the  Rebels  from  their  breastworks  except  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet.  General  Sumner  therefore  ordered  General  French  to  charge 
with  his  division  on  the  hostile  batteries.  General  Howard's  column 
acted  as  their  support.  The  Federal  troops  rushed  bravely  forward  to 
the  charge  across  the  intervening  plain,  until  they  reached  a  point  only 
a  few  yards  distant  from  the  earthworks.  Then  a  terrible  fire  opened  upon 
them,  which  cut  down  whole  ranks,  strewed  the  earth  with  wounded  and 


398  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

dead,  and  compelled  them  to  retire  in  confusion  to  a  ravine  in  the  dis 
tance.  Here  these  troops  were  reformed,  strengthened  by  an  additional 
body  of  infantry,  and  brought  up  again  to  the  attack  with  fixed  bayonets 
at  a  double-quick  step.  As  they  advanced  they  were  overwhelmed  by  a 
still  more  deadly  hailstorm  of  shot  and  shell  than  before.  The  enemy 
concentrated  both  their  artillery  and  musketry  upon  them.  Hundreds 
here  strewed  the  ground  with  their  dead  or  mangled  bodies.  So  terrible 
was  this  assault  that  these  resolute  troops  were  completely  shattered  and 
unable  to  withstand  it.  They  were  thrown  into  confusion  and  dismay 
more  complete  than  before.  They  gave  way  and  fled.  For  the  third 
time  they  were  rallied  and  brought  back.  On  each  advance  their  ranks 
became  thinner  and  thinner,  the  piles  of  dead  and  wounded  were  more 
and  more  numerous.  At  length  it  became  evident  that  further  attempt 
to  take  the  heights  by  storm  would  be  utterly  futile ;  the  troops  were 
withdrawn  on  the  Federal  right,  and  all  the  available  artillery  were 
brought  into  play  for  the  purpose  of  shelling  the  redoubtable  enemy  in 
their  stronghold.  This  cannonading  continued  until  darkness  put  an 
end  to  the  abortive  and  bloody  contest.  But  the  loss  of  the  enemy  had 
also  been  severe  in  this  part  of  the  field.  The  brigade  of  South  Carolina 
troops,  commanded  by  General  Kershaw,  suffered  terribly.  Here  General 
Maxey  Gregg  was  mortally  wounded.  Here  the  third  regiment  of  South 
Carolina  volunteers  was  almost  annihilated.  Early  in  the  fight  its  colonel, 
lieutenant-colonel,  major,  senior  and  second  senior  captains,  were  all  slain. 
The  shattered  ranks  of  that  once  gallant  and  formidable  body  of  men 
furnished  appalling  proof  of  the  terrible  energy  and  skill  with  which  the 
Federal  troops  had  assailed  and  crushed  them.* 

The  centre  of  the  Federal  lines,  in  which  the  third  and  fifth  army  corps 
under  Hooker  were  placed,  came  into  the  action  about  noon.  These 
were  then  ordered  forward  to  storm  the  works  of  the  enemy  in  their 
front.  The  same  gallant  charges  were  here  made  in  the  face  of  the  same 
desolating  hailstorms  of  shot  and  shell,  attended  with  the  same  tempo 
rary  panics,  partial  successes,  and  final  retreats  which  characterized  the 
operations  of  the  right  wing.  At  one  time  General  Wilcox  detached 
the  division  under  General  Burns,  and  sent  it  to  the  left  of  the  centre,  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  a  junction  with  the  left  wing  under  Franklin. 
Burns  therefore  crossed  Hazel  Run  and  took  a  position  on  Deep  Eun, 
near  to  which  Franklin's  right  wing  extended.  The  object  of  this  move 
ment  was  to  support  any  operations  which  might  be  undertaken  between 
Deep  Run  and  the  corps  of  General  Couch.  But  nothing  of  the  kind 
occurred,  and  Burns'  troops  did  not  take  any  part  in  the  engagement. 
During  the  day  General  Sturgis  was  ordered  to  support  Couch  in  attack 
ing  the  Rebel  batteries  in  the  right  of  their  centre,  which  had  enfiladed 

*  The  Richmond  Despatch  of  December  16th,  1863. 


SKETCHES  OF   GENERALS  JACKSON   AND    BAYARD.          399 

the  troops  of  that  general.  Ferrero's  brigade  led  the  charge  upon  these 
works.  Sturgis  ordered  Naglee  to  assist  Ferrero,  and  he  himself  charged 
valiantly  upon  the  foe.  By  a  dashing  assault  some  of  these  troops  suc 
ceeded  in  crossing  the  intervening  space,  rushed  up  the  hills,  carried 
their  crest,  and  approached  within  eighty  feet  of  the  Rebel  intrench ments. 
But  so  fearful  was  the  discharge  from  the  guns  of  the  enemy  that  it  was 
impossible  to  advance  any  further.  The  troops  were  eventually  compelled 
to  retire  from  the  scene  of  their  heroism,  and  take  a  position  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  deadly  and  murderous  batteries  of  the  unconquerable  foe. 

Such  was  the  position  of  affairs  over  the  widespread  and  revolting 
scene  when  the  sun  descended  beneath  the  horizon  and  darkness  threw  its 
mantle  over  the  exhausted  combatants.  Of  all  the  Federal  troops  engaged 
those  under  General  Franklin  alone  had  obtained  any  advantage.  It  was 
expected  that  on  the  following  day  the  struggle  would  be  renewed.  Such 
however  was  not  the  case.  The  memorable  battle  of  Fredericksburg  had 
been  fought  and  ended.  Its  blood-stained  record  was  complete.  During 
the  night  which  followed,  both  armies  reposed  in  the  positions  which  they 
held  before  the  engagement.  A  portion  of  the  Federal  troops  occupied 
the  town,  whose  obscure  name  has  been  rendered  renowned  from  its  con 
tiguity  to  this  melancholy  and  unmerited  defeat  of  the  army  of  the  Union. 
The  fourth  attempt  of  the  Federal  generals  to  realize  the  wish  of  the 
nation  for  an  advance  upon  Richmond  had  proved  futile.  During  the 
action  the  Federal  gunboats  which  were  in  the  Rappahannock  approached 
the  scene  of  conflict  and  shelled  that  portion  of  the  works  of  the  enemy 
which  came  within  their  range ;  but  their  well  directed  fire  could  not 
materially  alter  or  avert  the  general  issue  of  the  day. 

Among  the  casualties  of  this  battle  were  the  deaths  of  Generals  Bayard 
and  Jackson,  and  the  wounding  of  Generals  Yinton,  Gibbon,  Kimball, 
Caldwell,  and  Meagher.  The  loss  of  the  two  first  named  officers  was  a 
serious  calamity. 

Conrad  F.  Jackson  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  His  military  career 
began  with  the  commencement  of  the  war.  He  then  received  the  com 
mand  of  the  ninth  regiment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  under  General 
McCall.  When  the  Federal  army  advanced  into  Virginia,  in  December, 
1861,  the  corps  to  which  the  ninth  regiment  belonged  was  posted  between 
the  Great  Falls,  the  Chain  Bridge,  Alexandria,  and  the  Leesburg  railroad. 
On  the  20th  of  December,  General  Jackson  distinguished  himself  in  the 
battle  of  Dranesville,  in  the  brigade  commanded  by  General  Ord.  Sub 
sequently  his  regiment  was  transferred  to  the  army  of  General  McDowell, 
which  was  posted  at  Fredericksburg.  In  June,  1862,  he  was  ordered  to 
join  the  force  of  McClellan  in  the  Peninsula  with  the  Reserves  under 
McCall.  He  took  part  in  the  engagement  at  Mechanicsville  and  Games' 
Mill,  as  well  as  in  the  more  important  contests  around  Richmond.  He 
fought  with  honor  under  Pope  at  Manassas,  under  McClellan  at  South 


400  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES.      , 

Mountain  and  Antietara.  When  General  Ord  was  transferred  to  the 
West,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  his  brigade,  led  them  gallantly  into 
action  at  Fredericksburg,  and  there  died  upon  the  field  of  honor. 

A  similar  fate  befell  General  George  D.  Bayard,  the  gallant  cavalry 
officer  who  had  obtained  and  merited  the  epithet  of  the  Murat  of  Burn- 
side's  army.  This  officer  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  entered  West 
Point  in  1852.  lie  graduated  in  1856,  and  was  immediatdly  after  ap 
pointed  second  lieutenant  in  the  first  United  States  cavalry.  In  August, 
1861,  he  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy,  and  took  command  of  the  first 
Pennsylvania  cavalry,  attached  to  General  McCall's  Reserves.  He  took 
part  with  that  brave  corps  in  all  the  battles  in  which  they  served  in  the 
Peninsula  and  in  Maryland.  He  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  brigadier 
general  in  June,  1862.  He  had  distinguished  himself  by  his  bold  and 
dashing  charges  upon  the  foe  in  many  a  desperate  engagement.  He  was 
extremely  chivalrous  and  gallant  in  his  deportment  as  an  officer,  and 
seemed  destined  by  nature  for  no  other  sphere  than  that  of  a  soldier.  It 
was  his  pride  and  glory  to  command  a  formidable  body  of  horse;  and 
though  only  twenty -eight  years  of  age  at  the  period  of  his  death,  he  had 
already  acquired  renown  as  one  of  the  most  brilliant,  skilful  and  daring 
cavalry  officers  in  the  armies  of  the  Union.  He  died  as  he  had  lived — 
bravely,  grandly,  nobly,  and  like  his  great  prototype  of  immortal  memory, 
"  without  fear  and  without  reproach." 

The  losses  suffered  by  the  Federal  forces  engaged  at  Fredericksburg 
were  very  heavy.  They  were  eleven  hundred  and  twenty-eight  killed, 
nine  thousand  one  hundred  and  five  wounded,  two  thousand  and  seventy- 
eight  prisoners.  The  loss  of  the  Confederates  in  killed  and  wounded  was 
about  three  thousand  five  hundred.  This  disproportion  resulted  from  the 
superior  advantages  of  position  and  protection  which  the  latter  enjoyed, 
and  from  the  vast  number  of  their  guns. 

No  fighting  of  importance  occurred  on  Sunday,  the  14th  of  December. 
The  combatants  on  both  sides  were  nearly  exhausted,  and  both  were  en 
gaged  in  the  humane  work  of  burying  the  dead  and  removing  the 
wounded.  During  the  15th  some  skirmishing  took  place  between  small 
and  detached  bodies.  It  was  expected  by  both  armies  that  on  that  day 
the  general  assault  would  be  renewed.  But  a  council  of  war  having  been 
convened  by  General  Burnside,  the  conclusion  was  arrived  at  that  a 
further  attempt  to  carry  the  works  of  the  enemy  would  only  involve  an 
enormous  sacrifice  of  life  without  any  probability  of  success.  General 
Burnside  therefore  determined  to  withdraw  his  forces  across  the  Kappa- 
hannock  to  their  first  position.  This  purpose  was  accomplished  with 
great  skill,  and  with  perfect  success,  during  the  night  of  the  15th  of  De 
cember.  Neither  men,  artillery,  nor  baggage  were  lost  during  the  opera 
tion,  nor  were  the  enemy  aware  of  what  was  transpiring  until  the  trans 
portation  was  completed.  The  reason  assigned  for  this  step  by  General 


EVENTS  AFTER  THE  BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURG.         401 

Burnside,  in  a  public  despatch  upon  the  subject,  was  the  fact  that  it  had 
become  a  military  necessity  either  to  renew  the  attack  or  to  retire  ;  and 
because  a  repulse  would  have  been  extremely  disastrous  to  the  Federal 
cause  under  existing  circumstances. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  describe  the  intensity  of  that  disappointment 
which  filled  the  public  mind  upon  the  receipt  of  the  intelligence  of  this 
defeat.  It  was  regarded  as  the  greatest  misfortune  and  disgrace  which 
had  yet  befallen  the  Federal  arms  since  the  commencement  of  the  war. 
The  chief  blame,  in  the  popular  mind,  rested  upon  the  comrnander-in- 
chief,  who  it  was  affirmed  should  not  have  undertaken  to  carry  by  assault 
a  series  of  works  which  had  been  rendered  impregnable  to  any  attack  by 
the  energy  and  skill  of  the  Confederate  generals  during  the  long  interval 
which  had  been  allowed  them  by  the  delay  of  the  pontoon  trains.  The 
Republican  members  of  the  Federal  Senate,  then  in  session,  especially  the 
more  radical  portion  of  them,  conceived  the  idea  that  a  change  should  be 
made  in  the  Cabinet,  and  in  the  policy  which  governed  the  conduct  of  the 
war,  before  such  disasters  would  be  avoided  in  future,  and  victory  be  won 
by  the  arms  of  the  Union.  These  Senators  held  several  private  meetings, 
compared  their  views  together,  and  at  length  appointed  a  committee  to 
wait  on  the  President,  in  order  to  demand  the  removal  of  Mr.  Seward,  the 
Secretary  of  State,  and  the  reconstruction  of  the  Cabinet.  Before  this 
committee  could  perform  their  functions  Mr.  Seward  received  information 
of  their  purpose,  and  instantly  sent  in  his  resignation  to  the  President,  to 
gether  with  that  of  his  son,  the  assistant  secretary.  This  action  of  the 
Kepublican  Senators  resulted  from  the  fact  that  Mr.  Seward  was  regarded 
by.  them  as  the  master-spirit,  whose  influence  was  paramount  in  the  Cabi 
net,  and  who  directed  its  whole  policy  and  movements  with  resistless 
potency.  In  the  end,  however,  the  proposed  alterations  were  not  effected. 
Mr.  Lincoln,  after  some  days  of  deliberation,  declined  to  accept  the  ten 
dered  resignations,  or  to  make  any  change  in  his  Cabinet  officers.  At  a 
still  later  period  General  Burnside  publicly  assumed  the  responsibility 
for  making  the  attack  upon  the  enemy  at  Fredericksburg,  and  affirmed 
that  all  the  blame  and  the  consequent  odium,  if  any  such  there  were,  ap 
pertained  to  him  alone.  This  declaration  was  very  honest  and  ingenuous 
on  his  part,  but  from  the  testimony  afterward  given  before  the  Com 
mittee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War  it  appeared  that  the  delay  in  the  for 
warding  of  the  pontoon  trains,  which  was  the  real  cause  of  the  disastrous 
character  of  the  battle,  was  the  fault  of  other  parties,  and  that  General 
Burnside  was  not  in  any  respect  blameworthy  for  that  delay.  On  other 
fields,  since  that  time,  General  Burnside  has  nobly  redeemed  his  reputa 
tion  from  any  charges  of  unskilful  generalship,  and  his  prompt  assump 
tion  of  the  blame  on  this  occasion,  when  most  men  would  have  shrunk 
from  it,  was  in  unison  with  the  generosity  and  manliness  a:  his  character, 
and  won  him  more  friends  than  his  misfortunes  had  lost. 
26 


402  THE  CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

On  the  28th  of  November,  a  severe  battle  was  fought  near  Boones- 
borough,  or  Cane  Hill,  in  Arkansas,  between  the  Federal  troops,  com 
manded  by  General  Blunt,  and  the  Rebels,  led  by  Generals  Marmaduke 
and  Shelby.  The  former  consisted  of  three  brigades,  with  four  batteries 
and  six  mountain  howitzers.  The  latter  numbered  eight  thousand  men. 
The  purpose  of  General  Blunt  was  to  attack  and  expel  the  enemy  from  the 
position  which  they  had  taken  in  that  vicinity,  which  contained  the  richest 
grain-growing  region  in  Arkansas;  for  if  they  were  driven  thence  they 
would  suffer  from  famine  more  severely  than  from  a  defeat  in  the  field. 
The  army  advanced  as  rapidly  as  possible  over  the  mountain  roads,  and 
at  length  reached  the  pickets  of  the  enemy.  Some  of  these  were  captured ; 
the  rest  were  driven  in.  An  attack  upon  the  foe  was  commenced  as  soon 
as  their  main  body  was  reached.  The  Federals  began  the  assault  from  a 
hill  which  overlooked  the  town  of  Boonesborough  and  the  camp  of  the 
enemy.  The  artillery  commenced  the  action.  The  Rebels  responded 
with  spirit,  but  as  soon  as  a  charge  was  made  with  the  bayonet  by  the 
first  brigade,  led  by  Colonel  Ware,  they  broke  and  fled.  The  Federals 
pursued  them  with  deafening  shouts.  A  running  fight  then  followed, 
from  one  hill  to  another,  through  one  ravine  after  another,  the  Rebels 
making  a  brief  stand  from  time  to  time,  and  then  breaking  away  again  in 
disorder.  Thus  the  pursuit  had  continued  from  ten  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing  until  night.  It  was  kept  up  over  an  area  of  mountainous  country  ten 
rniles  in  extent.  At  last,  when  night  came,  it  found  the  enemy  inclosed 
in  a  wild  deep  mountain-gorge,  in  which  they  could  not  be  attacked  with 
much  success  in  the  darkness.  The  Federal  troops  then  suspended  their 
labors.  Finding  himself  destined  to  inevitable  defeat  if  the  battle  was 
renewed,  the  Rebel  General  Marmaduke  sent  a  flag  of  truce  asking  per 
mission  to  remove  his  dead  and  wounded,  and  under  cover  of  this  escaped 
with  his  demoralized  forces  to  Yan  Buren,  where  a  considerable  force  of 
Rebels  from  other  portions  of  the  State  were  concentrating  under  General 
Hiudman. 

The  Rebels  were  greatly  chagrined  at  this  defeat,  and  resolved  to  avenge 
it,  destroy  Blunt's  little  force,  and  obtain  possession  of  the  wheat  region 
of  northwestern  Arkansas.  For  this  purpose  Ilindman  commenced  mov 
ing  forward  with  his  army  of  about  thirty  thousand  men,  on  the  2d  of 
December,  toward  Crane  Hill.  General  Blunt  was  promptly  informed 
concerning  his  movements,  and  telegraphed  at  once  to  General  Herron, 
then  at  Wilson's  creek,  Missouri,  one  hundred  and  ten  miles  distant,  to 
come  to  his  aid  by  forced  marches.  Herron  received  his  despatch  on  the 
morning  of  the  3d  of  December,  and  in  three  hours  was  on  the  road  with 
his  advance  column,  the  others  following  immediately.  The  whole  dis 
tance  was  accomplished  in  three  days,  and  Herron's  force,  consisting  of 
about  seven  thousand  men,  encountered  the  enemy  in  a  long  valley,  run 
ning  from  west  to  east,  called  Prairie  Grove,  about  ten  miles  above  Cane 


FEDERAL  VICTORY  AT  CANE  HILL,   ARKANSAS.  403 

Hill,  on  the  morning  of  December  7th.  General  Blunt,  during  three  days 
which  intervened,  had  been  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  at  points  eight, 
ten,  and  fifteen  miles  below  Cane  Hill,  endeavoring  to  prevent  them  from 
passing  up  the  mountain  road  to  the  east  of  Cane  Hill,  and  thus  intercept 
ing  Herron  before  he  could  join  him,  or  pouncing  upon  his  own  train, 
which  was  at  Rhea's  Mills,  nearly  opposite,  and  to  the  west  of  Prairie 
Grove.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th  he  found  to  his  regret  that  Hind  man 
had  succeeded  in  pushing  his  main  column  past  his  army,  and  would  be 
likely  to  attack  Herron  single-handed.  He  accordingly  pushed  north 
ward  with  all  speed  with  his  little  force  of  about  five  thousand,  saw  that 
his  trains  were  transferred  to  a  safe  place,  and  passing  through  the  valley 
of  Prairie  Grove,  attacked  Hindman  in  the  rear,  about  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon.  General  Herron's  little  force  had  fought  with  desperate  bravery 
for  five  hours,  and  were  becoming  exhausted  in  contending  against  more 
than  four  times  their  numbers;  but  the  sound  of  Blunt's  cannon,  and  the 
charges  of  his  men  upon  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  infused  new  vigor  into  their 
wearied  limbs,  and  they  rushed  with  energy  into  the  fight,  and  soon  began 
to  drive  the  enemy  before  them.  At  nightfall  the  Union  forces  occupied 
the  ground  on  which  the  enemy  had  first  formed,  and  both  parties  slept  on 
their  arms,  the  Union  troops  expecting  to  renew  the  contest  in  the  morn 
ing;  but  toward  daylight  General  Hindman  requested  an  interview  with 
General  Blunt,  and  kept  up  a  parley  for  five  hours,  meanwhile  repealing 
Marmaduke's  trick  of  withdrawing  his  troops  during  the  flag  of  truce. 
The  Union  loss  was  about  seven  hundred,  that  of  the  Rebels  over  fifteen 
hundred. 


404  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

THE  EXPEDITION  OF  GENERAL    FOSTER    FROM    NEWBERN  TO    KINGSTON  AND  GOLDSBORO COM 
MENCEMENT  OF  THE  MARCH — SKIRMISH  AT  SOUTHEAST  CREEK ITS  RESULTS THE  FEDERALS 

CONTINUE    THEIR    MARCH  TO  KINSTON BATTLE  AT    THAT    PLACE INCIDENTS  OF    THIS    EN" 

OAGEMENT ITS  RESULTS OPERATIONS  OF  THE  FEDERAL    FLEET  WHICH  ACCOMPANIED  THK 

EXI'KDITION — SKIRMISH    AT  WHITEHALL BATTLE    AT    GOLDSBORO THE    RETURN     OK     THK 

EXPEDITION — SKIRMISHING  WITH    THE    ENEMY EXPLOITS  OF    MAJOR    GARRARD  AND    FITZ- 

SIMMONS — ARRIVAL  OF   THE    EXPEDITION  AT  NEWBERN — ITS    RESULTS FEDERAL    LOSSES 

SKETCH  OF    GENERAL    FOSTER CAPTURE    OF  HOLLY    SPRINGS BATTLE  OF  DAVIS*  MILLS  IN 

MISSISSIPPI — HEROISM  OF  COLONEL  MORGAN DEFEAT  AT  VAN  DORN POSITION  OF  AFFAIRS 

TOWARD  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  YEAR  1862 PRESIDENT  LINCOLN'S  EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMA 
TION ITS  PROVISIONS — FEELINGS  WITH  WHICH  IT  WAS  REGARDED  BY  DIFFERENT  CLASSES 

OF  THE  COMMUNITY ITS  INFLUENCE  UPON  THE  FUTURE  EVENTS  OF  THE  WAR. 

AT  the  time  that  the  cause  of  the  Union  was  receiving  a  calamitous  blow 
at  Fredericksburg,  the  general  gloom  was  somewhat  mitigated  by  the  intel 
ligence  of  a  successful  movement  of  General  J.  G.  Foster  from  Newbern 
into  the  interior  of  North  Carolina.  The  expedition  organized  by  that 
officer  started  from  Newbern  on  the  morning  of  the  llth  of  December, 
1862.  Its  object  was  the  capture  of  Kinston,  Whitehall,  and  Goldsboro, 
and  the  severance  of  some  of  the  railroad  lines  which  connected  Richmond 
with  various  portions  of  the  Confederate  States.  Preparations  for  this 
undertaking  had  been  progressing  with  energy  for  some  time.  The  forces 
detailed  to  this  service  consisted  of  the  ninth  New  Jersey,  which  was 
placed  in  the  extreme  advance,  the  brigade  commanded  by  General 
Wessel,  with  those  of  Generals  Peck,  Avery,  Lee,  and  Stevenson.  The 
majority  of  these  troops  were  from  Massachusetts.  They  were  accom 
panied  by  the  third  New  York  artillery,  the  Belger  battery,  the  first  Rhode 
Island  artillery,  commanded  by  Colonel  Ledlie,  and  the  third  New  York 
cavalry,  led  by  Colonel  Mix. 

Having  left  Newbern,  the  expedition  marched  up  the  Trent  road  about 
ten  miles,  where  it  halted.  At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  pickets 
of  the  enemy  were  first  encountered,  and  three  of  them  were  captured. 
The  march  had  been  already  rendered  difficult  from  the  fact  that  the  road 
had  been  obstructed  by  felled  trees  and  by  other  impediments.  It  was 
necessary  that  these  should  be  removed  before  the  advance  could  be  con 
tinued.  This  work  was  accomplished  during  the  ensuing  night,  and  the 
ninth  New  Jersey  infantry  then  proceeded  until  within  three  miles  of 
Trenton.  On  Friday  morning,  the  12th,  the  march  of  the  main  body  was 
resumed.  During  this  day  they  encountered  a  body  of  Rebel  cavalry,  and 
nn  ambush  of  their  infantry.  A  portion  of  the  third  New  York  cavalry 


SKIRMISH   AT  SOUTHEAST  CREEK.  405 

charged  upon  them,  driving  them  from  their  position,  and  taking  a  few  of 
them  prisoners.  Additional  skirmishing  took  place  during  the  day  with 
out  any  very  important  result.  On  Friday  night  the  column  halted,  and 
it  being  evident  that  the  forces  of  the  enemy  were  posted  in  the  vicinity 
in  considerable  strength,  they  encamped  in  line  of  battle.  No  fires  were 
allowed  to  be  kindled,  and  no  noise  of  any  kind  was  permitted.  Early 
the  next  morning  the  march  was  resumed  toward  Kinston  at  a  slow  and 
cautious  pace.  At  eleven  o'clock  they  reached  a  point  about  seven  miles 
from  Kinston,  where  the  Whitehall  and  Kinston  roads  unite.  It  was  ex 
pected  that  the  enemy  would  concentrate  their  forces  there,  and  that  it 
would  become  the  scene  of  a  desperate  combat.  The  Federal  troops  were 
formed  in  line  of  battle  in  an  open  area  on  the  left  of  the  road  to  Whitehall, 
and  in  front  of  a  wood  in  which  it  was  suspected  the  enemy  had  concealed 
themselves.  At  nine  o'clock  a  company  of  the  third  New  York  cavalry 
encountered  a  part  of  the  Rebel  troops  at  a  spot  called  Southeast  Creek. 
Here  the  latter  had  thrown  a  breastwork  across  the  road,  and  had  posted 
several  guns  behind  it.  In  front  of  this  position  there  was  a  bridge,  which 
the  enemy  had  partially  destroyed,  so  that  it  was  not  passable.  They 
opened  with  their  guns  upon  the  Federals  before  them.  These  responded 
with  their  carbines.  Soon  afterward  a  section  of  the  third  New  York 
artillery,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Day,  arrived,  and  commenced  to  fire 
upon  the  enemy  with  good  effect.  At  ten  o'clock  the  ninth  New  Jersey, 
together  with  Morrison's  battery,  were  brought  forward  and  placed  in 
action.  The  latter  took  a  position  on  a  hill  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
from  the  battery  of  the  Rebels,  and  commenced  to  shell  them.  A  spirited 
cannonading  from  both  sides  then  ensued,  which  lasted  nearly  an  hour. 
The  enemy  then  began  to  retire.  As  they  did  so  the  ninth  New  Jersey 
were  deployed  as  skirmishers  to  the  left  of  the  road,  crossed  the  stream 
on  a  mill-dam,  attacked  the  Rebel  battery  on  the  flank,  and  captured  one 
of  the  guns — a  rifled  six  pounder — together  with  several  prisoners.  The 
enemy  left  six  killed  and  wounded  behind  them.  The  stars  and  stripes 
were  instantly  unfurled  from  the  Rebel  works,  and  cheers  arose  from  the 
whole  Union  force. 

Three  hours  were  then  consumed  in  repairing  the  bridge  for  the  transfer 
of  the  troops  and  the  artillery.  The  column  then  passed  over  it  and  pro 
ceeded  toward  Kiuston.  When  four  miles  distant  from  that  place  they 
halted  and  encamped  for  the  night  in  line  of  battle,  strong  pickets  being 
posted  in  all  directions.  Just  before  making  this  point,  they  again  en 
countered  a  portion  of  the  enemy  with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  stationed 
behind  a  wood.  A  brilliant  charge  by  the  third  New  York  cavalry  soon 
expelled  them  from  that  position,  and  thus  ended  the  operations  of  the 
L8th* 

*  "  On  Saturday  morning  Company  K,  Captain  Cole,  third  New  York  cavalry,  took 


406  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  Federal  column,  with  the  cavalry  under  Mix,  and  Wessel's  brigade 
in  the  advance,  commenced  to  move  cautiously  at  daybreak  on  the  morn 
ing  of  Sunday,  the  14th.  After  proceeding  two  miles  they  drove  in  the 
pickets  of  the  enemy.  A  mile  further  on,  they  met  their  main  body  near 
Kinston.  They  numbered  six  thousand  men,  and  were  commanded  by 
General  Evans,  the  Rebel  hero  of  Ball's  Bluff.  His  troops  consisted  of 
three  regiments  of  South  Carolina  infantry,  together  with  a  large  body  of 
cavalry  and  artillery  from  North  Carolina.  General  Foster  immediately 
made  his  dispositions  for  the  engagement.  The  enemy  were  drawn  up  in 
line  of  battle  on  a  ground  which  was  partially  covered  with  woods  and  a 
dense  undergrowth.  Their  artillery  was  posted  in  the  centre  and  on  their 
flanks.  They  presented  a  form  somewhat  similar  to  a  triangle,  the  base 
of  which  faced  toward  the  Federals.  The  latter  were  posted  as  follows  : 
In  the  first  line  the  ninth  New  Jersey  was  placed  on  the  right,  with 
Wessel's  brigade  in  the  centre  and  on  the  left.  In  the  second  line,  the 
twenty-third  and  forty-fourth  Massachusetts  were  posted,  while  the  forty- 
fifth  Massachusetts,  the  troops  of  Emory's  brigade,  together  with  those  of 
Stevenson  and  Lee,  were  held  as  reserves.  The  artillery  were  distributed 
at  intervals  .along  the  right,  the  left,  and  the  centre  of  the  line. 

The  engagement  began  at  half-past  ten.  The  artillery  opened  the  com 
bat  with  energy  on  both  sides,  and  continued  without  intermission  till  the 
termination  of  the  battle.  Soon  after  the  commencement  of  this  artillery 
duel  the  infantry  came  into  action.  The  enemy  fought  bravely,  and  were 
as  bravely  assailed.  During  the  progress  of  the  battle  a  flank  move 
ment  was  made  by  the  troops  of  General  Wessel  upon  a  battery  of  the 
enemy  on  the  left.  Another  portion  of  the  Federals  moved  to  the  right, 
and  obtained  a  position  in  an  open  field  in  that  direction,  which  enabled 
them  to  play  upon  the  line  of  the  enemy  with  great  effect.  At  length  the 
ninth  New  Jersey,  after  a  furious  struggle  with  the  foe,  in  which  both 
sides  lost  heavily,  obtained  a  position  near  the  bridge,  which  was  the  key 
and  centre  of  the  line  of  the  enemy.  In  this  achievement  they  were  ably 

the  advance,  and  while  moving  forward  captured  two  prisoners,  belonging  to  Nether- 
cote's  battalion,  who  gave  some  valuable  information.  Proceeded  thence  to  Southwest 
creek,  about  five  miles  from  Kinston.  On  Captain  Cole's  approach,  the  enemy  were 
found  engaged  in  endeavoring  to  destroy  the  bridge  over  the  creek.  Captain  Cole  dis 
mounted  a  platoon  arid  fired  a  volley  upon  the  enemy  while  they  were  at  work.  The 
enemy  then  retreated,  but  soon  after  fired  from  a  battery  of  two  six  pounder  howitzers 
upon  our  advance,  wounding  one  man — a  private,  named  John  Costello — who  was 
shot  through  the  head.  Colonel  Hickman,  of  the  ninth  New  Jersey,  (the  advance 
guard  of  the  infantry.)  here  came  forward  and  ordered  the  ninth  to  deploy  as  skir 
miahen.  This  order  was  quickly  executed,  and  had  the  effect  of  partly  dispersing  the 
enemy,  and  Schenck's  third  New  York  battery  coming  up  fired  about  a  dozen  shells, 
driving  the  enemy  entirely  away.  On  the  ninth  New  Jersey  crossing  the  bridge,  four 
of  the  enemy  were  found  dead,  the  wounded  being  carried  on  with  the  retreating 
enemy.  The  ninth  succeeded  in  capturing  one  of  their  howitzers,  which  was  brought 
as  a  trophy  into  Newborn."— Special  Correspondent  of  the  New  York  Herald. 


THE   BATTLE  NEAR   KINSTON,  NORTH    CAROLINA.  407 

supported  by  the  seventeenth  Massachusetts.  It  was  soon  discovered  that 
the  Rebels  had  erected  an  intrenchment  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Neuse, 
nearly  two  hundred  feet  in  length,  which  completely  commanded  all  the 
approaches  to  the  bridge.  To  capture  this  fortification  a  combined  move 
ment  now  became  necessary.  The  forty-fifth  and  twenty-third  Massa 
chusetts  were  ordered  forward  on  the  right  to  execute  a  flank  movement 
in  that  direction.  The  third  New  York  cavalry  and  some  light  artillery 
were  posted  on  the  left.  Another  diversion  was  made  with  a  detachment 
of  cavalry,  infantry,  and  artillery,  under  Major  Garrard,  upon  the  centre. 

This  result  of  this  combination  was  decisive.  After  a  contest  of  more 
than  three  hours  the  Rebels  were  compelled  to  evacuate  their  works  and 
retreat.  As  they  did  so  they  fired  the  bridge  over  the  Neuse  in  several 
places.  But  the  energy  of  the  Federals,  led  on  by  the  provost  marshal, 
Major  Franklin,  baffled  and  defeated  their  purpose.  They  succeeded 
in  extinguishing  the  fires  before  any  material  damage  had  been  effected. 
The  Federal  troops  in  the  advance  immediately  crossed  the  bridge,  and  as 
they  did  so  the  last  of  the  Rebel  forces  evacuated  Kinston.  The  tenth 
Connecticut  chased  their  rear-guard  as  they  were  clearing  the  opposite  out 
skirts  of  the  town.  They  had  fired  the  railroad  depot  and  other  buildings, 
some  of  which  were  ultimately  saved  through  the  exertions  of  the  provost 
marshal. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  this  battle  was  two  hundred  and  fifty  killed 
and  wounded,  several  hundred  prisoners,  one  thousand  rounds  of  heavy 
ammunition,  eleven  pieces  of  artillery,  and  five  hundred  stand  of  arms. 
The  Federal  loss  was  about  two  hundred  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 
After  the  close  of  the  battle  General  Foster  despatched  a  flag  of  truce 
after  the  retreating  Confederate  general,  demanding  the  surrender  of  his 
forces.  The  latter  were  then  hurrying  along  the  main  road  and  through 
various  by-ways  toward  Goldsboro  and  Snow  Hill.  General  Evans  re 
fused  to  comply  with  this  requisition,  but  sent  a  flag  of  truce  in  turn, 
requesting  that  an  interval  might  be  allowed  for  the  removal  of  the  women 
and  children  from  Kinston,  as  he  had  determined  to  resume  the  combat  at 
that  place  with  his  artillery.  This  reasonable  request  was  granted.  A 
period  of  several  hours  was  allowed,  and  elapsed  without  further  hostile 
operations.  At  its  termination  it  was  ascertained  that  this  plea  of  hu 
manity  was  a  mere  imposition,  and  that  the  Rebel  troops  had  in  the  mean 
time  made  good  their  escape  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Federal  forces. 
After  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  the  troops  encamped  for  the  night  in  and 
near  Kinston.  One  of  the  chief  casualties  of  this  engagement  was  the 
death  of  Colonel  Gray  of  the  ninety-sixth  New  York  volunteers.  The 
Federal  gunboats,  which  had  been  sent  to  assist  this  expedition,  were  the 
Delaware,  Seymour,  and  Shawsheen,  commanded  by  Captain  Murray. 
The  steamboats  were  the  Ocean  Wave,  Allison,  North  State,  Port  Royal, 
and  Wilson,  under  the  orders  of  Colonel  Manchester.  The  gunboats 


408  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

were  unable  to  proceed  further  than  fifteen  miles,  and  took  no  part  in  the 
action.  But  the  steamboats  which  conveyed  the  marines  under  Colonel 
Manchester  reached  the  scene  of  conflict.  As  these  proceeded  up  the  stream 
they  were  occasionally  fired  on  from  the  shore.  When  several  miles  from 
Kinston  they  were  assailed  by  an  eleven-gun  battery,  which  opened  on 
the  Allison,  which  led  the  van  of  the  flotilla,  as  she  rounded  a  point  of 
land  and  suddenly  came  in  presence  of  one  of  the  Kebel  fortifications,  not 
twelve  hundred  yards  distant.  Before  she  could  retire  from  this  danger 
ous  position  she  was  repeatedly  struck  with  shot  and  shell;  and  although 
she  returned  the  fire  with  her  forward  thirty  pound  Parrott  gun,  she  was 
materially  damaged.  The  top  of  her  pilot-house  was  torn  off,  her  smoke 
stack  was  pierced  by  a  shell,  and  her  steam  safety-pipe  was  cut  away. 
She  eventually  backed  down  the  stream,  the  channel  being  too  narrow  for 
her  to  turn  around,  and  reached  a  point  of  safety  beyond  the  reach  of  the 
Kebel  batteries.  On  the  14th,  the  steamboats  continued  to  descend  the 
stream,  inasmuch  as  the  water  had  fallen  fifteen  inches  during  the  pre 
ceding  night,  and  threatened  by  a  further  reduction  to  prevent  their  re 
turn  altogether  ifHhey  delayed  much  longer.  During  their  passage  they 
were  assailed  by  guerrillas  from  the  shore.  It  was  an  incident  worthy  of 
notice  that  the  bullets  which  struck  the  vessels  were  found,  upon  exami 
nation,  to  have  been  steeped  in  verdigris,  or  had  copper  wire  attached  to 
them,  for  the  purpose  of  poisoning  the  wounds  which  they  inflicted,  and 
rendering  them  incurable  and  mortal. 

During  the  15th,  the  expedition  continued  its  advance  toward  Golds- 
boro.  It  left  Kinston  early  in  the  morning,  and  marched  seventeen 
miles  through  an  impoverished  and  hilly  country  until  nightfall,  without 
coming  in  contact  with  the  enemy.  As  soon  as  the  camp  was  chosen, 
Major  Garrard  was  sent  with  a  portion  of  the  third  New  York  cavalry  and 
a  section  of  the  third  New  York  artillery,  to  proceed  four  miles  to  a 
village  on  the  banks  of  the  Neuse,  named  Whitehall,  for  the  purpose  of 
making  a  reconnoissance.  At  that  place  they  found  a  Eebel  gunboat 
nearly  completed,  and  a  detachment  of  the  enemy  posted  to  protect  it. 
A  skirmish  ensued  between  the  troops  without  any  very  decisive  result 
to  either  party.  But  the  gunboat  was  battered  to  pieces  with  shot  and 
shell.  After  this  exploit  the  Federals  returned  without  further  incident 
to  their  camp.  On  the  16th  the  main  column  under  General  Foster  con 
tinued  its  march  toward  Whitehall.  The  enemy  were  now  concentrated 
there  in  stronger  force  than  before,  and  disputed  the  passage  of  the 
troops.  An  engagement  of  several  hours'  duration  ensued.  The  Rebels 
succeeded  in  destroying  the  bridge  which  here  crossed  the  Neuse,  as  if 
to  stop  the  further  advance  of  the  Federals  in  that  direction.  But  such 
was  not  their  intended  line  of  march.  General  Foster  deceived  the 
enemy  by  making  several  feints,  one  of  which  was  an  attempt  to  rebuild 
the  bridge.  The  Federal  artillery  under  Colonel  Ledlie  drove  the  Rebels 


THE  BATTLE  AT  GOLDSBORO.  409 

from  their  position  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream.  But  while  they 
were  occupied  by  these  simulated  operations  several  important  reconnois- 
sances  were  in  progress  by  the  Federals  unobserved  by  the  main  body 
of  the  foe.  Major  Garrard  was  sent  with  a  detachment  twenty  miles  off, 
to  Mount  Olive  station,  on  the  Wilmington  and  Goldsboro  railroad. 
He  there  surprised  a  train  about  to  start,  captured  the  mail  bags,  de 
stroyed  the  telegraph  and  the  railroad  track  for  some  distance,  and  burnt 
a  bridge  and  tressel-work.  At  the  same  time  Captain  Jacobs  was 
despatched  toward  Goldsboro  to  destroy  the  railroad  track,  several 
culverts,  and  a  bridge.  This  purpose  was  successfully  accomplished,  after 
which  the  troops  returned  to  the  main  column. 

On  the  morning  of  the  17th  the  march  of  the  entire  force  toward 
Goldsboro  was  resumed.  Their  route  lay  through  an  open  country ;  on 
their  right  flowed  the  river  Neuse,  on  their  left  was  a  long  stretch  of 
woods.  Having  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  Goldsboro  bridge,  it  was 
soon  evident  that  the  enemy  had  been  reinforced,  and  were  prepared  to 
dispute  the  further  progress  of  the  Federal  troops.  Their  first  position 
was  on  the  near  side  of  the  river,  and  close  to  the  railroad  bridge.  They 
withdrew  to  the  other  side,  however,  after  a  short  interchange  of  cannon 
ading.  Then  followed  the  chief  struggle  for  the  possession  of  the  bridge 
and  for  the  mastery  of  the  position.  Colonel  Ledlie's  battery  commenced 
to  assail  the  enemy  with  great  energy.  The  ninth  New  Jersey  supported 
him  with  spirit.  The  seventeenth  Massachusets,  under  Colonel  Fellows, 
moving  toward  the  left,  crossed  a  mill  stream,  and  advanced  on  the  rail 
road  directly  in  front  of  the  enemy.  In  this  operation  several  men  were 
drowned  by  the  sudden  opening  of  the  flood-gates  of  the  dam.  The  chief 
aim  of  the  enemy  was  to  protect  this  railroad  bridge.  The  express  pur 
pose  of  General  Foster  in  advancing  thus  far  into  the  interior  of  the 
country  was  to  destroy  it.  The  contest,  therefore,  centred  around  this 
structure.  To  Colonel  Hickman  was  assigned  the  duty  of  setting  fire  to 
it.  That  officer  called  for  volunteers  to  assist  him  in  performing  this 
task.  A  crowd  of  brave  men  instantly  rushed  forward  from  the  seven 
teenth  Massachusetts  and  ninth  New  Jersey,  ready  to  devote  themselves 
to  the  dangerous  task.  Lieutenant  Graham,  of  the  Rocket  battery,  was 
the  first  tc  apply  the  torch.  Soon  the  bridge  was  in  flames,  notwith 
standing  the  determined  opposition  of  the  enemy.  The  ruin  was  com 
pleted  by  the  destruction  of  the  adjacent  railroad  track,  the  ties  and  rails 
of  which  were  so  effectually  injured  as  to  be  rendered  wholly  useless  for 
several  miles.  This  achievement  was  accomplished  while  a  desperate 
resistance  was  kept  up  by  the  enemy,  and  a  spirited  engagement  was  going 
forward  between  the  two  hostile  forces. 

And  now,  the  purposes  of  the  expedition  having  all  been  attained, 
General  Foster  commenced  his  return  toward  Newbern.  No  sooner  did 
the  Rebels  discover  this  retrograde  movement  than  they  advanced  more 


410  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

bravely  to  the  charge.  The  Federal  supply  train  being  placed  in  front, 
the  enemy  were  received  with  a  deadly  salute,  which  greatly  checked  their 
ardor.  Two  South  Carolina  regiments,  which  undertook  to  make  a  charge 
with  the  bayonet  on  Morrison's  battery,  were  repulsed  with  immense 
losses,  for  they  were  assailed  at  the  same  moment  by  the  guns  of  Morri 
son,  by  Belger's  battery,  which  put  in  a  destructive  cross  fire,  and  by 
Lee's  brigade,  which  attacked  them  in  front.  The  rapidity  with  which 
they  retired  much  exceeded  the  velocity  with  which  they  advanced.  Two 
hours  were  occupied  in  this  combat.  After  its  termination  the  march 
was  resumed.  During  its  progress  other  exploits  were  performed  by 
the  invading  forces.  Major  Fitzsimmons,  with  a  portion  of  the  third  New 
York  cavalry,  made  an  excursion  to  Dudley  station,  five  miles  from  the 
Goldsboro  railroad  bridge,  and  captured  a  train  of  four  cars,  tore  up 
the  track  for  three  miles,  burned  a  bridge  and  some  tressel  work,  and  de 
stroyed  the  telegraph  line.  Major  Garrard  proceeded  in  another  direc 
tion  to  Tompkins'  bridge,  over  the  Neuse  river.  He  found  the  structure 
already  in  flames,  and  surrounded  by  a  detachment  of  the  enemy,  con 
sisting  of  four  regiments  of  infantry  and  eight  guns.  After  a  combat  of 
several  hours  the  enemy  broke  and  fled,  leaving  the  Federals  in  posses 
sion  of  the  scene  of  conflict.  After  its  termination  the  troops  under 
Garrard  rejoined  the  main  body. 

The  expedition  reached  Newbern  on  the  20th  without  any  further  in 
cident  worthy  of  narration.  It  had  proved  a  complete  success,  notwith 
standing  the  fact  that  General  Evans,  who  had  vainly  resisted  and  har 
assed  it  during  its  advance  and  return,  published  an  official  report  which 
indicated  the  contrary,  but  which  clearly  proved  that  he  had  permitted 
his  imagination  to  embellish  his  narrative  at  the  expense  of  his  veracity 
and  accuracy.  Nevertheless,  the  Federal  successes  had  not  been  obtained 
without  considerable  losses.  In  the  four  combats  at  Southeast  creek, 
Kinston,  Whitehall,  and  Goldsboro,  there  were  ninety  killed,  three  hun 
dred  and  fifty-four  wounded.  The  losses  of  the  enemy  could  not  be 
ascertained,  bat  they  were  evidently  heavy,  from  the  results  of  the  several 
engagements  which  occurred. 

General  John  G.  Foster,  the  commander  of  this  successful  expedition, 
was  born  in  Whitefield,  New  Hampshire,  in  1823.  He  entered  West  Point 
in  1842,  where  he  graduated  with  honor  in  1846.  He  had  exhibited  a 
fondness  for  the  profession  of  arms  from  his  youth.  After  concluding 
his  studies  at  West  Point,  he  immediately  received  the  rank  of  brevet 
second  lieutenant  of  engineers.  In  January,  1847,  he  was  ordered  to 
Mexico  in  the  army  of  General  Scott,  as  lieutenant  in  a  company  of  sappers 
and  miners.  He  was  present  in  all  the  engagements  which  took  place 
in  the  march  from  Yera  Cruz  to  Molino  del  Key.  In  the  latter  action  he 
was  severely  wounded  while  leading  a  division  of  the  storming  party  in 
the  assault  which  was  made  on  the  Casa  Mata,  in  which  two  thirds  of  the 


BATTLE   AT  DA  VIS'S  MILLS,  MISSISSIPPI.  4H 

entire  command  were  destroyed.  He  subsequently  received  three  brevets 
for  his  gallant  conduct  in  Mexico.  The  first  was  at  Contreras,  the  second 
at  Churubusco,  the  last  at  Molino  del  Key,  where  he  obtained  the  rank 
of  captain.  After  recovering  partially  from  his  wound  he  was  ordered, 
in  1859,  to  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  as  engineer,  to  repair  and  com 
plete  the  Federal  forts  in  the  vicinity  of  that  harbor.  After  the  surrender 
of  'Fort  Sumter  by  Major  Anderson,  he  tendered  his  services  to  the 
Federal  Government.  They  were  accepted,  and  he  was  at  first  employed 
in  superintending  the  construction  of  the  great  fort  at  Sandy  Hook.  He 
was  soon  after  ordered  into  active  service  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
with  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  of  volunteers.  When  General  Burn- 
side  organized  his  expedition  to  Roanoke  island,  he  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  one  of  its  divisions,  and  contributed  greatly  to  the  success  which 
attended  the  expedition.  He  subsequently  distinguished  himself  both  at 
Newbern  and  at  Fort  Macon.  "When  Burnside  was  transferred  to  the 
army  under  McClellan,  General  Foster  was  placed  in  command  of  all  the 
Federal  'forces  remaining  in  North  Carolina.  The  expedition  to  Golds- 
boro,  by  its  uniform  success,  added  to  his  already  well  deserved  and  very 
considerable  renown. 

A  spirited  contest  took  place  at  Davis's  mills,  Mississippi,  on  the  21st 
of  December,  in  which  Colonel  W.  H.  Morgan,  of  the  twenty-fifth  Indiana 
regiment,  with  a  small  body  of  troops,  attacked  and  routed  a  much  larger 
force  under  Yan  Dorn.  This  place  is  about  twenty  miles  north  of  Holly 
Springs,  and  is  situated  on  a  narrow  and  deep  stream  called  Wolf  river. 
Several  bridges  here  crossed  it.  Yan  Dorn  had  captured  fifteen  hundred 
Federal  troops,  and  destroyed  a  large  amount  of  government  stores  at 
Holly  Springs  a  short  time  previous  ;  and  information  had  reached  Colonel 
Morgan  that  the  Rebel  general  was  then  marching  northward  to  attack 
him  at  Davis's  mills.  Morgan  determined  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the 
foe  at  one  of  the  bridges,  and  to  oppose  their  advance  from  two  favorable 
points,  the  saw-mill  and  the  Indian  mound.  The  mound  was  quickly  con 
verted  into  a  block-house  by  the  use  of  several  rows  of  cotton-bales,  which 
were  placed  at  the  ends,  while  the  intervening  sides  were  protected  by 
thick  walls  of  bridge  timber.  A  breastwork  of  earth,  three  feet  in  height, 
was  also  thrown  up  around  the  base  of  the  mound.  This  fort  and  the 
mill  were  then  provided  with  ammunition  and  stores  sufficient  to  stand  an 
assault  of  twenty-four  hours ;  and  a  portion  of  the  twenty-fifth  Indiana, 
with  some  dismounted  cavalrymen,  were  placed  in  the  saw-mill.  The 
remainder  of  the  troops  occupied  the  block-house.  The  former  was  termed 
Fort  Morgan,  the  latter  was  named  the  Redan. 

About  mid-day  the  expected  force  of  the  enemy  arrived  in  the  vicinity 
of  Davis's  mills.  They  drove  in  the  Federal  pickets,  then  dismounted  and 
formed  in  line  of  battle.  They  advanced  rapidly  toward  the  works  with 
colors  flying,  and  making  the  air  resound  with  their  exulting  shouts. 


412  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

They  rapidly  approached  one  of  the  bridges.  The  Federals  reserved  their 
fire  until  the  enemy  were  well  within  range.  They  then  poured  several 
vollies  successively,  and  with  immense  effect,  into  the  crowded  masses 
before  them.  The  enemy  were  evidently  taken  by  surprise,  and  the  utmost 
confusion  followed.  Many  were  slain  upon  the  bridge,  and  many  fell  into 
the  stream.  In  a  short  time,  however,  they  recovered  from  their  astonish 
ment,  and  rushed  forward  to  attack  the  forts ;  but  before  they  could  reach 
them  another  volley  was  fired  from  each,  inflicting  still  greater  and  heavier 
losses.  Soon  they  spread  themselves  along  the  banks  of  the  river  and 
behind  the  breastwork  of  the  dam,  and  commenced  to  attack  the  works 
from  their  shelter.  Subsequently  they  made  additional  attempts  to  cross 
the  bridges,  but  they  were  fruitless.  On  each  advance  they  were  received 
with  such  a  shower  of  bullets  as  compelled  them  to  retire.  Thus  the 
contest  continued  until  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  They  then  attempted 
to  cross  the  stream  half  a  mile  further  down,  where  a  bridge  had  formerly 
existed,  but  had  been  destroyed  by  the  orders  of  Colonel  Morgan.  At 
this  point  they  were  repulsed  by  a  portion  of  the  fifth  Ohio  cavalry, 
under  Lieutenant  Slade,  who  opposed  their  passage  with  great  heroism. 
Seeing  that  a  further  prosecution  of  the  attempt  to  cross  the  stream  at 
either  point  would  only  entail  heavy  losses  upon  him,  Van  Dorn  at  length 
concluded  that  it  would  be  more  prudent  to  retire.  He  then  proceeded 
ten  miles  west  of  Lagrange,  where  he  crossed  the  Wolf  river,  advanced 
toward  Bolivar,  passed  through  the  Federal  lines  at  Middleburg,  and  made 
his  escape.  His  loss  at  Davis's  mills  was  twenty  dead,  and  thirty  severely 
wounded,  whom  he  left  behind  him  in  his  flight. 

The  circumstances  under  which  the  Confederates  had  previously  ob 
tained  possession  of  Holly  Springs  on  the  19th  of  December,  were 
peculiar.  The  Federal  troops  had  occupied  it  about  a  month  ;  but  most 
of  them  had  been  gradually  withdrawn,  so  that  when  a  Rebel  force  under 
General  Forrest  approached  it  became  an  easy  capture.  They  entered  the 
town  at  dawn  of  day,  and  found  the  Federals  asleep,  and  wholly  unsus 
picious  of  an  attack.  They  were  quickly  overpowered.  Then  com 
menced  the  work  of  plunder  and  destruction.  Five  hundred  thousand 
dollars'  worth  of  goods,  consisting  chiefly  of  army  clothing,  was  taken  or 
destroyed,  together  with  a  vast  quantity  of  cotton,  which  was  consigned 
to  the  flames.  After  this  achievement,  Forrest,  whose  force  numbered 
six  thousand  well  mounted  cavalry,  proceeded  to  cross  the  Tennessee  river 
at  Clifton,  and  advanced  toward  Jackson.  His  purpose  now  was  to  get 
possession  of  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad,  by  which  the  supplies  for 
General  Grant's  army  were  procured.  He  hastened  on  toward  Jackson. 
At  Lexington,  on  his  way  thither,  he  encountered  Colonel  Ingersoll,  in 
command  of  about  twelve  hundred  men.  A  brisk  engagement  ensued,  in 
which  Forrest  held  the  advantage,  capturing  two  guns,  some  prisoners, 
and  driving  back  the  Federals  to  Jackson,  and  eventually  to  Trenton. 


THE   EMANCIPATION   PROCLAMATION.  413 

This  latter  post  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Jacob  Fry,  of  the  sixty -first 
Illinois.  His  force  was  feeble,  and  wholly  unable  to  cope  with  so  large  a 
body  of  troops  as  that  commanded  by  Forrest.  He  concentrated  his  men 
in  the  railroad  depot,  which  he  had  fortified  by  surrounding  it  with  bales 
of  cotton,  and  made  a  desperate  resistance  ;  but  again  the  vast  superiority 
in  numbers  possessed  by  the  enemy  compelled  him,  in  the  end,  to  sur 
render.  His  men  were  captured  and  paroled.  Forrest  then  proceeded  as 
far  as  a  point  twelve  miles  distant  from  Columbus,  destroying  as  he  went 
the  railroad,  its  buildings,  its  bridges,  and  its  track.  By  this  achievement 
he  cut  off  for  the  time  being  the  avenue  of  supplies  to  the  army  of  Gen 
eral  Grant,  compelled  him  to  make  new  dispositions  of  his  troops,  and 
effected  no  inconsiderable  damage  to  the  Union  cause  in  that  region,  of 
country. 

With  events  and  contests  such  as  these  the  end  of  the  memorable  year 
1862  approached.  During  its  progress  two  great  and  powerful  communi 
ties  had  been  engaged  in  mortal  conflict,  with  indomitable  resolution  and 
perseverance.  The  tide  of  victory  had  been  variable  and  fluctuating. 
On  both  sides,  remarkable  energy,  skill  and  heroism  had  been  exhibited. 
Armies  of  colossal  proportions  had  been  brought  into  the  field  and  sus 
tained,  which  exceeded  in  magnitude  and  efficiency  the  most  numerous 
and  formidable  forces  which  the  nations  of  Europe  had  ever  produced. 
Yet  the  result  remained  undecided.  The  final  issue  of  the  conflict  seemed 
as  uncertain  as  it  had  been  at  any  previous  period  of  the  contest.  The 
great  disaster  to  the  Federal  arms  at  Fredericksburg  cheered  and  re 
freshed  the  inhabitants  of  the  Confederate  States  with  unaccustomed  joy, 
while  it  cast  an  unwonted  shadow  of  gloom  over  the  loyal  millions  who 
had  already  done  and  suffered  so  much  to  restore  the  once  glorious  Fed 
eral  Union. 

Under  such  auspices  the  old  year  closed.  On  the  first  of  January,  1863, 
President  Lincoln  introduced  a  novel  feature  into  the  struggle,  which  at 
once  attracted  the  attention  of  the  whole  community,  both  in  the  north 
and  in  the  south.  In  accordance  with  the  proclamation  which  he  had 
issued  on  the  22d  of  September,  1862,*  in  which  he  had  declared  that 
all  persons  held  as  slaves  within  any  State  or  part  of  a  State  which  should 
be  in  Rebellion  against  the  Federal  Government  on  the  first  of  January, 
1863,  should  thenceforth  become  forever  free,  and  that  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment  and  all  its  agents  should  thenceforth  assist  all  such  persons,  in 
all  lawful  ways,  to  assert  and  maintain  their  freedom — and  whereas  the 
Executive  had  promised  in  the  said  proclamation  of  the  22d  of  Septem 
ber,  1862,  to  designate  the  States  and  parts  of  States  which  should  be  in 
euch  a  position  of  resistance  to  the  authority  of  the  Federal  Government 
on  the  1st  of  January,  1863 — therefore  he  proceeded  to  designate,  in  this 

*  See  both  proclamations  in  the  Appendix. 


411 


THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 


last  proclamation,  the  localities  which  should  be  thenceforth  subject  to 
the  operation  of  this  law.*  Having  specified  these,  he  proceeded  to  decree, 
by  virtue  of  the  authority  vested  in  him,  that  all  persons  then  held  as 
slaves  within  the  designated  States  and  parts  of  States  should,  from  and 
after  the  1st  of  January,  1863,  be  and  remain  forever  free ;  and  that  tho 
Executive  Government  of  the  United  States,  including  both  its  military 
and  naval  authorities  should  recognize  and  maintain  the  freedom  of  all 
such  persons. 

In  this  same  proclamation  the  President  enjoined  upon  the  persons 
thus  enfranchised  to  abstain  from  all  violence  except  such  as  might  be 
absolutely  necessary  to  their  self-defence,  and  to  labor  with  industry  and 
faithfulness  for  reasonable  wages.  He  also  announced  that  freedmen  of 
suitable  condition  would  thenceforth  be  received  into  the  armed  service 
of  the  United  States,  to  garrison  forts  and  other  warlike  stations,  and  to 
man  vessels  in  the  naval  service.  On  this  solemn  and  important  yet 
beneficent  measure,  he  then  invoked  the  "  considerate  judgment  of  man 
kind,  and  the  gracious  favor  of  Almighty  God." 

The  publication  of  this  proclamation  produced  an  unusual  degree  of 
commotion  and  excitement  throughout  the  nation.  The  extreme  radical 
party  regarded  it  with  boundless  exultation,  as  being  a  measure  in  accor 
dance  with  their  own  peculiar  views,  and  as  a  mortal  blow  aimed  at  the 
detested  institution  of  slavery.  The  more  conservative  inhabitants  of 
the  loyal  States  generally  received  it  with  approbation,  as  a  movement 
powerfully  adapted  to  assist  in  crushing  the  Rebellion,  and  in  diminishing 
the  strength  and  resources  of  those  who  were  in  arms  against  the  Federal 
Government,  and  were  striving  to  destroy  the  Union.  Even  the  most 
moderate  of  those  who  condemned  secession  approved  of  it  on  the  ground 
that  all  the  property  of  Rebels  who  we^e  guilty  of  treason  against  the 
Federal  Government,  and  were  aiming  to  destroy  it,  was  justly  forfeited 
to  the  State ;  and  they  could  see  no  reason  why  the  slave  property  of  such, 
persons  should  be  exempt  from  a  penalty  which,  in  all  civilized  countries, 
was  invariably  annexed  to  the  heinous  crime  of  treason.  It  was  in  the  Con 
federate  States  alone  that  this  proclamation  of  Mr.  Lincoln  evoked  a  storm  of 
defiance  and  condemnation  more  furious  and  frantic  than  had  yet  been 
elicited  by  any  event  of  the  war.  No  terms  of  execration  and  opprobrium 
were  sufficiently  extravagant  to  express  the  full  extent  of  the  ferocious 

*  The  States  and  parts  of  States  designated  in  this  proclamation  were  as  follows  : 
Arkansas,  Texas,  Louisiana,  (except  the  parishes  of  St.  Bernard,  Plaquemines,  Jeffer 
son,  St.  James,  Ascension,  Assumption,  Terrebonne,  Lafourche,  St.  Martin,  and 
Orleans,  including  the  city  of  New  (Orleans,  Mississippi,  Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia, 
South  Carolina,  and  Virginia,  (except  the  forty-eight  counties  designated  as  West 
Virginia,  and  also  the  counties  of  Berkeley,  Accomac,  Northampton,  Elizabeth  City, 
York,  Princess  Ann,  and  Norfolk,  including  the  cities  of  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth.) 
These  excepted  parts  were  for  the  time  being  left  precisely  in  the  same  condition  as  if 
this  proclamation  had  not  been  issued. 


JEFF.  DAVIS  ON  THE  EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION        415 

condemnation  which  was  heaped  upon  it  and  upon  him,  both  by  the 
general  voice  of  the  press  and  of  the  community.  And,  as  they  evidently 
feared,  its  subsequent  influence  upon  the  fortunes  and  incidents  of  the 
civil  war  were  extremely  potent  and  influential.* 


*  Jefferson  Davis,  in  his  third  annual  message  to  the  Confederate  Congress, 
expressed  his  convictions  in  reference  to  the  emancipation  proclamation  of  President 
Lincoln  in  the  following  language  : 

"  In  its  political  aspects  this  measure  possesses  great  significance ;  and  to  it,  in  this 
light,  I  invite  your  attention.  It  affords  to  our  whole  people  the  complete  and 
crowning  proof  of  the  true  nature  of  the  designs  of  the  party  which  elevated  to  power 
the  present  occupant  of  the  Presidential  chair  at  Washington,  and  which  sought  to 
conceal  its  purpose  by  every  variety  of  artful  device,  and  by  the  perfidious  use  of  the 
most  solemn  and  repeated  pledges  on  every  possible  occasion.  The  people  of  the 
Confederacy,  then,  cannot  fail  to  receive  this  proclamation  as  the  fullest  vindication 
of  their  own  sagacity  in  foreseeing  the  uses  to  which  the  dominant  party  in  the  United 
States  intended  from  the  beginning  to  apply  their  power ;  nor  can  they  cease  to  re 
member  with  devout  thankfulness  that  it  is  to  their  own  vigilance  in  resisting  the  first 
stealthy  progress  of  approaching  despotism  that  they  owe  their  escape  from  conse 
quences  now  apparent  to  the  most  skeptical.  It  is,  also,  in  effect,  an  intimation  to 
the  people  of  the  North  that  they  must  prepare  to  submit  to  a  seperation  now  become 
inevitable ;  for  that  people  are  too  acute  not  to  understand  that  a  restoration  of  the 
Union  has  been  rendered  forever  impossible  by  the  adoption  of  a  measure  which,  from 
its  very  nature,  neither  admits  of  retraction  nor  can  coexist  with  them.  Humanity 
shudders  at  the  appalling  atrocities  which  are  being  daily  multiplied  under  the  sanction 
of  those  who  have  claimed  temporary  possession  of  power  in  the  United  States, 
and  who  are  fast  making  its  once  fair  name  a  by-word  of  reproach  among  civilized 
men.  Not  even  the  natural  indignation  inspired  by  this  conduct  should  make  us, 
however,  so  unjust  as  to  attribute  to  the  whole  mass  of  the  people,  who  are  subjected 
to  the  despotism  that  now  reigns  with  unbridled  license  in  the  city  of  Washington,  a 
willing  acquiescence  in  its  conduct  of  the  war.  There  must  necessarily  exist  among 
our  enemies  very  many,  perhaps  a  majority,  whose  humanity  recoils  from  all  partici 
pation  in  such  atrocities,  but  who  cannot  be  held  wholly  guiltless,  while  permitting 
their  continuenec  without  an  effort  at  repression." 


416  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER    XXXVII. 

CONCLUSION  OF  THE  YEAR  1862 — THE  ARMIES  OF  ROSECRANS  AND  BRACG  APPROACH  EACH 

OTHER  AT  MURFREESBORO,  TENNESSEE — POSITION  OF  THEIR  RESPECTIVE  FORCES NUMBER 

OF  TROOPS  ENGAGED BEGINNING  OF  THE  BATTLE — INCIDENTS  OF  THE  FIRST  DAY — THE 

FEDERAL  RIGHT  WING  DRIVEN  BACK PURSUIT  BY  THE  CONFEDERATES — THE  RETREAT 

STOPPED END  OF  THE  FIRST  DAY'S  COMBAT THE  ENGAGEMENT  RESUMED ARTILLERY 

DUEL FURIOUS  CHARGE  BY  THE  REBELS HEROISM  OF  GENERALS  NEGLEY  AND  DAVIS 

THE  REBELS  FINALLY  OVERPOWERED A  GENERAL  CHARGE  ON  THEIR  LINES — ITS  RESULT-^- 

COMPLETE  DEFEAT  OF  THE  REBEL  ARMY REVOLT  OF  THE  ANDERSON  CAVALRY ITS  ALLEGED 

CAUSES THE  LOYAL  THREE  HUNDRED — FEDERAL  LOSS  IN  THE  BATTLES  AT  MURFREESBORO 

LOSSES  OF  THE  CONFEDERATES — FIELD  ORDER  OF  GENERAL  ROSECRANS  RESPECTING  THB 
ANDERSON  CAVALRY. 

THE  conclusion  of  the  year  1862,  and  the  commencement  of  1863,  were 
signalized  by  the  occurrence  of  one  of  the  most  protracted  and  desperate 
struggles  of  the  war,  for  during  that  period  was  fought  the  battle  of  Mur- 
freesboro,  in  Tennessee.  The  Federal  forces  were  under  the  orders  of 
General  Rosecrans.  The  Rebel  host  was  led  by  Braxton  Bragg.  These 
commanders  had  been  approaching  each  other  for  some  time,  and  assidu 
ously  preparing  for  a  combat  which  should  tell  effectually  one  way  or  the 
other  on  the  fortunes  of  the  rival  Republics  under  whose  banners  they 
respectively  fought.  The  Federal  army  numbered  about  forty-seven  thou 
sand  men  ;  that  of  the  Rebels,  fifty  thousand.  Among  their  officers  were 
many  on  both  sides  whose  names  had  already  become  renowned,  or 
notorious,  in  the  annals  of  the  Rebellion.  The  enemy,  after  having  been 
driven  from  Nolansville,  had  taken  a  strong  position  in  and  around  Mur- 
freesboro ;  had  fortified  it  with  admirable  skill,  and  they  awaited  the  attack 
of  the  Federal  troops,  who  were  now  advancing  from  Nashville.  The 
last  day  of  the  expiring  year,  1862,  found  the  two  armies  at  last  in  pres 
ence  of  each  other;  and  on  Wednesday,  the  31st  of  December,  this 
memorable  engagement  of  several  days'  duration  commenced. 

The  Confederate  army  was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  on  Stone  river, 
extending  from  Murfreesboro  on  their  right  to  the  Franklin  road  on  their 
left.  Hardee  commanded  their  left  wing.  Here  were  posted  the  divisions 
of  Cheatham,  McCoun,  Wither,  and  Cleburne.  General  Polk  led  the  right 
wing  of  the  foe,  which  included  the  divisions  of  Breckinridge  and  Preston. 
Smith.  General  Kirby  Smith  was  posted  in  the  centre.  On  the  Federal 
side,  General  McCook  commanded  the  right  wing,  consisting  of  the  divis 
ions  of  Davis,  Sheridan,  and  Johnson.  The  right  centre  was  commanded 
by  General  Thomas,  under  whom  were  Generals  Rousseau  and  Negley. 
Rousseau's  division  constituted  the  reserve  of  the  centre.  The  left  wing 


FIRST   DAY'S   BATTLE   AT  MUKFEEESB011O.  417 

was  placed  under  the  orders  of  General  Crittenden,  in  whose,  column  Pal 
mer  occupied  the  right,  Wood  the  centre,  Van  Cleve  the  left.  The  battle 
field  consisted  of  an  extensive  plain,  three  miles  in  extent,  for  the  most 
part  cleared,  but  with  occasional  patches  of  woodland.  It  was  traversed 
by  a  turnpike,  on  both  sides  of  which  there  were  gentle  elevations.  The 
lines  of  the  Rebels  reached  across  the  Stone  river,  a  stream  which,  taking 
its  rise  in.  Rutherford  county,  and  traversing  Campbell  county,  emptied 
into  the  Cumberland,  ten  miles  below  Davidson.  A  western  branch  of 
this  river  flows  by  Murfreesboro,  and  bisected  the  Rebel  lines  on  this 
occasion. 

The  contest  began  at  break  of  day  on  "Wednesday,  on  the  right  of  the 
Federal  forces.  There  the  whole  mass  of  the  foe,  under  McCoun,  Gheat- 
ham,  and  Cleburne,  had  advanced  with  great  impetuosity,  and  charged  the 
lines  of  Johnson  and  Davis.  A  part  of  Johnson's  infantry  gave  way  and 
retreated.  In  vain  did  the  Federal  officers  endeavor  to  stop  the  flight.  A 
panic  soon  spread  through  the  whole  division,  and  a  disgraceful  flight 
commenced.  The  enemy  now  succeeded  in  surrounding  the  right  flank. 
The  confusion  became  complete  and  overwhelming.  General  Rosecrans, 
perceiving  the  peril  of  the  moment  and  of  the  disaster,  despatched  one 
brigade  and  battery  after  another  from  the  divisions  of  Palmer  and  Neg- 
ley,  to  the  assistance  of  the  overpowered  and  shattered  troops ;  but  these 
reinforcements  were  in  their  turn  crushed  by  the  impetuous  onsets  of  the 
now  triumphant  enemy,  and  carried  away  in  the  whelming  torrent  of  the 
fugitives.  The  panic  then  spread  from  the  division  of  Johnson  to  that  of 
Davis,  and  the  whole  right  wing  was  soon  involved  in  an  unmitigated  and 
disastrous  rout.  They  were  driven  two  miles  by  the  enemy  with  great 
slaughter,  and  the  fortunes  of  the  day  seemed  already  to  have  been  irre 
trievably  lost. 

But  the  misfortune  did  not  terminate  here.  The  retreat  of  the  divisions 
of  Johnson  and  Davis  left  that  of  Sheridan  exposed  to  the  onset  of  the  foe. 
The  Rebel  commanders  followed  up  their  advantage  promptly,  and  charged 
with  fury  on  this  division,  whose  flank  was  unprotected.  The  troops 
which  composed  it  resisted  the  terrible  battle-shcK'.k  of  the  enemy  for  some 
time ;  but  at  length  they  also  gave  way,  and  were  driven,  though  not  in 
much  confusion,  with  heavy  losses,  to  join  in  the  tumultuous  flight  of 
their  comrades.  Before  they  thus  yielded,  one  fourth  of  their  number  lay 
either  dead  or  wounded  on  the  ensanguined  field,  proving  how  determined 
their  resistance  had  been.  The  result  of  this  rout  of  the  Federal  right, 
wing  was  that  they  were  hurled  back  in  their  flight  toward  the  centre  and 
left  of  the  Federal  army,  which  remained  firm  and  immovable  in  its  posi 
tion,  facing  the  woods  through  which  the  Rebels  were  advancing.  In  the 
interval  which  yet  existed  between  them,  a  turnpike  and  railroad  ran, 
which  was  the  key  of  the  whole  Federal  position.  There  the  immense 
trains  of  wagons  which  belonged  to  the  Federal  army  were  placed.  If 
27 


418  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

that  were  loskall  would  be  ruined.  And  now  the  horrible  spectacle  was 
presented  of  thousands  of  retreating  soldiers,  who  were  running  in  the 
utmost  confusion  before  the  pursuing  foe,  through  the  woods  and  over  the 
plains,  making  both  resound  with  their  maniac  yells,  either  of  exultation 
or  of  despair.  Thus  the  chaotic  mass  of  fugitives  and  of  pursuers  rapidly 
approached  within  range  of  the  guns  of  that  wing  of  the  Federal  army 
which  remained  unbroken,  and  which  was  waiting  in  stern  and  determined 
fortitude  to  receive  the  enemy  with  an  annihilating  salute  as  soon  as  their 
serried  masses  carne  within  range.  It  was  a  moment  decisive  of  the  des 
tinies  of  thousands — pregnant  with  the  fate  of  an  empire.  With  admirable 
skill  General  Rosecrans  now  prepared  to  confront  and  repel  the  on-rolling 
deluge.  He  posted  his  regiments  and  batteries  along  the  turnpike  which 
fronted  his  line,  so  that  when  the  Rebels  emerged  from  the  woods  in  pur 
suit  of  the  flying  and  scattered  Federals,  they  should  receive  such  a  hail 
storm  of  shot  and  shell  as  might  check  their  advance,  break  their  power, 
and  turn  the  tide  of  victory.  At  length  that  vast  sea  of  discordant  fugi 
tives  appeared  in  view.  So  complete  had  become  their  confusion  and 
chaos  that  all  distinctions  of  regiments  and  divisions,  of  horse  and  foot, 
had  been  lost.  Closer  and  closer  the  deluge  approached,  with  the  exulting 
foe  pursuing  hard  upon  them.  General  Thomas  commanded  that  portion 
of  the  Federal  army  to  whose  skill  and  valor  the  salvation  of  the  day  had 
been  entrusted.  Calmly  and  firmly  he  rode  along  the  ranks,  cheering  and 
encouraging  his  men  to  confront  the  coming  storm  with  steadiness. 
Silence  as  of  the  grave  pervaded  his  steady  columns,  while  frantic  yells 
resounded  from  the  advancing  hordes  of  the  foe.  The  critical  moment  had 
at  last  arrived.  The  stern  word  of  command  was  given.  Instantly  a  daz 
zling  sheet  of  flame  burst  from  the  firm  ranks  of  the  Federal  heroes,  which 
penetrated  the  masses  of  the  enemy.  It  was  quickly  followed  by  the  roar 
of  their  numerous  and  well  served  artillery,  which  shook  the  very  earth, 
and  crushed  into  flying  fragments  the  thick  masses  of  the  enemy.  Then 
came  the  awful  confusion,  the  sudden  recoil,  the  broken  flight  of  the  Confed 
erates,  who  had  till  then  exulted  in  the  fancied  success  of  the  day.  Whole 
ranks  were  swept  from  the  field  by  the  terrific  fire  of  the  Federals.  Entire 
regiments  were  battered  to  pieces.  When  the  heavy  mantle  of  smoke 
arose,  after  a  few  minutes,  from  the  scene,  it  displayed  an  appalling  spec 
tacle.  The  ground  was  literally  covered  with  piles  of  killed  and  wounded, 
so  terrible  had  been  the  destruction.  The  Federals  were  then  ordered  to 
advance.  The  enemy  gave  way  and  retired  through  the  woods,  and  were 
in  turn  driven  over  a  small  portion  of  the  ground  which  had  just  witnessed 
the  ignominious  rout  and  flight  of  the  Federal  right  wing.  The  artillery 
pursued  them  with  inexorable  and  destructive  vengeance  along  the  scenes 
of  their  marvelous  success,  and  followed  them  as  they  retired  toward  the  po 
sition  which  the  Federals  occupied  at  the  commencement  of  the  engagement. 
Thus  ended  the  first  day  of  this  great  battle.  During  its  progress  Gen 


SECOND   DAY'S  BATTLE  AT  MURFREESBORO.  419 

eral  Kosecrans  bad  superintended  in  person  the  operations  of  his  army,  and 
rode  bravely  over  the  field  amid  hailstorms  of  bullets.  It  was  while  thus 
engaged  that  Colonel  Garesche,  his  chief  of  staff,  a  valuable  and  accom 
plished  officer,  was  killed  close  at  his  side,  and  his  orderlies  fell  rapidly 
around  him.  Nevertheless,  the  general  results  of  this  day  were  not  very 
favorable  to  the  Federal  forces.  The  shock  given  by  the  defeat  of  the 
right  wing  had  been  too  terrible  not  to  be  severely  felt.  It  was  evident 
that  a  desperate  blow  must  be  struck  on  a  later  day,  before  a  complete 
triumph  could  be  claimed  by  the  champions  of  the  Union.* 

Neither  party  seemed  disposed  to  renew  the  engagement  on  Thursday. 
Both  were  exhausted,  both  had  many  dead  to  bury  and  wounded  to  pro 
vide  for,  so  that  it  was  not  until  Friday,  January  2d,  that  the  contest  was 
resumed.  During  the  interval  some  changes  had  been  made  in  the 
positions  of  the  Federal  forces.  General  Van  Cleve's  division  of  Crit- 
tenden's  corps  was  transferred,  so  that  its  left  wing  rested  on  the  Lebanon 
road,  with  its  right  on  Lytle's  creek.  General  Palmer's  troops  were 
placed  east  of  the  Nashville  road,  Rousseau's  were  posted  between  the  turn 
pike  and  the  railroad,  McCook's  corps  lay  on  the  right  of  Kousseau,  and 
Negley's  was  held  as  reserves  in  the  rear. 

The  battle  commenced  on  Friday  morning  by  an  attack  from  the 
enemy  upon  the  batteries  of  Rousseau's  division,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Loomis.  A  furious  artillery  duel  ensued.  The  deafening  reverberation 
of  the  guns  aroused  the  whole  of  both  armies,  who  now  seemed  eager  for 
the  contest.  But  as  yet  the  strife  was  confined  exclusively  to  the  artil 
lery.  In  a  short  time  several  of  the  Kebel  batteries  were  disabled  and 
silenced,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  advantage  was  with  the  Federals. 
As  soon  as  this  result  became  apparent  the  enemy  withdrew  the  rest  of 
their  guns  from  the  contest,  and  an  interval  of  several  hours  took  place, 
which  was  employed  by  the  enemy  in  reconnoitering  the  position  of  the 
Union  forces.  It  was  nearly  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  they 
renewed  the  engagement. 

At  that  time  they  advanced  in  immense  columns,  under  the  command  of 
General  Breckinridge,  and  attacked  Van  Cleve's  division,  which  was  then 
commanded  by  Colonel  Beatty,  of  the  nineteenth  Ohio.  General  Van  Cleve 
had  been  wounded  and  disabled  on  Wednesday.  This  division  made  a 
gallant  resistance  for  half  an  hour;  but  the  troops  of  Breckinridge  were 
reinforced  successively  by  those  of  Anderson  and  Cleburne,  so  that  they 

*  General  Bragg  claimed  in  his  official  report  to  the  Confederate  Secretary  of  War, 
respecting  the  fight  on  the  31st  of  December,  that  he  had  captrjed  two  brigadier- 
generals,  four  thousand  prisoners,  thirty-one  pieces  of  artillery,  and  two  hundred 
wagons  and  teams.  But  he  ingenuously  admits  that  his  own  losses  were  very  heavy. 
His  estimate  of  the  number  and  value  of  his  prizes  was  made  too  soon  to  permit  him 
to  arrive  at  any  thing  like  even  an  approximation  to  the  truth ;  hence  it  was  charac 
terized  by  great  exaggeration  and  ludicrous  fallacy. 


420  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

were  soon  overpowered  by  a  resistless  superiority  of  numbers.  The 
Rebels  here  fought  with  unusual  determination.  Soon  two  brigades  of 
Beatty's  troops  gave  way  and  retired  slowly.  They  were  charged  upon 
by  the  pursuing  foe,  and  driven  as  far  as  the  banks  of  Lytle's  creek.  A 
third  brigade  was  about  to  follow  in  retreat,  when  Negley's  divison  was 
opportunely  sent  to  their  assistance.  This  division  had  been  placed  by 
Rosecrans  with  great  wisdom  and  prudence  as  a  reserve,  and  now  it  came 
to  the  rescue  at  a  critical  moment,  and  with  most  propitious  effect.  His 
troops  rushed  forward  with  loud  shouts  of  enthusiasm,  and  having 
reached  the  banks  of  the  creek,  opened  a  fire  upon  the  enemy  which 
completely  decimated  and  destroyed  their  close  masses.  They  were  soon 
so  much  broken  that  they  retired  in  confusion.  At  that  crisis  the  troops 
of  Jefferson  C.  Davis  arrived  on  the  scene,  to  complete  the  triumph  of 
Negley.  They  rushed  forward,  plunged  into  the  stream,  reached  the 
opposite  side,  and  charged  furiously  on  the  confused  enemy.  The  seventy- 
eighth  Pennsylvania,  led  by  Colonel  Sirwell,  was  the  first  to  cross  the 
stream.  That  officer  then  ordered  his  men  to  charge  up  the  hill.  The 
order  was  obeyed  with  enthusiasm.  A  desperate  fight  ensued  between 
the  seventy-eighth  and  the  twenty-sixth  Tennessee  infantry.  At  its  con 
clusion  a  large  portion  of  the  latter  were  captured,  and  their  colors  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  But  the  latter  had  paid  dearly  for  their 
advantage,  for  many  of  their  bravest  comrades  had  fallen  on  the  bloody 
field.  Colonel  Scott  and  Major  Guthrie  were  severely  wounded,  Captains 
Chandler  and  Camseller  were  killed.  The  nineteenth  Illinois  had  lost 
nearly  fifty  men.  The  sixty-eighth  Ohio  and  seventy-eighth  Pennsylva 
nia  suffered  heavily.  But  the  Federals  were  the  conquerors.  They  drove 
the  enemy  out  of  the  woods  and  across  the  corn-fields,  which  were  covered 
with  their  dead  and  wounded  over  an  area  of  a  mile  and  a-half  in  extent 
until  they  reached  the  vicinity  of  Mufreesboro.  Several  of  their  colors 
were  captured,  together  with  a  battery  and  a  large  number  of  prisoners. 

While  General  Negley  was  achieving  this  grand  success  against  the 
enemy  before  him,  General  Rosecrans  was  perfecting  the  victory  through 
out  the  remainder  of  his  columns.  He  now  ordered  the  whole  line  to 
advance.  Then  came  a  terrific  and  resistless  charge.  Hope  and  en 
thusiasm  had  given  fresh  power  to  the  Federal  troops.  As  their  grim 
and  stern  battle-line  advanced  upon  the  foe,  a  far  extending  sheet  of 
deadly  fire  and  flame  issued  from  them,  which  melted  down  the  serried 
columns  of  the  enemy  like  frost-work.  In  their  centre  and  on  their  left, 
which  were  now  assaulted,  they  made  a  desperate  resistance.  But  their 
right  wing  was  broken  and  pursued  by  Negley.  The  distant  cheers  of 
the  victors  came  floating  on  the  breeze  to  their  unwilling  ears,  and 
seemed  the  knell  of  their  own  inevitable  doom.  They  gave  way  at  length, 
and  retired  slowly,  until  they  reached  their  intrenchments  beyond  Lytle's 
creek,  close  to  Mufreesboro.  At  that  moment  night  descended  upon  the 


1        DIAGRAM      I 
([POSITION  OF  ARMIES__DFI?  31 


/1URFREESBOROUGH 


REVOLT  OP  THE  ANDERSON   GUARDS.  421 

scene,  and  necessarily  suspended  the  struggle.  It  saved  the  works  of  the 
enemy  from  an  immediate  assault  and  from  inevitable  capture.  In  this 
pursuit  the  Federal  cavalry  under  General  Stanley  had  fought  with  great 
heroism,  and  had  contributed  effectually  to  turn  the  flight  of  the  foe  into 
a  confused  rout. 

At  the  close  of  the  day  the  Federal  victors  occupied  and  possessed  the 
ground  from  which  the  enemy  had  been  driven.  During  Friday  night 
their  position  was  intrenched  with  great  industry.  When  Saturday 
dawned  it  found  the  works  completed.  During  that  day  the  enemy  were 
shelled  by  the  Federal  artillery,  but  no  regular  engagement  took  place. 
The  rain  descended  in  torrents,  and  both  armies  seemed  disposed  to  await 
its  cessation  before  resuming  hostilities.  Another  great  battle  was  then 
anticipated ;  but  during  Saturday  night  the  Confederate  forces  evacuated 
their  intrenchments  and  retreated  toward  Tullahoma,  thus  furnishing  the 
most  conclusive  evidence  of  their  discomfiture  and  defeat.  On  Wednesday 
they  had  captured  twenty-eight  pieces  of  artillery,  several  thousand  prison 
ers,  and  their  other  successes  were  not  inconsiderable.  But  the  events  of 
the  concluding  struggle  on  Friday  demonstrated  that  the  victory  at  last 
remained  unequivocally  with  the  champions  of  the  Union. 

An  incident  happened  in  connection  with  this  battle  which  possessed 
a  peculiar  character  and  interest ;  and  was  unparalleled  among  the  trans 
actions  which  occurred  during  the  progress  of  the  Kebellion.  It  was  the 
revolt  of  a  portion  of  the  regiment  known  as  the  Anderson  cavalry. 
This  troop  had  been  originally  recruited  in  Pennsylvania  during  the 
period  that  General  Buell  held  command  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland, 
for  the  express  purpose,  and  with  the  distinct  understanding,  that  they 
should  serve  exclusively  as  the  body-guard  of  that  officer.  An  enlist 
ment  under  such  circumstances  was  in  itself  an  anomaly  in  military  affairs 
which  was  not  very  indicative  of  self-sacrificing  patriotism.  The  removal 
of  General  Buell  from  command  after  the  termination  of  his  campaign  in 
Kentucky,  necessarily  rendered  the  fulfillment  of  the  precise  terms  of  the 
enlistment  of  this  troop  an  impossibility;  nor  had  General  Kosecrans, 
his  successor,  as  yet  possessed  the  leisure  or  opportunity  to  make  such 
a  disposal  of  them  as  might  be  more  congenial  with  the  views  with  which 
they  had  entered  the  service.  Their  position  thus  remained  undefined 
and  uncertain,  when  the  great  struggle  at  Murfreesboro  approached. 
The  troop  had  reached  the  camp  only  a  few  days  previous  to  the  fight. 
As  it  was  necessary  to  summon  every  energy  and  resource  to  assist  in 
crushing  the  formidable  power  of  the  enemy  arrayed  against  him,  General 
Kosecrans  immediately  assigned  this  troop  to  General  Stanley's  division 
of  cavalry.  This  order  was  the  signal  for  the  outbreak  of  a  treasonable 
spirit,  which  terminated  in  the  refusal  of  the  whole  troop,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  about  three  hundred,  to  continue  in  the  service,  or  to  take  part 
in  the  impending  conflict.  The  recusants  suddenly  deserted  the  camp 


422  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

and  returned  to  Nashville.  The  reasons  assigned  for  this  act  were,  that 
they  had  been  recruited  to  serve  as  the  body-guard  of  General  Buell 
alone,  and  for  no  other  purpose ;  that  they  had  no  confidence  in  the  officers 
who  had  been  placed  over  them ;  and  that  they  had  not  been  furnished 
with  proper  provisions  and  supplies.  Those  members  of  the  troop  who 
remained  faithful  to  their  colors,  and  declined  to  unite  with  their  associates 
in  deserting  the  service  on  these  grounds,  took  part  in  the  several  engage 
ments  which  occurred  in  the  vicinity  of  Murfreesboro,  and  greatly  dis 
tinguished  themselves.  Their  most  gallant  achievement  was  in  the  pre 
liminary  combat  which  took  place  on  Tuesday,  previous  to  the  main 
actions.  On  that  day  several  detached  struggles  occurred  between  frag 
ments  of  the  two  armies ;  and  it  was  in  one  of  these,  when  charging  upon 
the  Eebel  horse,  that  these  young  heroes  displayed  the  bravery  and  valor 
of  veterans.  In  this  fight  they  lost  about  eleven  killed  and  thirty 
wounded.  Among  the  former  was  Major  Kosengarten.  After  the  termi 
nation  of  the  contest  General  Rosecrans  complimented  those  members 
of  the  troop  who  had  remained  loyal,  notwithstanding  the  efforts  which 
had  been  made  to  seduce  them,  in  just  terms  of  applause  and  commenda 
tion.  He  ordered  the  remainder  to  be  placed  under  arrest  at  Nashville. 
These  were  seven  hundred  in  number,  and  they  were  reserved  to  be 
subjected  to  the  future  scrutiny  of  a  court-martial* 

*  The  special  field-order  of  General  Rosecrans,  in  reference  to  this  subject,  was 
as  follows : 

"  XVIII.  The  general  commanding  announces  his  high  satisfaction  with  those 
brave  and  determined  men  of  the  Anderson  Guards  who  promptly  marched,  tinder 
the  gallant  Majors  Rosengarten  and  Ward,  to  aid  him  in  his  advance  on  Murfreesboro. 
These  young  soldiers  and  their  brave  commander  vied  with  our  most  veteran  cavalry 
in  their  steadiness  under  fire,  and  the  intrepidity  of  their  advance  on  the  enemy,  and 
nobly  sustained  the  honor  already  won  by  the  seventh  Pennsylvania  cavalry  for  the 
Keystone  State.  While  he  deplores  the  early  death  of  the  brave  young  Rosengarten,  the 
sorrow  he  feels  at  his  loss  is  mingled  with  a  soldier's  pride,  to  know  that  he  fell  like 
a  hero,  and  for  the  sacred  cause  of  nationality.  He  trusts  that  Major  Ward,  recov 
ering  from  his  desperate  but  honorable  wounds,  will  live  to  gather  fresh  laurels  on 
many  a  field  in  his  country's  service. 

"  The  general  commanding  is  grieved  to  learn  that  about  seven  hundred  of  those 
noble  Guards — said  to  belong  to  families  of  good  standing  at  home — have  chosen, 
under  some  pretext  or  other,  not  to  follow  their  companions  in  arms  to  the  field,  to 
share  with  them  the  dangers  and  the  glories  of  the  fourteenth  army  corps. 

"  He  could  not  imagine  what  could  have  moved  men  in  whom  he  laid  such  hopes  to 
a  course  so  base  and  selfish.  He  cannot  conceive  how  they  could  shame  their  own 
kin,  and  stain  the  clear  honor  of  their  native  State  by  conduct  not  merely  appearing 
base  and  cowardly,  but  so  criminal  as  to  deserve  the  penalty  of  death. 

44  Before  proceeding  to  do  what  his  duty  requires,  and  having  them  dealt  with  as 
their  conduct  merits — before  covering  them  with  that  deserved  infamy  which  will 
blast  them  forever  in  the  esteem  of  their  fellows — the  general  commanding  wishes 
this  order  read  to  them ;  and,  to  all  who  are  not  too  lost  to  a  sense  of  honor,  to  step 
forth  arid  confess  that  whatever  may  have  been  their  private  wants  and  griefs,  the 


FEDERAL   LOSS  AT  THE  BATTLE   OF  MURFREESBORO.         423 

The  Federal  loss  in  the  battles  near  Murfreesboro  was  fifteen  hundred 
and  thirty-three  killed,  including  ninety -two  officers ;  seven  thousand  two 
hundred  and  forty-five  wounded,  together  with  several  thousand  prison- 
ers.  Among  the  Federal  officers  who  fell  on  this  famous  field  of  glory 
were  Brigadier-General  J.  W.  Sill,  Colonels  Koberts  and  Schaffer,  and 
Lieutenant- Colonel  Garesche.  Among  the  wounded  were  Major-General 
Alexander  McCook,  and  Brigadiers  Willich,  Kirk,  Wood,  and  Van  Cleve. 
The  Federal  loss  amounted  to  twenty  per  centum  of  their  whole  force 
engaged.  That  inflicted  upon  the  Confederates  in  this  great  contest  was 
heavier  than  that  suffered  by  the  victors.  General  Bragg  in  his  official 
report  acknowledged  a  loss  of  over  ten  thousand  killed  and  wounded ;  and 
did  not  include  in  this,  twenty-eight  hundred  prisoners  and  wounded  left 
in  our  hands.  That  this  statement  was  much  below  the  truth  is  certain. 
In  no  struggle  since  the  commencement  of  the  war  had  the  enemy  fought 
with  more  desperate  resolution ;  in  none  had  they  been  met  with  more 
determined  fortitude,  than  on  the  blood-stained  field  of  Murfreesboro; 
and  in  few  had  they  suffered  a  more  signal  and  disastrous  defeat. 

hour  of  their  country's  need  and  peril  was  not  the  time  to  stand  back  and  falter,  or 
expose  their  brothers  in  arms  to  danger  and  death  without  help.  Let  them  resolve 
on  some  reparation  which  will  give  them  an  opportunity  to  save  some  of  them  from 
impending  disgrace  and  ruin." 


424  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

THE  LOSS  OF    THE  FEDERAL    IRON-CLAD    MONITOR    AT  SEA — HER  PECULIAR    STRUCTURE — HE« 

DEPARTURE  FROM  HAMPTON  ROADS — A  RISING  STORM — THE  MONITOR  BECOMES  DISABLED 

CAUSE    OF    THE    MISFORTUNE HER     SITUATION    BECOMES    DESPERATE — REMOVAL    OF    HER 

.  CREW  TO  THE  RHODE    ISLAND HER  FINAL    DISAPPEARANCE THE    FEDERAL  ARMY    UNDER 

GENERAL    SHERMAN    ATTACK  VICKSBURO,  MISSISSIPPI LANDING  OF  THE    TROOPS  AT  JOHN 
SON'S  FERRY,  ON  THE    YAZOO THE    ATTACK    COMMENCED    ON  THE    2?TH    OF    DECEMBER 

PARTIAL    SUCCESS  OF  THE    FEDERAL    FORCES — THE  ASSAULT    RESUMED  ON  THE    28TH DES 
PERATE    FIGHTING THE  FIRST    LINE  OF  WORKS    CARRIED SHERMAN    ORDERS    A  GENERAL 

CHARGE — THE    FEDERALS    REPULSED    AND    DEFEATED TERRIBLE    SLAUGHTER — THE    UNION 

ARMY  WITHDRAWN GENERAL    SHERMAN    SUPERSEDED  BY    M'CLERNAND — FEDERAL  LOSSES 

CAUSES    OF    THEIR    DEFEAT MINOR    ENGAGEMENTS    AT    SPRINGFIELD    AND    HARTSVILLE, 

MISSOURI. 

* 

THE  commencement  of  the  year  1863  witnessed  a  scene  of  intense  and 
thrilling  interest,  connected  with  the  naval  service  of  the  United  States, 
which  has  rarely  been  surpassed  in  the  annals  of  the  great  deep.  At  that 
period  the  Monitor,  the  first  and  oldest  of  the  Federal  iron-clad  war 
vessels,  foundered  at  sea.  This  vessel  had  become  renowned  from  her 
successful  combat  with  the  Confederate  iron-clad  Merrimac,  which  took 
place  in  Hampton  Roads  on  the  9th  of  March,  1862.  After  a  struggle  of 
five  hours,  she  compelled  her  antagonist  to  retire  disabled  into  the  port 
of  Norfolk.  She  was  a  hundred  and  seventy-two  feet  in  length,  forty-one 
in  breadth.  Her  turret  was  twenty  feet  in  diameter,  and  nine  in  height. 
Her  turret  and  the  pilot-house  wqre  the  only  objects  visible  above  her 
deck,  which  was  so  low  in  the  water  as  to  afford  scarcely  any  surface  for 
the  balls  of  an  enemy.  Every  thing  else  was  below  the  water  line.  She 
was  covered  with  rolled-iron  armor  five  inches  in  thickness.  Her  hull 
was  constructed  of  solid  white  oak,  twenty-six  inches  thick.  The  turret 
was  protected  by  rolled-iron  plate,  an  inch  thick,  over  which  were  riveted 
five  layers  of  similar  plates,  each  an  inch  in  thickness.  The  port- hole  of 
the  turret  was  only  large  enough  to  permit  the  muzzle  of  the  gun  to  be 
run  through  it.  The  turret  revolved  by  means  of  auxiliary  engines.  The 
officers'  rooms  below  were  large  and  comfortable,  and  lighted  by  dead 
lights  placed  in  the  deck. 

The  Monitor  left  Hampton  Roads,  in  tow  of  the  steamer  Rhode  Island, 
on  the  29th  of  December,  at  half-past  two  in  the  afternoon.  She  passed 
Cape  Henry  at  six  on  the  same  day.  Every  thing  proceeded  favorably. 
The  weather  continued  to  be  propitious  until  five  o'clock  the  next  morning, 
when  a  gale  commenced  from  the  southwest.  The  vessel  was  commanded 
on  this  trip  by  Captain  John  P.  Bankhead,  who  had  succeeded  the  gallant 


LOSS   OF  THE  IRON  CLAD  MONITOR  AT   SEA.  425 

"Worden.  The  sea  soon  began  to  break  over  the  pilot-house,  at  some 
distance  in  front  of  the  tower,  and  reached  the  base  of  the  tower  itself. 
At  that  moment  it  was  discovered,  for  the  first  time,  that  the  packing  of 
oakum,  under  and  around  the  base  of  the  tower,  had  become  partly 
loosened  by  the  working  of  the  ponderous  tower,  which  was  produced  by 
the  pitching  and  rolling  of  the  vessel,  but  the  bilge-pumps  were  as  yet 
able  to  keep  her  perfectly  free  from  water,  and  no  apprehensions  for  the 
safety  of  the  vessel  were  entertained  by  her  commander. 

Her  condition  continued  the  same  during  the  remainder  of  the  30th.  At 
half-past  seven  the  wind  increased  in  strength,  and  caused  the  sea  to  be 
come  more  rough.  The  vessel  began  to  tow  badly,  to  yaw  very  mu^h, 
and  to  make  more  water  around  the  base  of  the  tower.  The  Worthington 
pump  was  then  put  on  to  assist  in  keeping  her  free,  and  the  centrifugal 
pump  was  prepared  for  use.  At  this  time,  which  was  about  eight  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  the  sea  began  to  rise  rapidly,  and  to  become  so  rough  that 
the  vessel  plunged  more  heavily,  completely  submerging  the  pilot-house. 
It  was  now  noticed  that  when  she  rose  to  the  swell  of  the  angry  deep, 
the  flat  iron  under-surface  of  her  projecting  armor  came  down  with  tre 
mendous  force,  causing  a  heavy  shock  to  the  whole  vessel,  and  loosening 
still  more  the  packing  around  the  base  of  the  tower.  The  condition  of 
the  Monitor  was  evidently  becoming  critical.  Captain  Bankhead  at  length 
signalled  to  the  Rhode  Island  to  stop,  in  order  that  he  might  ascertain 
whether,  by  suspending  her  progress,  the  vessel  would  ride  easier  and 
would  ship  less  water.  The  result  was  that  no  difference  was  perceptible, 
and  what  was  worse,  she  fell  off  immediately  into  the  trough  of  the  sea, 
and  rolled  more  fearfully  than  before.  The  centrifugal  pump  was  now 
started,  in  addition  to  the  other  pumps,  but  with  no  benefit.  The  sea 
continued  to  rise,  the  water  in  the  hold  was  not  diminished,  and  it  soon 
rose  several  inches  above  the  floor  of  the  engine-room. 

It  now  became  certain  that  the  situation  of  the  Monitor  was  hopeless. 
All  the  resources  of  able  seamanship  had  been  exhausted  in  vain  in  her 
preservation.  The  scene  presented  at  that  moment  was  terrible,  and  suf 
ficient  to  appal  the  stoutest  heart.  The  ocean  had  been  lashed  into  fury 
by  the  increasing  gale.  Far  and  wide  over  the  watery  waste  nothing  was 
visible  in  the  partial  darkness  of  the  night,  except  the  mountain  waves 
rolling  far  upward  to  heaven,  or  yawning  into  profound  abysses  below, 
together  with  the  roaring  of  the  winds,  the  dashing  of  the  spray,  the  angry 
voices  of  many  waters,  and  the  two  vessels  tossing  like  feathers  upon  the 
agitated  bosom  of  the  deep.  The  only  hope  of  safety  to  those  on  board 
the  Monitor,  was  in  reaching  the  Rhode  Island  by  means  of  the  boats  of 
that  vessel,  but  so  fearful  was  the  tempest  and  so  rough  the  sea,  that  this 
experiment  was  one  of  the  utmost  danger.  At  length,  at  half-past  ten, 
Captain  Bankhead  made  the  signal  of  distress,  which  was  immediately 
answered  and  obeyed  by  her  consort.  He  then  ranged  the  Monitor  close 


426  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

to  the  Rhode  Island,  and  requested  her  commander  to  send  his  boats  to 
take  off  his  crew,  as  his  vessel  was  in  a  sinking  condition.  Before  the 
first  boats  reached  her,  the  water  had  entered  her  ash-pits.  The  heavy 
seas  were  then  breaking  and  rushing  over  her  entire  deck,  and  it  became 
extremely  perilous  for  any  one  to  leave  the  turret.  Nevertheless,  several 
boats  were  filled  with  a  portion  of  the  crew,  who  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  Rhode  Island.  Both  vessels  were  at  this  time  proceeding  slowly  for 
ward.  But  at  half-past  eleven  the  water  extinguished  the  fires  of  the 
Monitor,  and  she  became  stationary.  While  waiting  for  the  two  boats  to 
return,  it  was  necessary  to  organize  bailing  parties  to  diminish  the  water. 
The  vessel  again  fell  into  the  trough  of  the  sea,  and  it  became  impossible 
for  the  boats  to  approach  her.  As  a  last  resource,  Captain  Bankhead 
ordered  the  anchor  to  be  let  go,  and  all  the  chains  to  be  given  her,  for  the 
purpose  of  bringing  her  to.  This  expedient  happily  succeeded.  The 
vessel  swung  around  her  head  to  the  wind.  Her  deck  was  now  on  a 
level  with  the  water.  The  boats  again  approached,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  crew  were  ordered  to  enter  them.  In  the  attempt,  several  men  were 
washed  overboard.  A  few  others,  appalled  by  the  horrors  of  the  scene, 
were  so  paralyzed  that  they  refused  to  leave  the  turret,  in  and  around 
which  they  continued  to  cling  with  frantic  fear.  At  last,  when  the  rest 
of  the  crew  had  entered  the  boats,  Captain  Bankhead  abandoned  his  vessel 
and  proceeded  with  his  men  to  the  Ehode  Island.  Scarcely  had  he  reached 
her  deck,  when  the  Monitor  gave  a  tremendous  lurch,  then  sank  and  dis 
appeared  from  view  forever.  The  unfortunate  men  who  had  remained  in 
the  turret  descended  with  her. 

Great  credit  was  due  to  Captain  Bankhead  for  the  coolness  and  self- 
possession  with  which  he  had  directed  his  men  during  this  terrible  scene, 
and  to  Captain  Trenchard,  of  the  Rhode  Island,  for  the  skill  with  which 
he  had  rescued  them  from  a  watery  grave.  During  the  transfer,  so  peril 
ous  was  the  undertaking,  that  four  officers  and  twelve  men  were  lost, 
including  those  who  had  remained  on  the  Monitor.  It  was  the  opinion 
of  Captain  Bankhead  that  the  disaster  of  the  loss  of  his  vessel  was  chiefly 
owing  to  the  fact  that  she  must  have  sprung  a  leak  somewhere  forward? 
caused  by  the  tremendous  shocks  which  she  received  as  she  came  down 
upon  the  sea.  The  gallantry  of  Lieutenant  Green,  of  Ensign  Stodder, 
of  Master's-Mate  Peter  Williams,  and  of  Quartermaster  Robert  Angier, 
were  conspicuous  during  the  whole  of  these  perilous  scenes. 

The  first  attempt  of  the  Federal  generals  to  capture  Vicksburg,  on  the 
Mississippi,  proved  a  failure.  That  effort  was  commenced  on  the  21st  of 
June,  1862,  by  the  gunboats  and  the  fleet  under  Captains  Davis  and 
Porter,  as  was  narrated  in  a  previous  page.  The  effort  also  to  dig  an 
artificial  channel  for  the  Mississippi,  across  the  narrow  peninsula  opposite 
to  the  extremity  of  which  the  city  was  built,  was  abandoned  after  some 
time  as  impracticable.  It  had  been  discovered  that  the  co-operation  of  a 


THE  NAVAL   EXPEDITION  TO   VICKSBURG.  427 

land  force  was  indispensable  to  the  reduction  of  Vicksburg,  and  to  the 
opening  of  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi.  A  considerable  period  of 
time  elapsed  before  the  Federal  authorities,  both  civil  and  military,  were 
prepared  to  resume  the  undertaking.  At  length,  in  the  month  of  Decem 
ber,  1862,  a  powerful  land  force  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Gen 
eral  William  T.  Sherman,  and  appropriated  to  the  attack  and  capture  of 
this  important  stronghold,  which  the  Confederates  had  fortified  during 
the  interval  with  the  utmost  energy  and  skill. 

The  naval  portion  of  the  expedition  had  been  assembled  at  Memphis 
and  Helena.  It  started  from  those  places  on  the  23d  of  December,  and 
proceeded  toward  Vicksburg.  The  entire  fleet  of  transports  and  gunboats 
numbered  nearly  a  hundred  vessels ;  and  the  scene  which  it  presented,  as 
it  glided  majestically  along  the  broad  and  tranquil  bosom  of  the  great 
"father  of  waters,"  was  magnificent  and  imposing  in  the  extreme.  Among 
the  iron-clad  gunboats  were  the  Benton,  Carondelet,  Black  Hawk,  Mound 
City,  Louisville,  Lexington,  and  Switzerland — all  of  which  had  already 
become  renowned  in  the  annals  of  the  Kebellion.  At  two  o'clock  on 
Monday,  the  22d,  this  arrnada  reached  Games'  Landing,  and  remained 
there  during  the  night.  Before  its  departure  a  large  portion  of  the  town 
at  this  place  was  destroyed  by  fire,  together  with  a  considerable  amount 
of  other  property.  This  outrage  was  committed  through  the  lawless  spirit 
which  disgraced  some  of  the  Federal  forces  under  the  command  of  General 
Sherman,  among  whom  a  singular  and  censurable  want  of  discipline  seems 
to  have  existed.  On  the  24th,  the  voyage  down  the  stream  was  continued. 
As  a  preliminary  movement  to  the  grand  assault  on  Vicksburg,  an  attack 
was  made  on  the  Rebel  works  at  Milliken's  Bend,  twelve  miles  above  the 
mouth  of  the  Yazoo.  The  importance  of  this  operation  was  evinced  by 
the  fact  that  all  the  reinforcements  which  the  enemy  might  wish  to  send 
to  Yicksburg  from  Arkansas  must,  of  necessity,  pass  over  the  railroad 
from  Shreveport,  which  traverses  this  bend.  A  portion  of  the  Federal 
forces  were  therefore  disembarked  at  this  place.  They  burned  a  part  of  the 
town,  and  then  proceeded  twenty  miles  inland.  They  struck  the  railroad 
at  a  point  about  twenty-five  miles  distant  from  Vicksburg,  and  imme 
diately  commenced  the  work  of  its  demolition.  They  tore  up  the  track, 
blew  up  the  culverts,  burnt  the  bridges,  destroyed  the  wood  and  water 
stations,  and  rendered  the  road  completely  unfit  for  use.  They  then  re 
turned  to  the  main  body  at  Milliken's  Bend,  and  on  the  next  day  pro 
ceeded  down  the  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo,  which  they  reached  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  26th.  They  then  steamed  up  that  stream  a  distance  of 
sixteen  miles,  to  the  spot  which  had  been  selected  as  the  scene  of  the  dis 
embarkation  of  the  troops.  This  process  was  successfully  accomplished  at 
several  points,  extending  over  an  area  of  three  miles,  between  the  junction 
of  the  Yazoo  with  the  Old  Eiver,  and  Johnson's  ferry.  The  troops  landed 
on  the  south  side  of  the  stream  toward  Vicksbunj.  The  distance  from 


428  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

Johnson's  ferry  to  that  city  was  eight  miles.  The  main  army  of  the  Con 
federates  was  posted  at  Haines'  Bluff,  where  they  had  erected  a  battery  °f 
twenty  heavy  guns.  They  had  also  fortified  every  crest  of  the  range  of 
hills,  so  as  to  command  completely  all  the  approaches  from  the  land  side 
toward  the  city. 

The  Federal  forces  appropriated  to  the  attack  of  Vicksburg  consisted 
of  the  troops  which  had  been  stationed  at  Memphis  under  Halleck,  some 
of  those  under  Curtis  in  Arkansas,  the  army  which  had  evacuated  Cum 
berland  gap,  together  with  a  large  number  who  had  been  recently  re 
cruited  in  the  Western  States.  These  troops  were  divided  into  four  grand 
divisions,  commanded  by  Generals  Frederick  Steel e,  Morgan  L.  Smith, 
George  W.  Morgan,  and  A.  J.  Smith.  The  largest  of  these  divisions  was 
that  under  the  orders  of  General  Steele.  Of  the  commanders  of  brigades  the 
most  distinguished  were  Frank  Blair,  A.  P.  Hovey,  Thayer,  and  Colonel  De 
Courcey.  General  Sherman,  though  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  expe 
dition,  was  under  the  superior  orders  of  General  Grant.  The  entire  num 
ber  of  Federal  troops  who  marched  to  the  attack  on  Vicksburg  was  about 
twenty -five  thousand.  The  forces  of  the  Confederates  appointed  to  defend 
it  were  known  to  be  much  greater,  with  the  advantage  of  a  fortified  posi 
tion,  and  a  hundred  guns  placed  in  batteries.  The  intrenchments  were 
well  constructed  of  felled  timber,  earth-embankments,  together  with  sloughs 
and  rifle-pits.  The  place  might  with  truth  be  termed  the  Eebel  Gibraltar 
of  the  southwest. 

General  Sherman's  dispositions  having  been  made  for  the  attack,  he  or 
dered  the  brigades  of  Generals  Blair  and  Stuart  to  advance  through  the 
woods  toward  the  position  of  the  enemy.  They  surprised  their  pickets, 
and  drove  them  in,  about  a  mile  from  the  bluffs.  The  division  of  General 
A.  J.  Smith  then  followed,  advanced  to  the  front,  and  took  their  position 
in  the  field.  The  division  of  M.  L.  Smith  was  next  in  order.  Other  dis 
positions  were  made  on  Saturday,  the  27th  of  December,  during  which 
some  unimportant  skirmishing  took  place.  On  Sunday  morning,  both 
armies  being  now  in  line  of  battle,  a  cannonading  was  commenced  by  a  por 
tion  of  the  artillery,  and  continued  for  an  hour.  During  its  progress  the 
Federal  infantry  were  ordered  to  lie  upon  the  ground  to  avoid  the  balls. 
But  at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  an  order  was  given  to  charge  upon  the 
nearest  batteries  of  the  enemy.  In  the  execution  of  this  order  by  the  thir 
teenth  Illinois  and  Stuart's  brigade,  Colonel  Wyman  was  killed,  and  Gen 
eral  M.  L.  Smith  was  wounded.  The  sixth  and  eighth  Missouri  assisted 
in  the  assault.  The  result  was  that  the  enemy  removed  their  guns,  and 
retired  to  a  position  on  the  other  side  of  an  intervening  lagoon  at  the  foot 
of  the  bluffs. 

During  the  progress  of  this  operation  heavy  cannonading  was  heard  at 
a  distance  on  the  left,  which  was  supposed  to  come  from  the  attack  made 
bv  General  Steele.  To  occupy  the  attention  of  the  rest  of  the  enemy's 


THE  ASSAULT  UPON  VICKSBURG.  429 

forces,  General  Sherman  resolved  to  attempt  the  carrying  of  the  outer  line 
of  the  Rebels  by  assault.  General  Morgan  and  Colonel  De  Courcey  were 
ordered  to  the  front  with  their  forces ;  Colonel  Landrum's  brigade  was 
held  as  a  reserve.  In  spite  of  an  intervening  slough,  in  which  the  Fed 
erals  sank  up  to  their  knees,  they  advanced  bravely.  After  a  short  con 
flict  the  enemy  abandoned  their  works  and  fled.  Thus  the  first  line  was 
carried  without  much  difficulty.  It  was  from  the  position  thus  obtained 
that  the  Federals  for  the  first  time  saw  the  full  extent  and  the  formidable 
nature  of  the  intrenchmeuts  which  they  would  be  required  to  take  before 
they  could  capture  the  city. 

After  this  success,  the  Federal  land  forces  ceased  their  operations  for 
that  day.  During  its  progress  the  gunboats  on  the  river  had  not  been 
idle.  The  Benton,  Louisville,  and  DeKalb,  proceeded  toward  the  batteries 
of  the  Rebels  on  the  lesser  Haines'  Bluff,  and  commenced  an  attack  upon 
them.  An  engagement  of  an  hour's  duration  ensued,  in  which  about  sixty 
guns  were  fired  on  each  side,  and  by  each  vessel.  Before  its  conclusion 
Captain  Gwin,  of  the  Benton,  was  mortally  wounded,  and  his  vessel  was 
twice  perforated  by  the  balls  of  the  enemy.  Four  men  were  killed  on 
board.  It  soon  became  evident  that  the  attack  on  this  point  was  a  failure^ 
and  the  vessels  were  withdrawn  from  the  contest. 

It  was  on  Monday,  the  29th  of  December,  that  the  last  grand  assault  on 
Yicksburg  was  attempted.  The  point  selected  for  this  purpose  was  the 
one  at  which  the  enemy  confidently  anticipated  it ;  it  was  therefore  in 
judiciously  chosen,  and  placed  the  Federal  forces  at  a  disadvantage.  It 
was  on  the  only  accessible  wagon -road  which  led  into  the  city.  The  first 
gun  was  fired  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.  ,Soon  battery  after  battery 
was  hurried  up  into  position,  until  twelve  of  these  threw  their  hailstorms 
upon  the  position  of  the  enemy  on  the  elevated  plateau  above  them.  The 
Rebels  responded  with  the  utmost  celerity  and  resolution.  The  air  was 
soon  filled  with  a  deluge  of  shot  and  shell  passing  in  opposite  directions 
on  their  missions  of  destruction.  The  noise  and  reverberation  were  deaf 
ening,  and  for  two  hours  it  continued  without  the  least  intermission. 
Then  came  a  pause.  An  important  movement  was  now  contemplated  by 
General  Sherman.  It  was  nothing  less  than  a  general  assault  for  the 
purpose  of  storming  the  woiks  of  the  enemy.  The  necessary  dispositions 
and  changes  were  effected.  General  Steele's  men  were  brought  forward 
close  to  those  of  Morgan.  A  concentration  of  troops  was  made  at  the 
forks  of  an  intervening  bayou.  On  the  left  of  the  bayou  were  placed  the 
troops  of  General  Blair.  At  length,  at  half-past  two  in  the  day,  General 
Sherman  gave  the  order  to  advance.  It  was  executed  by  the  men  with 
admirable  spirit  and  valor.  They  rushed  forward  toward  the  second  line 
of  the  enemy,  and  in  spite  of  the  murderous  "discharge  both  of  musketry 
and  artillery  which  was  poured  into  their  ranks  they  succeeded  in  reach 
ing  the  intrenchments  of  the  foe,  and  after  a  desperate  contest  drove  them 


430  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

out  of  their  strongholds.  But  they  had  lost  fearfully  during  the  progress 
of  this  achievement,  and  with  thinned  and  shattered  ranks  prepared  to 
continue  the  contest. 

"When  all  were  ready  to  resume  the  charge  General  Blair's  brigade 
advanced  with  the  utmost  heroism  toward  the  still  more  formidable  bat 
teries  of  the  foe.  They  climbed  the  hill,  as  before,  amid  a  flood  of  deadly 
missiles.  They  were  followed  by  the  troops  of  Fletcher,  Diester,  Thayer, 
Cavender,  and  Peckham.  At  last  the  stars  and  stripes  were  planted  near 
the  interior  breastworks  of  the  enemy.  Then  came  a  mortal  combat,  on 
the  issue  of  which  depended  the  fate  of  the  day.  It  were  vain  to  attempt 
to  describe  the  intensity  of  that  struggle,  in  which  brave  men,  commanded 
by  valiant  and  skilful  officers,  exerted  the  last  resources  of  heroism  and 
fortitude  to  achieve  a  glorious  result.  The  superior  advantages  which 
the  enemy  possessed  in  position  and  in  artillery,  as  well  perhaps  as  in 
numbers,  rendered  the  most  determined  efforts  of  the  Federal  troops  and 
officers  unavailing.  They  were  hurled  down  the  battlemented  heights  of 
Yicksburg,  with  fearful  losses — broken,  mangled,  decimated,  disconcerted. 
The  carnage  was  terrible.  The  place  was  in  fact  impregnable  to  such  a 
force,  attacked  from  such  a  position,  without  proper  reconnoissances  of  the 
positions  of  the  Rebels,  and  without  the  necessary  combinations,  by  the 
commander-in-chief,  to  divide  the  strength,  divert  the  attention,  and  con 
found  the  counsels  of  the  enemy.  Many  obstacles  of  a  peculiar  character 
impeded  the  operations  and  diminished  the  effectiveness  of  the  Federal 
forces.  Among  these,  in  addition  to  the  immense  strength  of  the  position 
and  guns  of  the  Rebels,  were  their  insidious  rifle-pits,  the  deep  sloughs 
and  bayous,  the  undergrowth  of  felled  trees  and  brushwood,  and  the 
numerous  abattis  which  had  been  constructed.  While  the  Federals  were 
overcoming  these  obstacles  with  difficulty,  the  powerful  and  numerous 
artillery  of  the  foe  had  ample  time  to  assail  them,  and  to  diminish  their 
strength  by  adding  to  their  multitude  of  wounded  and  slain. 

It  was  now  evident  that  this  attack  on  Yicksburg  was  and  must  needs 
be  a  failure.  It  was  clear  that  the  city  could  not  be  taken  with  the  Yazoo 
as  a  base  of  operations.  The  Federal  losses  had  already  amounted  to 
about  six  hundred  killed,  fifteen  hundred  wounded,  one  thousand  prisoners. 
On  Thursday,  January  14th,  1863,  General  McClernand  arrived  at  the 
camp,  and  before  General  Sherman  could  organize  any  further  offensive 
operations  he  was  superseded  in  the  command  by  that  officer.  At  a  coun 
cil  of  war  held  on  board  the  Tigress  between  the  commanders  of  the  land 
and  naval  forces  of  the  expedition,  the  conclusion  was  arrived  at  that  it 
would  be  vain  and  ruinous  to  renew  the  attack  on  Yicksburg  at  that  time 
and  with  their  present  force.  The  consequence  was  that  the  project  was 
abandoned  for  the  present.  After  several  days  the  troops  were  re-em 
barked  upon  the  fleet,  and  preparations  made  to  direct  the  energies  of  the 


MINOR   ENGAGEMENTS   IN  MISSOURI.  431 

brave  troops  who  had  failed  before   Vicksburg  under  more   favorable 
auspices  in  some  other  direction. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  1863,  the  Rebels  attacked  Springfield,  Missouri, 
in  considerable  force.  The  place  was  defended  by  Colonel  Crabb,  who 
commanded  the  nineteenth  Iowa.  The  enemy  made  several  desperate 
charges,  but  were  uniformly  repulsed,  so  that  they  eventually  retired  in 
confusion.  They  left  thirty-five  dead  upon  the  field,  but  carried  their 
wounded  away  with  them.  The  Federal  loss  was  seventeen  killed,  fifty- 
two  wounded.  An  engagement  also  took  place  at  the  same  time  at 
Hartsville,  Missouri,  in  which  seven  hundred  Federal  troops,  under  Major 
Collins,  attacked  and  routed  several  thousand  Rebels  under  General  Mar- 
maduke.  The  latter  were  chased  five  miles  southward.  The  Federal  loss 
was  thirty-five  killed  and  wounded ;  that  of  the  enemy  was  about  one 
hundred 


432  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

A  PECULIAR  FEATURE  OP  THE  HISTORY  OF  THIS  CIVIL  WAR — THE  BATTLE  OF  HUNT'S  CROSS 
ROADS  IN  TENNESSEE GALLANTRY  OF  GENERAL  SULLIVAN  AND  THE  INDIANA  TROOPS — 

DEFEAT  OF  FORREST HIS  FLIGHT  TO  THE  TENNESSEE  RIVER THE  EXPEDITION  OF  GEN 
ERAL  CARTER  INTO  EAST  TENNESSEE — ITS  OBJECTS ITS  SUCCESS — DIFFICULTIES  AND 

MERIT  OF  THE  UNDERTAKING SKIRMISH  NEAR  MOOREFIELD,  VIRGINIA ATTACK  OF  THS 

REBELS  ON  GALVESTON — THEIR  SUCCESS CAPTURE  OF  THE  HARRIET  LANE — EXPLOSION 

OF  THE  WESTFIELD FEDERAL  LOSSES  ON  THIS  OCCASION — ADDRESS  OF  THE  WORKING- 
MEN  OF  MANCHESTER,  ENGLAND,  TO  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN — HIS  REPLY THE  BOMBARDMENT 

OF  ARKANSAS  POST — LAND  AND  NAVAL  FORCES  DETAILED  TO  THIS  SERVICE — THE  LOCA 
TION  AND  IMPORTANCE  OF  ARKANSAS  POST—  COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  ASSAULT  BY  ADMIRAL 

PORTER CO-OPERATION  OF  THE  LAND  TRO*.  PS  UNDER  GENERAL  M'CLERNAND INCIDENTS 

OF  THE  CONFLICT — SURRENDER  OF  THE  FORT  AND  OF  THE  REBEL  TROOPS — LOSSES  ON 
BOTH  SIDES — TALUE  OF  THE  CONQUEST — SKETCHES  OF  ADMIRAL  PORTER  AND  GENERAL 
M'CLERNAND. 

FEW  wars  have  occurred  in  any  country,  or  any  age,  in  which  the 
number  of  battles  fought  was  so  great — in  which  the  activity  of  the  com 
batants  was  so  restless^and  unceasing — in  which  so  many  important  move 
ments  were  progressing  at  the  same  time  over  the  immense  area  of  con 
flict,  as  in  the  civil  war  in  the  United  States.  It  is  this  peculiar  feature 
of  the  struggle  which  renders  its  history  so  sanguinary  and  martial,  so 
destitute  of  gentler  and  more  pleasing  details,  and  which  compels  the 
author  to  pen,  and  the  reader  to  peruse,  so  monotonous  a  narrative  of  bat 
tles,  slaughters,  and  sieges.  It  is  an  evil  inseparable  from  the  nature  of 
the  subject. 

Contemporary  with  the  battles  of  Murfreesboro  and  Vicksburg  was  that 
which  occurred  near  Hunt's  cross-roads,  in  Tennessee.  The  Confederate 
General  Forrest  commanded  seven  thousand  troops,  chiefly  cavalry,  to 
gether  w;th  a  battery  pf  ten  guns.  The  Federal  hero,  J.  C.  Sullivan,  from 
Indiana,  led  six  thousand  men  into  the  action,  together  with  eight  pieces 
of  artillery.  The  engagement  took  place  in  the  vicinity  of  Lexington. 
Forrest,  after  gathering  seventy-five  wagons  loaded  with  plunder  and 
other  spoil,  was  endeavoring  to  make  good  his  retreat  beyond  the  Ten 
nessee  river,  which  he  purposed  to  cross  at  Clifton.  Sullivan  was  sent 
out  from  Jackson  to  intercept  him,  and  defeat  his  purpose.  As  soon  as 
he  received  information  that  the  Federal  general  was  in  pursuit  of  him, 
he  returned  toward  Clifton,  but  was  overtaken,  and  compelled  to  fight,  at 
Hunt's  cross-roads,  on  the  31st  of  December.  As  soon  as  the  two  armies 
came  in  sight  of  each  other,  preparations  were  made  for  a  combat.  Both 
columns  were  formed  in  line  of  battle  on  an  extensive  plain.  Soon  the 
enemy  opened  with  their  artillery,  which  were  well  posted  and  served. 


OPERATIONS   ON   THE   EAST  TENNESSEE   RAILROAD.          433 

The  battle  was  gallantly  commenced  on  the  Federal  side  by  Major  Atkin 
son,  in  command  of  the  fiftieth  Indiana.  In  the  early  part  of  the  engage 
ment  the  advantage  was  on  the  side  of  the  enemy.  The  Federal  troop3 
were  nearly  all  raw  recruits,  while  those  of  the  Rebels  were  experienced 
veterans.  They  had  also  the  advantage  of  more  numerous  and  better 
served  artillery.  But  the  Indiana  troops  displayed  an  unusual  degree 
of  steadiness,  and  continued  to  advance  and  charge  upon  the  foe,  notwith 
standing  the  terrible  losses  inflicted  upon  them.  The  charges  made  by 
the  Confederates  in  return  were  manfully  resisted,  and  a  fierce  and 
desperate  close  combat  ensued,  upon  the  issue  of  which  depended  the 
success  of  the  day.  At  length  the  gunners  were  driven  from  two  of  the 
cannon  of  the  enemy.  The  Federals  rushed  forward,  captured  them,  and 
turned  them  upon  the  Rebels.  This  was  the  turning  point  of  the  battle. 
The  enemy  were  gradually  overpowered  throughout  the  entire  field. 
They  then  fled  in  confusion,  leaving  an  immense  number  of  dead  and 
wounded  behind  them.  Their  entire  loss  was  nearly  one  thousand.  Four 
hundred  of  these  were  prisoners,  who,  together  with  seven  cannon,  their 
caissons  and  ammunition,  five  hundred  horses,  many  wagons,  ambulances? 
and  small  arms,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Federals.  The  loss  of  the  latter 
was  twenty  killed,  one  hundred  wounded,  sixty  prisoners.  During  the 
engagement  Colonels  Dunham  and  Fuller,  Majors  Smith  and  Atkinson, 
specially  distinguished  themselves. 

Similar  success  attended  the  expedition  which  was  sent  by  General 
Granger  to  destroy  the  bridges  of  the  East  Tennessee  railroad.  The  force 
detailed  to  this  service  consisted  of  a  thousand  cavalry,  and  was  placed 
under  the  command  of  General  Carter.  That  officer  proceeded  from  Man 
chester,  Kentucky,  toward  the  Union  and  Watauga  bridges.  He  encoun 
tered  the  enemy  in  considerable  force  at  both  places,  and  several  spirited 
actions  ensued,  in  which  the  enemy  were  defeated.  General  Carter  suc 
ceeded  in  destroying  both  bridges,  as  well  as  ten  miles  of  the  railroad,  in 
killing,  wounding,  and  capturing  about  five  hundred  Rebels,  and  in  ob 
taining  seven  hundred  stand  of  arms,  and  a  large  amount  of  ammunition 
and  stores.  These  successes  were  achieved  in  the  face  of  great  difficulties, 
in  consequence  of  the  almost  impassable  nature  of  the  country,  the  inclem 
ency  of  the  weather,  and  the  distance  to  be  travelled.  The  last  was  two 
hundred  miles,  both  in  going  and  in  returning.  The  Federal  los$  was  in 
significant,  being  only  ten  killed,  when  compared  with  the  importance  of 
the  results  accomplished.  The  chief  of  these  was  the  severing  of  one  of  the 
main  avenues  of  communication  between  Virginia  and  the  southwest.  So 
valuable  were  the  consequences  of  this  expedition  regarded,  that  General 
Halleck,  the  commander-in-chief,  expressed  his  admiration  of  General 
Carter's  achievement  in  a  letter  of  commendation  to  General  Wright,  the 
Federal  commander  of  the  department  in  which  it  occurred. 

On  the  3d  of  January,  1863,  a  spirited  skirmish  took  place  at  Moorefield, 
23 


434  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Virginia,  between  the  hundred  and  sixteenth  Ohio,  under  Lieutenant  Col 
onel  Wilder,  assisted  by  a  section  of  Keeper's  battery,  and  a  body  of  Rebels 
commanded  by  General  Jones.  The  Federals  were  encamped  near  this 
town,  and  the  purpose  of  the  enemy  evidently  was  to  surprise  and  capture 
them.  They  came  upon  them  suddenly,  and  opened  the  assault  with  their 
artillery.  To  this  salute  the  Federals  responded  with  courage  and  skill, 
and  soon  succeeded  in  silencing  several  of  their  guns.  The  attack  was 
then  continued  by  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy,  but  they  were  effectually 
checked  by  the  well  directed  discharges  of  musketry  which  proceeded  from 
the  ranks  of  the  Federals.  The  Rebels,  however,  continued  the  engage 
ment  with  stubbornness,  and  the  issue  might  have  been  doubtful,  perhaps 
adverse,  had  not  reinforcements  opportunely  arrived.  Colonel  Washburn 
reached  the  scene  of  conflict  from  Petersburg  in  command  of  the  twelfth 
Ohio,  with  a  portion  of  Chalfont's  battery.  This  unexpected  assistance 
eventually  decided  the  contest ;  for  the  enemy,  fearing  to  be  overpowered 
between  two  hostile  forces,  at  length  retreated  in  the  direction  of  the  South 
Fork  road,  and  over  the  mountains  toward  Petersburg.  At  Petersburg 
Colonel  Washburn  had  left  behind  a  number  of  sick  soldiers.  These  per 
sons  the  retiring  foe  paroled  on  their  route,  and  thus  it  was  that  they 
claimed  the  honor  of  having  captured  a  large  body  of  prisoners.  The 
losses  on  both  sides  in  this  skirmish  were  inconsiderable ;  and  the  action 
itself  would  have  been  unworthy  of  record,  were  it  not  for  the  unusual 
coolness  and  valor  exhibited  by  the  Federal  troops  during  its  progress. 

One  of  the  most  complete  and  signal  victories  gained  by  the  Confederate 
arms  in  this  war  was  achieved  at  Galveston,  Texas,  on  the  last  day  of  1862, 
and  on  the  first  of  1863.  The  possession  of  this  place  was  of  great  import 
ance  to  the  Federal  cause,  inasmuch  as  it  controlled  a  large  portion  of  the 
seaboard  of  that  State.  Accordingly,  a  naval  force  had  been  sent  three 
months  previous  to  this  date  to  capture  it.  This  achievement  was  accom 
plished  with  little  difficulty,  for  the  military  strength  of  the  enemy  there  was 
then  insignificant.  But  the  latter  formed  the  resolution  to  recapture  and 
possess  it  at  the  earliest  possible  period.  The  Federal  naval  force  posted  at 
Galveston  was  commanded  by  Commodore  Renshaw ;  but  as  it  was  evident 
that  no  defence  could  be  made  of  the  city  if  an  attack  were  made  by  the 
enemy,  a  land  force  had  been  sent  to  his  assistance,  which  reached  its  posi 
tion  on  the  25th  of  December.  This  consisted  of  three  companies  of  the 
forty-second  Massachusetts,  commanded  by  Colonel  Burrill,  together  with 
additional  troops  and  stores.  These  were  conveyed  to  Galveston  on  the 
steamers  Saxton,  Cambria  and  Mary  Board  man. 

The  situation  of  Galveston  is  peculiar.  It  stands  upon  an  island,  and  ia 
connected  with  the  mainland,  which  is  nearly  five  miles  distant,  by  a  mag 
nificent  bridge.  The  Rebels  had  collected  a  considerable  force  at  the  op 
posite  extremity  of  this  structure,  on  Virginia  Point.  To  prevent  their 
approach  to  Galveston,  Commodore  Renshaw  had  determined  to  destroy 


CAPTURE   OF  THE  HARRIET  LANE.  435 

this  bridge;  but  his  purpose  was  altered  by  an  arrangement  by  which  the 
enemy  agreed  that  it  should  not  be  used  for  the  transfer  of  troops,  or  for 
any  other  contraband  purpose.  This  lenity  was  afterward  perverted,  and 
the  Rebels  planted  a  battery  at  Virginia  Point.  This  act  compelled  Com 
modore  Renshaw  to  station  the  Harriet  Lane  at  the  other  terminus  of  the 
bridge.  Trains  of  cars  were,  however,  allowed  to  pass  at  any  hour  of  the 
day  and  night;  and  during  the  night  of  the  31st  of  December,  the  Rebels^ 
acting  in  concert  with  their  naval  force  in  the  bay,  sent  over  a  large  num 
ber  of  troops  and  guns.  The  troops  amounted  to  about  three  thousand  ; 
the  guns  numbered  fourteen  pieces  of  light  artillery.  During  that  night 
they  erected  a  battery  on  Pelican  island,  which  they  purposed  to  turn 
upon  the  Federal  gunboats,  when  they  proceeded  to  the  assistance  of  the 
Harriet  Lane,  after  the  attack  upon  her  began. 

On  the  evening  of  the  31st  of  December,  the  approach  of  the  Rebel 
gunboats  was  first  discovered  by  the  lookout  on  board  Commodore  Ren- 
shaw's  flagship  TVestfield.  They  were  four  in  number,  and  the  Westfield, 
together  with  the  Clifton,  advanced  to  encounter  them.  But  the  wind  and 
tide  being  stronger  than  usual,  they  were  diverted  from  their  intended 
course,  and  carried  on  to  Pelican  island,  where  they  grounded.  Precisely 
at  this  time,  an  attack  was  made  by  the  land  forces  of  the  enemy  upon  the 
town.  The  moon  shone  so  brightly  on  the  animated  scene,  as  to  render 
every  object  perfectly  distinct,  and  the  operations  of  the  different  parties, 
both  on  land  and  sea,  were  visible  to  each  other.  As  soon  as  the  attack 
of  the  enemy  was  commenced  on  Galveston,  the  Harriet  Lane  opened  upon 
them.  She  immediately  became  the  object  of  their  assault.  She  was 
surrounded  on  all  sides,  and  soon  hundreds  of  the  Rebels  succeeded  in 
reaching  her  deck.  A  spirited  but  transient  combat  ensued  for  the  pos 
session  of  the  vessel.  Yery  soon  after  its  commencement  her  commander, 
Captain  Wainwright,  was  slain.  The  crew  of  the  Harriet  Lane  then  be 
came  disheartened,  and  no  longer  defended  the  vessel.  But  as  soon  as  the 
enemy  gained  possession  of  her,  they  turned  her  guns  upon  the  LTnion 
gunboats.  Before  her  fate  was  known,  the  Owasco  approached  her,  and 
received  several  broadsides  from  her  guns.  But  as  soon  as  her  real  situa 
tion  was  known,  the  Owasco  sent  a  ball  through  the  machinery  of  her 
engine,  and  disabled  her. 

These  events  occupied  the  hours  of  the  night.  Toward  morning,  the 
enemy  attacked  the  Federal  land  forces  who  were  posted  in  defence  of  the 
city,  and  their  vast  preponderance  of  "numbers  soon  gave  them  a  resistless 
advantage.  The  Federals  fought  bravely,  a  large  portion  of  them  were 
slain,  and  the  city  fell  into  the  complete  possession  of  the  enemy.  As 
soon  as  this  result  was  attained,  General  Mngruder,  the  commander  of  the 
Rebel  land  forces,  sent  a  boat  to  the  commodore,  demanding  the  surrender 
of  the  fleet.  It  was  nine  o'clock,  and  he  allowed  but  a  single  hour  for 
deliberation.  In  this  emergency  Commodore  Renshaw  adopted  the  reso- 


436  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

lution  to  blow  up  the  Westfield,  and  sent  orders  to  the  remaining  vessels 
of  the  squadron  to  the  effect  that,  as  soon  as  the  explosion  occurred,  each 
vessel  should,  if  possible,  make  good  its  escape  to  the  sea. 

It  was  now  half-past  nine,  and  the  order  was  given  that  every  one 
should  abandon  the  fated  flag-ship  within  fifteen  minutes.  Prepara 
tions  were  instantly  made  for  the  explosion.  The  vessel  was  saturated 
with  turpentine.  The  powder  magazine  was  thrown  open.  The  safety- 
valve  of  the  steam-engine  was  chained  down.  At  length  all  was  ready. 
The  crew  had  been  transferred  to  the  Boardman,  and  none  now  remained 
except  the  commodore,  Lieutenant  Green,  the  Chief  Engineer  Zimmerman, 
and  the  crew  of  the  commodore's  gig.  At  length  these  left  the  vessel, 
when  the  commodore,  standing  at  the  gangway,  applied  a  match  to  the 
train.  Instantly  a  premature  explosion  took  place,  which  blew  the  ship 
to  fragments,  and  destroyed  the  gallant  officers  and  men  who  were  about 
to  depart  from  her  side.  Immediately  after  the  shock,  the  Federal  gun 
boats  commenced  their  flight  toward  the  sea.  The  Rebel  gunboats  pur 
sued  them,  but  were  unable  to  overtake  them.  They  had  previously 
captured  the  Harriet  Lane,  two  barques,  one  schooner,  a  yacht,  and  several 
transports.  Thus  ended  the  attack  and  the  conflict  at  Galveston.  The 
Federal  loss  was  heavy,  consisting  of  about  three  hundred  in  killed 
wounded,  and  missing.  Thirteen  had  been  slain  by  the  explosion  of  the 
Westfield.  Among  those  slain  on  the  Harriet  Lane  was  her  valiant  com 
mander,  Captain  Wainwright.  His  death  was  one  of  the  chief  causes  of 
the  feeble  defence  which  was  subsequently  made  by  the  crew  of  the  vessel. 
Had  he  survived  it  is  probable  that  the  Confederates  would  not  have 
gained  so  Q&sy  and  so  prompt  a  victory,  nor  would  the  Federal  arms  have 
suffered  one  of  the  most  disgraceful  defeats  of  the  war. 

While  the  civil  war  in  the  United  States  was  thus  progressing  with 
varied  fortunes,  its  events  and  probable  issue  were  exciting  increased  in 
terest  in  Europe.  The  suspension  of  the  exportation  of  cotton  from  the 
Southern  States  by  the  Federal  blockade,  had  produced  an  important  and 
disastrous  effect  upon  the  immense  manufacturing  communities  of  several 
countries  of  that  continent,  and  the  impressions  which  were  created  by 
this  result  were  intense  and  varied.  The  aristocratic  and  moneyed  ranks 
had  become,  to  a  considerable  extent,  hostile  to  the  Union,  whose  arma 
ments  had,  in  order  to  suppress  the  Rebellion,  intercepted  and  diminished 
their  enormous  profits.  But  the  great  majority  of  the  working  classes 
condemned  the  secession  movement,  and  admitted  the  justice  and  necessity 
of  the  policy  pursued  by  the  Federal  Government  to  crush  it.  Many 
illustrations  of  this  fact  were  now  furnished,  but  one  of  these  was  so  sig 
nificant  that  it  demands  a  place  in  our  history. 

On  the  last  day  of  1862,  an  immense  meeting  was  held  in  Manchester, 
England,  composed  chiefly  of  operatives,  at  which  an  address  was  prepared 
and  sent  to  Abraham  Lincoln.  Several  persons  of  distinction  were 


ADDRESS   FROM  THE  WORKINGMEN   OF   MANCHESTER.       4?>1 


present  and  took  part  in  the  proceedings,  among  whom  were  M 
a  member  of  Parliament,  Professor  Greenbank,  and  Mr.  lleywood,  mayor 
of  the  city.  The  utmost  enthusiasm  prevailed.  After  several  speeches 
had  been  delivered,  the  address  to  the  President  was  read,  and  subse 
quently  adopted.  Its  purpose  was  to  express  the  fraternal  sentiments 
entertained  by  the  citizens  of  Manchester  toward  him,  and  toward  this 
country  ;  to  applaud  the  greatness  of  the  American  people  as  an  outgrowth 
of  England,  and  to  honor  the  United  States  as  ua  singularly  happy  abode 
for  the  working  millions,"  where  industry  and  thrift  were  encouraged  and 
protected  as  they  merited.  One  thing  alone,  the  address  proceeded  to  say, 
had  lessened  the  sympathy  of  its  authors  with  the  American  people.  That 
was  the  fact  that  influential  politicians  had  not  only  succeeded  in  main 
taining  the  existence  of  negro  slavery  among  them,  but  were  endeavoring 
to  root  it  more  firmly,  and  extend  it  more  widely.  But  since  they  had 
discovered  that  the  efforts  of  the  free  North  were  now  energetically  de 
voted  to  the  suppression  of  slavery,  their  sympathies  were  entirely  won 
over  to  the  cause  of  the  Union.  The  address  then  commended  the  several 
anti-slavery  measures  adopted  by  Mr.  Lincoln,  particularizing  among  the 
rest  his  determination  to  receive  ambassadors  from  the  negro  Kepublics  of 
Hayti  and  Liberia.* 


*  Other  portions  of  this  address  were  so  peculiar  and  significant  that  we  quote  them 
verbatim  : 

"  We  assure  you  that  you  cannot  now  stop  short  of  a  complete  uprooting  of  slavery. 
It  would  not  become  us  to  dictate  any  details,  but  there  are  broad  principles  of  hu 
manity  which  must  guide  you.  If  complete  emancipation  of  some  States  be  deferred, 
though  only  to  a  predetermined  day,  still,  in  the  interval,  human  beings  should  not 
be  counted  as  chattels.  Women  must  have  rights  of  chastity  and  maternity,  men  the 
rights  of  husbands,  masters  the  liberty  of  manumission.  Justice  demands  for  the  black, 
T,O  less  than  for  the  white,  the  protection  of  law — that  his  voice  be  heard  in  your  courts. 
Nor  must  any  such  abomination  be  tolerated  as  slave-breeding  States  and  a  slave 
market — if  you  choose  to  earn  the  reward  of  all  your  sacrifices  in  the  approval  of  the 
universal  brotherhood,  and  of  the  Divine  Father. 

"  It  is  for  your  free  country  to  decide  whether  any  thing  but  immediate  and  total 
emancipation  can  secure  the  most  indispensable  rights  of  humanity  against  the  invet 
erate  wickedness  of  local  laws  and  local  executives.  We  implore  you,  for  your  own 
honor  and  welfare,  not  to  faint  in  your  providential  mission.  While  your  enthusiasm 
is  aflame,  and  the  tide  of  events  runs  high,  let  the  work  be  finished  effectually.  Leave 
not  the  root  of  bitterness  to  spring  up  and  work  fresh  misery  to  your  children.  Tt  is 
a  mighty  task,  indeed,  to  reorganize  the  industry,  not  only  of  four  millions  of  the  col 
ored  race,  but  of  five  millions  of  whites.  Nevertheless,  the  vast  progress  which  you 
have  made  in  the  short  space  of  twenty  months,  fills  us  with  hope  that  every  stain  on 
your  freedom  will  shortly  be  removed,  and  that  the  erasure  of  that  foul  blot  upon 
civilization  and  Christianity— chattel-slavery — during  your  Presidency,  will  cause  the 
name  of  Abraham  Lincoln  to  be  honored  and  revered  by  posterity.  We  are  certain 
that  such  a  glorious  consummation  will  cement  Great  Britain  to  the  United  States  in 
close  and  enduring  regards.  Our  interests,  moreover,  are  indentified  with  yours.  We 
are  truly  one  people,  though  locally  separate.  And  if  you  have  anv  ill-wishers  here. 


438  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

On  the  19th  of  January,  1863,  President  Lincoln  responded  to  this  ad 
dress  of  "  the  working-men  of  Manchester."  After  thanking  them  for 
their  epistle,  he  proceeded  to  dwell  upon  the  chief  matter  of  his  commu 
nication,  which  was  to  set  forth  how  "  the  duty  of  self-preservation  rested 
solely  with  the  American  people."  He  then  expressed  his  regret  that  in 
the  performance  of  this  duty  other  nations  had  been  indirectly  involved 
to  some  extent  in  the  issue.  He  deplored  the  sufferings  to  which  the 
working  people  of  several  portions  of  Europe  were  subjected,  but  he  justly 
laid  the  blame  of  this  calamity  on  those  Rebels  and  traitors  who  were 
endeavoring  to  overturn  the  Federal  Government.  He  concluded  by 
thanking  them  for  their  sympathy,  and  expressing  the  wish  that  the  wise 
and  equitable  sentiments  which  they  had  uttered  might  be  universally 
diffused  among  the  whole  British  nation,  and  by  hoping  that  the  relations 
of  peace  and  good  will  which  existed  between  the  two  nations  might  be 
permanent  and  perpetual. 

Nothing  could  have  been  more  appropriate  and  dignified  than  the 
response  of  the  President  on  this  occasion,  and  it  was  with  pleasure  every 
loyal  citizen  in  the  United  States  observed  this  exhibition  of  friendly  and 
just  feeling  on  the  part  of  a  portion  of  the  British  people,  some  of  whom 
had  disgraced  themselves  by  sympathy  with  traitors,  and  a  disguised 
hostility  against  a  nation  whom  they  evidently  regarded  as  a  powerful 
and  hated  rival. 

Immediately  after  the  repulse  of  General  Sherman  before  Yicksburg, 
he  was  superseded,  as  has  been  already  narrated,  by  General  McClernand. 
The  new  commander  resolved  at  once  to  withdraw  from  the  attack  on  that 
city,  to  postpone  its  completion  until  a  more  propitious  period,  and  to 
direct  the  energies  of  his  troops  in  another  channel.  It  soon  appeared 
that  the  Rebel  fortress  known  as  Arkansas  Post,  was  to  be  the  next  object 
of  attack.  General  McClernand  requested  Rear  Admiral  D.  D.  Porter, 
who  commanded  a  portion  of  the  Mississippi  flotilla  of  iron-clads,  to  assist 
him.  That  officer  readily  complied,  and  ordered  the  Louisville,  Pittsburg, 
DeKalb,  Cincinnati,  together  with  the  ram  Monarch,  and  a  number  of 
light-draught  gunboats,  to  join  the  expedition. 

The  combined  military  and  naval  forces  reached  Montgomery  Point  on 
the  morning  of  the  8th  of  January,  1863.  On  the  following  day  they 
resumed  their  progress  up  the  White  river.  The  transports  were  preceded 
by  the  gunboats,  and  soon  reached  the  cut-off,  where  they  entered  the  red 
waters  of  the  Arkansas.  That  stream  was  obstructed  by  many  land-bars 
and  snags,  so  that  the  progress  made  was  very  slow.  On  the  evening  of 
the  9th,  the  expedition  arrived  at  Belleville,  a  village  situated  on  the  south 

be  assured  they  are  chiefly  those  who  oppose  liberty  at  home,  and  that  they  will  be 
powerless  to  stir  up  quarrels  between  us,  from  the  very  day  in  which  your  country 
becomes  undeniably  and  without  exception  the  home  of  the  free.  Accept  our  high 
admiration  of  your  firmness  in  upholding  the  proclamation  of  freedom. 


THE   BOMBARDMENT   OF   AllKAXSAS   i'U.ST  439 

Kuik  of  the  river,  ten  miles  below  Arkansas  Post.  Here  the  troops  were 
disembarked,  with  the  exception  of  one  division,  which  proceeded  up  the 
White  river  beyond  the  cut-off,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  flank  move 
ment,  and  intercepting  from  the  rear  the  line  of  the  retreat  of  the  enemy 
toward  Little  Rock. 

Arkansas  Post  was  one  of  the  oldest  settlements  in  the  State  whose 
name  it  bore.  It  was  founded  by  the  French  in  1685.  It  remained  for 
many  years  merely  a  frontier  trading-post,  and  was  the  favorite  resort  of 
hunters  and  trappers,  whose  adventurous  lives  were  spent  amid  the 
primeval  wilds  and  solitudes  of  that  remote  region.  It  stands  upon  a  bluff 
of  the  river,  eighty  feet  in  height.  Its  inhabitants  numbered  about  five 
hundred  at  the  period  of  the  attack.  Below  the  village,  at  a  point  where 
the  Arkansas  makes  an  abrupt  turn,  the  Rebels  had  erected  an  extensive 
fort.  It  was  rectangular  in  shape,  and  mounted  a  number  of  guns  on  each 
of  its  four  sides.  Each  side  was  a  hundred  yards  in  length.  The  guns 
facing  the  river  were  long  sixty-four  pounders,  which  the  enemy  regarded 
as  able  to  destroy  any  vessels  that  might  dare  to  approach  within  their 
vun^e.  Around  the  fort,  they  had  dug  a  ditch  fifteen  feet  wide,  and  an 
extensive  range  of  rifle  pits,  which  extended  along  the  bluff  so  as  to  sur 
round  the  village.  Outside  of  these  they  had  constructed  a  line  of  abatis, 
which  obstructed  the  approach  to  the  works  on  the  land.  All  of  the  roads, 
with  the  single  exception  of  the  one  which  led  to  Little  Rock — which 
they  reserved  for  their  own  escape,  if  necessary — had  been  encumbered  with 
felled  timber.  The  commandant  of  the  fort  was  Colonel  Dunnington. 
The  works  were  defended  by  about  five  thousand  Eebels,  beside  the  gar 
rison,  who  were  under  the  orders  of  General  Churchill.  These  were  con 
fident  of  victory  at  that  time,  because  they  had  already  repulsed  an  ill- 
advised  attack,  which  had  been  made  upon  them  some  months  before,  by 
General  Hovey,  who  was  defeated  more  by  the  physical  obstacles  which 
impeded  his  efforts,  than  by  the  valor  of  the  enemy. 

According  to  the  plan  of  attack  agreed  upon  between  General  McCler- 
nand  and  Admiral  Porter,  the  iron-clad  gunboats  advanced,  and  took 
their  position  about  four  hundred  yards  from  the  fort.  The  land  troops 
were  all  disembarked,  and  approached  the  works  by  different  routes,  and 
completely  surrounded  them.  The  assault  was  commenced  by  the  fleet, 
consisting  of  the  Louisville,  Pittsburg,  Rattler,  De  Kalb,  and  Cincinnati, 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  10th  of  January.  These  bom 
barded  the  enemy's  works,  during  an  hour  and  a  half,  with  great  energy 
and  spirit.  The  cannonading  was  tremendous  on  both  sides.  At  first 
the  proper  range  was  not  obtained.  The  balls  and  shells  of  the  Rebels 
passed  over  the  iron-clads,  while  the  missiles  of  the  latter  reached  the 
Federal  land  forces  in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  and  did  them  much  damage. 
But  soon  the  mistake  was  rectified.  The  result  was  that  in  a  short  time 
several  of  the  guns  of  the  enemy  were  silenced,  and  the  Union  vessels 


440  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

were  much  cut  up.  In  this  day's  action,  the  killed  on  the  Louisville  were 
twelve ;  those  on  the  De  Kalb  were  seventeen ;  those  on  the  Rattler  were 
two. 

After  a  contest  of  an  hour  and  a  half,  Admiral  Porter  signalled  to  his 
fleet  of  gunboats  to  suspend  their  fire.  The  reason  of  this  order  was  that 
night  was  approaching,  and  it  was  then  too  late  for  the  land  forces  to 
commence  and  to  conclude  their  co-operative  assault.  It  was  therefore 
determined  between  the  two  Federal  commanders  to  postpone  the  com 
pletion  of  the  undertaking  until  the  next  day.  The  gunboats  were  then 
withdrawn  from  the  vicinity  of  the  fort,  and  in  the  evening  General 
McClernand  visited  Admiral  Porter,  and  arranged  the  programme  for  the 
ensuing  day.  During  the  night  a  shot  was  fired  every  half  hour  to  inter 
rupt  the  repose  of  the  enemy,  and  on  Sunday  morning,  the  llth  of 
January,  at  daybreak,  the  attack  was  resumed. 

During  the  hours  of  darkness  the  Confederates  had  repaired  the  da  mage 
which  they  had  suffered,  and  had  replaced  their  dismounted  guns.  They 
therefore  responded  to  the  cannonading  of  the  fleet  with  undiminished 
fervor.  But  they  were  now  assailed  from  several  points  at  once.  The 
troops  under  McClernand  advanced  toward  the  fort.  General  Sherman, 
who  commanded  the  rear  division,  planted  a  number  of  light  artillery 
guns  in  a  favorable  position,  and  began  to  shell  the  Rebel  works. 
During  this  process  a  reinforcement  of  several  thousand  men  arrived  to 
the  enemy  from  Fort  Charles,  twenty-five  miles  distant  on  the  White 
river,  and  they  succeeded  in  entering  the  works.  The  Rebels  were  soon 
driven  by  the  land  forces  from  their  rifle-pits,  and  compelled  to  shelter 
themselves  behind  their  intrenchrnents.  Then  the  contest  continued  be 
tween  the  artillery  in  the  fortress  and  the  batteries  of  the  gunboats.  At 
one  o'clock  the  contest  increased  in  fury,  and  for  three  hours  and  a  half  a 
tremendous  cannonading  continued  without  any  intermission.  One  of 
the  shells  from  the  fleet  exploded  over  a  hundred  pound  Parrott  gun, 
which  was  mounted  on  the  southern  parapet  of  the  fort.  Seven  of  the 
men  who  worked  it  were  instantly  killed,  their  bodies  being  torn  into 
fragments,  and  the  remaining  nine  were  so  severely  wounded  as  to  be 
unfit  for  duty.  This  enormous  cannon  had  been  the  chief  reliance  of  the 
enemy  in  defending  their  position,  but  it  was  now  so  disabled  as  to  be 
useless.  The  spirited  and  accurate  firing  from  the  Federal  gunboats  soon 
began  to  tear  up  and  penetrate  the  solid  timber,  three  feet  in  thickness, 
which  formed  the  casemates  of  the  fort,  and  which  was  covered  with 
railroad  iron.  The  battered  rails  commenced  to  tumble  from  their  posi 
tion,  and  many  of  the  guns  behind  them  were  dismounted.  One  shot 
penetrated  a  caisson  of  the  enemy,  exploded  it,  destroying  six  men  and 
nine  horses.  With  the  fall  and  ruin  of  their  casemates,  the  situation  of 
the  Rebels  became  still  more  desperate ;  yet  they  bravely  continued  tho 
struggle  until  it  became  evident  that  further  resistance  was  useless. 


THE   SURRENDER  OE  ARKANSAS  POST.  441 

During  the  progress  of  the  battle  the  enemy  had  at  one  time  emerged 
from  their  works,  and  attacked  the  Federal  right  wing,  with  the  inten 
tion  of  making  their  escape  in  the  direction  of  Little  Rock.  Here  a 
desperate  fight  occurred ;  but  the  result  was  that  they  were  intercepted 
and  repulsed  by  the  division  which  had  crossed  from  the  White  river, 
and  which  had  been  expressly  detailed  for  that  duty.  The  enemy  were 
then  compelled  to  abandon  this  undertaking  and  return  to  their  works. 

At,  length,  at  half-past  four  o'clock,  General  Churchill,  the  commander 
of  the  Confederate  troops,  determined  to  yield,  and  sent  out  a  flag  of  truce 
proposing  a  capitulation.  The  answer  given  was  that  an  unconditional 
surrender  would  alone  be  accepted.  Immediately  after  the  return  of  the 
flag,  the  Rebel  colors  were  hauled  down,  and  the  works  given  up.  Col 
onel  Dunnington,  who  commanded  the  fort  and  its  garrison,  requested  per 
mission  to  surrender  to  Admiral  Porter.  This  request  was  complied  with. 
General  Churchill,  who  commanded  the  troops  that  had  been  stationed  in 
the  fort,  surrendered  to  General  McClernand.  As  these  two  officers  ap 
proached  each  other,  the  latter  exclaimed  :  "I  am  sorry  to  meet  you  under 
such  circumstances ;  but  your  men  fought  bravely  in  defending  the  fort." 
Churchill  replied  that  "  it  had  not  been  his  intention  to  surrender  so  soon, 
bat  that  the  event  had  been  hastened  by  treachery  within  his  lines." 
The  fortifications  were  then  entered  by  the  victors.  Four  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  ninety-one  of  the  garrison  were  surrendered  as  prisoners  of 
war,  and  paroled.  A  thousand  of  them  were  on  the  sick-list.  All  the  stores 
artillery,  munitions  of  war,  and  several  thousand  stand  of  small  arms, 
became  the  prizes  of  the  conquerors.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing,  was  five  hundred  and  fifty.  That  of  the  Federals 
was  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  killed,  eight  hundred  and  thirty- 
one  wounded,  and  seventeen  missing.  This  heavy  loss  was  to  be  attrib 
uted  to  the  fact  that  at  the  commencement  of  the  bombardment  the 
shells  of  the  gunboats  passed  over  the  fort,  and  fell  among  the  Federal 
troops  in  the  rear,  aud  that  some  time  elapsed  before  the  exact  range 
could  be  obtained. 

This  victory  was  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  Union  cause.  The 
fort  at  Arkansas  Post  had  been  erected  by  the  Confederates  for  the  defence 
of  the  passage  of  the  Arkansas  river.  This  stream  was  the  highway  to 
Little  Rock,  the  capital  of  the  State.  The  fortifications  were  so  situated, 
and  were  of  such  strength,  that  they  completely  commanded  the  trade  of 
the  river.  By  this  capture  it  became  comparatively  easy  for  Federal 
vessels  and  troops  to  ascend  to  Little  Rock,  and  also  to  communicate 
with  Generals  Blunt  and  Herron  in  the  interior ;  thus  dispensing  with 
the  transportation  of  supplies  to  them  over  a  long  and  tedious  route  from 
Rolla. 

The  chief  merit  of  this  conquest  was  due  to  the  tremendous  and  destruc 
tive  firing  of  the  gunboats,  whose  artillery  were  much  more  formidable 


442  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

than  those  of  the  Federal  land  forces.  The  gunboats  were  skilfully  com 
manded  by  Admiral  David  D.  Porter,  whose  prominence  in  many  of  the 
desperate  struggles  on  the  Mississippi  had  already  rendered  him  one  of  the 
chief  heroes  of  the  war.  This  officer  was  born  in  1814.  He  entered  the 
navy  as  midshipman  in  1829,  aboard  the  Constellation.  In  1835  he 
passed  his  examination,  and  then  served  six  years  on  the  coast  survey. 
He  was  commissioned  a  lieutenant  in  18-il,  and  served  during  four  years 
on  board  the  Congress  with  that  rank,  lie  was  subsequently  placed  on 
active  duty  under  Commodore  Tatnall,  in  the  Mexican  Gulf,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  the  naval  operations  which  were  connected  with  the  Mexi 
can  war.  At  a  later  period  he  commanded  one  of  the  steamers  of  the 
California  mail  company.  It  was  while  holding  this  position  that  ho 
boldly  defied  the  Spanish  authorities  at  Havana,  and  ran  his  ship  into 
the  harbor  of  that  city  in  the  face  of  the  shotted  and  threatening  guns  of 
Moro  Castle.  Immediately  after  the  commencement  of  the  Ee bell  ion  he 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  steam  sloop-of-war  Powhattan,  which 
carried  an  armament  of  eleven  guns.  He  distinguished  himself  greatly 
in  the  reduction  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  below  New  Orleans,  on 
which  occasion  he  commanded  the  mortar  fleet.  After  the  reduction  of 
New  Orleans  he  proceeded  up  the  Mississippi,  and  took  part  in  severs.! 
engagements.  lie  was  subsequently  ordered  to  the  James  river,  and 
while  on  his  way  thither  in  the  Octorara,  he  captured  the  Anglo-Kebel 
steamer  Tubal  Cain.  He  was  soon  afterward  appointed  to  the  supreme 
command  of  the  naval  forces  on  the  Mississippi,  with  the  rank  of  rear- 
admiral,  though  bis  squadron  was  held  distinct  from  the  Western  Gulf 
blockading  squadron  under  Admiral  Farragut.  His  first  exploit  after 
his  promotion  to  this  important  position  was  the  attack  and  capture  of 
Arkansas  Post. 

His  associate  in  this  achievement,  Major-General  John  A.  McClernand, 
was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was  known,  previous  to  the  commencement  of 
the  war,  as  a  prominent  lawyer  and  politician  in  Illinois.  He  took  a 
leading  part,  as  a  friend  of  Mr.  Douglas,  in  the  Charleston  Convention. 
When  hostilities  began,  he  abandoned  his  profession  and  entered  the 
military  service  of  his  country.  He  soon  obtained  the  rank  of  brigadier- 
general  of  volunteers,  and  distinguished  himself  in  the  engagements  at 
Belmont,  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson,  and  especially  at  Pittsburg  Land 
ing.  His  skill  and  gallantry  were  justly  rewarded  by  his  elevation  to  one 
of  the  highest  positions  in  the  army.  Having  superseded  General  Sher 
man,  on  the  2d  of  January,  in  command  of  the  Federal  army  before  Vicks- 
burg,  his  success  at  Arkansas  Post  soon  afterward  furnished  ample  evi 
dence  that  the  change  was  a  fortunate  one  for  the  promotion  of  the  inte 
rests  of  the  Union 


GENERAL  BURNSIDE  SUCCEEDED  BY   GENERAL  HOOKER:    4i3 


CHAPTER   XL. 

GB>KRAL    BURNSIDE    RESIGNS     THE   COMMAND    OF   THE    ARMY  OF  THE    POTOMAC — HE    IS    SCO 

CEEDED    BY    GENERAL    HOOKER THE    ARMY    IN    WINTER    QUARTERS IMPORTANCE    OF    THB 

QUESTION    OF    NEGRO    TROOPS    IN    THE    ARMY POLICY  OF    DIFFERENT  PARTIES  RESPECTING 

IT EXPLOITS    OF    THE    REBEL    STEAMER    ORETO DESTRUCTION    OF    THE    STEAMBOAT    HAT- 

TEItAS — EXPEDITION  OF    GENERAL  WEITZEL    UP    THE  BAYOU   TECHE DEATH  OF  COMMODORR 

BUCHANAN — SKIRMISH    AT    WOODBURY,    TENNESSEE — SECOND    SIEGE   OF    FORT   DONELSON — 

ITS  RESULT FEDERAL  VICTORY  OVER  GENERAL  PRYOR  ON    THE    BLACKWATER,  VIRGINIA 

TRIUMPH    OF    CONFEDERATE    RAMS    IN    THE    HARBOR    OF     CHARLESTON,    SOUTH    CAROLINA 

SKETCH   OF    COMMODORE    INGRAHAM THE  PASSAGE    OF    THE    NATIONAL   CURRENCY    BILL 

THE    CONSCRIPTION    LAW — LOSS    OF    THE     FEDERAL     STEAMER    QUEEN    OF    THE    WEST CAP 
TURE    OF    THE    FEDERAL    IRON-CLAD     INDIANOLA DESTRUCTION     OF     THE     REBEL    STEAMER 

NASHVILLE ATTACK    ON     FORT     M*ALLISTER RESOLUTIONS     OF     CONGRESS     DENOUNCING 

FOREIGN  INTERVENTION REMAINING  MILITARY  EVENTS  OF  FEBRUARY  AND  MARCH,  1863 

ENGAGEMENTS    AT    STRASBURG,  VIRGINIA AT    HARTWOOD    CHURCH,  VIRGINIA AT    BBADY- 

VILLE,  TENNESSEE AT  THOMPSON'S  STATION,  TENNESSEE. 

AFTER  the  repulse  of  the  Federal  army  at  Fredericksburg,  and  the 
failure  of  General  Burnside  as  its  commander  to  fulfil  the  expectations 
which  had  been  entertained  throughout  the  nation  of  important  and  felic- 
itious  results  from  his  abilities  and  experience,  he  asked  to  be  relieved 
from  his  command,  and  his  request  was  reluctantly  complied  with  by  the 
President.  On  the  26th  of  January,  1863,  General  Joseph  Hooker,  who 
had  been  appointed  his  successor  as  commander  of  the  army  of  the  Po 
tomac,  arrived  at  Falmouth,  and  assumed  his  new  duties.  General  Burn- 
side,  in  retiring  from  the  command,  issued  an  address  to  the  troops,  in 
which  he  urged  them  to  remain  faithful  in  their  devotion  to  their  country, 
until,  by  continued  success,  the  Rebellion  was  crushed.  On  the  following 
day,  his  successor  published  an  address  to  the  army,  in  which  he  in 
formed  them  that  by  direction  of  the  President  he  had  assumed  the  com 
mand  of  the  forces  at  Falmouth.  He  also  complimented  them  upon  their 
former  triumphs,  and  encouraged  them  to  hope  for  more  important  and 
brilliant  results  in  the  future.  The  new  general-in-chief  entered  upon  his 
duties  with  energy  and  vigor,  and  with  the  confidence  and  good  wishes 
both  of  the  army  and  the  nation. 

From  the  date  of  the  accession  of  General  Hooker  to  the  command  of 
the  army  of  the  Potomac,  a  period  of  several  months  was  destined  to 
elapse,  during  which  that  army  may  be  said  to  have  remained  at  Falmouth 
in  winter  quarters.  The  work  of  reorganization,  which  devolved  on  General 
Hooker,  was  an  immense  one,  and  some  time  necessarily  elapsed  before  its 
completion.  Important  changes  and  improvements  were  introduced,  anJ 
new  plans  were  formed  and  developed  in  reference  to  future  operations, 
which  involved  extensive  labors  and  profound  deliberation.  It  vvus  not 


444  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

until  the  spring  of  1863  had  fairly  opened  that  this  colossal  army  again 
moved  to  encounter  the  enemy.  During  the  interval,  events  of  interest 
were  transpiring  elsewhere  in  the  Eepublic,  both  of  a  civil  and  military 
character,  to  which  we  will  now  direct  our  attention. 

It  became  evident  to  every  observant  mind,  as  the  war  progressed,  that 
the  relation  of  the  negro  race  in  the  United  States  to  it,  and  their  future 
fate,  assumed  more  prominence  from  day  to  day.  That  party  in  the  Fed 
eral  Congress  who  were  termed  radical  Republicans,  of  whom  the  most 
prominent  were  Messrs.  Wilson  and  "Sumner,  of  Massachusetts,  Stevens 
and  Kelley,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Trumbull  and  Lovejoy,  of  Illinois,  were 
desirous  that  a  law  should  be  passed  providing  for  ttte  employment  of 
troops  of  African  descent  in  the  Federal  armies.  It  was  the  secret  con 
viction  of  every  intelligent  person  that  the  negro  community  were  in  a  great 
measure,  though  without  any  will  or  fault  of  their  own,  one  of  the  causes  of 
the  war,  and  that  it  was  just  that  they  should  be  made  to  endure  a  portion 
of  its  burdens  and  sufferings.  Another  class  felt  convinced,  in  conse 
quence  of  the-reverses  which  had  recently  befallen  the  Federal  arms,  that 
the  assistance  of  the  free  negroes,  as  well  as  of  those  who  had  been  eman 
cipated  in  the  South  by  the  troops  of  the  Union,  would  soon  be  indispen 
sably  necessary  to  the  ultimate  success  of  the  Federal  cause,  and  therefore 
that  no  real  patriot  could  oppose  the  employment  of  them  in  that  capacity. 
The  conservative  Republicans  and  the  Democrats  in  Congress  opposed  the 
measure,  on  the  ground  that  it  was  unnecessary ;  that  it  was  revolution 
ary  ;  that  it  would  be  repulsive  to  the  feelings  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
loyal  slave  States,  and  even  insulting  to  the  Federal  white  soldiers. 

On  the^28th  of  January,  Mr.  Stevens  introduced  a  bill  into  the  House 
of  Representatives  authorizing  the  employment  of  African  troops  in  the 
Federal  armies.  A  spirited  debate  ensued,  in  which  the  subject  was  fully 
discussed  on  both  sides.  But  the  proposition  proved  to  be  premature;  it 
was  therefore  withdrawn  for  the  present  by  that  astute  manager,  and  it 
was  not  until  a  later  period  that  he  and  his  associates  were  able  to  secure 
its  passage  by  the  House,  its  confirmation  by  the  Senate,  and  its  approval 
by  the  President.* 

*  The  bill  proposed  by  Mr.  Stevens,  and  eventually  passed  by  Congress,  was  as 
follows : 

"  Be  it  enacted,  etc.,  That  the  President  be,  and  he  is  hereby  authorized,  to  enroll, 
arm,  equip,  and  receive  into  the  land  and  naval  service  of  the  United  States,  such 
number  of  volunteers,  of  African  descent,  as  he  may  deem  useful  to  suppress  the 
present  Rebellion,  for  such  term  of  service  as  he  may  prescribe,  not  exceeding  five 
years;  the  said  volunteers  to  be  organized  according  to  the  regulations  of  the  branch 
of  service  in  which  they  may  be  enlisted,  to  receive  the  same  rations,  clothing,  and 
equipments  as  other  volunteers,  and  a  monthly  pay  not  to  exceed  that  of  the  volun 
teers;  to  be  officered  by  white  or  black  persons  appointed  and  commissioned  by  the 
President,  and  to  be  governed  by  the  rules  and  articles  of  war,  and  such  other  rules 
and  regulations  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  President. 


THE  REBEL  CRUISERS   ORETO   AI,~D  ALABAMA.  445 

At  the  commencement  of  1863,  the  Confederate  Government  had  suc 
ceeded  in  adding  several  formidable  vessels  to  their  marine  forces.  Among 
these  was  the  steam-corvette  Oreto,  which  had  been  confined  in  the  harbor 
rr  Mobile,  and  succeeded  in  escaping  therefrom  during  the  night  of  the 
16th  of  January.  She  was  chased  by  several  of  the  blockading  squadron, 
but  was  not  overtaken.  Her  escape  was  chiefly  due  to  her  superior  sail 
ing  qualities,  her  speed  being  greater  than  that  of  her  pursuers.  This 
vessel  was  built  in  Liverpool,  England,  and  its  owners  pretended  that  she 
was  intended  for  the  Italian  government.  She  carried  a  complement  of 
eight  heavy  guns ;  she  registered  seven  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  and  was 
one  of  the  best  constructed  vessels  of  her  class  then  afloat.  After  arriving 
in  the  vicinity  of  Cuba  her  genuine  character  was  revealed.  Her  com 
mander  was  Captain  John  Newland  Mafiit,  who  had  been  originally  ap 
pointed  to  the  United  States  navy  from  New  York,  but  subsequently 
became  a  citizen  of  Georgia.  When  the  Federal  navy  was  reduced  during 
the  administration  of  Mr.  Pierce,  Captain  Maffit  was  dropped  from  the 
service.  When  the  Kebellion  commenced  he  tendered  his  services  to 
Jefferson  Davis,  and  was  accepted.  lie  was  subsequently  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  Oreto,  or  Florida. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  the  commander  of  the  Alabama,  another  of  the 
piratical  cruisers  of  the  Rebel  Government,  was  guilty  of  a  most  dastardly 
outrage  upon  the  United  States  steamer  Ilatteras.  This  vessel  was  among 
those  which  succeeded  in  making  their  escape  after  the  conquest  of  Gal- 
veston  by  the  Confederates.  The  Alabama  came  within  sight  of  the 
Brooklyn  and  other  Federal  war  vessels  off  Galveston.  As  soon  as  she  was 
noticed  the  Ilatteras  was  despatched  to  ascertain  who  the  stranger  was. 
When  she  came  within  hailing  distance  Captain  Blake  demanded  the  name 
of  the  ship.  The  answer  given  was  that  she  was  her  majesty's  steamer 
Spitfire.  Blake  then  replied  that  he  would  send  a  boat  on  board  of  her. 
While  this  was  being  done  the  Alabama  suddenly  poured  a  tremendous 
broadside  into  the  Hatteras.  The  latter  replied  feebly  from  her  small 
battery  of  four  light  guns,  and  immediately  commenced  to  sink.  She  soon 
filled  and  went  to  the  bottom,  but  her  officers  and  most  of  her  crew  were 

"  Provided,  That  nothing  herein  contained,  or  in  the  rules  and  articles  of  war,  shall 
be  so  construed  as  to  authorize  or  permit  any  officer  of  African  descent  to  be  ap 
pointed  to  rank  or  to  exercise  military  or  naval  authority  over  white  officers,  soldiers, 
or  men  in  the  military  or  naval  service  of  the  United  States;  nor  shall  any  creator 
pay  than  ten  dollars  per  month,  with  the  usual  allowance  of  clothing1  and  rations,  he 
allowed  or  paid  to  privates  or  laborers,  of  African  descent,  which  are  or  may  be  in 
the  military  or  naval  service  of  the  United  States.  Provided  further,  That  the  slaves 
of  loyal  citizens  in  the  States  exempt  by  the  President's  proclamation  of  January  1st, 
1863,  shall  not  be  received  into  the  armed  service  of  the  United  States,  nor  shall 
there  be  recruiting  offices  opened  in  either  of  the  States  of  Delaware,  Maryland, 
West  Virginia,  Kentucky,  Tennessee  or  Missouri,  without  the  consent  of  the  Gover 
nors  of  the  said  States  having  been  first  obtained." 


446  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

rescued  by  boats  sent  from  the  Alabama.  The  Hatteras  was  an  iron 
steamer,  built  in  Wilmington,  Delaware,  which  had  recently  been  pur 
chased  by  the  Government,  and  fitted  out  for  the  service.  Her  side  was 
perforated  so  badly  by  the  accurate  aim  of  the  privateer  that  it  was  im 
possible  to  save  her. 

Contemporary  with  this  event  was  the  expedition  conducted  by  General 
Weitzel  up  the  Bayou  Teche  in  Louisiana,  the  purpose  of  which  was  to 
attack  and  destroy  a  Confederate  steamer  named  the  J.  A.  Cotton,  which 
had  long  been  committing  depredations  along  the  borders  of  that  stream, 
as  well  as  to  attack  the  Rebel  troops  collected  in  that  vicinity.  The  Fed 
eral  troops  commenced  to  move  from  Thibodeauxon  the  llth  of  January. 
They  consisted  of  the  eighth  Vermont,  the  seventy -fifth,  the  one  hundred 
and  sixtieth  New  York,  the  twelfth  Connecticut,  sixth  Michigan,  twenty- 
first  Indiana,  a  portion  of  the  first  Louisiana  cavalry,  four  regular  bat 
teries,  and  a  portion  of  the  seventy-fifth  New  York  as  sharpshooters. 
These  forces  were  accompanied  by  four  Federal  gunboats — the  Calhoun, 
Kinsman,  Diana,  and  Estrella — commanded  by  Commander  Buchanan. 
The  vessels  conveyed  the  troops,  with  the  exception  of  the  cavalry  and 
artillery,  which  proceeded  by  land. 

The  expedition  arrived  at  a  point  called  Corney's  bridge  at  six  o'clock 
in  the  morning  of  the  14th  of  January.  At  this  place  the  Confederates 
had  placed  a  formidable  obstruction  across  the  bayou,  consisting  of  a 
number  of  old  sunken  vessels  filled  with  stones,  which  rendered  it  impos 
sible  for  the  Federal  steamers  to  advance  any  further.  Beyond  this 
barrier  the  Cotton  was  moored,  awaiting  the  approach  of  her  assailants. 
At  half-past  eight  o'clock  an  artillery  duel  began  between  the  Federal 
gunboats  and  the  Cotton,  assisted  by  several  Eebel  batteries  which  were 
placed  upon  the  shore.  The  contest  was  a  fierce  one.  During  its  progress 
a  torpedo  exploded  under  the  stern  of  the  Kinsman  without  doing  her 
much  damage.  In  this  action  Commander  Buchanan,  who  served  on  board 
of  his  flag-ship,  the  Calhouu,  was  killed.  He  was  shot  by  a  rifle-ball 
in  the  temple,  and  expired  instantly.  The  fire  of  the  riflemen  and  bat 
teries  of  the  enemy  on  the  shore  was  unusually  deadly,  in  consequence  of 
their  proximity  to  the  Federal  vessels.  The  bayou  at  this  point  was  so 
narrow  that  the  Calhoun,  in  turning,  had  both  her  bow  and  her  stern 
aground  at  the  same  time. 

During  the  progress  of  this  contest  between  the  gunboats,  the  Federal 
land  forces,  who  had  previously  disembarked  at  Pattersonville  and 
Lynch's  Point,  proceeded  against  the  enemy  and  their  batteries,  and 
attacked  them  with  spirit.  They  were  soon  driven  from  their  rifle-pits 
and  from  their  breastworks.  Three  Federal  batteries — the  first  Maine, 
the  fourth  and  sixth  Massachusetts — had  proceeded  from  Pattersonville, 
through  the  woods,  to  a  point  above  the  Cotton,  from  which  they  could 
fire  upon  her  with  advantage.  Under  the  heavy  firing  of  these  guns,  to- 


REBEL  ATTACK   ON   FOilT   DONELSON.  447 

getlier  with  that  of  portions  of  the  seventy-fifth  and  one  hundred  and 
sixtieth  New  York,  this  vessel  was  thrice  compelled  to  retire  up  the  bayou 
after  thrice  advancing.  At  length  it  was  discovered  that  she  was  on  fire 
and  soon  the  immense  vessel  was  seen  drifting  down  the  stream,  deserted 
by  her  crew,  and  presenting  the  appearance  of  one  enormous  sheet  of 
flame.  The  Confederate  troops  were  soon  after  driven  away  from  the 
vicinity.  These  troops  consisted  of  the  twenty-eighth  Louisiana,  Simrns' 
battery,  Pelican's  battery,  and  Fournet's  battalion,  comprising  in  all  about 
twelve  hundred  men.  They  were  commanded  by  Colonel  Gray.  The 
Federal  loss  during  the  whole  expedition,  was  six  killed  and  twenty-seven 
wounded.  That  of  the  Confederates,  was  fifteen  killed,  fifty  wounded,  and 
forty-three  prisoners.  The  chief  misfortune  of  the  Federals  was  the  death 
of  Commander  Buchanan,  who  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  being  an  ex 
tremely  brave  and  skilful  officer.  The  expedition  having  thus  accom 
plished  the  purpose  of  its  mission,  which  was  not,  indeed,  one  of  very  great 
difficulty  or  importance,  returned  forthwith  to  Lafourche  station  near 
Thibodeaux.* 

Fort  Donelson,  situated  on  the  Cumberland  river,  which  had  already 
witnessed  one  of  the  most  signal  victories  of  the  Federal  troops  in  Feb 
ruary,  1862,  became  the  scene  of  another  contest  and  of  another  triumph 
to  the  Union  cause  in  the  beginning  of  February,  1863.  At  that  time,  a 
Rebel  force,  consisting  of  about  five  thousand  men,  commanded  by  Gen 
erals  Wheeler,  Forrest,  and  Wharton,  made  an  attack  upon  it.  The  fort 
then  contained  only  six  hundred  men  who  were  fit  for  duty.  These 
belonged  to  the  eighty-third  Illinois  regiment.  Notwithstanding  this 
immense  disparity  of  numbers,  the  Federal  troops,  commanded  by  Colonel 
A.  C.  Harding,  determined  to  resist  the  foe,  with  the  hope  that  assistance 
would  opportunely  arrive  from  the  gunboats  which  then  lay  at  Fort 
Henry.  Accordingly,  the  demand  to  surrender  by  the  Confederate  gen 
erals  was  courteously  declined,  and  the  action  commenced.  The  enemy 
brought  eight  guns  to  bear  on  the  works,  to  which  the  Federals  responded 
with  one  thirty-two  pounder  and  four  brass  cannon.  At  seven  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  after  a  contest  of  five  hours,  the  Rebels  despatched  a  second 
demand  to  surrender,  adding  the  statement  that  not  one  half  of  their 
force  had  as  yet  been  engaged.  A  second  refusal  was  given,  and  the 
enemy  was  further  informed  that  not  the  slightest  idea  of  yielding  had 
been  entertained.  The  battle  was  then  resumed.  But  soon  the  sound  of 
a  distant  gun,  echoing  up  the  river,  announced  to  the  besieged  the  welcome 
intelligence  of  the  approach  of  their  formidable  allies.  It  was  indeed  high 

*  A  spirited  contest  occurred  on  the  23d  of  January,  atTVoodbury,  Tennessee,  in 
which  General  Palmer's  division,  of  Crittenden's  corps,  attacked  and  defeated  an  out- 
post  of  the  enemy  at  that  place,  consisting  of  seven  regiments.  The  result  of  the  fight 
was  that  thirty-four  Rebels  were  killed,  and  a  hundred  taken  prisoners.  The  Federal 
loss  was  two  killed,  nine  wounded. 


443  THE   CIVIL  AVAR  IX   TJJE   UNITED   STATES, 

time,  for  already  had  nearly  all  the  guns  in  the  fort  been  silenced  by  the 
accurate  and  vigorous  firing  of  the  enemy.  In  a  short  time  the  Lexington 
steamed  rapidly  within  view,  and  commenced  to  throw  her  destructive 
shells  over  the  fort  into  the  ravines  and  valleys  beyond  it,  which  were 
occupied  by  the  Confederate  forces.  She  was  quickly  followed  by  five 
other  gunboats,  which,  in  like  manner,  commenced  to  cannonade  the  po 
sition  of  the  enemy.  The  fort  itself  shook  with  the  tremendous  concus 
sion  of  the  heavy  guns,  and  the  evening  air  was  filled  with  innumerable 
howling  messengers  of  death.  The  result  may  be  easily  conjectured. 
The  Kebels  were  driven  in  confusion  from  the  vicinity  of  the  fort,  and 
were  compelled  to  abandon  the  siege.  Their  loss  was  about  a  hundred 
killed,  three  hundred  wounded,  a  hundred  and  forty  prisoners.  The 
Federal  loss  was  sixteen  killed,  sixty  wounded,  fifty  prisoners,  and  one 
gun  captured  by  the  enemy.  Before  the  arrival  of  the  gunboats,  several 
desperate  charges  had  been  made  upon  the  lines  of  the  enemy,  one  es 
pecially  upon  their  right  wing,  which  had  succeeded  in  flanking  the  Federal 
left,  and  threatened  their  rear.  The  small  garrison  had  fought  on  this 
occasion  with  unusual  heroism  and  fortitude. 

During  some  months,  the  Confederate  General  Pryor,  who  commanded 
a  force  in  Virginia,  had  loudly  boasted  that  he  would  deliver  the  territory 
of  Suffolk,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Black  water,  from  the  thraldom  of  Yankee 
supremacy.  General  Corcoran  had  been  sent  thither  with  a  number  of 
Federal  troops,  and  held  the  country  in  spite  of  the  threats  of  the  Rebel 
champion.  The  latter  determined,  on  the  25th  of  January,  to  carry  his 
purpose  into  execution.  During  the  night  of  that  day,  he  advanced  his 
forces  across  the  Blackwater,  and  moved  forward  ten  miles  to  encounter 
the  Federal  general.  They  met  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  26th. 
Colonel  Spear,  of  the  eleventh  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  reconuoitered  the 
position  and  strength  of  the  enemy,  and  immediately  afterward  both 
armies  joined  battle.  The  conflict  was  a  desperate  and  sanguinary  one, 
as  was  usually  the  case  where  Irishmen  were  engaged.  The  eleventh 
Pennsylvania  cavalry,  and  Dodge's  mounted  riflemen,  charged  on  the  enemy 
with  drawn  sabres.  The  Federal  infantry  also  made  several  splendid 
assaults  upon  the  foe.  The  Union  force  engaged,  consisted  of  the  sixth 
Massachusetts,  thirteenth  Indiana,  one  hundred  and  twelfth,  thirteenth, 
and  sixty-ninth  New  York,  one  hundred  and  sixty-fifth  and  one  hundred 
and  sixty-seventh  Pennsylvania,  one  company  of  the  seventh  Massachu 
setts,  and  one  battery  of  the  fourth  United  States  artillery.  After  an 
action  of  some  hours  the  enemy  began  to  give  way.  At  two  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  they  were  much  weakened  and  disheartened.  At  three 
o'clock  their  retreat  became  general,  and  they  returned  in  confused  haste 
toward  the  Blackwater,  which  they  recrossed  in  the  evening.  The  Federal 
cavalry  pursued  them  for  six  miles,  when  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  re 
linquish  the  chase.  A  more  complete  rout  could  not  easily  be  imagined. 


DISASTER  TO   BLOCKADING  FLEET  OFF  CHARLESTON.       449 

The  Federal  loss  was  twenty-four  killed,  eighty  wounded.  That  of  the 
enemy  was  much  greater,  though  the  exact  number  remained  unknown 
to  the  victors.  A  great  part  of  the  credit  of  this  triumph  was  due  to 
Torbcrt's  battery,  of  the  fourth  United  States  artillery,  and  to  Davis's 
seventh  Massachusetts  battery,  which  were  particularly  efficient  during 
the  entire  action. 

To  counterbalance  this  success,  a  disaster  of  some  importance  overtook 
the  Federal  arms,  about  this  period,  in  the  vicinity  of  Charleston,  South 
Carolina.  On  the  morning  of  the  31st  of  January,  a  thick  fog  enveloped 
and  obscured  the  port  of  that  city.  Two  iron-clad  gunboats  took  advan 
tage  of  this  circumstance  to  emerge  from  the  port  through  the  main  ship- 
channel,  and  to  make  a  sudden  attack  on  the  blockading  fleet.  The< 
time  was  opportune,  for  two  of  the  most  formidable  of  the  Federal  vessels, 
the  Powhatan  and  the  Canandaigua,  were  then  absent,  coaling  and  repair 
ing.  The  Eebel  vessels  first  encountered  the  Mercedita,  commanded  by 
Captain  Stellwagen.  The  Palmetto  State  sent  a  heavy  rifle-shell  through 
her  starboard  sides,  which  passed  into  her  condenser,  through  the  steam- 
drum  of  her  port  boiler,  and  then  exploded  against  her  port  side.  It 
made  a  hole  during  its  passage  some  five  feet  square,  killed  the  gunner, 
wounded  a  number  of  men,  and  disabled  the  entire  machinery  of  the 
vessel. 

This  preliminary  blow  rendered  all  attempts  at  resistance  utterly  use 
less,  and  Captain  Stellwagen  was  compelled  at  once  to  surrender.  The 
officers  and  men  were  then  taken  off  and  paroled.  Having  thus  sealed 
the  fate  of  the  Mercedita,  and  left  her  apparently  in  a  sinking  condition, 
the  victorious  rams  proceeded  toward  the  Keystone  State,  which  was  the 
nearest  of  the  Federal  vessels,  and  was  commanded  by  Captain  Leroy. 
A  tremendous  shell  from  the  Palmetto  State  exploded  in  the  forehold  of 
this  vessel,  and  at  once  set  her  on  fire.  Undismayed  by  this  disaster, 
Captain  Leroy  instantly  gave  orders  to  put  on  a  full  head  of  steam,  and 
advance  against  one  of  the  rams,  with  the  intention  of  running  her  down. 
His  guns  were  also  so  trained  and  depressed  that  at  the  moment  of  con 
tact  they  would  fire  into  the  enemy.  While  this  order  was  being 
executed,  and  the  vessel  was  advancing  at  the  rate  of  twelve  knots  per 
hour,  a  well  directed  shot  from  the  Palmetto  State  passed  through  the 
steam-chest  of  the  Keystone  State,  which  completely  disabled  her 
machinery,  and  rendered  her  helpless.  She  was  then  fired  at  rapidly  by 
the  two  hostile  rams.  Of  the  ten  rifle  shells  which  struck  her,  two  burst 
on  her  quarter  deck ;  the  remainder  struck  her  near  or  below  the  water 
line.  During  the  progress  of  these  events,  the  Federal  vessels  Augusta, 
Quaker  City,  Memphis,  and  Housatonic,  attacked  the  Kebel  iron-clads, 
but  with  little  effect.  As  soon  as  the  work  of  the  latter  was  completed, 
they  steamed  away  to  the  northward,  and  obtained  a  safe  position  in  the 
Swash  Channel,  behind  the  shoals. 
29 


450  THE   CIVIL -WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

This  attack  by  the  Confederate  rams  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
achievements  on  their  side  which  occurred  during  the  war.  It  exhibited 
extraordinary  boldness  and  skill;  and  the  success  which  attended  it  was 
discreditable  to  the  Union  vessels  which  were  engaged  in  the  blockade. 
The  Federal  loss  during  the  action  was  twenty-four  killed,  twenty-three 
wounded.  Some  hours  elapsed  before  the  blockading  vessels  could 
resume  their  appropriate  positions  in  front  of  the  harbor.  The  two 
disabled  vessels  were  afterward  towed  to  Port  Eoyal  to  be  repaired. 
Immediately  after  this  attack,  several  vessels  from  Charleston  steamed 
out  toward  the  Union  ships,  and  then  returned.  The  purpose  of  this 
movement  was  to  afford  an  excuse  for  the  report,  which  was  despatched 
forthwith  to  Europe,  that  at  last  the  blockade  of  the  port  of  Charleston 
nad  been  raised  by  the  daring  and  skill  of  the  Confederate  fleet.  Had 
this  assertion  been  true,  its  effect  abroad  upon  the  political  relations  of 
the  Confederate  States  would  have  been  important,  and  might  have  led 
to  valuable  demonstrations  in  their  favor.  But  it  was  essentially  erro 
neous,  for  a  few  hours  had  not  elapsed  before  the  blockade  was  as  com 
plete,  as  vigilant,  and  as  effective  as  it  had  ever  been. 

The  Confederate  officer  to  whom  the  credit  or  disgrace  of  this  achieve 
ment  was  due,  was  Commodore  Duncan  N.  Ingraham,  a  native  of 
Charleston,  and  born  in  1802.  He  received  a  midshipman's  warrant, 
through  family  influence,  in  June,  1812.  He  commanded  the  Federal 
ship  Somers,  in  the  blockade  off  Vera  Cruz,  during  the  Mexican  war. 
He  subsequently  commanded  the  St.  Louis  in  the  Mediterranean.  In 
1855  he  was  made  a  captain ;  and  in  1856  became  chief  of  the  bureau  of 
ordnance  at  Washington.  He  held  this  position  at  the  commencement 
of  the  Kebellion,  when  he  resigned  it,  tendered  his  services  to  the  Rebel 
authorities,  and  became  a  traitor  to  the  government  from  which  he  had 
received  many  honors  and  rich  emoluments  during  a  period  of  nearly 
half  a  century. 

While  military  events  of  a  stirring  nature  were  thus  transpiring 
between  the  hostile  armies  and  navies,  the  Federal  Congress,  then  in 
session  at  Washington,  was  busily  engaged  in  adopting  such  financial 
and  other  measures  as  were  necessary  to  secure  a  vigorous  continuance 
of  the  war.  One  of  these  was  the  passage  of  a  national  currency,  or 
banking  bill,  which  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Sherman  in  the  Seriate,  and. 
after  some  modifications,  was  adopted  by  the  House,  and  then  approved 
by  the  President.  The  chief  provisions  of  this  important  measure  were 
as  follows :  It  enacted  that  any  number  of  persons,  being  not  less  than 
five,  might  be  incorporated  so  that  they  could  carry  on  the  business  of 
banking,  provided  their  capital  was  at  least  fifty  thousand  dollars,  in 
shares  of  one  hundred  dollars  each.  In  cities  containing  more  than  ten 
thousand  persons,  the  stock  must  not  be  less  than  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  Thirty  per  centum  of  this  amount  must  be  paid  in  before  the 


FEDERAL  REVERSES  ON   THE  MISSISSIPPI.  451 

association  could  commence  operations.  After  they  had  thus  begun,  ten 
per  centum  of  the  residue  must  be  paid  every  two  months,  until  the  whole 
amount  was  made  up.  But  they  would  be  required  to  purchase  bonds 
of  the  United  States,  to  the  extent  of  at  least  one  third  of  their  capital, 
which  must  be  deposited  with  the  treasurer  of  the  United  States.  For 
these  bonds  the  comptroller  of  the  currency  would  give  to  the  association 
circulating  notes  equal  in  amount  and  in  value  to  ninety  per  centum  of 
the  value  in  bonds  thus  deposited.  The  association  was  bound  to  redeem 
these  notes ;  and  in  order  to  be  able  so  to  do,  and  to  pay  depositors,  they 
must  always  keep  twenty-five  per  centum  of  cash  on  hand.  The  notes 
were  to  be  receivable  for  all  debts  due  to  the  United  States,  except  those 
for  customs,  and  the  interest  of  the  public  debt.  The  bonds  which  were 
deposited  with  the  treasurer  were  to  be  held  in  trust  for  the  security  of 
the  note-holders ;  and  in  case  of  default  being  made  in  redeeming  the 
notes,  the  bonds  were  to  be  sold,  and  were  to  be  redeemed  by  the  Govern 
ment.  Each  shareholder  in  an  association  was  made  liable  for  an  amount 
equal  to  the  par  value  of  his  shares,  in  addition  to  the  shares  themselves. 
The  most  prominent  and  important  purpose  contemplated  by  this  law 
was  the  establishment  of  one  sound,  uniform,  reliable  circulation,  possess 
ing  an  equal  value  throughout  the  whole  country,  and  based  upon  two 
firm,  immovable  pillars — the  national  credit  and  private  wealth.  The 
original  author  of  this  admirable  scheme  was  Mr.  Chase,  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  who,  by  its  elaboration,  increased  and  confirmed  his  fame  as  a 
skilful  and  profound  financier. 

Similar  in  the  effective  and  beneficial  nature  of  its  operation  was  the 
conscription  bill,  which  became  a  law  of  the  land  in  the  month  of 
February,  1863.  That  bill  was  designed  to  call  out  more  completely  the 
military  strength  of  the  nation,  and  to  elicit  more  thoroughly  its  patriotic 
ardor. 

The  month  of  February,  1863,  witnessed  several  minor  disasters  to  the 
Federal  arms  upon  the  Mississippi  and  other  waters,  which  require  a 
brief  notice.  One  of  these  was  the  loss  of  the  steamer  Queen  of  the  West, 
which  was  commanded  by  the  bold  and  adventurous  Colonel  C.  R.  Ellet. 
This  officer  had  proceeded  from  the  landing  below  Vicksburg  on  the  10th 
of  the  month,  according  to  orders  which  he  had  received  from  Admiral 
D.  D.  Porter,  and  had  destroyed  a  large  amount  of  Rebel  property  along 
the  shores  of  the  Red  and  Black  rivers.  He  had  captured  a  steamboat 
laden  with  forty-five  hundred  bushels  of  corn,  and  had  achieved  other 
commendable  acts,  when,  on  the  14th,  he  neared  Gordon's  Landing,  on 
Red  river,  a  short  time  before  nightfall.  Several  gunboats  of  the  enemy 
were  lying  at  that  point,  and  a  spirited  action  was  anticipated.  As  the 
Queen  of  the  West  approached,  she  was  assailed  by  a  vigorous  and 
skilful  cannonade  from  the  vessels  and  a  fort  on  the  shore.  Soon  her 
escape-pipe  was  shot  away,  and  an  explosion  took  place  which  filled  the 


452  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

interior  of  the  vessel  with  steam.  It  was  now  evident  that  the  Queen  was 
overmatched,  and  Colonel  Ellet  gave  the  order  to  his  pilot  to  back  her 
out  of  the  range  of  the  guns  of  the  enemy.  Instead  of  complying  with 
this  direction,  he  ran  her  aground  on  the  right  hand  bank,  within  full 
reach  of  the  destructive  firing  of  the  enemy.  In  this  predicament  the 
only  alternative  was  to  abandon  the  steamer  to  the  possession  of  the 
Rebels.  This  was  done,  and  her  crew  and  officers  transferred  to  the 
De  Soto,  which  had  accompanied  the  Queen  as  her  tender.  Several  inci 
dents  occurred  during  this  expedition  which  induced  Colonel,'  Ellet  to 
believe  that  the  conduct  of  the  pilot  Garvey  was  influenced  by  treason 
able  motives.  He  therefore  ordered  him  under  arrest.  He  then  returned 
to  his  former  station  in  the  steamboat  Era,  which  he  had  previously 
captured  from  the  enemy.  At  the  time  of  the  loss  of  the  Queen,  twenty- 
four  prisoners  were  taken  by  the  Rebels.  One  white  man  and  four 
negroes  were  also  drowned  during  the  progress  of  the  disaster. 

Shortly  after  this  occurrence,  the  Federal  iron-clad  Indianola  was 
attacked  by  the  Confederate  steamers  Webb  and  the  Queen  of  the  West, 
which  had  been  repaired,  and  perverted  to  the  service  of  its  recent 
captors.  The  action  took  place  on  the  Mississippi,  below  Yicksburg,  and 
was  a  spirited  one.  But  the  numerical  strength  of  the  enemy  gave  them 
a  resistless  advantage.  Soon  after  the  battle  began,  a  shot  from  the 
Indianola  struck  the  upper  works  of  the  Webb.  Another  penetrated  the 
machinery  of  the  Queen,  partially  disabling  her.  The  Webb  then  pre 
pared  to  butt  the  Indianola,  and,  as  she  turned  to  accomplish  her  pur 
pose,  she  received  another  shot,  which  considerably  diminished  her 
momentum.  At  length,  however,  she  struck  the  Indianola  aft  the  turret, 
on  the  starboard  side,  with  tremendous  violence.  Had  she  delivered  the 
blow  with  full  force,  she  would  have  unquestionably  sunk  her  antagonist 
immediately.  At  this  stage  of  the  action,  the  Queen  returned  to  the 
attack  on  the  other  side,  and  inflicted  a  heavy  blow  upon  the  Indianola. 
In  return  the  latter,  though  reeling,  sent  one  of  her  shot  directly  through 
the  cabin  of  the  Queen,  and  another  through  her  pilot-house,  which 
staggered  her  considerably.  While  she  was  recovering,  the  Webb  con 
tinued  the  contest  by  approaching  the  starboard  side  of  the  Indianola, 
and  prepared  to  strike  her.  The  latter  manoeuvred  to  avoid  the  blow 
though  without  success,  and  she  received  a  powerful  salute,  which  for  a 
time  disabled  her.  Large  seams  were  made  by  it  in  her  side,  and -the 
water  rushed  in  rapidly.  Notwithstanding  her  gallant  defence,  the 
Indianola  was  now  in  a  sinking  condition,  and  no  alternative  was  left  except 
to  surrender.  As  soon  as  the  signal  was  displayed,  the  Webb  and  Queen 
came  alongside  and  took  possession.  The  Indianola  was  then  run 
aground  on  the  Louisiana  shore.  Her  officers  and  crew  were  captured, 
and  were  afterward  paroled. 

To  counterbalance  these  disasters,  a  naval  success  was  achieved  near 


CAPTURE   OF  THE  REBEL  STEAMER  NASHVILLE.  453 

this  time  at  Fort  McAllister,  on  the  Ogeechee  river,  in  Georgia,  by  Com 
mander  J.  L.  Worden,  which  consisted  in  the  destruction  of  the  Rebel 
steamer  Nashville.  This  vessel  was  a  privateer,  and  had  already  inflicted 
some  damage  on  the  commerce  of  the  loyal  citizens  of  the  United  States. 
Some  months  previous,  she  had  taken  refuge  under  the  guns  of  the  Con 
federate  fort  just  named;  but  her  exit  from  the  river  had  been  barred  by 
the  vigilance  of  several  naval  officers.  Commander  Worden  had  ordered 
J.  L.  Davis,  of  the  Wissahickon,  Barnes,  of  the  Dawn,  and  Gibson,  of  the 
Seneca,  to  watch  her  movements,  and  as  soon  as  she  ventured  to  leave 
the  vicinity  of  the  fort,  to  attack  her.  On  the  27th  of  February,  having 
been  loaded  with  cotton,  and  fully  armed,  she  was  observed  to  be  moving 
about,  as  if  preparing  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  the  Federal  vessels.  She 
soon  ran  aground,  however ;  and  this  fact  having  been  ascertained  by  a 
reconnoissance  ordered  by  Commander  Worden,  that  officer  immediately 
directed  his  whole  fleet  to  advance  and  attack  her.  The  guns  of  Fort 
McAllister  were  industriously  used  to  assist  and  defend  the  Rebel  craft, 
and  the  crew  of  the  Nashville  fought  bravely.  But  their  exertions  were 
of  no  avail.  A  hailstorm  of  eleven  and  fifteen  inch  shell  was  rained  upon 
her  from  the  Federal  vessels,  some  of  which  exploded  in  her ;  and  soon 
she  was  completely  enveloped  in  flames.  In  a  short  time  the  intense 
heat  discharged  one  of  her  own  heaviest  guns,  which  effected  much 
damage.  Her  destruction  was  soon  afterward  completed  by  the  explosion 
of  her  magazine,  which  shattered  the  once  stately  and  magnificent  ship 
into  innumerable  fragments.  Commander  Worden  superintended  these 
operations  on  board  of  his  flag-ship,  the  iron-clad  Montauk.  Had  the 
Nashville  succeeded  in  escaping  to  sea,  it  is  probable  that  her  pernicious 
achievements  in  the  service  of  the  Rebellion  would  have  subsequently 
rivalled  those  of  the  Alabama  and  the  Oreto.* 

While  the  Federal  Congress  at  Washington  was  busily  engaged  in 
providing  pecuniary  means  for  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war,  it  did 
not  neglect  other  measures  which  were  necessary  to  increase  the  ardor  of 
the  nation,  and  to  inspire  continued  hopes  of  ultimate  success.  One  of 
the  most  important  and  significant  of  these  was  the  passage  of  a  series  of 
resolutions,  which  were  introduced  into  the  Senate  by  Mr.  Sumner,  of 
Massachusetts,  protesting  against  all  foreign  mediations  or  intervention 
for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  peace  through  concessions  made  by  the  Fed- 

*  At  a  later  period,  on  the  3d  of  March,  an  attack  was  made  by  the  fleet  commanded 
by  Commodore  Worden  on  Fort  McAllister.  The  firing  was  spirited  on  both  sides  ; 
but  the  engagement  was  productive  of  no  results  of  importance.  The  fort  was  not 
taken ;  the  Federal  vessels  were  not  damaged  ;  the  loss  on  both  sides  was  insignificant ; 
and  after  a  useless  cannonade  of  some  hours,  the  fleet  dropped  down  the  Ogeechee, 
and  quietly  returned  to  Port  Royal.  The  conquest  of  the  fort  was  not  a  matter  of 
sufficient  importance  to  the  Federal  cause  to  induce  a  renewed  attack  upon  it  at  that 
time. 


454  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IX  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

eral  Government  to  the  Eebel  authorites.  These  resolutions  set  forth 
that  "  whereas,  it  appears  from  the  diplomatic  correspondence  which  had 
been  submitted  to  Congress,  a  proposition  friendly  in  form,  looking  to 
pacifications  through  foreign  mediation,  has  been  made  to  the  United 
States  by  the  Emporer  of  the  French,  and  promptly  declined  by  the 
President ;  and  whereas,  the  idea  of  mediation  or  intervention,  in  some 
shape,  may  be  regarded  by  foreign  governments  as  practicable,  and  such 
governments,  through  this  misunderstanding,  may  be  led  to  proceedings 
tending  to  embarrass  the  friendly  relations  which  now  exist  between  them 
and  the  United  States ;  and  whereas,  in  order  to  remove  for  the  future  all 
chance  of  misunderstanding  on  this  subject,  and  to  secure  for  the  United 
States  the  full  enjoyment  of  that  freedom  from  foreign  interference  which 
is  one  of  the  highest  rights  of  independent  States,  it  seems  fit  that  Congress 
should  declare  its  convictions  thereon  ;"  therefore,  the  following  proposi 
tions  were  in  substance  submitted  and  adopted,  as  embodying  the  senti 
ments  of  the  American  Government  and  people  on  this  subject.  They 
stated  that  while  they  sincerely  deplored  the  misfortunes  which  the  war 
had  inflicted  on  several  foreign  communities,  they  viewed  all  propositions 
of  mediation  or  compromise  from  abroad  as  unseasonable  and  inadmissible, 
from  whatever  source  they  might  come,  or  by  whatever  motive  they 
might  have  been  dictated  ;  that  any  such  propositions  must  in  reality  be 
regarded  as  calculated  to  prolong  and  embitter  the  contest,  by  encouraging 
the  insurgents,  and  in  so  far  as  really  hostile  to  the  Federal  Government 
and  to  a  loyal  nation  ;  that  the  Rebels  had  been  from  the  first  encouraged 
by  the  hope  of  foreign  intervention,  and  were  still  cheered  by  the  antici 
pations  of  it ;  that  the  United  States  were  not  only  confident  of  ultimate 
success  in  the  total  suppression  of  the  Eebellion,  but  that  they  were  unal 
terably  determined  to  prosecute  the  war  to  the  last  extremity,  in  order  to 
restore  the  Union  of  the  States  and  the  supremacy  of  the  Federal  Govern 
ment,  as  they  existed  before  the  commencement  of  the  Eebellion.  These 
resolutions  were  passed,  and  became  the  authoritative  expression  of  the 
sentiments  of  the  Federal  Government,  of  the  administration  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
and  of  the  loyal  citizens  of  the  United  States.  Their  adoption  produced 
a  decided  effect  upon  the  views  and  measures  of  those  European  potentates 
who  had  contemplated  an  interference  in  American  affairs,  and  terminated, 
or  at  least  postponed,  their  impertinent  ^and  officious  activity  in  that 
direction. 

The  remaining  military  operations  which  occurred  during  the  months 
of  February  and  March,  18G3,  with  the  exception  of  several  reserved  for 
the  next  chapter,  were  generally  conducted  on  a  small  scale.  The  season 
of  the  year,  and  the  condition  of  the  roads,  necessarily  rendered  the  move 
ment  of  large  bodies  of  troops  very  difficult,  if  not  absolutely  impossible, 
and  both  the  rival  Governments  were  actively  employed  in  preparing  for 
the  colossal  and  sanguinary  operations  which  were  anticipated  with  the 


MILITARY   EVENTS   OF  FEBRUARY  AND   MARCH,  1863.        455 

arrival  of  more  propitious  weather  in  the  spring.  The  events  of  any  con 
sequence  which  did  occur  during  this  interval  of  comparative  repose  may 
be  thus  briefly  described. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  two  battalions  of  the  thirteenth  Pennsylvania 
cavalry  were  sent  from  Winchester,  Virginia,  by  General  Milroy,  to 
reconnoiter  toward  Strasburg,  and  ascertain  the  position  and  force  of  the 
enemy  in  that  vicinity.  The  two  battalions  were  commanded  by  Majors 
Byrnes  and  Kerwin.  Having  arrived  at  Strasburg  without  opposition 
Captain  Dewees  was  sent  forward  five  miles  beyond  it  with  fifty  men. 
There  he  encountered  a  camp  of  the  Rebels.  He  attacked  them,  and 
drove  them  into  the  woods.  Soon,  however,  reinforcements  approached 
from  Woodstock,  where  fc&eir  main  body  was  posted,  under  command  of 
Brigadier-General  Jon'es.  The  latter  pursued  the  retiring  Federals  until 
they  reached  the  position  of  the  two  battalions  near  Strasburg.  There  a 
desperate  conflict  ensued.  The  Rebel  infantry  were  assisted  by  three 
pieces  of  artillery.  Furious  charges  were  made  on  both  sides,  and 
mutual  repulses  took  place.  The  enemy  were  chased  as  far  as  Middletown, 
after  which  they  returned  without  further  interference  to  Woodstock. 
The  Federal  loss  was  heavy,  being  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  That  of  the  enemy  was  not  so  great. 

On  the  same  day,  fifteen  hundred  Confederate  cavalry,  under  General 
Fitzhugh  Lee,  attacked  the  Union  picket-line  at  Hartwood  Church,  near 
Stafford  Court  House,  Virginia.  The  pickets  were  driven  in,  and  fled  to 
the  main  reserve  in  the  rear,  consisting  of  three  hundred  men.  The  ad 
vancing  Rebels  soon  reached  the  position  of  these,  and  a  spirited  combat 
ensued,  notwithstanding  the  immense  disparity  of  numbers.  The  enemy 
were  checked  for  some  time,  until  they  gained  the  flank,  and  threatened 
the  rear  of  the  Federals.  Then  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jones  ordered  his  men 
to  fall  back.  The  enemy  pursued  and  charged  upon  them,  by  which 
means  the  retreat  was  turned  into  a  rout.  After  a  time,  Major  Robinson 
succeeded  in  stopping  the  retreat,  and  in  making  a  brief  stand  against  the 
foe.  The  latter,  then  apprehending  the  approach  of  a  large  body  of  Fed 
eral  cavalry,  under  General  Averill,  retired  toward  the  Rappahannock, 
and  recrossed  it  without  opposition.  They  had  captured  more  than  a 
hundred  prisoners. 

On  the  1st  of  March  a  brilliant  advantage  was  gained  over  the  Confed 
erates  near  Brandyville,  Tennessee.  This  place  was  then  occupied  by 
Rebel  troops.  Its  distance  from  Murfreesboro  is  twelve  miles  ;  and  not 
withstanding  the  propinquity  of  the  great  Federal  army  under  Rosecrans, 
the  enemy  had  continued  to  ravage  and  desolate  the  adjacent  country. 
To  rout  and  punish  these  General  Stanley  selected  sixteen  hundred  men 
from  the  division  of  General  Negley,  seven  hundred  of  whom  were  cavalry, 
and  proceeded  toward  Brady ville.  He  encountered  the  enemy  two  miles 
from  the  village,  numbering  about  eight  hundred.  A  furious  charge  was 


456  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

inStantly  made  upon  them.  They  were  driven  back,  through  the  village, 
to  a  position  a  quarter  of  a  mile  beyond.  There  they  made  a  stand,  and 
renewed  the  action,  fighting  with  intense  stubbornness  for  half  an  hour. 
At  length,  overpowered  by  numbers,  they  again  broke  and  fled.  They 
were  pursued  for  three  miles,  and  many  were  cut  down  as  they  ran  by  the 
sabres  of  the  Federal  cavalry.  Nearly  a  hundred  prisoners  were  taken, 
among  whom  were  eight  commissioned  officers,  together  with  a  hundred 
horses,  and  a  large  quantity  of  quartermaster's  stores.  The  Federal  loss 
was  slight,  being  only  three  killed,  seven  wounded.  The  Federal  troops 
encamped  on  the  battle-ground  during  the  night,  and  on  the  next  day 
returned  to  Murfreesboro. 

A  disaster  of  considerable  magnitude  overtook  the  Federal  arms  on  the 
4th  of  March,  at  Thompson's  station,  near  Franklin,  Tennessee.  Colonel 
Coburn  commanded  a  considerable  body  of  Union  troops,  consisting  of  a 
brigade,  at  that  place ;  and  was  attacked,  perhaps  surprised,  by  a  much 
larger  force,  consisting  of  about  ten  thousand  men,  under  General  Van 
Dorn.  The  greater  number  of  the  enemy  enabled  them  to  assault  the 
Federals  at  the  same  time  in  front  and  on  both  flanks.  The  twelfth  Wis 
consin,  sixty-ninth  Michigan,  thirty-third  and  eighty-fifth  Indiana,  were 
completely  surrounded,  and  were  eventually  compelled  to  surrender.  The 
one  hundred  and  twenty -fourth  Ohio  being  in  the  rear  with  the  wagon 
train  was  separated  from  the  rest,  and  succeeded  in  escaping.  Desperate 
fighting  occurred,  however,  before  the  enemy  obtained  their  victory.  The 
loss  of  the  Federals  was  one  hundred  killed,  three  hundred  wounded. 
The  number  captured  by  the  Confederates  was  about  twelve  hundred. 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  and  wounded  was  four  hundred,  of  whom 
more  than  a  hundred  were  slain.  Two  regiments  of  Indians  were  engaged 
in  the  battle  on  the  side  of  the  enemy,  and  the  contest  was  unusually 
fierce  and  sanguinary.  This  misfortune  was  not  due  to  any  cowardice 
or  carelessness  on  the  part  of  Colonel  Coburn  ;  but  to  the  immense 
superiority  of  numbers  possessed  by  the  Confederates,  and  to  the  orders 
of  his  superior  officer,  General  Gilbert,  by  which  means  he  and  his 
men  were  placed  in  an  exposed  and  isolated  position.  Colonel  Coburn 
conducted  the  battle  with  great  skill  and  fortitude,  and  his  troops  fought 
with  superior  heroism  and  gallantry.  All  the  artillery,  the  entire 
cavalry  force,  sixty  of  the  wounded,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
succeeded  in  making  their  escape.  This  engagement,  though  it  en 
tailed  a  numerical  loss  upon  the  Union  forces,  did  not  inflict  any  stigma 
upon  the  valor  of  the  Federal  officers  and  soldiers  engaged  in  it. 


EXPEDITION  FROM  MURFREESBORO.  457 


CHAPTER    XLI. 

MINOR     MILITARY    OPERATIONS     DURING   MARCH,    1863 — EXPEDITION     FROM    MURFREESBORO 
UNDER  COLONEL  HALL — HE  ENGAGES  AND  DEFEATS    THE  REBELS  AT  MILTON,  TENNESSEE — 

EXPEDITION    OF  GENERAL    PRINCE  FROM  NEWBERN ITS  RESULTS ATTACK  BY    THK   I 

OX   UNION    TROOPS  AT    DEEP    GULLY THEIR     REPULSE DESPERATE  CAVALRY  FIGHT  NEAR 

THE  RAPPAHANNOCK    BETWEEN  GENERALS    AVERILL,  STUART,  AND  LEE ITS    RESULT — THE 

PASSAGE  OF  THE  FEDERAL  FLEET  PAST  THE  REBEL  BATTERIES  AT  PORT  HUDSON — CO 
OPERATIVE  MOVEMENTS  OF  GENERAL  BANKS — INCIDENTS  OF  THE  ENGAGEMENT  AT  PORT 
HUDSON — DEATH  OF  COMMANDER  BOYD  CUMMINGS — HIS  HEROISM — LOSS  OF  THE  STEAMER 
MISSISSIPPI SUCCESS  OF  THE  HARTFORD  AND  ALBATROSS — CONFLAGRATION  OF  JACKSON 
VILLE,  FLORIDA VICTORY  OF  GENERAL  GILMORE  AT  SOMERSET,  KENTUCKY REPORT  OP 

THK  CONGRESSIONAL    COMMITTEE  OX    TUP]  CONDUCT  OF  THE  WAR ITS    PECULIARITIES  AND 

CONTENTS — ITS    EXPOSITION  ON  THE  CONDUCT    OF  GENERALS    MCCLELLAX,   PATTERSON,  AND 

STONE IMPRESSION  PRODUCED  BY  IT  ON  TIIK  PUBLIC  MIND — END  OF  THK  WINTER  CAMPAIGN 

OF  18G2-3 SKIRMISHES    IN    CARROLL  COUNTY,   ARKANSAS AT    TVOODBURY,  TENNESSEE 

ABORTIVE  EXPEDITION  OF  GENERAL  SHERMAN  UP  THE  BLACK  BAYOU  TN  MISSISSIPPI. 

DURING  the  month  of  March,  1863,  other  minor  operations  occurred  in 
different  portions  of  the  Republic  which  were  of  sufficient  importance  to 
deserve  notice,  although  their  influence  on  the  general  issue  of  the  con 
test  could  not  be  very  potent  or  decisive. 

On  the  17th  of  March  an  expedition  set  forth  from  the  Federal  camp 
at  Murfreesboro,  under  the  command  of -Colonel  A.  S.  Hall.  It  consisted 
of  the  second  brigade  of  General  Reynolds'  division,  and  comprised  the 
one  hundred  and  fifth  Ohio,  eighteenth  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-third 
Illinois,  one  hundred  and  first  Indiana,  a  section  of  the  nineteenth  Indi 
ana  battery,  and  a  company  of  Tennessee  cavalry.  Its  purpose  was 
to  clear  the  adjacent  region  ^of  country  of  a  number  of  Rebel  guerrillas 
who  then  infested  it,  under  the  command  of  General  John  Morgan. — 
The  expedition  proceeded  in  the  direction  of  Gainesville  and  Lib 
erty  ;  and  occasionally  encountered  small  scouting  parties  of  the  enemy. 
These  were  dispersed  without  difficulty.  Colonel  Hall  had  reached 
Milton,  on  his  return  toward  Murfreesboro,  when  he  was  suddenly  at 
tacked  by  the  chief  object  of  his  pursuit — the  twenty -five  hundred  men 
commanded  by  Morgan.  His  own  force  was  not  more  than  one  half  that 
number  ;  yet  he  instantly  prepared  to  receive  the  advancing  foe.  He 
posted  his  troops  on  the  crest  of  a  hill,  where  they  would  have  the  ad 
vantage  of  a  favorable  position.  The  enemy  commenced  their  attack  by  a 
fire  of  shot  and  shell  from  their  battery  in  the  centre,  and  by  a  simulta 
neous  assault  on  both  flanks.  These  were  followed  up  by  furious  charges 
upon  the  Federal  lines,  with  the  evident  intention  of  throwing  them  into 
confusion.  While  executing  these  movements  they  were  received  by  the 


458  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Federal  artillery  with  sucli  spirit  as  to  compel  them  to  recoil.  This 
check,  however,  was  only  temporay.  Colonel  Hall  had  succeeded  in 
forming  his  men  in  three  separate  lines  of  battle,  which  commanded  every 
approach  to  the  hill  on  which  he  had  posted  them.  Then  followed  a 
desperate  combat,  consisting  of  repeated  assaults  and  repulses,  several 
hand-to-hand  struggles,  and  an  interchange  of  shot  and  shell  between  the 
artillery.  One  of  the  field  pieces  of  the  Rebels  was  struck  and  shattered 
to  pieces.  Finding  his  attempts  upon  the  Federal  front  and  flank  unavail 
ing,  Morgan  then  moved  his  forces  to  the  rear,  and  charged  from  that 
direction.  Here  he  was  met  and  repulsed  with  equal  heroism.  In  vain 
did  he  renew  the  assault  from  time  to  time  upon  the  adamantine  ranks  of 
the  Federals  posted  upon  the  hiN.  After  a  bloody  and  furious  struggle 
of  three  hours'  duration,,  he  gave  up  the  contest,  and  withdrew  his  men. 
But  being  reinforced  a  very  short  time  afterward  by  the  arrival  of  a  regi 
ment  from  Woodbury,  he  renewed  the  attack.  The  result  was  the  same 
as  before.  So  valiant  was  the  defence  made,  that  after  another  vain 
attempt  he  was  compelled  to  withdraw  his  troops.  He  retreated  rapidly 
to  a  point  several  miles  beyond  Liberty,  and,  his  men  being  all  mounted 
pursuit  was  useless.  The  Federal  victors  bivouacked  during  the  ensuing 
night  upon  the  battle-field,  and  on  the  next  day  returned  to  Murfreesboro. 
After  the  fight  was  over  Colonel  Minty  arrived  with  reinforcements  to 
Colonel  Hall,  which  happily  were  not  needed.  The  Federal  loss  in  this 
action  was  only  ten  killed,  thirty- five  wounded ;  but  the  loss  of  the 
enemy  was  much  greater.  It  was  about  forty  killed,  a  hundred  and 
fifty  wounded.  This  engagement  and  its  result  diminished  very  consider 
ably  the  terror  which  the  name  and  prowess  of  General  Morgan  were 
accustomed  at  this  period  to  create  in  the  minds  of  the  loyal  citizens  of 
the  State  of  Kentucky. 

A  short  time  previous  to  this  date  another  expedition  left  Newbern, 
tinder  the  command  of  General  Prince.  The  troops  composing  it  consisted 
of  the  Spinola  Legion,  the  Jourdan  brigade,  two  batteries  of  artillery,  and 
eight  companies  of  cavalry.  They  proceeded  on  the  first  day  twenty 
miles  along  the  south  side  of  the  Trent  river,  as  far  as  McDaniel's  planta 
tion.  There  they  encamped  for  the  night.  On  the  following  day  they 
advanced  six  miles  further  toward  Trenton,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  a 
body  of  Rebels  who  had  been  assembled  at  that  point.  But  the  latter 
evacuated  the  place  on  the  approach  of  the  Federals,  and  fled  so  rapidly 
that  they  could  not  be  overtaken.  After  several  movements  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Young's  cross  roads,  of  Kinston  and  Swansboro,  in  search  of 
the  fugitive  foe,  without  being  able  to  overtake  them,  or  bring  them  to  a 
conflict,  the  expedition  returned  to  Newbern.  The  only  achievement 
which  it  had  performed  was  to  capture  a  number  of  prisoners,  and  to  clear 
the  country  between  Xewbern  and  Kinston,  for  a  short  time,  of  the  pres 
ence  and  depredations  of  the  enemy.  The  latter,  however,  soon  returned 


CAVALRY   COM  IJ  AT  NEAR  KELLYS   FORD.  459 

to  the  vicinity  of  the  Federal  camp  at  Newbern,  and  a  spirited  action  took 
place  between  them  at  Deep  Gully,  several  miles  from  the  quarters  of  the 
twenty-fifth  Massachusetts  regiment,  on  the  13th  of  March.  The  advance 
of  the  Confederates  was  first  made  known  by  their  driving  in  the  Union 
pickets  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  General  Foster  being  in 
formed  of  the  approach  of  the  foe,  immediately  sent  General  Palmer  to  the 
rescue  with  a  brigade,  consisting  of  the  fifth,  twenty-fifth,  and  forty-third 
regiments  of  Massachusetts  volunteers,  together  with  the  batteries  of  Riggs 
and  Belger.  Brisk  skirmishing  then  ensued  across  the  intervening  creek 
until  the  close  of  the  day,  by  which  the  Rebels  were  thus  far  held  in  check. 
On  the  following  morning  the  fighting  was  renewed.  It  was,  however,  very 
,  desultory  in  its  nature.  The  enemy  were  for  the  most  part  concealed  in 
dense  woods,  in  which  they  were  shelled  with  uncertain  effect.  At  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  they  retired  from  the  combat,  without  having 
achieved  any  results  of  importance.  At  one  stage  of  the  action  the  Rebel 
General  Daniels  sent  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the  ninety -second  New 
York  regiment.  But  the  requisition  was  answered  by  its  commanding 
officer,  Colonel  Anderson,  with  laughter  and  derision.  The  attack  of  the 
enemy  proved  a  total  failure.  The  Federal  loss  was  one  killed,  four 
wounded ;  that  of  the  Rebels  was  much  greater.  After  their  discomfiture 
their  whole  force,  consisting  of  four  brigades  of  infantry,  two  regiments 
of  cavalry,  and  several  batteries  of  artillery,  retired  in  the  direction  of 
Kinston. 

On  the  17th  of  March,  a  combat  of  more  than  usual  proportions  and 
ferocity  occurred  between  a  large  body  of  Rebel  cavalry,  commanded  by 
Generals  Stuart  and  Fitzhugh  Lee,  and  an  equal  number  of  Federal  horse 
under  General  Averill.  It  took  place  several  miles  beyond  the  Rappa- 
hannock,  in  the  vicinity  of  Kelly's  ford.  This  battle  chiefly  consisted  of 
a  series  of  desperate  charges  and  furious  hand-to-hand  combats,  in  which 
both  sides  exhibited  the  utmost  heroism  and  gallantry.  Several  thousand 
Rebel  cavalry  had  previously  made  a«daring  raid  across  the  river,  and 
had  invaded  the  territory  lying  between  the  Federal  lines  near  Falmouth 
and  the  Warrenton  road.  They  advanced  as  far  as  the  Berea  Church, 
then  turned  toward  the  Rappahannock,  and  recrossed  it.  As  soon  as  in 
telligence  of  this  invasion  reached  General  Hooker,  he  directed  General 
Averill  to  start  in  pursuit  of  the  foe  with  about  two  thousand  cavalry. 
Before  he  could  overtake  them  they  had  made  good  their  escape  across 
the  stream ;  and  when  the  Federal  troops  arrived  near  the  crossing  at 
Kelly's  ford,  a  portion  of  the  enemy  was  discovered  posted  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river.  They  had  fortified  their  position  by  a  number  of  rifle- 
pits,  which  were  occupied  by  dismounted  cavalrymen. 

Notwithstanding  the  disadvantage  and  danger  of  crossing  the  river  in 
the  face  of  the  enemy,  General  Averill  boldly  gave  the  order  to  advance. 
The  ford  was  narrow,  and  the  stream  was  so  deep  that  many  of  the  horses 


460  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

were  up  to  their  girths  in  the  water,  while  others  were  compelled  to 
swim.  During  the  process  of  fording,  the  enemy  opened  upon  the 
Federals  from  a  battery  which  they  had  concealed  in  an  adjacent  wood. 
Undaunted  by  this  assault,  the  crossing  was  soon  completed.  The 
Federals  then  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  charged  upon  the  enemy 
occupying  the  rifle  pits,  and  upon  their  battery.  Both  of  these  were 
soon  silenced,  the  pits  being  evacuated  and  the  battery  removed.  The 
Federal  troops  then  advanced  three  miles 'beyond  the  river.  At  tnis 
crisis,  the  main  body  of  the  enemy,  under  Stuart  and  Lee,  appeared  in 
sight.  They  were  drawn  up  in  battle  array,  and  were  awaiting  the  attack 
of  the  approaching  Federals.  The  latter  accepted  the  challenge  thus 
offered  them,  and  at  once  charged  upon  the  foe.  A  tremendous  scene  of 
confusion  and  slaughter  ensued,  which  lasted  several  hours.  While  the 
cavalry  were  thus  engaged,  the  artillery  on  both  sides  continued  to  play 
upon  each  other.  But  the  infantry  of  the  Confederates,  who  soon  arrived 
at  the  scene  of  conflict,  did  not  venture  to  fire  upon  the  Union  troops, 
in  consequence  of  the  complete  intermingling  of  the  cavalry,  which  made 
it  impossible  to  distinguish  the  one  side  from  the  other.  Toward  the 
close  of  the  combat,  the  ammunition  of  the  Federals,  both  for  their 
artillery  and  their  carbines,  began  to  be  exhausted ;  and  a  retreat  became 
inevitable.  It  was  accomplished,  however,  in  excellent  order;  and  the 
Confederates  had  been  so  severely  handled  that  they  did  not  attempt  to 
follow  or  intercept  them.  The  loss  of  the  Federals  in  killed  and  wounded 
was  about  forty.  That  of  the  enemy  was  known  to  be  equally  great. 
The  truth  is,  that  both  sides  fought  in  this  action  with  unusual  gallantry, 
and  deserved  the  plaudits  of  their  respective  commanders.  It  was  one 
of  the  most  desperate  'struggles,  in  which  cavalry  were  almost  exclusively 
engaged,  which  had  occurred  during  the  progress  of  the  war.  After 
crossing  the  river,  the  Federal  forces  returned  without  further  casualty  to 
their  camp  near  Falmouth.  About  fifty  prisoners  were  taken  on  each 
side  during  the  action. 

A  contest  of  much  greater  magnitude  and  interest  occurred  about  the 
middle  of  March,  at  Port  Hudson,  a  stronghold  of  the  Confederates, 
situated  on  the  banks  of  the  great  father  of  waters,  below  Yicksburg. 
A  plan  of  attack  had  been  arranged  between  General  Banks  and  Admiral 
Farragut.  The  former  was  at  that  time  posted  at  Baton  Rouge  with  a 
considerable  land  force.  It  was  agreed  that  both  commanders  should 
advance  to  the  object  of  assault,  and  make  a  combined  attempt  by  land 
and  water  to  reduce  it.  The  troops  of  Banks  proceeded  from  Baton 
Rouge  on  the  afternoon  of  Friday,  March  13th.  General  Grover's 
division  led  the  advance;  then  followed  the  divisions  of  Emory  and 
Augur.  They  proceeded  on  the  road  without  any  molestation  as  far  as 
Springfield.  At  that  point  they  encountered  about  five  hundred  Con 
federate  cavalry,  who  retired  without  making  arty  hostile  demonstrations. 


ATTACK  OX  PORT  HUDSON.  461 

Reconnoissances  were  then  made  in  the  direction  of  Port  Hudson,  along 
the  road  to  the  Bayou  Sara,  and  toward  Boss  and  Springfield  landings. 
Several  skirmishes  took  place  between  detachments  of  hostile  troops  in 
that  vicinity.  One  of  these  occurred  between  the  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
second  New  York  and  a  body  of  Kebel  cavalry  who  were  concealed  in  the 
woods,  and  made  a  sudden  attack  on  them.  The  latter  were  soon  com 
pelled  to  fall  back  in  confusion,  with  the  loss  of  five  killed  and  twelve 
wounded.  Another  skirmish  took  place  between  the  Eebels  and  a  com 
pany  of  the  second  Rhode  Island  cavalry,  commanded  by  Captain  Stevens, 
who  were  sent  out  on  the  Springfield  road  to  reconnoiter  the  position 
and  strength  of  the  enemy.  They  reached  a  point  where  a  bridge  had 
been  destroyed,  and  the  way  rendered  impassable.  "While  wheeling 
around  in  order  to  return,  they  were  assailed  by  a  discharge  of  musketry 
from  the  concealed  foe.  Captain  Stevens  was  wounded  and  taken 
prisoner.  Three  or  four  privates  were  afterward  missing.  The  move 
ments  of  the  troops  under  General  Banks  being  intended  merely  as  a 
diversion,  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  enemy  while  the  fleet  of  Admiral 
Farragut  was  passing  or  assailing  the  works  at  Port  Hudson,  General 
Banks  ordered  his  men  to  return  to  Baton  Rouge  on  the  16th.  He 
presumed  that,  by  that  time,  the  purpose  of  the  admiral  had  been  success 
fully  accomplished,  and  inferred  that  his  services  would  no  longer  be 
needed  in  connection  with  that  particular  enterprise. 

It  was  at  nine  o'clock  at  night  of  Saturday,  the  14th  of  March,  that 
Admiral  Farragut  signaled  to  his  fleet  to  commence  their  advance.  They 
were  then  at  anchor  at  the  upper  end  of  Prophet's  island,  five  miles 
below  Port  Hudson.  The  moon  and  stars  shone  brightly  in  the  heavens. 
The  formidable  batteries  of  Port  Hudson  were  visible  in  the  distance. 
The  principal  vessels  of  the  fleet  were  the  flag-ship  Hartford,  Monon- 
gahela,  Richmond,  Kineo,  Mississippi,  Essex,  Albatross,  and  Switzerland. 
These  were  accompanied  by  six  mortar  boats.  As  this  fleet  approached 
Port  Hudson,  five  Rebel  gunboats  were  seen  nearing  the  batteries  from 
above,  from  which  a  body  of  troops  were  landed  to  strengthen  the 
defenders  of  the  fortifications.  At  half-past  one  o'clock,  at  a  signal  from 
the  sloop  of  war  Hartford,  the  mortar  boats  commenced  to  fire  upon  the 
Rebel  batteries,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  range  of  their  guns. 
It  was  discovered  that  they  were  too  distant  to  injure  the  works  of  the 
enemy.  At  this  period,  signal  lights  were  seen  flashing  along  the  in- 
trenchments,  which  were  answered  by  Rebel  forces  stationed  on  the 
opposite  shore,  and  by  the  gunboats  of  the  Confederates  on  the  river 
above.  It  was  now  evident  that  the  foe  was  on  the  alert,  and  prepared 
to  give  the  Federal  fleet  a  fierce  and  desperate  resistance. 

As  the  Federals  slowly  approached  the  immense  works  of  the  Con 
federates,  the  latter  employed  a  novel  stratagem,  which  essentially  aided 
their  purposes.  They  kindled  au  immense  bonfire  immediately  in  front 


462  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

of  the  most  formidable  of  their  fortifications,  the  glaring  light  of  which, 
was  refracted  from  the  walls  across  the  stream,  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
expose  each  vessel  clearly  to  view  as  it  passed.  It  was  this  expedient 
more  than  any  other  which  enabled  the  Rebel  engineers  to  direct  their 
shot  and  shell  with  such  destructive  accuracy  upon  the  Union  vessels. 
And  now  the  majestic  Hartford,  leading  the  van  of  the  doomed  fleet, 
came  gallantly  within  range.  The  batteries  of  the  enemy  extended  over 
a  space  of  nearly  four  miles,  with  an  occasional  interval  between  them. 
They  were  placed  on  the  high  bluffs,  and  seemed  to  consist  of  three 
distinct  and  successive  ranges  of  guns.  At  this  point  the  river  bends 
toward  the  west,  in  a  curve  resembling  the  shape  of  a  horse-shoe.  It  is 
in  the  centre  of  this  hollow  that  the  village  of  Port  Hudson  was  situated. 
The  most  powerful  batteries  of  the  enemy,  the  central  ones,  were  located 
in  this  vicinity.  Here  four  enormous  guns  were  mounted  in  casemates. 
The  rest  of  the  Rebel  artillery  were  either  placed  en  barbette,  or  peered 
menacingly  through  open  embrasures.  Such  was  the  terrible  gauntlet 
through  which  the  Union  vessels  were  compelled  to  pass. 
•  As  the  Hartford  came  within  range,  the  batteries  of  the  enemy  opened 
upon  her.  Her  guns  responded  promptly  and  vigorously.  Then  came 
the  Richmond,  to  be  followed  in  quick  succession  by  the  Essex,  the 
Monongahela,  and  the  rest.  Ere  long  the  mortar  boats  added  their 
thundering  salutes  to  the  already  far  resounding  chorus  of  the  artillery, 
both  on  land  and  afloat.  The  reverberation  of  the  guns  became  constant 
and  uninterrupted.  The  intervening  space  between  the  long  line  of 
vessels  and  the  land  batteries  was  filled  with  a  heavy  volume  of  smoke, 
through  whose  dark  curtains  the  lurid  flashes  of  the  guns  were  continually 
visible.  As  the  vessels  advanced,  a  new  difficulty  arose.  The  dark 
ness  became  so  complete  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  steer  with 
safety.  The  tortuous  nature  of  the  river  at  this  point  increased  the 
danger,  and  a  double  peril  existed,  that  the  vessels  might  either  be  run 
ashore,  or  be  driven  against  each  other.  And  now  all  the  vessels  had 
passed  the  lower  batteries  of  the  enemy,  and  as  they  proceeded  up  the 
stream,  the  spectacle  became  one  of  appalling  and  majestic  splendor. 
Along  the  whole  line  occupied  by  the  Federal  vessels  a  continuous 
deluge  of  fiery  and  destructive  hail  ladened  the  air.  The  midnight 
heavens  were  filled  with  the  ascending,  descending,  and  exploding  shells, 
which  were  passing  both  ways.  Even  the  howitzers  in  the  tops  were 
continuously  discharged.  The  earth  and  water  shook  with  the  tremendous 
and  rapid  concussions.  As  the  fleet  approached  the  central  battery, 
which  stood  upon  a  lofty  bluff,  the  cannonading  became  still  more  terrific 
and  destructive.  At  that  point  the  enemy  had  a  decided  advantage,  for 
it  v^as  impossible  to  elevate  the  guns  on  the  vessels  to  the  necessary 
height.  Then  the  batteries  of  the  Rebels,  placed  on  the  two  horns  of  the 
crescent,  poured  down  a  fearful  cross-fire,  to  which  the  vessels  could 


DEATH   OF  COMMANDER  BOYD   CUMMINGS.  463 

make  no  return,  except  a  feeble  one  from  their  bow  and  stern  chasers. 
At  this  point,  also,  the  stream  was  narrow,  and  sometimes  not  more  than 
twenty  or  thirty  yards  intervened  between  the  muzzles  of  the  guns 
of  the  hostile  armaments.  It  was  here  that,  as  the  Mississippi  was  passing 
the  fearful  assault  to  which  she  was  subjected,  she  grounded.  Every 
effort  made  by  her  commander,  Melancthon  Smith,  to  remove  her  proved 
unavailing;  and  it  soon  became  evident  that  the  only  alternative  was  to 
abandon  and  destroy  her,  to  prevent  her  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  This  was  eventually  accomplished,  and  the  officers  and  crew 
saved.  About  the  same  time  the  executive  officer  of  the  Richmond, 
Lieutenant-Commander  Boyd  Cummings,  was  mortally  wounded.  He 
was  standing  on  the  bridge  which  connected  the  starboard  with  the  port 
gangway,  with  his  speaking-trumpet  in  his  hand,  bravely  cheering  on  his 
men.  A  conical  shot  of  immense  size,  after  passing  through  the  ham 
mocks  over  the  starboard  gangway,  struck  him,  took  off  his  left  leg 
below  the  knee,  knocked  over  an  adjacent  officer  with  the  windage,  and 
then  passed  through  the  smoke-stack.  The  wounded  commander  was 
instantly  carried  below,  the  blood  pouring  in  torrents  from  his  wound ; 
and  as  he  descended  to  undergo  a  surgical  operation,  from  which  he  was 
destined  never  to  recover,  he  exclaimed  aloud  to  his  men :  "Get  the  ship 
by,  boys,  and  they  may  have  my  other  leg."  While  the  stunning  roar  of 
the  conflict  resounded  around  him,  he  submitted,  with  the  lurid  light  of 
battle  glaring  on  his  countenance,  to  the  operation,  and  soon  afterward 
expired.  In  the  far  future  ages,  when  the  events  of  this  tremendous  war 
shall  have  become  familiar  household  incidents  to  millions  of  freemen  yet 
unborn,  the  heroism  of  this  dying  soldier  and  patriot  will  commend  him 
to  their  reverence  and  admiration ;  and  he  will  be  classed  with  such  men 
as  Wolfe,  who,  when  expiring  in  the  hour  of  victory,  exclaimed,  "  I  die 
happy ;"  and  with  Lawrence,  who,  amid  the  death  agony,  commanded  his 
men  never  to  give  up  the  ship. 

Vain,  however,  was  the  matchless  fortitude  of  Cummings  and  his  as 
sociates.  It  soon  became  evident  that  an  attempt  to  pass  the  remainder 
of  the  Rebel  batteries  would  entail  certain  destuction  on  many  of  the? 
vessels.  Of  the  whole  fleet,  the  Hartford  and  Albatross  alone  succeeded 
in  effecting  their  purpose.  At  length  the  commanders  of  the  remaining 
vessels  gave  orders  to  their  helmsmen  to  turn  their  prows ;  they  steamed 
quickly  down  the  stream  and  reached  a  point  of  safety  on  the  west  side 
of  Prophet's  island.  There  they  anchored  am.id  peaceful  scenes,  which 
furnished  a  singular  contrast  to  the  horrible  havoc  and  bloody  slaughter 
from  which  they  had  just  escaped,  for  the  fragrant  blossoms  and  verdant 
leaves  of  the  adjacent  luxurious  forest  bent  gracefully  over  the  sides  of 
the  vessels,  and  filled  the  air  of  night  with  their  sweet  perfumes,  while 
their  boughs  and  limbs  yielded  gracefully  to  the  gentle  pressure  of  the 
whispering  winds. 


464  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

During  this  action,  most  of  the  Federal  vessels  had  been  more  or  less 
injured.  The  Genessee  was  severely  damaged.  The  rigging  of  the  Kineo 
was  badly  cut,  and  her  rudder-post  shot  away.  Other  casualties  occurred. 
On  board  the  Mississippi  twenty-two  men  were  killed,  and  more  were 
wounded.  On  the  Monongahela  seven  were  killed,  twenty -one  wounded. 
The  entire  Federal  loss  was  about  forty  killed,  ninety  wounded,  forty 
missing.  The  battle  had  continued  from  half-past  nine  o'clock  at  night, 
until  one  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  number  of  Confederate  troops  who 
were  present  were  estimated  at  twenty  thousand.  After  the  engagement, 
Admiral  Farragut  proceeded  with  the  Hartford  and  the  Albatross  five 
miles  above  Port  Hudson,  in  a  safe  position  beyond  the  guns  of  the 
enemy,  on  either  side  of  the  river.  The  chief  victim  of  this  disaster,  for 
a  disaster  it  undoubtedly  deserves  to  be  termed,  was  Lieutenant-Com 
mander  Cummings.  He  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  and  entered  the 
United  States  Navy  in  April,  1847.  He  was  engaged  in  active  service 
from  that  period  until  his  death.  He  was  a  brave  and  talented  officer, 
whose  brief  career  of  glory  deserves  to  be  enshrined  in  the  grateful  memo 
ries  of  his  countrymen. 

On  the  28th  of  March,  one  of  those  few  instances  occurred,  which  tar 
nished  the  glory  of  the  Union  arms  during  this  war,  in  which  brutal 
violence  was  permitted  to  outrage  every  sentiment  of  justice  and  humanity. 
On  that  day,  the  beautiful  town  of  Jacksonville,  in  Florida,  was  nearly 
destroyed  by  fire.  The  conflagration  was  the  work  of  a  number  of  Fed 
eral  soldiers,  who  belonged  to  the  force  who  had  occupied  the  town  for 
some  time  previous.  That  force  being  ordered  to  a  different  point,  before 
they  took  their  departure  the  incendiary  torch  was  applied  simultaneously 
in  a  variety  of  places.  The  chief  perpetrators  of  the  deed  were  members 
of  the  eighth  Maine,  and  the  sixth  Connecticut  regiments.  Among  the 
ruined  edifices,  were  several  churches  and  other  useful  public  buildings. 
The  conflagration,  like  that  of  Pensacola  and  Hampton,  was  an  act  of  the 
most  infamous  and  heartless  vandalism,  which  reflected  disgrace  upon 
those  who  pepetrated  and  permitted  it,  upon  the  cause  which  they  so  un 
worthily  represented,  upon  the  age  and  country  in  which  they  lived. 

On  the  30th  of  March,  a  desperate  contest  took  place  near  Somerset, 
Kentucky,  in  which  a  body  of  Federal  troops,  under  General  Gillmore, 
attacked  a  number  of  Rebels  commanded  by  General  Pegram,  chiefly 
cavalry.  The  former  were  about  twelve  hundred  strong,  the  latter  twenty- 
five  hundred.  The  action  commenced  at  Button  Hill,  ten  miles  distant 
from  Somerset.  The  Rebels  took  a  strong  position,  and  planted  their 
guns  so  judiciously  that,  as  the  Federals  approached,  they  were  able  to 
give  them  a  bloody  reception.  The  Federal  artillery  responded  to  those 
of  the  enemy,  and  three  of  the  latter  were  disabled,  after  an  action  of  an 
hour  and  a-half.  A  general  charge  upon  the  foe  was  then  ordered.  Wool- 
ford  on  the  right  wing,  Rundle  on  the  left,  Garrard  in  the  centre,  advanced 


COMMITTEE  *  ON  THE   CONDUCT  OF  THE  WAR.  465 

upon  the  enemy.  After  a  desperate  collision  the  Rebels  broke  and  fled. 
They  took  the  road  toward  Somerset,  and  were  pursued.  They  dashed 
through  that  town  in  the  utmost  disorder,  with  the  Federals  at  their  heels. 
Three  miles  south  of  Somerset,  they  attempted  to  make  a  stand,  but  were 
again  compelled  to  give  way.  But  at  this  stage  of  the  action  the  approach 
of  night  terminated  it,  and  the  pursuit  was  not  continued.  The  loss  of 
the  Confederates  was  considerable,  being  about  three  hundred  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners.  They  also  lost  two  stand  of  colors,  and  four 
hundred  cattle  which  they  had  collected.  The  Federal  loss  was  thirty  - 
eight  killed  and  wounded.  During  the  night  which  followed  the  battle, 
the  enemy  succeeded  in  crossing  the  Cumberland  river  in  several  places, 
but  the  purpose  of  their  invasion  of  this  portion  of  Kentucky  was  com 
pletely  baffled  and  defeated.  Their  only  achievement  was  the  burning  of 
the  bridges  over  Dick's  river  at  Bryantsville  and  Lancaster,  and  the 
plundering  of  many  private  residences  of  articles  of  dress  and  ornament. 

While  the  attention  of  the  loyal  community  in  the  United  States  was 
occupied  but  not  wholly  absorbed  by  the  occurrence  of  minor  events  of 
this  description,  a  development  of  a  more  pacific  character  was  made, 
which,  for  a  brief  period,  superseded  every  other  topic  in  their  minds. 
This  event  was  the  publication  of  the  report  of  the  Congressional  Com 
mittee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War.  In  December,  1861,  a  joint  committee, 
consisting  of  three  members  of  the  Senate  and  four  members  of  the  House, 
had  been  appointed  by  Congress,  with  instructions  to  inquire  into  the 
manner  in  which  the  war  had  been  conducted.  They  proceeded  to  the 
investigation  of  the  subject  committed  to  them,  and  in  the  first  week  of 
April,  1863,  their  first  report  was  rendered.  It  was  signed  by  B.  F.  Wade 
and  Z.  C.  Chandler,  on  the  part  of  the  Senate ;  by  D.  W.  Gooch,  J.  Covode, 
G.  W.  Julian,  and  M.  F.  Odell,  on  the  part  of  the  House.  It  exhibited 
evidences  of  extensive  research,  of  impartial  investigation,  and  of  a  desire 
to  promote  the  interests  of  the  Union  by  the  exposure  of  the  blunders 
which  had  already  entailed  so  many  disasters  upon  the  country.  A 
prominent  peculiarity  which  characterized  this  report,  was  the  fact  that  it 
dealt  exclusively  in  events  and  incidents,  and  did  not  undertake  to  express 
private  opinions,  or  to  draw  authoritative  conclusions  in  reference  to 
them.  The  latter  duty  the  committee  transferred  entirely  to  the  reader. 
It  threw  upon  him  the  whole  responsibility  of  maturing  a  judgment  in 
regard  to  the  persons  to  whom  the  censure  was  due,  for  the  errors  which 
had  been  committed,  and  the  calamities  which  had  been  thereby  entailed. 

The  impression  produced  upon  the  public  mind  by  this  report  was 
profound.  A  large  portion  of  it  was  devoted  to  the  operations  of  the 
army  of  the  Potomac  under  General  McClellan.  It  presented  many  novel 
facts  in  regard  to  the  conduct  and  movements  of  that  officer  from  the 
period  of  his  arrival  at  Washington  in  August,  1861 ;  also  concerning  the 
condition  of  the  defences  of  the  Federal  capital  at  that  period,  the  blockade 
30 


466  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

of  the  Potomac  by  the  Kebels  which  ensued,  and  which  was  not  raised, 
the  long  and  mysterious  delay  of  McClellan  at  Washington  during  eight 
months,  the  final  advance  of  the  army  by  the  express  order  of  the  Presi 
dent,  to  take  effect  on  the  22d  of  February,  1862,  the  circuitous  route 
that  was  taken  through  the  Peninsula  toward  Richmond,  instead  of  the 
direct  road  thither,  and  the  protracted  and  unnecessary  delay  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  at  Yorktown.  The  report  set  forth  further,  how,  when 
the  enemy  had  made  all  their  arrangements  to  defend  Eichmond,  they 
quietly  evacuated  Yorktown  on  the  very  day  before  that  on  which 
McClellan  had  proposed  to  attack  them  ;  how  the  battle  of  Williamsburg 
was  gained  through  the  gallantry  of  Hooker,  while  McClellan  remained 
in  the  rear;  how  a  procrastinating  and  over-cautious  spirit  had  charac 
terized  the  conduct  of  the  commander-in-chief  during  the  whole  of  the 
peninsular  campaign ;  how,  after  the  pernicious  delay  of  nearly  a  month 
in  the  trenches  before  Richmond,  by  which  an  immense  number  of  his 
troops  perished  through  disease  and  exposure,  the  enemy,  having  had 
ample  time  to  complete  all  their  preparations,  and  to  concentrate  all  their 
available  forces,  came  forth  and  attacked  the  Federal  troops  ;  how  those 
troops  fought  for  mere  existence  with  dauntless  heroism  and  desperation, 
and  finally  reached  Harrison's  Landing  in  the  most  pitiable  plight ;  how 
the  fatigue  and  exhaustion  of  the  troops  were  so  great  that  during  more 
than  a  day  and  a  night  after  the  arrival  of  the  army  at  the  landing,  no 
preparations  for  defence  were  made,  and  the  troops  lay  exposed  to  certain 
ruin  or  capture  if  the  Eebels  had  been  in  condition  to  venture  upon 
another  attack  during  that  interval. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  this  report  astonished  and  incensed  a  majority 
of  the  loyal  community  to  an  intense  degree,  and  that  feeling  was  destined 
to  continue  in  full  force,  as  long  as  no  reply  to  it  was  issued  by  General 
McClellan  or  by  his  friends,  as  long  as  no  explanation  was  given,  no  coun- 
terfacts  produced  to  illumine  the  mystery  of  the  querulousness,  hesitation, 
and  inefficiency  which  seemed  to  envelope  the  whole  career  of  that  officer 
after  assuming  the  ccmmand  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  The  conclusion 
at  which  the  greater  portion  of  the  public  in  the  loyal  States  arrived,  after 
reading  this  report,  was,  that  McClellan's  army  numbered,  from  first  to 
last,  a  hundred  and  eighty-five  thousand  men;  that  his  forces  were  as  fit 
for  use  on  the  1st  of  November,  1861,  as  they  were  on  the  1st  of  March, 
1862,  when  they  moved  toward  Manassas  after  Manassas  had  been  evacuated 
by  the  enemy  ;  that  the  blockade  of  the  Potomac  might  have  been  raised 
at  any  time  during  the  winter  of  1861-2,  by  four  thousand  troops  ;  that 
the  plan  of  the  peninsular  campaign  was  McClellan's  own  device ;  that 
his  arrangements  had  not  been  interfered  with  by  the  administration  in 
any  important  respect ;  that  when  McClellan  arrived  at  Yorktown  with 
more  than  one  hundred  thousand  effective  men,  the  enemy  had  only 
twenty  thousand  to  oppose  him  at  that  point;  that  the  place  could  have 


COMMITTEE   ON  THE  CONDUCT  OF  THE  WAR.  407 

been  carried  at  once  by  an  assault  with  perfect  ease ;  that  McClellan 
might  have  captured  Richmond  at  three  different  times— the  first,  by  ad 
vancing  immediately  after  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  the  second,  after 
the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  the  third,  after  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill ;  that 
the  retreat  of  the  army  from  Kichmond  to  Harrison's  bar  was  unnecessary 
and  premature ;  that  all  the  reinforcements  had  been  sent  to  McClellan 
during  the  time  that  he  was  in  the  peninsula,  which  could  possibly  be 
spared ;  and  that  even  some  troops  were  sent  to  him  which  were  really 
indispensable  to  the  safety  of  Washington.  In  addition  to  all  these  points, 
the  report  alleged  that  when  General  McClellan  received  positive  orders 
to  withdraw  his  army  from  Harrison's  Landing,  he  delayed  eleven  days 
before  he  executed  it,  by  which  delay  the  army  of  Virginia  and  the  Federal 
capital  were  both  placed  in  imminent  peril;  that  the  battle  of  Antietam 
was  unsatisfactory  and  indecisive  in  its  results  ;  and  that  the  destruction  or 
capture  of  the  army  of  Lee  would  have  been  certain  if  the  conflict  had 
been  renewed  on  the  next  day,  and  if  the  large  body  of  troops  had  been 
brought  into  action  who  had  remained  idle  spectators  of  it ;  and  finally, 
that  McClellan's  mysterious  inactivity  from  the  17th  of  September  to  the 
26th  of  October,  was  extremely  pernicious  to  the  cause  of  hthe  Union,  and 
greatly  promoted  the  interests  of  the  Rebellion.* 

This  interesting  report  also  presented  many  facts  in  relation  to  the 
three  months'  campaign  of  General  Patterson  in  Virginia,  which  seemed 
to  demonstrate  that  to  his  failure  in  intercepting  the  march  of  Johnston 
to  Manassas,  was  to  be  attributed  the  defeat  of  the  Federal  forces  under 
General  McDowell  at  Bull  Run.  The  report  also  set  forth  the  facts  in 
reference  to  the  disaster  of  the  Federal  troops  at  Ball's  Bluff,  which  left 
the  impression  that  that  misfortune  was  attributable  to  the  neglect  and  in 
competence  of  General  Stone,  the  commanding  officer.  Other  matters  of 
minor  importance,  including  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  were  discussed 
in  this  document,  and  the  effect  produced  by  its  revelations  was  to  con 
vince  a  large  proportion  of  the  community  that  unless  its  statements 
could  be  rebutted  by  evidence  of  an  explanatory  and  mitigating  character 
by  those  parties  whose  acts  were  scrutinized  in  it,  the  general  belief  would 
be  that  they  had  been  guilty  of  incompetence,  cowardice,  and  of  a  line  of 

*  This  portion  of  the  report  of  the  committee  developed  an  amusing  illustration 
of  the  playful  satire  sometimes  indulged  in  by  the  President,  when  his  patience  was 
exhausted.  It  was  as  follows:  "On  the  25th  of  October,  General  McClellan  trans 
mits  to  General  Halleck,  a  report  from  Colonel  Robert  "Williams,  commanding  a  de 
tachment  of  cavalry,  in  which  it  is  stated  that  nearly  half  his  horses  are  unsound  from 
sore  tongue,  grease,  and  consequent  lameness,  and  sore  backs  ;  and  that  the  horses 
which  are  still  sound,  are  broken  down  from  fatigue  and  want  of  flesh.  To  this  the 
President  replies  on  the  same  day  :  '  I  have  just  read  your  despatch  about  sore  tongue 
and  fatigued  horses.  Will  you  pardon  me  for  asking  what  the  horses  of  your  army 
have  done,  since  the  battle  of  Antietam,  that  could  fatigue  any  thing !' " — Report  of 
Congressional  Committee,  p.  23. 


468  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

policy  which  had  proved  pernicious  to  the  interests  of  the  Union.  At 
the  same  time  the  friends  and  partisans  of  the  generals  in  question, 
confidently  anticipated  that  they  would  be  able  to  set  forth  such  facts  in 
defence  of  their  conduct  as  would  demonstrate  their  loyalty,  their  ability 
and  their  innocence  of  the  charges  preferred  against  them. 

The  summer  campaign  of  1863  was  now  rapidly  approaching,  during 
the  progress  of  which  the  most  important  and  decisive  engagements  were 
anticipated.  Various  indications  clearly  proved  that  the  Confederate 
leaders,  both  civil  and  military,  looked  forward  to  the  struggles  of  this 
campaign  as  more  desperate  and  bloody  than  any  which  had  yet  occurred 
during  the  war ;  and  that  they  were  determined,  with  dauntless  resolution 
and  unconquerable  patience,  to  exhaust  every  possible  resource  within 
their  reach  in  order  to  resist  and  to  vanquish  the  forces  of  the  Union. 
Previous,  however,  to  the  termination  of  the  winter  campaign  of  1862-3, 
the  events  of  which  we  have  been  describing,  several  minor  incidents 
occurred  which  here  require  a  brief  allusion. 

On  the  1st  of  April,  a  small  detachment  of  the  troops  connected  with 
the  command  of  General  Curtis,  in  the  Department  of  the  Southwest, 
consisting  of  two  companies  of  the  first  Arkansas  cavalry,  made  an  in 
cursion  into  Carroll  county,  in  the  northwestern  portion  of  Arkansas. 
During  this  raid  they  had  four  skirmishes  with  the  enemy.  The  result 
was  that  they  killed  twenty-two  of  the  latter  and  took  seven  prisoners. 
Their  own  loss  was  insignificant,  only  one  being  wounded.  On  the  2d 
of  April,  eight  regiments  of  the  army  of  General  Kosecrans  marched 
toward  Woodbury,  the  capital  of  Cannon  county,  Tennessee,  twenty  miles 
from  Murfreesboro,  for  the  purpose  of  surprising  and  capturing  a  brigade 
of  Confederate  troops  which  were  posted  at  that  point.  The  Federals 
were  commanded  by  Generals  Craft  and  Hazen.  The  latter  made  a  detour 
of  fifteen  miles,  with  the  intention  of  attacking  the  enemy  on  the  flank 
and  rear,  while  the  rest  of  the  troops  assailed  them  in  front.  During  the 
night,  however,  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  had  been  extended  in  such  a 
way  that  the  cavalry  advance  of  the  Federals  encountered  them  unex 
pectedly  before  Hazen  was  able  to  reach  his  destination.  The  result  was 
that  the  Kebels  received  notice  of  their  peril,  and  succeeded  in  making 
their  escape.  A  running  fight  ensued,  over  the  space  of  three  miles, 
during  which  twelve  of  the  enemy  were  slain  and  thirty  captured.  They 
left  their  camp  equipage  in  the  hands  of  the  Federals,  together  with  fifty 
horses  and  twenty  mules. 

Contemporary  with  these  skirmishes  was  the  abortive  attempt  made  to 
proceed  through  the  Black  Bayou,  in  Mississippi,  toward  the  rear  of 
Vicksburg.  The  expedition  consisted  of  six  gunboats  from  Kear- Admiral 
Porter's  squadron,  and  two  thousand  troops  from  Grant's  army,  com 
manded  by  General  W.  T.  Sherman.  This  bayou  runs  for  fifty  miles 
chiefly  through  dense  forests,  and  is  composed  of  a  number  of  tortuous 


ABORTIVE   EXPEDITION  UP  THE  BLACK  BAYOU.  469 

streams,  whose  navigation  is  extremely  difficult.  It  was  supposed  that 
the  Federal  gunboats  would  move  noiselessly  and  without  observation 
through  the  woods,  and  suddenly  take  a  position  near  the  works  of  the 
enemy,  to  their  great  astonishment  and  dismay.  The  event,  however, 
proved  to  be  entirely  different.  The  Confederates  had  guarded  this 
avenue  of  access  with  their  usual  skill  and  vigilance.  As  the  expedition 
slowly  advanced,  the  adjacent  woods  were  found  to  be  swarming  with 
Rebel  riflemen — the  banks  of  the  stream  to  be  lined  in  many  places  with 
batteries  defended  by  bales  of  cotton,  and  that  immense  numbers  of  negroes 
were  engaged  in  felling  the  trees  to  obstruct  the  passage.  The  bed  of 
the  bayou  was  found  to  have  been  already  made  impassable  in  many 
places ;  and  so  difficult  was  the  progress  of  the  expedition  that  ten  days 
were  occupied  in  advancing  fifty  miles.  When  at  length  the  admiral 
found  it  impossible  to  proceed  further,  and  resolved  to  return,  he  dis 
covered  that  the  enemy  had  been  actively  engaged  in  rendering  that 
enterprise  -more  difficult  than  his  advance  had  been.  After  a  forced 
march,  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  on  record,  some  desperate  fighting, 
and  much  hard  work,  General  Sherman  succeeded  in  releasing  the  gun 
boats  from  their  perilous  situation,  and  they  returned  to  their  former 
position  on  the  Mississippi. 


4TO  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER    XLIL 

PRELIMINARY    REFLECTIONS RISE    OF    THE  ANTI-WAR    DEMOCRATS,  OR  THE    PEACE    PARTY 

ITS  AVOWED  OPINIONS  AND  OPPOSITION  TO  THE  NATIONAL  ADMINISTRATION SUSPENSE  OF 

THE  WRIT  OP  HABEAS    CORPUS THE    COURSE  OF  PRESIDENT    LINCOLN    SUSTAINED    BY   CON 
GRESS  AND  THE  LOYAL  PORTION  OF  THE  NATION  AS  CONSTITUTIONAL,  WISE,  AND  PATRIOTIC 

PRECEDENT  OF  THE  BRITISH  PARLIAMENT FACTIOUS    OPPOSITION  OF  THE    PEACE    PARTY 

TO    THE    CONSCRIPTION  ACT  AND    TO    THE    PROSECUTION  OF   THE  WAR THEIR    PROFFERKD 

FRIENDSHIP    SPURNED    EVEN    BY    THE    CONFEDERATES     THEMSELVES THEIR    ALLEGED     BUT 

GROUNDLESS  FEARS  OF  DESIGNED    CENTRALIZATION    BY    THE    NATIONAL  ADMINISTRATION 

THEIR  HOSTILITY  TO  THE  PRESIDENT'S    EMANCIPATION    PROCLAMATION THE    EXISTENCE  OF 

NEGRO    SLAVERY  AND    DETERMINATION    TO    PERPETUATE    IT  THE  SOURCE  OF  OUR  GREATEST 

NATIONAL    DIFFICULTIES,    AND    THE    ULTIMATE    CAUSE    OF    THE    PRESENT    REBELLION THE 

JUDICIOUS,  GRADUAL,  AND    PROGRESSIVE    COURSE  OF    THE    GOVERNMENT  ON  THIS  SUBJECT 

VINDICATED OBJECTIONS    OF    THE    PEACE    PARTY    TO    THE    FINANCIAL    MEASURES   OF    THB 

GOVERNMENT THEIR  VINDICTIVE  BUT    FUTILE  ATTEMPTS  TO  DETRACT  FROM  THE  PERSONAL 

CHARACTER  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 

EVERY  civil  war,  like  that  between  the  loyal  and  disloyal  States  of  the 
Union,  will  inevitably  be  rich  in  developments  both  of  national  and  indi 
vidual  character.  New  parties  will  arise,  new  systems  of  political  doctrine 
will  be  affirmed,  which  derive  their  birth  from  the  novel  combination  of 
events  which  take  place  during  such  a  contest.  Perhaps  the  most 
remarkable  of  these  developments  which,  occurred  during  the  progress  of 
this  war  was  the  sudden  rise  of  a  faction  in  the  free  States,  to  whom  the 
epithet  of  Anti-War  or  Peace  Democrats  was  not  inappropriately  applied. 
When  the  Rebellion  commenced,  the  sentiment  of  the  whole  community 
who  lived  beyond  its  limits  seemed  to  be  unanimous  in  its  condemnation, 
and  harmonious  in  favor  of  the  prosecution  of  a  vigorous  war  against  it 
by  the  forces  of  the  Federal  Government,  until  it  should  be  completely 
crushed.  After  the  expiration  of  a  year,  a  few  dissenting  voices  began 
to  be  heard ;  and  at  the  period  whose  events  we  have  just  described, 
these  malcontents  had  become  much,  more  numerous,  had  taken  external 
organization  and  consistency,  had  become  bold  and  fearless  in  their  de 
nunciation  of  the  measures  of  the  Federal  Government,  and  had  acquired 
an  importance  in  connection  with  the  war  which  renders  it  proper  that 
they  should  now  be  made  the  subject  of  our  special  scrutiny. 

The  opinions  and  measures  advocated  by  this  party  were  regarded  by 
the  majority  of  the  community  with  great  distrust,  even  with  undisguised 
censure.  Many  opprobrious  epithets  were  applied  to  them.*  By  some 
they  were  compared  to  the  Tories  and  Koyalists  of  the  Eevolutionary  era. 

*  One  of  these,  and  perhaps  the  most  common,  was  the  significant  term  "  Copper- 
head." 


PEACE  DEMOCRATS  ON  THE  HABEAS  CORPUS  ACT.  471 

This  comparison,  however,  was  incorrect  in  one  important  respect.  The 
motives  which  gave  rise  to  the  two  factions  were  evidently  dissimilar  and 
incongruous.  The  Tory  was  induced  to  oppose  the  patriot  cause  during 
the  Revolution  chiefly  from  cowardice  and  fear.  He  was  afraid  of  the 
penalties  of  confiscation  and  death  by  the  British  tyrant.  But  it  cannot 
be  affirmed  that  the  peace  Democrats  of  the  period  now  under  considera 
tion  were  actuated  by  an  apprehension  of  punishment  in  any  case  from 
the  power  and  vengeance  of  the  Confederate  Government.  Whatever 
may  have  been  their  motives,  they  were  free  from  the  craven  meanness, 
the  pusillanimous  baseness,  which  disgraced  those  who  opposed  the  cause 
of  liberty  in  the  memorable  period  which  tried  men's  souls. 

Let  us  proceed  to  describe  the  principal  opinions  affirmed  and  measures 
advocated  by  this  party,  which,  by  its  numbers,  its  boldness,  and  its 
ability,  had  already  made  itself  historical. 

First,  they  condemned  with  intense  fervor  the  indemnity  bill,  which 
was  passed  by  the  Federal  Congress  during  the  session  of  1862-3,  the 
purpose  of  which  was  to  throw  the  broad  shield  of  the  protection  of  the 
whole  Federal  Government  over  those  acts  which  had  been  performed  by 
the  sole  authority  of  the  Executive.  The  title  of  this  bill  was  "  An  act 
relating  to  the  habeas  corpus,  and  regulating  judicial  proceedings  in 
certain  cases."  The  peace  Democrats  affirmed  that  the  suspension  of  the 
writ  of  habeas  corpus  at  an  early  stage  of  the  Rebellion  by  the  President 
was  an  unconstitutional  measure ;  that  it  was  wholly  illegal ;  and  that  no 
subsequent  legislation  could  justify  it,  or  render  it  valid.  It  was  objected 
that  the  effect  of  this  indemnity  bill  was  to  delegate  to  one  branch  of  the 
Government,  namely,  the  executive,  functions  which  legitimately  belonged 
only  to  the  legislative,  which  would  be  an  express  violation  of  the  estab 
lished  principles  maintained  by  the  judicial  branch  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment.*  The  answer  to  this  allegation  is,  that  it  is  an  established  principle 
of  the  Federal  Constitution,  that  Congress  may  grant  to  the  executive  or 
the  judicial  branch  of  the  Government  administrative  functions;  and  that 
the  suspension  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  and  the  arrest  and  conviction  of 
offenders  are  functions  which  are  clearly  administrative.  The  truth  is,  that 
the  act  of  President  Lincoln  in  suspending  this  writ  at  a  moment  of  fearful 
peril  to  the  country,  was  clearly  justifiable  under  an  express  provision  of  the 
Federal  Constitution,  which  declared:  "The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas 
corpus  shall  not  be  suspended  unless  when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion 
the  public  safety  may  require  it."f  Now  this  section  does  not  specify 
which  branch  of  the  Federal  Government  shall  exercise  this  power  of 
suspending  the  writ.  It  seems  to  have  been  vested  in  each  of  the  three 

*  See  address  of  G.  M.  Wharton,  before  the  Democratic  Central  Club  of  Phila 
delphia,  April  18,  1863. 
t  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  Art.  I.  Sec.  ix.  2. 


472  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

branches.  But  Congress  manifestly  cannot  suspend  the  writ  when  it  is 
not  in  session.  Nor  can  the  Supreme  Court  when  it  is  not  sitting. 
Hence,  if  a  crisis  should  suddenly  arise,  when  the  safety  and  the  life  of 
the  nation  required  that  the  writ  should  be  instantly  suspended,  and  the 
arrest  and  punishment  of  traitors  be  effected  immediately,  and  if  Congress 
be  not  then  in  session,  or  if  the  Supreme  Court  be  not  sitting,  who  shall 
or  can  exercise  this  high  and  solemn  prerogative,  under  such  circum 
stances,  except  the  Chief  Executive  ? 

Hence,  when  this  indemnity  bill  declared  in  its  first  section  that  the 
President  shall  have  the  power,  during  the  existence  of  the  Rebellion,  to 
suspend  the  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  throughout  the  United 
States,  whenever,  in  his  judgment,  the  public  safety  may  require  it,  it  simply 
reaffirmed  an  acknowledged  principle  of  the  Constitution,  and  at  the  same 
time  announced  the  conviction  of  the  legislative  branch  of  the  Govern 
ment  that  the  previous  exercise  of  that  prerogative  by  the  President  was, 
under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  case,  lawful,  constitutional,  and 
commendable.  It  was  thus  intended  to  protect  him  from  any  unjust  cen 
sure  or  penalty  which  the  rage  of  triumphant  faction  in  after  time  might 
attempt  to  inflict  upon  him. 

As  to  the  abstract  justice  and  propriety  of  the  conduct,  both  of  the  Pres 
ident  and  of  Congress,  in  relation  to  this  matter,  there  could  be  no  doubt  in 
any  impartial  mind.  It  is  well  known  as  one  of  the  settled  principles  of 
all  civilized  communities  that  when  the  situation  of  a  State  is  so  critical 
that  the  ordinary  powers  of  law  and  government  are  insufficient  to  protect 
the  life  of  the  nation,  the  emergency  justifies  the  use  of. extraordinary  and 
more  desperate  measures.  Thus  the  ancient  Romans  were  accustomed  in 
such  a  crisis  to  invest  their  consuls  with  dictatorial  power,  with  the  stern 
injunction :  "  Let  the  consuls  see  to  it  that  the  Republic  receive  no  injury."* 
The  expedient  saved  the  mistress  of  the  world  more  than  once  from  im 
pending  ruin.  It  is  worthy  here  of  remark  that  despotic  governments  never 
need  any  indemnity  bills,  for  in  them  there  are  no  restraints  on  arbitrary 
power,  and  if  the  monarch  perpetrate  acts  of  the  most  unjustifiable  tyranny 
there  is  no  arm  which  can  punish  him.  What  would  be  the  advantage  of 
suspending  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  in  France  under  the  tyranny  of  Louis 
XIV.,  when  a  leltre  de  cachet  or  secret  warrant,  obtained  by  a  parasite  of 
the  court  through  favor,  could  immure  its  victim  in  the  Bastite  for  years, 
without  any  power  existing  in  any  of  the  judicial  tribunals  to  investigate 
the  merits  of  the  case,  or  to  cite  the  parties  before  them  for  a  hearing. 

In  free  governments  and  in  limited  monarchies  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus 
has  often  been  suspended  under  much  less  urgent  circumstances  than  those 
under  which  it  was  suspended  by  President  Lincoln.  In  England  this 
has  been  repeatedly  done  in  cases  where  the  public  safety  required  that 

*  Videant  consulis  ne  quid  Respublica  detrimenti  capiat. 


PEACE  DEMOCRATS  ON  THE  CONSCRIPTION  BILL.  473 

suspected  persons  should  be  arrested  without  following  the  regular  pro 
cesses  of  law.  Thus,  in  January,  1817,  when  the  Prince  Regent,  after 
ward  George  IV.,  was  returning  from  Parliament  to  his  palace,  he  was 
hooted  and  insulted  by  an  indignant  multitude.  Parliament  immediately 
suspended  the  habeas  corpus  act,  in  order  to  take  possession  of  the  offenders, 
and  punish  them  with  signal  vengeance.  And  in  the  next  year  Parlia 
ment  passed  an  indemnity  bill  to  protect  all  parties  who  had  apprehended 
and  prosecuted  persons  under  the  late  suspension  act.*  We  cite  this  case 
particularly,  inasmuch  as  it  so  nearly  resembles  the  one  under  considera 
tion,  with  this  difference,  however,  that  the  urgency  and  peril  in  the  case 
of  President  Lincoln  were  infinitely  greater  than  they  were  in  that  of  the 
besotted  and  perfidious  monarch  of  England.  It  is  also  to  be  observed 
that  those  who  condemned  the  indemnity  bill  were  great  advocates  for  pre 
cedent  and  authority. 

The  legalizing  the  suspension  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpiis  was  the  prin 
cipal  ingredient  of  this  indemnity  bill.  Its  other  provisions  were  merely 
those  which  were  necessary  to  give  its  operative  force  celerity  and  cer 
tainty.  It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  upon  these.  Enough  has  been  said  to 
indicate  the  real  nature  of  this  important  act  of  Congress,  and  to  prove 
the  fallacy  of  that  political  creed  which  condemned  the  bill  as  unconstitu 
tional,  and  pernicious  to  the  liberties  of  the  nation. 

The  second  cardinal  feature  which  characterized  the  peace  Democrats 
of  this  period  was  their  condemnation  of  the  conscription  bill,  which  had 
been  passed  by  the  recent  Federal  Congress.  This  law  was  entitled  "  An 
act  for  enrolling  and  calling  out  the  national  forces."  Its  purpose  was  to 
operate  more  efficiently  in  procuring  troops  than  could  be  done  by  the 
already  existing  militia  laws,  to  be  less  expensive  to  the  Treasury,  and 
less  burdensome  to  the  great  mass  of  the  people.  The  objection  urged 
against  it  by  the  peace  party  was  that  it  made  a  distinction  between  the 
rich  and  the  poor,  because  it  designated  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars 
as  the  price  of  a  substitute.  They  affirmed  that  while  all  the  rich  could 
pay  that  amount,  the  poor  would  be  unable  to  do  so,  and  would  thus  be 
compelled  to  serve  if  drawn. 

Nothing,  however,  could  be  more  unfair  than  this  statement,  because  in 
reality  this  conscription  act  was  an  immense  improvement  on  all  the  exist 
ing  militia  laws  of  the  several  States,  which  it  was  intended  to  supersede. 
Those  laws  exempted  from  service  a  large  proportion  of  the  community, 
including  members  of  Congress,  custom-house  officers  and  clerks,  post 
masters  and  their  clerks,  professors  and  students  of  colleges,  clergymen, 
judges,  and  many  other  officials.  On  the  contrary,  the  conscription  act 
put  an  end  to  this  absurd  and  unjust  immunity.  It  made  all  classes  and 
persons  liable  to  serve,  with  very  few  exceptions.  Those  exceptions  were 

*See  the  British  General  Register  for  1827,  pp.  80,  81. 


474  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

of  the  most  commendable  kind.  They  were  the  only  sons  of  widows,  who 
were  dependent  upon  them  for  support,  the  only  sons  of  aged  and  infirm 
parents  dependent  on  them  for  support,  the  only  brother  of  children  not 
twelve  years  old,  without  father  or  mother,  and  dependent  on  such  brother 
for  support,  and  several  similar  exceptions.  These  were  all  dictated  by 
pure  benevolence  and  wise  policy. 

But  the  objection  that  this  act  favored  the  rich  was  equally  absurd. 
And  for  this  reason  :  it  provided  that  if  a  drafted  person  could  procure  a 
suitable  substitute,  at  any  price,  however  low,  within  a  definite  time,  that 
substitute  would  be  accepted  in  his  place.  It  also  allowed  the  Secretary 
of  War  the  right  to  demand  a  less  sum  than  three  hundred  dollars  in  lieu 
of  service,  .if  in  his  discretion  he  deemed  it  just.  The  law  simply  forbade 
him  to  demand  more  than  three  hundred  dollars ;  it  permitted  him  to  ex 
ercise  his  discretion  in  accepting  less.  r  The  equitable  operation  of  this 
regulation  is  self-evident,  for  it  is  clear  that  he  would  require  the  whole 
amount  from  the  rich,  while  from  the  poor  alone  would  he  be  willing  to 
accept  a  less  sum.  The  effect  of  the  law  would  evidently  be  to  prevent 
the  price  of  substitutes  from  ascending  to  many  hundred  dollars,  as  would 
inevitably  have  become  the  result  under  any  other  arrangement.  If  any 
drafted  man  could  obtain  a  substitute  for  a  less  sum  than  even  that  de 
manded  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  he  was  at  liberty  to  do  so. 

Such  were  the  chief  features  of  this  conscription  act.  Nothing  could 
be  more  humane,  more  equitable,  more  beneficial  in  its  operation,  and  it 
was  in  vain  that  the  peace  party  brought  to  bear  upon  it  their  objections 
and  invectives.  It  commended  itself  to  every  loyal  and  impartial  mind 
in  the  nation. 

The  third  ^leading  feature  of  the  party  under  consideration  was,  the 
advocacy  of  the  immediate  cessation  of  hostilities  by  the  Federal  Govern 
ment,  the  settlement  of  the  dispute  by  negotiation,  and  the  restoration 
of  the  Union  as  it  existed  before  the  war.  It  seems  singular  that  the 
difficulties  and  impossibilities  involved  in  this  plan  should  have  escaped 
the  notice  of  any  intelligent  observer.  In  the  first  place,  if  the  Federal 
Government  should  consent  to  such  an  arrangement,  it  would  involve  a 
direct  admission  of  the  injustice  and  iniquity  of  all  its  preceding  acts.  It 
would  be  a  confession  that  the  war,  on  its  side,  had  been  ab  initio  a  cruel 
and  execrable  outrage.  It  would  be  an  acknowledgment  that  thousands 
of  lives  had  been  destroyed,  that  hundreds  of  millions  of  treasure  bad 
been  wasted,  that  the  peace  and  security  of  all  the  seceding  States  had  been 
invaded  by  the  Federal  Government,  under  a  false  and  delusive  pretext, 
without  any  show  of  justice,  humanity,  or  equitable  obligation.  Even  if 
the  war  for  the  Union  had  been  unjustifiable,  no  government  would  ever 
so  far  criminate  and  stultify  itself  as  to  make  such  an  admission  as  this. 
But  the  truth  was,  that  this  war  on  behalf  of  the  Union  was  one  of  the 
most  necessary  unavoidable,  and  righteous  which  was  ever  waged  by  any 


PEACE  DEMOCRATS   ON  THE  CESSATION  OF  THE  WAR.       475 

legitimate  and  beneficent  government  against  rebels,  traitors,  and  out 
laws.  How  absurd  and  unfeasible  then  must  the  proposition  of  the  peace 
party  seem  in  this  view  of  the  case  to  every  impartial  mind  I 

Other  difficulties  equally  great  were  in  the  way.  Ample  proof  existed 
at  this  very  period  that  the  Confederates  themselves  would  refuse  all 
propositions  of  peace,  from  any  quarter,  which  did  not  involve  the  full 
recognition  of  their  new  government,  and  the  permanent  dissolution  of 
the  Union.  Such  was  the  universal  sentiment  uttered  and  reiterated  by 
their  leading  journals,  by  the  members  of  their  Congress,  by  their  most 
important  officials,  by  their  most  influential  citizens.  That  all  these  were 
wearied  of  the  war  was  already  admitted;  but  with  this  admission  was 
uniformly  connected  the  firm  and  resolute  determination,  the  firm  and 
fixed  resolve,  never  to  return  to  the  Federal  Union,  never  again  to  coalesce 
with  the  detested  invaders  of  their  soil,  never  to  cease  hostilities  until 
they  had  "conquered  their  independence."  They  even  ridiculed  the 
propositions  of  the  peace  party  themselves  in  the  North,  and  assured  them 
of  the  utter  hopelessness  and  futility  of  their  plans  and  purposes. 

But  even  if  the  Confederates  would  have  consented  to  negotiate  for 
peace  on  the  basis  of  the  restoration  of  the  Union,  insurmountable  diffi 
culties  would  arise  during  the  consequent  deliberations,  which  would 
render  an  adjustment  of  the  dispute  utterly  impossible.  Thus,  what 
arrangement  could  be  made  in  reference  to  the  war-debts  incurred  by  the 
two  Governments?  It  is  evident  that  the  loyal  citizens  of  the  Union 
would  never  consent  to  pay  a  dollar  of  the  debts  incurred  by  the  Confed 
erates  through  their  execrable  resistance  to  the  lawful  Government.  It 
is  just  as  evident  that  the  Kebels  would  demand  reparation  for  their  losses, 
and  full  indemnification  for  their  expenses,  which  they  would  allege  had 
been  inflicted  upon  them  by  the  unjustifiable  coercive  measures  adopted 
and  executed  by  the  Federal  Government.  It  is  also  clear  that  the  loyal 
people  of  the  country  would  demand  that  the  Rebels  should  not  only  pay 
their  own  war-debts,  but  that  they  should  be  compelled  to  repay  the  Fed 
eral  Government  the  amount  of  indebtedness  which  it  had  been  compelled 
to  incur  in  the  prosecution  of  its  efforts  to  restore  the  Union.  No  peace 
able  negotiation  could  ever  settle  such  litigated  questions  amicably.  Here 
was  a  Gordian  knot  which  nothing  but  the  sword,  and  that  the  sword  of 
an  Alexander,  could  cut. 

Other  topics  would  present  difficulties  as  insurmountable  as  these.  What 
disposition  would  be  made  of  the  leaders  of  the  Rebellion  ?  The  Confed 
erates  would  unquestionably  demand  that  Jefferson  Davis,  his  chief  ad 
visers  and  associates,  should  be  held  harmless ;  nay,  that  they  should  be 
honored;  probably,  that  they  should  receive  high  dignities  in  the  restored 
Union.  On  the  other  hand,  every  loyal  citizen  in  the  land  would  clamor 
for  the  condign  punishment  of  those  arch  traitors;  would  insist  that  they 
should  suffer  a  traitor's  doom,  and  end  their  career  on  the  scaffold.  It 


4T6  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

would  be  impossible  for  a  harmonious  arrangement  to  be  made  in  refer 
ence  to  these  topics.  Any  national  convention  which  might  be  convened 
for  the  avowed  object  of  adjusting  the  terms  of  a  re-union,  would  wrangle 
for  years  on  these  vexed  questions  without  being  able  to  accomplish  their 
purpose. 

Nor  would  the  difficulties  be  less,  even  if  the  war  was  at  that  time  to 
be  suspended,  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  the  end  which  some  of  the 
peace  party  desired — the  quiet  dissolution  of  the  Union,  and  the  recog 
nition  of  the  Confederate  Government  by  the  Federal.  For  in  that  case 
the  demands  of  the  Rebels  would  be  such  as  could  not  possibly  be  con 
ceded.  It  is  evident  that  they  would  insist  upon  the  restoration  of  all 
the  territory  which  had  once  formed  part  of  the  Confederate  States,  and 
which  had  been  conquered  by  the  arms  or  the  influence  of  the  Union. 
They  would  demand  Louisiana,  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Western  Virginia, 
and  every  other  region  which  had  at  any  time  been  in  sympathy  with 
them.  They  would  also  demand  the  restitution  of  all  the  fugitive  slaves  who 
had  escaped.  "What  loyal  citizen  would  agree  to  make  such  concessions 
as  these  ?  Who  would  agree  to  abandon  all  the  fruits  of  victory  ?  Very 
few,  probably  none,  would  be  found  to  do  it,  and  an  amicable  settlement 
of  the  issue  would  be  impossible.  Peace  could  be  obtained,  and  the  dis 
pute  could  only  be  settled,  throagh  the  resistless  supremacy  of  the  arms 
of  the  one  or  the  other  of  the  contending  parties. 

Such  are  some  of  the  difficulties  which  would  attend  the  proposal  of 
the  peace  party,  that  the  contest  should  be  terminated  by  a  cessation  of 
arms,  and  by  subsequent  negotiation.  It  involved  impossibilities  at  that 
time  which  no  human  power  could  overcome. 

A  fourth  peculiarity  of  this  peace  party  was,  that  they  condemned  the 
measures  of  the  Federal  Government,  because  their  tendency  seemed  to 
be  to  concentrate  too  much  power  in  the  Federal  Central  Government, 
to  the  damage  and  derogation  of  the  several  State  governments.  We 
admit  the  truth  of  the  allegation  to  some  extent,  but  deny  the  justice  of 
the  complaint  based  upon  it.  Under  the  perilous  circumstances  in  which 
the  administration  of  Mr.  Lincoln  was  placed,  with  a  vast  empire  reeling 
around  him,  and  toppling  to  its  destruction,  it  became  indispensably 
necessary  to  adopt  a  centralizing  policy,  to  make  the  Federal  arm  as  pow 
erful  as  possible,  to  give  it  unity,  harmony,  and  vigor  of  action,  to  remove 
the  possibility  of  discord  and  division  among  the  conservators  and  de 
fenders  of  the  Union.  But  in  so  doing,  not  a  single  right  of  the  States 
was  invaded.  The  Federal  Constitution  was  not  violated  in  a  single  par 
ticular.  These  measures  strengthened  the  Federal  Government  without 
weakening  the  State  governments.  There  was  no  clashing  of  jurisdiction  ; 
and  the  evidence  which  demonstrates  the  truth  of  this  assertion  is  the  fact 
that,  during  the  subsequent  operation  of  the  measures  adopted  by  the 
administration  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  no  collision  of  any  importance  whatever 


PEACE  DEMOCRATS   ON   THE   RIGHTS  OF  THE  STATES.       477 

actually  occurred  between  the  State  and  Federal  jurisdictions.  And  this 
result  followed  in  spite  of  the  strenuous  efforts  of  some  to  create  such 
collisions. 

One  of  the  causes  of  the  terror  which  seemed  to  pervade  the  minds  of 
the  party  in  question,  was  a  very  absurd  and  groundless  fear  lest  the 
absorption  of  power  at  Washington  indicated  "  a  settled,  well-considered, 
most  pestilent  design  to  establish  in  the  fragmentary  North  a  consolidated 
nationality,  operating  by  its  legislation  directly  on  individuals,  without 
regard  to  State  relations  and  duties."*  A  more  preposterous  conception 
could  not  be  formed.  Its  fallacy  lies  on  its  face.  It  amounted  to  this, 
that  the  General  Government,  by  using  every  legitimate  means  to  increase 
its  own  power,  and  by  crushing  the  Rebellion,  to  cement  the  whole  Union 
more  effectually  than  ever  before  into  one  restored  and  consolidated 
government,  was  preparing  the  way  to  establish  a  "  fragmentary"  govern 
ment  in  the  North !  This  is  a  direct  contradiction,  a  palpable  impossi 
bility.  If  the  Federal  Government  succeeded  in  the  end  in  crushing  the 
Confederates,  and  restoring  the  Union  by  force  of  arms,  it  certainly  would 
not  contract  its  own  proportions  to  the  limits  of  a  fragment.  If  it  failed 
eventually  in  restoring  the  Union,  by  the  subjugation  of  the  Rebels,  there 
would  still  remain  a  Federal  Union,  composed  of  many  powerful  and 
prosperous  communities,  which  would  constitute  one  of  the  foremost 
empires  in  the  world.  In  that  case  there  would  be  neither  the  temptation 
nor  the  power  to  establish  any  fragmentary  government  anywhere — in 
the  North,  the  centre,  or  the  West. 

Those  who  seemed  to  be  so  jealous  of  the  rights  of  the  States,  seemed 
to  imagine  that  it  was  a  much  greater  glory  to  be  a  citizen  of  a  State, 
than  a  citizen  of  the  United  States.  They  appeared  to  regard  Delaware 
or  Rhode  Island  as  equal  in  majesty  and  power  to  the  whole  colossal 
Union,  of  which  they  formed  necessarily  an  unimportant  portion.  They 
forgot  that  each  State  by  itself  is  comparatively  insignificant;  that  it  is 
only  when  they  are  consolidated  into  one  compact,  cemented,  harmonious 
unit,  that  they  rise  in  majesty,  become  powerful  and  formidable,  and 
extort  the  admiration  and  respect  of  the  whole  community  of  nations. 
These  people  complained  that  the  State  governments  existed  before  the 
Federal  Government,  and  therefore  were  invested  with  a  sacred  and  unap 
proachable  sanctity.  True,  they  did  exist  first  in  the  order  of  time,  but, 
if  they  had  never  existed  in  any  other  form  than  as  State  governments, 
and  not  as  components  and  equal  parts  of  a  Federal  Union,  what  would 
their  condition  have  continued  to  be  ?  Would  they  have  attained  the 
power,  prosperity,  felicity  and  grandeur  which  they  have  enjoyed  as 
members  of  the  great  Federal  Republic  of  the  Western  World  ?  The 
supposition  is  extremely  improbable  and  absurd. 

*  Speech  of  'Hon.  William  B.  Reed,  before  the  Democratic  Central  Club  of  Phila- 
delphia,  March  28th,  1865. 


478  THE   CIVIL  AVAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

The  next  feature  of  the  peace  party  which  deserves  notice,  was  their 
condemnation  of  the  emancipation  proclamation  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  as  well 
as  the  introduction  of  negroes  into  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States,  that  they  might  assist  in  the  restoration  of  the  Union. 

The  subject  of  slavery  forms  the  most  singular  and  anomalous  feature 
on  the  page  of  American  history.  No  question  within  the  whole  range 
of  Federal  or  State  legislation  has  ever  been  the  cause  of  so  many  malig 
nant  disputes  between  opposite  portions  of  the  Union ;  and  none  had  been 
equally  potent  in  producing  this  Rebellion.  It  was  like  Pandora's  box, 
pregnant  with  unnumbered  ills  to  the  nation.  It  had  continually  embar 
rassed  the  Federal  Government,  embroiled  the  several  States,  filled  Con 
gress  with  pernicious  and  unseemly  controversies,  and  proved  itself  more 
difficult  of  solution  than  any  other  enigma  connected  with  American 
affairs.  Even  when  there  were  giants  in  the  land,  and  the  Federal  halls 
of  legislation  were  graced  by  the  presence  of  the  greatest  of  American 
statesmen,  it  was  constantly  a  formidable  portent  of  disunion.  As  often 
as  this  hideous  spectre  would  rise,  as  it  continually  did,  upon  the  floor  of 
Congress,  it  was  in  vain  that  the  wisest  and  purest  of  patriots  conjured 
against  it.  In  vain  were  the  mellifluous  and  soothing  eloquence  of  Clay, 
the  vast  constitutional  learning  of  Webster,  the  acute,  logical  powers  of 
Benton,  the  withering  sarcasm  of  Quincy  Adams,  directed  against  it.  It 
remained  like  the  ghost  of  Banquo,  a  continual  source  of  horror,  a  perti 
nacious  portent  of  ruin,  which  no  magician's  wand  could  lay.  At  length, 
its  poison  being  thoroughly  infused  into  the  political  lifeblood  of  the 
South,  it  perfected  its  fruit,  and  the  Rebellion  broke  forth.  Even  after  that 
occurrence,  mild  measures  of  negotiation  were  still  pursued.  The  admin 
istration  then  in  power  did  its  best  to  deal  gently  with  this  pestilent 
scourge.  The  existence  of  the  negro  race  in  the  South  was  ignored  in  the 
measures  adopted,  as  long  as  it  could  possibly  be.  At  last  that  policy 
became  utterly  unfeasible.  The  acts  of  the  Confederate  Government 
itself  imposed  an  imperious  necessity  upon  the  Government  at  Washington 
to  recognize  the  existence,  both  political  and  social,  of  four  millions  of 
negroes  within  the  limits  of  the  Rebellion,  and  to  adopt  such  measures  as 
were  calculated  to  turn  their  energies  to  beneficial  account,  as  well  as  to 
provide  for  the  future  political  status  of  the  negroes  as  freedmen. 

And  what  were  the  measures  adopted  in  reference  to  this  subject  ?  They 
Vere  prudently  gradual  and  progressive  in  their  character  and  influence. 
The  slaves  of  Rebel  owners,  who  were  actually  in  arms  against  the  Union, 
were  enfranchised.  The  policy  of  emancipating  the  slaves  of  such  owners, 
and  of  those  who  directly  or  indirectly  gave  aid  and  comfort  to  the  Rebels, 
as  well  as  the  justice  of  the  order  forbidding  Federal  commanders  from 
returning  fugitive  slaves  to  their  masters  when  they  had  escaped  therefrom, 
was  one  of  the  most  reasonable  and  equitable  that  could,  be  adopted, 
because  these  slaves  were  claimed  and  recognized  by  the  Confederate 


PEACE  DEMOCRATS   ON  THE  FREEDMEN  AS  SOLDIERS.      479 

Government  as  property.  They  were  regarded  by  their  owners  as  the 
most  valuable  of  their  possessions.  By  the  laws  of  all  civilized  countries, 
the  property  of  traitors  and  rebels  becomes  forfeited  to  the  State,  and  why 
slave  property  should  be  exempt  from  the  operation  of  this  universal  and 
indisputable  law  it  is  impossible  to  discover.  The  only  wonder  is  that 
this  measure  should  not  have  been  rigidly  enforced  from  the  very  com 
mencement  of  the  Kebellion.  The  public  mind  may  not  then,  indeed, 
have  been  prepared  for  it;  but  it  is  evident  that  as  soon  as  the  full  force 
of  truth  had  properly  enlightened  it,  this  measure  should  be  vigorously 
enforced. 

The  same  principle  justifies  the  other  emancipation  acts  of  the  admin 
istration.  They  flowed  logically  the  one  from  the  other,  all  justified  by 
principles  of  abstract  justice,  by  the  spirit  of  the  Federal  Constitution, 
by  the  claims  of  humanity,  and  by  the  perilous  exigencies  in  which  the 
Union  was  then  placed.  One  of  these  measures — that  of  employing 
freedmen  as  soldiers — excited  an  unusual  degree  of  opposition  and  denun 
ciation  from  the  peace  party.  The  utterly  absurd  charge  was  made  that  the 
enlisting  of  the  negroes  was  an  expedient  by  which  it  was  intended  finally 
to  supersede  the  regular  army,  and  to  substitute  soldiers  of  African 
descent  in  their  place !  The  real  reason  why  a  portion  of  negro  troops 
was  employed  was  that  which  must  approve  itself  to  the  common-sense 
of  every  man :  to  increase  the  number  and  strength  of  the  defenders  of 
the  Union ;  to  employ  the  blacks  to  some  extent  in  those  southern  terri 
tories,  the  peculiar  climate  of  which  had  proved  so  pernicious  to  white 
soldiers,  but  which  was  harmless  to  the  negro ;  to  permit  the  latter  to 
demonstrate  their  gratitude  to  the  Government  which  had  enfranchised 
them ;  and  to  allow  that  race,  whose  rights  and  wrongs  had  such  an  im 
portant  influence  in  connection  with  the  origin  of  the  Kebellion,  to  share 
in  the  toils  and  sufferings  which  were  incident  to  the  war  intended  for  its 
suppression.  Nor  did  this  objection  to  the  association  of  black  with 
white  soldiers  in  the  Federal  army  come  with  the  grace  of  consistency 
from  those  "  Peace  Democrats,"  by  whom  it  was  principally  urged ;  for 
Democracy  involves  the  fundamental  conception  of  equality,  and  often, 
essential  things  being  equal,  requires  that  no  distinction  be  recognized 
by  its  disciples,  from  differences  merely  of  nation  or  color,  of  social 
rank,  intelligence  or  wealth.  Yet  these  advocates  of  ultra  Democracy 
applauded  the  policy  of  the  Confederate  States,  whose  whole  constitution 
was  aristocratic,  whose  very  corner-stone,  as  A.  H.  Stevens,  its  vice- 
president,  had  affirmed,  was  the  recognition  of  the  normal  and  unalterable 
inferiority  of  the  negro  race  to  the  white  in  intellectual  and  moral  quali 
ties,  in  their  natural  rights,  in  their  foreordained  and  inevitable  abasement 
in  the  body  politic.* 

*  See  Appendix, 


480  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Another  feature  of  this  anti-war  party  was  its  condemnation  of  the 
financial  measures  which  had  been  adopted  by  the  administration  to 
enable  it  to  carry  on  the  war,  and  perform  its  duty  in  restoring  the  Union. 
They  censured  the  issue  of  legal  tender  notes.  They  charged  it  with 
emitting  continental  currency  in  the  face  of  all  authority,  legislative  and 
judicial ;  with  enabling  and  instigating  every  dishonest  debtor  in  the  land 
to  defraud  his  creditor ;  with  tainting  the  very  credit  which  it  represents  by 
aboriginal  fraud;  with  foreshadowing  that  repudiation  which  such  indebted 
ness  renders  inevitable  in  the  end ;  and  with  the  accumulation  of  a  colossal 
and  ruinous  national  debt.  They  condemned  the  financial  measures  in 
question,  as  tending  to  break  down  all  the  State  banks,  and  as  endeavoring 
to  erect  a  huge  system  of  free  banking,  based  upon  that  impalpable  and 
unreliable  fiction  called  Federal  responsibility.  But  the  absurdity  of  such 
charges  was  self-evident,  and  alarmed  no  intelligent  or  patriotic  citizen. 
The  conviction  was  universal  that  the  financial  plans  of  the  administration 
were  the  wisest  and  best  which  could  possibly  have  been  devised  by  human 
wisdom,  under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  case.  The  loans  of  the 
Government  were  taken  freely  and  rapidly.  Its  securities  were  accepted 
in  the  same  manner  by  a  confident  and  loyal  nation ;  arid  the  prophecies 
of  impending  financial  ruin,  which  were  uttered  by  this  party,  were  re 
ceived  with  ridicule  and  derision  by  the  vast  majority  of  the  community. 

One  additional  characteristic  of  the  party  under  consideration  deserves 
our  notice.  It  was  this  continual  and  persistent  ridicule  of  the  personal 
qualities  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  was  made  the  laughing-stock  on  all 
occasions.  He  was  compared  contemptuously  with  Washington,  and  even 
with  Jefferson  Davis — "the  stern  statesman  who  administered  the  execu 
tive  power  of  the  Southern  Confederacy."  No  reasonable  man  would 
affirm  that  the  President,  whom  Providence  had  placed  at  the  head  of 
the  nation  in  this  crisis,  was  immaculate,  or  that  he  had  not  a  considerable 
share  of  human  weakness.  But  no  one  could  scrutinize  his  conduct  and 
character  with  impartiality,  without  observing  in  them  many  great  and 
good  qualities.  That  as  a  writer  his  style  was  somewhat  crude  and  inele 
gant  ;  that  in  private  intercourse  he  was  fond  of  a  jest ;  that  in  his  personal 
appearance  he  was  destitute  of  the  grace  and  dignity  which  Washington 
or  John  Adams  exhibited,  might  be  readily  admitted.  A  severe,  yet 
kindly  censor  of  his  acts,  would  discover  and  condemn  one  other  fault. 
He  did  not  exhibit  a  sufficient  degree  of  determination  and  rigor  in  pun 
ishing  traitorous  generals,  in  removing  imbecile  and  dilatory  commanders, 
and  in  turning  the  vengeance  of  the  Federal  power  upon  the  heads  of 
knaves,  thieves,  and  official  villains  of  all  descriptions,  who  infested  the 
civil  and  military  service  of  the  country  during  the  war.  But  aside  from 
this  defect,  the  President  deserved  the  esteem  and  the  gratitude  of  his 
country.  He  was  laborious,  sincere,  incorruptible,  and  profoundly  patri 
otic.  He  devoted  all  his  energies  of  mind  and  body  to  the  herculean  task 


PEACE   DEMOCRATS   ON   PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  481 

which  had  so  strangely  fallen  to  his  lot — the  restoration  of  the  Union. 
His  intentions  were  excellent,  and  he  toiled  to  the  utmost  of  his  abilities 
to  reunite  the  broken  fragments  of  the  once  glorious  Federal  Union.  His 
sole  effort  was  to  reinvest  that  Union  with  its  pristine  splendor,  and  to 
render  it  what  it  once  had  been,  to  a  greater  extent  than  ever  before,  the 
favorite  home  of  the  brave  and  the  free,  the  refuge  of  the  oppressed  of 
every  land,  the  terror  of  tyrants  of  every  name,  the  impregnable  citadel 
of  true  liberty,  the  blooming  paradise  of  the  world  1 

Such  a  man  was  no  legitimate  subject  for  ribaldry  or  ridicule ;  and  tho 
contempt  with  which  the  peace  party  affected  to  treat  the  President  de 
monstrated  clearly  that  their  cause  was  an  unrighteous  one,  and  that,  bad 
as  their  cause  was,  they  were  driven  to  still  worse  expedients  to  defend  it, 
and  to  advocate  its  measures. 

31 


482  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

THE    PREPARATIONS    FOR    ANOTHER    ATTACK    ON     CHARLESTON FORMIDABLE    CHARACTER  OF 

THE  FORTIFICATIONS — THE  CROSSING  OF  THE  BAR ORDER  OF  BATTLE  PRESCRIBED  BY  AD 
MIRAL  DU  PONT THE  ATTACK OBSTRUCTIONS  IN  THE  HARBOR THE  TERRIBLE  STORM  OF 

FIRE — THE     NEW    IRONSIDES    UNMANAGEABLE GALLANTRY     OF    THE     COMMANDER    OF     THE 

KEOKUK,  AND  OF  THE  COMMANDERS  OF  THE  MONITORS THE  KEOKUK  RIDDLED  AND  SINK 
ING THREE  OF  THE  MONITORS  DISABLED — WITHDRAWAL  OF  THE  FLEET — RETURN  TO  PORT 

ROYAL ADMIRAL  DU  FONT'S  ACTION  JUSTIFIABLE OTHER  NAVAL  ACTIONS  ON  THE  ATLAN 
TIC  COAST  AND  IN  THE  GULF  AND  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER BATTLES  AND  SKIRMISHES  ON  LAND 

IN  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND,  AT  VARIOUS  POINTS  IN  TENNESSEE  AND  KEN 
TUCKY  ;  IN  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  MISSOURI,  THE  ATTACK  ON  THE  SAM  GATY  ;  IN  THE  DE 
PARTMENT  OF  THE  FRONTIER,  AT  FAYETTEVILLE,  ARKANSAS,  AND  ITS  VICINITY,  AND  IN  THE 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE    GULF EXPEDITION  TO  PASCAGOULA THE    BATTLES  ON  THE  TECHE 

DESTRUCTION  OF  THREE  REBEL  IRON-CLAD8,  AND  CAPTURE  OR  DESTRUCTION  OF  ELEVEN 
TRANSPORTS,  AND  TWO  THOUSAND  PRISONERS COMPLETE  ROUT  OF  THE  REBELS. 

WHILE  the  reorganization  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  under  the  ener 
getic  management  of  General  Hooker,  was  in  progress,  and  all  active 
movements  were  prohibited  there  by  the  condition  of  the  roads,  and  at  the 
West  General  Grant  was  carefully  maturing  the  plans  which  were  yet  to 
culminate  in  the  overthrow  of  the  Rebel  Gibraltar  on  the  Mississippi,  the 
Government  had  not  been  unmindful  of  that  fountainhead  of  the  Rebel 
lion — Charleston — and  was  gathering  at  Port  Royal  its  iron-clad  ships  for 
another,  and  it  was  hoped  a  more  successful  attack  upon  its  strongly  for 
tified  harbor. 

It  was  expected  that  the  land  forces  would  be  able  to  participate  in  the 
attack,  but  they  were  not  sufficiently  strong  in  numbers  for  such  a  work, 
and  it  would  have  perilled  the  holding  of  the  Department  of  the  South, 
had  they  made  the  effort  to  do  so,  for  which,  as  the  event  proved,  there 
was  no  opportunity. 

The  appointed  rendezvous  for  the  fleet  was  in  the  North  Edisto  river ; 
and  thither,  during  the  last  week  in  March,  and  the  first  two  or  three  days 
of  April,  it  had  been  concentrating.  The  New  Ironsides,  the  only  broad 
side  iron-clad  of  the  navy,  Commodore  T.  Turner  commanding;  seven 
monitors,  viz :  the  Weehawken,  Captain  John  Rodgers ;  the  Passaic, 
Captain  P.  Drayton ;  the  Montauk,  Captain  J.  L.  Worden ;  the  Patapsco, 
Commander  D.  Ammen;  the  Catskill,  Commander  George  Rodgers;  the 
Nantucket,  Commander  D.  M.  Fairfax;  the  Nahant,  Commander  J. 
Downes ;  and  the  Whitney  iron-clad  the  Keokuk,  Lieutenant-Commander 
A.  C.  Rind,  were  all  assembled  there,  as  well  as  the  Canandaigua,  Housa- 
tonic,  Huron,  Unadilla,  Wissahickon,  and  other  wooden  gunboats,  and 
with  nearly  ninety  of  the  other  vessels  of  the  blockading  squadron,  trans- 


THE  DEFENCES  OF  CHARLESTON  HARBOR.  483 

ports,  etc.,  constituted  a  fleet  which  has  rarely  if  ever  been  equalled  in 
formidableness  and  extent  of  power  for  offensive  or  defensive  purposes. 
The  land  troops  were  to  disembark  on  Cole's  island,  and  work  their  way 
up  across  to  Folly  island,  and  hold  a  position  as  near  to  Morris  island  as 
possible,  in  the  hope  of  effecting  a  diversion  of  the  Rebel  force,  and  thus 
aiding  in  the  naval  attack  on  the  Rebel  city. 

It  was  decided,  after  such  exploration  as  could  be  made,  that  the  iron 
clad  vessels  alone  could  be  trusted  to  make  the  attack,  as  so  terrible 
would  be  the  concentrated  fire  of  the  batteries  that  no  wooden  vessels 
could  escape  destruction  from  it.  The  harbor  of  Charleston  is  a  cul-de-sac, 
about  four  miles  in  depth,  and  the  lines  which  bound  it  on  both  sides,  as 
well  as  central  points  in  the  harbor  commanding  its  navigable  channels, 
had  been  fortified  with  all  the  skill  of  the  best  engineers  in  the  country, 
who  had  had  two  years  in  which  to  perfect  their  work.  It  was  intended 
to  be,  and  was,  to  any  exclusively  naval  attack,  entirely  impregnable. 

In  order  to  enable  our  readers  to  comprehend  more  fully  the  character  of 
these  defences,  it  may  be  well  to  give  a  brief  description  of  them.  Cross 
ing  the  bar,  which  blocks  the  entrance,  at  ordinary  tides,  to  any  vessel 
drawing  more  than  seventeen  or  eighteen  feet  of  water,  we  speedily  ap 
proach  the  gateways  of  the  harbor — Sullivan's  island  on  the  north,  and 
Morris  island  on  the  south.  Both  islands  terminate  in  long  tongues  of 
sandy  beach,  the  extremities  of  which  are  not  more  than  a  mile  apart. 
This  is  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  and  equi-distant  from  each,  and  forming 
the  apex  of  a  triangle,  of  which  a  line  stretched  from  one  headland 
to  the  other  would  be  the  base,  stands  Fort  Sumter,  on  an  artificial 
island  made  for  its  foundation.  Sullivan's  island,  which  forms  the 
northern  or  right  hand  boundary  to  this  entrance  to  the  harbor,  has 
three  formidable  fortifications  the  first,  Breach  Inlet  battery,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  creek  (Breach  Inlet)  which  separates  the  island  from 
the  main  land,  and  which  furnishes  Maffitt's  channel,  through  which  most 
of  the  blockade-runners  enter  Charleston  harbor.  This  work,  which 
mounted  a  number  of  heavy  guns,  was  principally  of  use  to  protect  the 
blockade-runners,  arid  drive  away  the  vessels  of  the  blockading  squadron. 
Further  up  on  the  island,  toward  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  was  Fort  Beau- 
regard,  a  powerful  Band  battery,  with  very  heavy  rifled  guns,  with  which 
it  could  sweep  the  lower  portion  of  the  harbor.  Near  the  point  of  the 
island  was  Fort  Moultrie,  which  had  been  greatly  strengthened  by  the 
Rebel  engineers,  and  was  now  one  of  the  most  formidable  forts  on  the  coast. 
Fort  Sumter  was  too  well  known,  and  has  been  too  often  described,  to 
need  further  portraiture.  Beyond  this  and  along  the  surface  of  the  break 
water,  erected  some  years  ago  by  the  United  States  Government  to  pro 
tect  this  part  of  the  harbor,  intrenchments  had  been  thrown  up  for  a  long 
distance  en  cremailliere,  forming  what  was  known  as  the  Redan,  and 
mounted  with  fifty  heavy  guns.  Still  beyond  this,  and  near  the  head  of 


484  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

the  harbor,  on  a  small  island,  stood  Castle  Pinckney,  bearing  a  resem 
blance  in  the  distance  to  the  appearance  of  the  Battery  and  Castle  Garden 
at  the  head  of  New  York  harbor. 

On  the  left  or  southern  side  of  the  harbor,  the  first  work  was  Wappoo 
battery,  at  the  mouth  of  Wappoo  creek,  and  directly  opposite  the  lower 
part  of  the  city,  effectually  commanding  the  embouchure  of  Ashley  river, 
and  protecting  the  left  side  of  the  city.  Next  below  this  and  standing  in 
the  "  middle  ground,"  on  an  artificial  island  built  by  the  Eebels,  was 
Fort  Ripley.  Below  this,  on  a  projecting  point  of  James  island,  was  Fort. 
Johnston,  and  still  below,  on  the  point  of  Morris  island,  were  at  this  time 
Battery  Bee,  and  below  this,  Fort  Wagner,  a  new  and  powerful  sandwork* 
Still  further  down  on  Morris  island  was  a  sand  work  of  considerable  ex 
tent  and  mounting  heavy  guns,  and  at  Lighthouse  Inlet,  which  divides 
Morris  island  from  Folly  island,  was  a  fort  to  prevent  the  Union  troops 
from  landing  at  that  point.  Thus  the  harbor  was  protected  by  twelve 
distinct  fortifications,  three  of  them  forts  of  great  strength,  and  aruied  with 
the  heaviest  and  most  perfect  guns  to  be  obtained,  and  most  of  the  others 
sandworks  of  the  most  skilful  construction,  which  experience  has  shown 
to  possess  greater  capacity  of  resistance  than  the  best  brick  or  stone  forts. 
All  were  provided  with  heavy  siege  guns,  many  of  them  rifled.  Ten  of 
the  twelve  batteries  could  concentrate  upon  the  iron-clad  fleet  a  fire  of 
more  than  three  hundred  guns. 

It  was  not  without  misgivings  that  Admiral  Du  Pont  decided  to  attack 
so  formidable  a  series  of  fortifications.  The  odds  were  greatly  against 
him;  the  entire  number  of  guns  carried  by  the  iron-clads  was  but  thirty- 
two,  and  these,  though  of  large  calibre  and  long  range,  were  not  superior 
in  these  regards  to  many  of  those  of  the  enemy.  It  was  an  old  maxim  in 
naval  warfare  that  one  gun  on  shore  was  equal  to  an  entire  ship's  battery ; 
but  the  building  of  iron-clads  had  changed  the  old  theories  in  respect  to 
the  comparative  value  of  ships  and  forts  in  offensive  and  defensive  war. 
fare.  Still  the  preponderance  in  this  case  on  the  side  of  the  forts  was 
enormous — ten  to  one.  The  power  of  resistance  of  the  armed  vessels  to  the 
fire  of  the  heaviest  guns  known  could  hardly  be  said  to  have  been  fairly 
tested.  The  first  monitor  had  indeed  endured  the  fire  of  the  Merrimac 
unscathed,  and  the  iron-clads  at  the  West  had  taken  Fort  Henry,  though 
not  without  serious  damage  to  one  of  them.  On  the  other  hand,  at  Fort 
Donelson,  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  at  Vicksburg,  and  more  recently  at  Fort  Mc 
Allister,  they  had  failed,  and  in  the  two  first-named  instances  had  been 
materially  injured.  Still,  in  most  of  these  cases  it  was  not  the  armored 
ships  of  the  monitor  model  which  had  failed  of  success,  or  which  had  been 
disabled ;  but  again,  no  armored  ships  had  ever  been  exposed  to  so  con 
centrated  and  terrible  a  fire  as  was  likely  to  be  poured  upon  these.  The 
results  could  not  be  predicted  with  any  certainty,  for  there  were  no  data 
from  which  to  reason. 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  AN  ATTACK  UPON   CHARLESTON.      485 

It  was  not,  then,  without  anxiety  that  Admiral  Du  Pont  and  the  com 
manders  of  his  iron -clad  fleet,  men  as  brave  as  ever  went  into  battle,  looked 
forward  to  the  coming  conflict. 

The  fleet  lay  at  the  mouth  of  the  North  Edisto  river,  on  the  3d  of  April, 
1863,  waiting  for  favorable  weather,  and  the  influx  of  the  spring  tide,  at 
which  the  passage  over  the  bar  of  Charleston  harbor  was  more  easily 
effected  than  at  ordinary  seasons.  For  two  days  the  wind  continued  high; 
and  rendered  the  passage  over  the  bar,  in  vessels  so  little  adapted  to  rough 
weather  as  the  monitors,  somewhat  hazardous.  On  the  night  of  the  5th, 
however,  the  wind  subsided,  and  the  resplendent  full  moon  rose  on  a 
calm  and  unruffled  sea.  On  the  morning  of  the  6th  the  fleet  moved  to 
the  blockading  station  off  the  bar;  and  the  Keokuk,  the  coast  survey 
schooner  Bibb,  and  the  pilots  of  the  squadron,  were  sent  to  buoy  out  the 
bar,  which  they  accomplished  without  difficulty ,  and  on  Monday  morning, 
the  7th,  Admiral  Du  Pont  transferred  his  broad  pennant  from  the  James 
Adger  to  the  New  Ironsides,  which  was  to  be  the  flag-ship  during  the  en 
gagement,  and  the  iron  fleet  got  under  way  in  battle  order,  to  cross  the 
bar  on  the  flood  tide.  This  was  accomplished  without  accident  or  delay, 
and  by  nine  o'clock  A.M.  the  whole  nine  had  gained  a  position  in  the  main 
ship-channel,  parallel  with  Morris  island,  and  within  a  mile  of  the  shore. 
A  slight  haze  hung,  meantime,  over  sea  and  shore,  and  obscured  the 
range  by  which  the  fleet  was  to  steer,  thus  rendering  delay  necessary. 
It  was  also  deemed  desirable  by  the  pilots  to  wait  till  ebb  tide,  in  order 
the  more  readily  to  discover  the  obstructions  with  which,  report  said,  the 
harbor  was  abundantly  strewn. 

At  twelve  o'clock  a  gentle  north  wind  dispersed  the  haze,  and  left  the 
atmosphere  clear  and  transparent.  At  half-past  twelve  the  fleet  began  to 
move  to  the  attack  in  accordance  with  the  following  order  from  Admiral 
Du  Pont : 

"  The  vessels  will,  on  signal  being  made,  form  in  the  prescribed  order 
ahead,  at  intervals  of  one  cable's  length. 

"The  squadron  will  pass  up  the  main  ship-channel,  without  returning 
the  fire  of  the  batteries  OR  Morris  island,  unless  signal  should  be  made  to 
commence  action. 

"  The  ships  will  open  fire  on  Fort  Sumter,  when  within  easy  range,  and 
will  take  up  a  position  to  the  northward  and  westward  of  that  fortifica 
tion,  engaging  its  left  or  north  west  face  at  a  distance  of  from  one  thousand 
to  eight  hundred  yards,  firing  low,  and  aiming  at  the  centre  embrasure. 

''The  commanding  officers  will  instruct  their  officers  and  men  to  care 
fully  avoid  wasting  a  shot,  and  will  enjoin  upon  them  the  necessity  of  pre 
cision  rather  than  rapidity  of  fire. 

"  Each  ship  will  be  prepared  to  render  every  assistance  possible  to 
vessels  that  may  require  it. 


486  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

"  The  special  code  of  signals,  prepared  for  the  iron-clad  vessels,  will  be 
used  in  action. 

"After  the  reduction  of  Fort  Sumter,  it  is  probable  the  next  point  of 
attack  will  be  the  batteries  on  Morris  Island. 

"The  order  of  battle  will  be  the  line  ahead  in  the  following  succession: 

"  1.  Weehawken,  with  raft,  Captain  John  Rodgers. 

"  2.  Passaic,  Captain  Percival  Drayton. 

"  3.  Montauk,  Commander  John  S.  Worden. 

"  4.  Patapsco,  Commander  Daniel  Ammen. 

"  5.  New  Ironsides,  Commodore  Thomas  Turner. 

"  6.  Catskill,  Commander  George  W.  Rodgers. 

"  7.  Nantucket,  Commander  Donald  McN.  Fairfax. 

"  8.  Nahant,  Commander  John  Downes. 

il9.  Keokuk,  Lieutenant-Commander  Alexander  C.  Rhind. 

"A  squadron  of  reserve,  of  which  Captain  J.  F.  Green  will  be  the  senior 
officer,  will  be  formed  outside  the  bar,  and  near  the  entrance  buoy,  con 
sisting  of  the  following  vessels : 

"Canandaigua,  Captain  Joseph  F.  Green. 

"  Unadilla,  Lieutenant-Commander  S.  P.  Quackenbush. 

"Housatonic,  Captain  William  R.Taylor. 

"  Wissahickon,  Lieutenant-Commander  J.  G.Davis. 

"  Huron,  Lieutenant-Commander  G.  A.  Stevens. 

"And  will  be  held  in  readiness  to  support  the  iron-clads  when  they 
attack  the  batteries  on  Morris  Island.  S.  F.  Du  PONT, 

"Rear  Admiral  Commanding  South  Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron.11 

The  appearance  of  this  little  fleet,  sailing  thus,  in  single  file,  into  the 
very  jaws  of  death,  was  impressive  ;  not  grand  and  imposing,  like  that  of 
Nelson's  fleet  of  stately  ships  of  the  line  at  the  attack  on  Copenhagen,  or 
that  of  the  allied  forces  at  the  assault  on  Sveaborg,  but  impressive  as  an 
exhibition  of  the  chivalrous  audacity  of  a  little  band  of  brave  men 
attempting,  in  untried  vessels,  an  assault  upon  fortifications  mounted 
with  ten  times  their  number  of  guns,  and  manned  by  fifty  times  their 
number  of  men.  In  the  appearance  of  the  vessels  themselves  there  was 
little  beauty ;  the  majesty  of  the  old  war-ships,  with  their  three  decks 
towering  above  the  waters,  their  tall  and  shapely  masts  and  spars,  their 
network  of  rigging,  and  their  ports  yawning  with  a  hundred  cannon  or 
more,  was  wanting.  The  New  Ironsides  had  indeed  a  gun-deck,  and  its 
projecting  port-shutters  indicated  that  it  could  deliver  a  terrible  broad 
side;  but  it  was  stripped  of  all  its  sailing  gear,  and  with  its  iron  surfaces 
slushed,  to  cause  the  shot  more  readily  to  glance  off,  it  seemed  rather  a 
resurrection  of  some  of  the  horrible  pachydermatous  monsters  of  the 
paleontological  era,  in  iron,  than  a  ship  of  war;  while  the  monitors,  seem 
ingly  flat  rafts,  with  a  turret  rising  from  their  slippery  surface,  showed 


NAVAL   ENGAGEMENT  IN  CHARLESTON  HARBOR.  487 

such  apparently  feeble  powers  of  attack  or  resistance,  that  the  mere 
thought  of  their  assaulting  the  frowning  walls  of  the  vast  fortress  which 
stood  directly  in  their  path  seemed  absurd. 

Meanwhile,  they  moved  onward,  the  Weehawken,  the  file  leader,  having 
attached  to  her  bows  a  raft,  which  was  intended  for  the  removal  of  ob 
structions,  and  the  exploding  of  any  torpedoes  that  might  hinder  the  pro 
gress  of  the  fleet.  The  grappling-irons  attached  to  this  raft  became  fouled 
in  the  anchor-cable  of  the  Weehawken  at  the  moment  of  starting,  and 
occasioned  a  delay  of  about  an  hour.  This  trouble  remedied,  the  fleet 
once  more  moved  forward,  and  soon  came  within  range  of  the  lower  bat 
teries  on  Morris  island,  then  within  the  line  of  fire  of  Fort  Wagner  and 
Battery  Bee,  on  Cummings'  Point ;  but  much  to  the  surprise  of  the  officers 
of  the  fleet  and  the  spectators,  none  of  these  works  fired  a  gun.  The 
reason  for  this  silence,  though  not  at  first  apparent,  seemed  to  have  been 
to  draw  the  iron-clad  fleet  forward  into  the  circle  of  fire  which  awaited  it 
when  it  came  within  range  of  Sumter's  batteries,  and  the  formidable 
guns  of  Fort  Wagner  and  Battery  Bee  were  trained  upon  the  devoted 
fleet  to  aid  in  the  tempest  of  iron  hail  which  fell  upon  them  a  few 
moments  later. 

The  line  having  crossed  the  front  of  Morris  island  rounded  to,  to  make 
the  entrance  of  the  harbor,  and  soon  came  within  easy  range  of  the  guns 
of  Fort  Sumter  and  the  batteries  on  Sullivan's  and  James'  islands.  For 
a  few  minutes  the  suspense  was  painful.  The  stillness  of  death  brooded 
over  the  scene,  and  even  the  sea-birds  paused  on  wing  in  mid-air,  as  if  in 
expectation  of  some  dire  event.  Suddenly,  at  four  minutes  past  three,  a 
hollow  square  of  smoke  rises  from  the  top  of  Sumter,  and  from  its  line 
of  barbette  guns  a  broadside  of  flame  streams  down  upon  the  Weehawken. 
This  is  the  signal  for  the  opening  of  the  fire  from  Battery  Bee,  Fort 
Moultrie,  Fort  Beauregard,  and  the  fifty  guns  of  the  Redan.  The  fire  of 
all  was  concentrated  upon  the  Weehawken ;  and  the  spectators  on  the 
Union  side  looked,  with  anxious  and  throbbing  hearts,  for  the  clearing 
away  of  the  smoke,  fearing  lest,  when  it  lifted,  nothing  but  scattered  frag 
ments  of  the  noble  vessel  would  be  seen.  Great  was  their  surprise  and 
joy  when,  through  the  rifts  of  the  smoke,  they  discovered  her  apparently 
unharmed  and  indifferent  to  such  a  fire  as  never  burst  upon  a  vessel 
before. 

But  another  difficulty  now  impeded  her  progress,  and,  but  for  the  skill 
of  her  captain  and  those  of  the  other  ships  in  the  first  line,  would  have 
placed  them  all  at  the  mercy  of  the  current,  to  be  drifted  ashore  into  the 
hands  of  the  Rebels.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  orders  issued  by 
Admiral  Du  Pont  contemplated  an  attack  upon  the  northwest  front  of 
Sumter,  confessedly  its  weakest  point.  This  the  Rebels  were  resolved 
to  prevent  at  all  hazards ;  and  they  had  stretched  a  stout  hawser  from  a 
point  close  to  the  northeast  angle  of  Fort  Sumter  completely  across  the 


488  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

channel  to  Fort  Moultrie,  floating  on  lager  beer  casks,  on  which  were 
hung  nets,  seines,  and  cables,  strung  with  torpedoes.  If  the  propellers  of 
the  iron-dads  became  fouled  with  these  entanglements,  they  would  at 
least  be  deprived  of  all  motive  power,  and  the  explosion  of  the  torpedoes 
might  effectually  cripple  them  otherwise.  The  danger  was  discovered  by 
the  Weehawken  not  a  moment  too  soon ;  and  just  when  another  turn  of 
the  propeller  would  have  involved  her  inextricably,  she  steered  off  to  the 
right,  and  the  other  vessels  following  her  example  were  saved.  There 
was  another  channel  by  which  the  northwest  face  of  the  fort  could  be 
reached — that  between  Cummings'  Point  and  Fort  Sumter.  But  this 
was  effectually  blockaded  by  a  row  of  piles  rising  ten  feet  above  the 
water,  and  extending  completely  across,  and  beyond  them  were  other  lines 
of  piles,  with  torpedoes  of  vast  size  at  the  apparent  openings,  and  still 
beyond,  the  three  Rebel  iron-clads  drawn  up  in  battle  array. 

The  northwest  front,  it  was  evident,  could  not  be  reached,  and  the  plan 
of  operations  must  be  changed,  and  the  iron-clads,  taking  such  positions 
as  they  could,  must  assail  the  fort  as  best  they  might,  on  its  strongest  side. 
To  add  to  the  difficulties  of  their  position,  the  flag-ship,  the  New  Iron 
sides,  was  caught  in  the  tideway,  and  not  obeying  her  helm,  became 
almost  entirely  unmanageable.  The  two  monitors  immediately  behind 
her  fell  foul  of  her,  and  it  was  full  fifteen  minutes  before  they  could  be 
disengaged  and  pass  on.  The  admiral  now  signalled  to  the  other  vessels 
to  disregard  the  movements  of  the  flag-ship,  and  they  proceeded,  amid  a 
tempest  of  shot  and  shell,  to  take  their  places  for  the  attack.  The  Keokuk, 
though  less  fully  protected  than  the  monitors  from  the  effects  of  the 
enemy's  fire,  was  run  by  its  commander,  Lieutenant-Commander  Rhind, 
within  a  little  more  than  five  hundred  yards  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  opened 
its  fire  upon  it.  The  Catskill,  Commander  Eogers,  followed,  and  opened 
its  fire  at  about  six  hundred  yards  distance.  Near  by  was  the  Montauk, 
whose  commander,  J.  L.  Worden,  had  already  in  the  first  monitor  had 
his  baptism  of  fire,  and  not  far  removed  were  the  Passaic,  the  Patapsco, 
the  Nahant,  the  Nantucket,  and  the  Weehawken.  The  Ironsides  lay 
nearer  to  Fort  Moultrie,  and  poured  her  broadsides  into  that  work ;  but 
the  rest  were  flinging  their  massive  shot  upon  the  walls  of  Sumter,  and 
with  good  effect,  disabling  four  of  its  guns,  making  deep  cavities  in  its 
walls,  and  tearing  off  a  considerable  portion  of  the  parapet  and  the  wall 
below  it  near  the  eastern  angle.  For  thirty  minutes  from  this  time  the 
fight  continued  at  its  full  intensity,  and  could  the  fleet  have  endured 
another  thirty  minutes  they  might  undoubtedly  have  made  Fort  Sumter 
untenable;  but  the  storm  of  fire  was  too  terrible  for  human  endurance, 
and  what  was  more  to  the  purpose,  was  crippling  too  seriously  these 
valuable  war  vessels.  The  Keokuk  was  compelled  to  come  out  of  the 
fight  in  a  sinking  condition,  her  turrets  riddled,  her  hull  torn  above  and 
below  the  water-line,  and  twelve  of  her  men;  including  her  gallant  com- 


UNJUST  CENSURE  OF   ADMIRAL  DU  PONT.  489 

mander,  wounded.  The  Nahant,  the  Passaio,  and  the  Nantucket,  were  all 
disabled  so  as  to  be  incapable  of  continuing  the  fight ;  the  two-hundred 
pound  Parrott  on  the  Patapsco  was  so  much  injured  that  it  could  not  be 
fired;  and  the  others  had  received  numerous  shots,  damaging  though  not 
disabling  them.  The  Keokuk  sunk  the  next  morning,  her  crew  escaping, 
though  losing  all  their  effects.  The  loss  of  life  was  small,  three  being 
killed,  and  seventeen  wounded,  several  of  them  slightly.  The  loss  of  the 
Rebel  garrisons  of  Sumter  and  Moultrie  was  about  the  same.  During  the 
half  hour  when  the  contest  raged  the  fiercest,  the  number  of  shot  and 
shell  thrown  by  the  Rebel  batteries  reached  one  hundred  and  sixty  a 
minute,  and  thirty-five  hundred  rounds  were  fired  in  the  half  hour.  It 
had  been  expected  that  the  attack  would  be  renewed  on  the  following 
day;  but  the  admiral,  on  receiving  the  reports  of  the  commanders, 
decided  that  it  was  inexpedient  to  renew  the  assault,  and  on  Thursday 
the  fleet  returned  to  Port  Royal.  The  monitors,  though  hit  an  average  of 
over  sixty  times  each,  were  so  little  injured  that  a  few  days,  and  in  most 
of  them  a  few  hours  only,  of  repairs  were  requisite  to  put  them  again  in 
fighting  condition ;  but  some  modifications  were  subsequently  made, 
which  rendered  them  more  impervious  to  shot,  and  prevented  the  forcing 
through  of  the  bolts,  which  had  caused  injury  to  some  of  the  crews. 

The  action,  fierce  as  it  was,  had  been  in  reality  but  a  naval  reconnois- 
sance  in  force,  and  had  demonstrated  the  substantial  impregnability  of  the 
monitors  to  the  heaviest  artillery  which  could  be  brought  to  bear  upon 
them.  In  all  past  naval  history,  no  vessel  or  vessels  had  ever  sustained 
such  a  fire  for  even  fifteen  minutes  without  destruction,  yet  of  these, 
though  some  of  them  were  partially  disabled  for  offensive  purposes,  not 
one  was  penetrated  at  a  vital  point,  or  had  their  turrets  perforated.  The 
Keokuk,  on  the  contrary,  whose  turrets  were  composed  of  only  five  and 
three-fourths  inches  of  iron,  was  riddled  both  in  turrets  and  hull.  The 
Ironsides  received  no  injury  in  her  plating,  but  her  projecting  port-shut 
ters  were  carried  away,  and  her  wooden  bows,  which  were  unprotected, 
were  perforated  several  times. 

Admiral  Du  Pont  was  severely  censured  by  certain  writers  connected 
with  the  press,  for  his  decision  not  to  renew  the  attack  on  the  succeeding 
day;  and  it  was  asserted  that  his  removal  from  the  command  of  the 
South  Atlantic  blockading  squadron,  apd  the  appointment  of  Rear 
Admiral  A.  H.  Foote,  was  due  to  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  Government 
with  his  course.  However  this  may  be,  there  would  seem  to  have  been 
no  just  grounds  for  censure  in  his  conduct.  It  was  said  that  he  had  no 
faith  in  iron-clads ;  but  few  commanders,  without  full  as  much  faith  as 
their  previous  trials  had  warranted  in  their  powers  of  offence  and  defence, 
would  have  been  willing  to  expose  themselves  and  their  men  to  the  terri 
ble  ordeal  through  which  this  iron-clad  fleet  passed.  And  the  doing  of 
this  was  na  piece  of  reckless  foolhardiness ;  nor  was  it  the  desperate  act 


490  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

of  a  man  goaded  to  action  against  his  judgment  by  the  powers  above  him 
in  official  station  whose  behest  he  is  compelled  to  obey.  His  action  was 
deliberate  and  well-considered ;  and  though  not  entered  upon  without  a 
full  perception  of  its  hazards  and  dangers,  yet  his  courage  never  faltered. 
It  was  a  scene  worthy  of  a  painter's  pencil  and  a  poet's  pen,  when,  just 
before  the  vessels  of  the  fleet  took  their  positions  for  the  battle,  that  noble 
old  man  stood  with  bared  head  in  the  midst  of  the  four  hundred  men 
composing  the  crew  of  the  New  Ironsides,  and  reverently  joined  in  the 
prayer  offered  by  Commodore  Turner  for  their  preservation  in  the  deadly 
conflict  then  about  to  commence,  and  for  the  success  of  the  arms  of  the 
defenders  of  the  Union.  The  repulse  which  followed  was  due  to  no  cause 
which  could  have  been  foreseen — to  none  which  reflected  either  upon  the 
honor,  courage,  or  judgmentof  the  admiral — but  to  circumstances  wholly 
beyond  his  control ;  and  to  have  renewed  the  battle  the  next  day  would 
have  been  an  act  of  utter  recklessness,  which  could  only  have  terminated 
in  the  loss  of  several  of  our  iron-clad  vessels  without  inflicting  a  com 
pensating  damage  upon  the  enemy. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  month  of  April,  the  gunboats  of  the  Union 
navy  achieved  several  successes,  both  on  the  Atlantic  coast  and  in  the 
waters  of  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries.  On  the  1st  of  the  month, 
Admiral  Farragut,  with  the  Hartford,  Switzerland,  and  Albatross, 
engaged  the  Rebel  batteries  at  Grand  Gulf,  Mississippi,  and  after  an  action 
of  some  hours,  succeeded  in  passing  below  them  without  material  damage. 
The  next  day  he  proceeded  with  his  squadron  to  the  embouchure  of  Red 
river,  destroying  on  his  way  a  large  number  of  Rebel  skiffs  and  flat-boats, 
and  after  blockading  the  Red  river  for  several  days,  passed  down  to 
Bayou  Sara,  where  he  seized  and  destroyed  a  large  quantity  of  Rebel 
stores,  and  finally  came  to  anchor  five  miles  above  the  Rebel  batteries  at 
Port  Hudson. 

On  the  13th,  on  the  Bayou  Teche,  Louisiana,  the  Union  gunboats 
Estrella,  Calhoun,  and  Arizona,  acting  in  connection  with  the  land  troops 
under  command  of  General  Banks,  caused  the  destruction  of  the  Rebel 
gunboats  Diana  and  Hart,  and  the  iron-clad  ram  Queen  of  the  West;  and 
on  the  20th,  having  been  joined  by  the  Clifton,  captured  the  strong  Rebel 
fortification  Bute  a  la  Rose,  Louisiana,  driving  the  Rebel  gunboats  up  the 
Teche,  where  most  of  them  were  afterward  captured  or  destroyed.  Several 
other  small  gunboats,  belonging  to  the  Rebels,  were  captured  about  the 
same  time,  in  Louisiana.  On  the  14th,  the  Union  gunboats,  Commodore 
Barney,  Mount  Washington,  and  Stepping  Stones,  engaged  a  Rebel  bat 
tery  on  the  banks  of  the  Nansemond  river,  Virginia;  and,  though  the 
Mount  Washington  had  been  disabled  in  a  previous  fight  with  B  ill's  bat 
teries,  near  Washington,  North  Carolina,  and  was  aground  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  action,  she  was  hauled  off  by  the  Stepping  Stones ; 
and  after  a  severe  battle  of  four  hours,  they  silenced  the  battery  and 


EVENTS   DURING  APRIL,  1863.  491 

captured  six  guns.  On  the  30th,  another  Rebel  battery  on  the  Nanse- 
mond  was  silenced,  after  a  spirited  contest,  by  the  Commodore  Barney 
and  the  Morris. 

Turning  to  the  movements  of  the  Union  land  forces,  we  find  that  while 
all  is  quiet,  or  apparently  so,  on  the  Rappahannock,  and  in  the  department 
of  the  South,  there  is  some  activity  in  the  Western  departments,  espe 
cially  in  those  of  the  Cumberland,  Missouri,  the  frontier,  and  the  Gulf. 
We  will  notice  these  in  chronological  order,  as,  though  few  of  them  were 
of  very  great  or  decisive  importance,  they  served  to  keep  up  the  martial 
spirit  of  the  men,  and  to  maintain  a  constant  watchfulness  on  both  sides. 

In  the  department  of  the  Cumberland,  on  the  2d  of  April,  General 
Stanley,  chief  of  cavalry  of  General  Rosecrans'  army,  left  Murfreesboro 
with  about  thirty-five  hundred  men,  two  thousand  of  them  cavalry,  to 
attack  Morgan's  and  Wharton's  Rebel  regiments  of  cavalry  and  infantry 
at  Snow  Hill,  Tennessee.  They  met  the  Rebels  at  first  near  Auburn,  and 
drove  them  back  with  considerable  loss  to  Smith's  ford  and  Dry  Fork, 
from  both  which  places  they  were  compelled  to  retreat  after  a  brief  re 
sistance.  They  then  fell  back  to  Snow  Hill,  where  they  made  a  stand, 
but  were  flanked,  and  their  lines  broken  by  the  second  and  fourth  Ohio 
cavalry,  and  finally  fled  in  great  disorder,  with  a  loss  of  fifty  killed  and 
wounded,  sixty  prisoners,  and  three  hundred  horses. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  General  R.  B.  Mitchell,  with  three  hundred  and 
fifty  cavalry,  made  a  descent  from  Nashville  on  Green  Hill,  Tennessee, 
and  broke  up  a  R^bel  camp  there,  killing  five,  and  taking  fifteen  prisoners, 
with  all  the  arms,  horses,  and  equipments  in  the  camp. 

On  the  llth  of  April,  the  Rebel  General  Van  Dorn  made  an  attack  he 
had  long  threatened  upon  Franklin,  Tennessee,  with  a  large  force,  but 
was  held  at  bay  for  an  hour  or  more  by  the  infantry  and  cavalry  pickets 
and  regiments  on  guard ;  and  when  these  fell  back  the  Rebels  marched 
up  within  short  range  of  the  Union  batteries,  which  opened  upon  them 
with  murderous  effect,  literally  strewing  the  ground  with  men  and  horses. 
General  Stanley,  who  had  been  in  reserve  on  the  Murfreesboro  road,  was 
sent  to  their  rear,  and  moved  down  upon  them  with  great  energy,  captur 
ing  six  pieces  of  artillery  and  two  hundred  prisoners ;  but  afterward, 
owing  to  the  unfavorable  character  of  the  country  for  cavalry  operations,  lost 
most  of  these.  Van  Dorn's  forces,  were  however,  repulsed  on  all  sides,  and 
driven  until  darkness  put  an  end  to  the  pursuit.  The  Union  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded  was  less  than  one  hundred,  while  that  of  Van  Dorn 
was  somewhat  more  than  Jhree  hundred,  of  whom  nearly  one  hundred 
were  prisoners.  On  the  same  day,  a  skirmish  took  place  between  a  small 
force  of  Rebels  and  some  Union  troops  near  Waverly,  Tennessee,  in 
which  twenty -one  Rebels,  including  a  major  and  two  captains,  were  taken 
prisoners. 

In  Eastern  Kentucky,  a  detachment  of  two  hundred  of  the  thirty-ninth 


492  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

Kentucky  mounted  infantry  made  a  forced  march  on  Pikeville,  Kentucky, 
on  the  16th  of  April,  and  after  a  sharp  fight  captured  seventy -eight 
Eebel  soldiers,  (seventeen  of  them  officers,)  with  their  horses,  arms  and 
equipments.  Thirteen  more  were  captured  the  same  day  in  Breathitt 
county,  Kentucky.  On  the  17th,  a  skirmish  took  place  at  Bear  creek, 
Tennessee,  between  the  Union  troops  under  General  Dodge  and  the 
Rebels,  which  resulted  in  the  rout  of  the  latter  with  considerable  loss. 
On  the  19th,  three  regiments  of  infantry  and  one  of  cavalry  left  Memphis, 
Tennessee,  and  meeting  Blythe's  Rebel  cavalry,  had  a  running  fight  of  two 
days  with  them  from  Nonconnah  to  Ooldwater  river,  each  side  being  in 
turn  reinforced.  The  result  of  the  fight  was  that  the  Rebels  were  routed 
with  a  heavy  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  On  the  22d,  Me 
Minnville,  Tennessee,  was  occupied  by  the  Union  forces ;  and  on  the 
25th  a  fight  took  place  at  Duck  River  Shoals,  on  the  Tennessee  river, 
between  the  Union  gunboat  Lexington  and  the  ram  Monarch,  and  a  series 
of  strong  Rebel  batteries  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  which  resulted  in  the 
defeat  of  the  Rebels,  with  a  loss  of  twenty-five  killed  and  wounded.  On 
the  27th,  a  party  of  Union  cavalry  from  General  G.  Granger's  division  of 
the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  left  their  camp  at  Murfreesboro  at  daybreak, 
and  captured  the  entire  Texan  legion  of  Rebel  troops,  posted  at  a  point 
eight  miles  from  Franklin,  Tennessee. 

In  the  department  of  Missouri,  the  guerrillas  belonging  to  Todd's  or 
Quantrell's  band  were  guilty  of  a  most  dastardly  outrage  on  the  28th  of 
March.  They  stopped  the  steamer  Sam  Gaty  at  Sibley,  on  the  Missouri 
river,  before  daylight,  and  going  on  board  killed  two  and  wounded  one 
of  the  soldiers  on  board  belonging  to  Colonel  Penick's  regiment,  paroled 
all  the  other  soldiers,  drove  on  shore  about  eighty  negroes  whom  they 
found  on  board,  and  shot  ten  or  twelve  of  them  in  cold  blood,  the  rest 
making  their  escape  in  the  darkness,  robbed  all  the  passengers  of  what 
money  they  had,  and  compelled  them  to  throw  overboard  whatever 
there  was  of  government  property  on  board  the  steamer.  The  triumph 
of  these  ruffians  was  short ;  for,  on  the  2d  of  April,  Major  Ransom,  of 
the  sixth  Kansas  cavalry,  attacked  the  band  in  Jackson  county,  Mis 
souri,  killed  seventeen,  and  hung  two,  whom  he  identified  as  having  been 
concerned  in  this  robbery  and  murder,  and  took  twenty-one  of  their 
horses,  and  all  their  camp  equipage,  ammunition,  stores,  etc.  He  also  res 
cued  the  negroes  whom  they  had  driven  from  the  boat. 

On  the  18th  of  April,  a  battle  of  some  magnitude  was  fought  at  Fay- 
etteville,  Arkansas,  a  place  in  which  already  two  or  three  severe  conflicts 
had  taken  place,  while  the  vicinity  had  been  fought  over  more  thoroughly 
than  perhaps  any  other  region  of  equal  extent  in  the  Union.  The  com 
batants,  in  this  instance,  were  the  first  Arkansas  loyal  infantry,  and  the 
first  Arkansas  loyal  cavalry,  on  the  Union  side  ;  and  the  first  and  second 
Arkansas  Rebel  cavalry,  a  part  of  Parsons'  Texas  cavalry,  a  section  of 


RECONNOISSANCE   TO   PASCAGOULA.     MISSISSIPPI.          493 

artillery,  and  several  companies  of  bushwhackers,  making  in  all  about 
two  thousand  men,  under  the  command  of  the  Rebel  General  W.  L.  Ca- 
bell.  The  Union  troops  were  under  the  command  of  Colonel  M.  La  Rue 
Harrison.  The  Rebels  made  a  forced  march  over  Boston  Mountain 
during  the  night,  hoping  to  surprise  the  Union  force,  and  approached  the 
town  a  few  minutes  after  sunrise.  Colonel  Harrison  was  on  the  alert, 
and  when  the  Rebel  cavalry  charged  upon  his  men  they  were  promptly 
and  gallantly  repulsed.  The  battle  continued  from  sunrise  to  near  noon, 
when  the  Rebels,  having  lost  about  forty  killed,  sixty  wounded,  and 
fifty-five  prisoners,  retreated  in  great  haste  toward  Ozark.  The  Union 
loss  was  four  killed,  twenty-six  wounded,  sixteen  prisoners,  and  thirty- 
five  missing. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  Colonel  Smart,  the  Union  commander  at  Patter 
son,  Missouri,  who  had  a  force  of  about  four  hundred  men  at  that  point, 
was  attacked  by  a  force  of  nearly  two  thousand  Rebels,  and  compelled  to 
retreat  to  Big  creek,  about  eight  miles  distant,  but  saved  most  of  his 
stores,  ammunitions,  etc.,  by  skilful  management  and  desperate  fighting. 
His  loss  was  about  fifty  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  in  the  engage 
ments.  He  succeeded  in  crossing  the  creek  in  good  order,  and  the  enemy 
did  not  renew  the  attack.  In  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  early  in  April, 
Colonel  N.  U.  Daniels,  of  the  second  regiment  of  Louisiana  volunteers, 
stationed  at  Ship  island,  having  learned  that  the  greater  part  of  the  Rebel 
forces  at  Mobile  were  to  be  sent  to  reinforce  Charleston,  determined  to 
make  a  reconnoissance  within  the  Rebel  lines  at  Pascagoula,  Mississippi — 
a  town  of  some  importance,  situated  on  the  Mississippi  sound — with  a 
view  of  creating  a  diversion  of  the  Rebel  troops  from  Charleston,  and  se 
curing  their  detention  in  the  vicinity  of  Mississippi  sound.  Accordingly, 
he  embarked  on  the  9th  of  April,  with  a  detachment  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  men  of  his  command,  on  board  of  the  United  States  transport 
General  Banks,  and  landed  at  Pascagoula  at  nine  A.  M.,  and  took  posses 
sion  of  the  town,  throwing  out  pickets,  and  holding  by  small  detachments, 
the  roads  leading  to  it.  The  Rebels  at  once  sent  about  three  hundred 
cavalry  and  one  hundred  infantry  to  drive  out  the  invaders,  and  advanced 
a  large  body  of  troops  to  a  point  within  six  miles  of  the  town.  The  cav 
alry  attacked  Colonel  Daniels'  troops  with  great  fury,  but  were  repulsed 
with  considerable  loss ;  they  came  up  a  second  time,  accompanied  by  the 
infantry,  and  placing  the  women  and  children  in  front  of  the  houses  for  a 
cover,  fired  from  the  windows  of  the  dwellings  upon  the  tTnion  troops, 
but  were  again  repulsed,  and  with  more  loss  than  before.  A  third  time 
they  came  up  with  further  reinforcements,  but  were  for  the  third  time 
driven  back.  Finding  that  they  were  bringing  up  a  large  body  of  troops, 
and  having  accomplished  the  object  intended,  of  compelling  them  to 
divert  their  troops  from  Charleston,  Colonel  Daniels  took  advantage  of 
their  retreat  to  withdraw  his  men,  quietly  and  in  good  order,  on  board  of 


494  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

the  transport,  and  returned  to  Ship  island.  His  loss  was  two  killed,  and 
eight  wounded.  The  Rebel  loss  was  over  twenty  killed,  and  a  large 
number  wounded. 

A  much  more  important  action,  and  one  which  from  its  magnitude 
and  results  is  worthy  of  detailed  description,  was  the  expedition  into  the 
Attakapas  country,  in  Louisiana,  resulting  in  the  series  of  engagements 
known  collectively  as  the  battle  of  the  Teche. 

The  region  lying  along  the  Bayou  Teche,  the  Atchafalaya  river,  and 
Grand  Lake,  and  comprising  the  parishes  of  St.  Mary's,  St.  Martin's,  St. 
Landry,  and  Lafayette,  is  usually  denominated  by  Louisianians  the 
"Attakapas  country,"  and  is  regarded  as  the  garden  of  the  State.  It  had 
been  the  favorite  camping-ground  of  the  .Rebels,  and  from  it  they  had 
made  repeated  attacks  upon  those  portions  of  the  State  held  by  the  Union 
troops — the  facility  of  communication  with  the  Mississippi  by  means  of 
the  Atchafalaya  river,  and  with  other  parts  of  the  State  by  different 
water-courses,  rendering  its  possession  of  great  importance  to  them. 
During  the  winter  and  early  spring,  they  had  succeeded  in  capturing  the 
Diana,  one  of  the  Union  gunboats  on  the  Mississippi,  and  also  one  of  the 
ram  fleet,  the  Queen  of  the  West,  and  had  taken  them  from  the  Missis 
sippi,  through  the  Atchafalaya,  into  Grand  Lake,  where,  having  thor 
oughly  repaired  and  strengthened  them,  they  were  preparing  to  use  them 
effectively  against  the  Union  ports  of  Brashear  City,  Berwick,  and,  if  op 
portunity  offered,  New  Orleans.  They  had  also  procured  a  steamer  of 
great  strength  and  speed,  which  they  had  plated  with  railroad  iron,  and 
named  the  Hart,  which  they  had  almost  completed,  to  add  to  their  formida 
ble  iron- clad  fleet. 

General  Banks  deemed  it  best  to  break  up  this  nest  of  Rebels,  and  de 
stroy  their  fleet  of  iron-clads  before  they  succeeded  in  coming  out  into  the 
Gulf,  or  the  Mississippi,  and  accomplishing  serious  mischief.  Having 
ascertained  that  their  land  forces  numbered  about  eight  thousand — a  large 
portion  of  them  cavalry — he  moved  from  Berwick  City,  on  the  llth  of 
April,  with  the  division  of  General  Emory,  and  the  brigade  of  General 
Weitzel,  toward  Pattersonville,  on  the  Bayou  Teche,  having  despatched, 
the  same  day,  General  Grover's  division  from  Brashear  City  by  a  number 
of  transports,  tug-boats,  etc.,  convoyed  by  the  gunboats  Clifton,  Estrella, 
Arizona,  and  Calhoun,  up  the  Atchafalaya  and  Grand  Lake,  to  attack  the 
enemy  in  the  rear.  The  column  commanded  by  General  Banks  had  con 
stant  skirmishing  from  Berwick  city  to  Pattersonville,  and  at  the  latter 
place  encountered  the  enemy  in  considerable  force,  on  Sunday,  the  12th, 
when  a  severe  battle  ensued,  mainly  with  artillery,  in  which  the  Rebel 
gunboat  Diana  took  a  prominent  part.  The  Rebel  forces  were  on  both 
sides  of  the  Teche,  and  the  firing  was  continued  with  great  spirit  till  dark, 
when  the  opposing  forces  encamped  on  the  battle-field.  The  battle  was 
renewed  at  half-past  six  on  the  morning  of  the  13th — there  having  been 


THE  BATTLE  ON  THE  TECHE.  495 

picket  skirmishing  all  night — by  the  Rebels,  with  a  large  infantry  and 
cavalry  force,  for  the  purpose  of  regaining  possession  of  a  sugar-house  and 
a  piece  of  woods,  from  which  they  had  been  driven  during  the  night. 
Their  artillery  also  opened  with  great  fury  on  the  Union  troops,  the 
Diana,  as  before,  taking  part  in  the  fight.  The  brigade  of  General  Paine, 
of  Emory's  division,  were  in  the  advance,  and,  though  at  first  without 
artillery  supports,  and  under  this  galling  and  terrible  fire,  succeeded  in 
driving  the  Rebels  back  to  their  breastworks,  though  not  without  con 
siderable  loss.  They  were  then  reinforced  by  Mack's,  McLaflin's,  and 
Healy's  batteries,  and  the  Rebel  batteries  silenced ;  the  Diana  was  dis 
abled  by  shells  passing  through  her  iron  plating,  steam-chest,  and  wheel- 
houses,  killing  a  number  of  her  officers  and  crew,  and  compelled  to  with 
draw  up  the  Teche.  Colonel  Gooding,  commanding  one  of  .the  brigades 
of  Emory's  division,  was  sent  across  the  Teche,  and  drove  the  Rebels 
before  him.  Before  ten  o'clock  the  enemy  were  driven  back  along  the 
whole  line  to  their  breastworks,  and  made  no  further  attempt  to  secure 
the  coveted  point — the  woods  and  sugar-house — for  the  possession  of 
which  they  had  made  their  morning  attack.  The  Union  troops  now 
moved  forward  to  the  breastworks,  and  bringing  up  their  batteries,  com 
menced  an  attack  upon  them.  The  Rebel  position  was  one  of  great 
strength,  extending  on  the  west  side  of  the  Teche  from  the  river  to  a 
dense  mass  of  woods,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  from  the  Teche  to 
Grand  Lake,  effectually  preventing  any  flanking  movement.  For  the 
defence  of  this  fortification  they  had,  on  the  west  side,  Yalverde's  and 
Semmes'  batteries,  both  of  heavy  metal,  and  a  number  of  single  guns, 
rifled  and  of  large  calibre ;  and  on  the  east,  fourteen  or  fifteen  guns. 
The  Union  batteries  succeeded  in  silencing  part  of  the  guns  of  the  Rebels 
on  the  east  side,  and  the  infantry  moved  forward  to  attack  them  at  mus 
ket-range,  but  were  met  by  a  terrible  cross-fire  from  both  sides  of  the 
river,  and  were  compelled  to  lie  down  in  the  plantation  ditches ;  but 
soon  moved  still  nearer,  and  compelled  the  enemy  to  expose  his  infantry 
force  to  drive  them  back.  This  was  a  part  of  General  Banks'  design,  in 
order  to  ascertain  their  strength  in  infantry.  It  was  expected  by  the 
troops  that  an  assault  on  the  enemy's  works  would  now  be  ordered,  and 
General  Paine's  brigade  formed  in  two  lines  for  this  purpose ;  but  Gen 
eral  Banks  deemed  it  best  to  wait  till  morning — it  was  now  half-past  five 
p.  M. — when  the  gunboat  Clifton,  which  had  just  arrived,  could  co-operate 
in  the  attack. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  Teche,  the  third  brigade  of  Emory's  division, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Gooding,  had,  after  a  hard  day's  fighting,  succeeded 
in  carrying  the  enemy's  outworks,  and  driving  them  back  with  very  heavy 
loss. 

During  the  night  of  Monday,  the  entire  Rebel  force  evacuated  their  po 
sition  in  such  hot  haste  as  to  leave  their  cannon  unspiked,  and  made  the 


496  THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

best  of  their  way  up  the  Teche,  the  cavalry  remaining  in  the  rear  to  pro 
tect  their  retreat.  On  ascertaining  this  early  in  the  morning,  General 
Banks  ordered  an  immediate  pursuit. 

General  G  rover,  meantime,  had  ascended  the  Atchafalaya  and  Grand 
Lake  with  his  division,  and  crossed  to  the  Teche,  with  the  intention  of 
following  that  stream  down,  to  come  upon  the  rear  of  the  Eebels  with 
whom  General  Banks  was  fighting.  At  a  point  some  distance  above 
Franklin  he  encountered  a  small  body  of  the  Rebels  with  some  artillery, 
who,  however,  retreated  after  a  slight  skirmish,  and  on  their  retreat  at 
tempted  to  destroy  two  bridges  over  the  Teche,  but  were  prevented  from 
accomplishing  their  purpose  by  the  Union  cavalry  and  artillery. 

The  Union  forces  pushed  on  till  night,  when  they  bivouacked  on  the 
banks  of  the  river.  On  Monday  morning,  April  13th,  at  about  seven 
o'clock,  the  advance  reached  Irish  Bend,  a  sharp  bend  of  the  Teche,  about 
eleven  miles  above  the  point  where  General  Banks  was  engaged  with  the 
enemy.  Here,  on  the  edge  of  a  dense  line  of  woods,  they  found  the  Rebels 
in  position  and  in  large  force.  A  sharp  conflict  ensued,  in  which  the 
third  brigade  of  General  Grover's  division,  commanded  by  Colonel  Birge, 
was,  after  a  time,  driven  back  a  short  distance ;  but  General  Dwight,  of 
the  first  brigade,  coming  up  with  his  command,  moved  forward  with  such 
firmness  as  to  sweep  the  enemy  before  him,  taking  over  one  hundred  pris 
oners.  After  a  breathing  time  of  an  hour  or  two,  the  whole  division  ad 
vanced  upon  the  enemy's  main  position,  with  a  view  of  carrying  it  by 
assault ;  but  on  their  approach  the  Rebels  evacuated  their  works,  and  re 
treated  to  the  woods  and  cane-brakes,  having  first  set  fire  to  the  gunboat 
Diana,  which  had  been  disabled  by  the  batteries  below,  and  also  to  the 
transports  Gossamer,  Newsboy,  and  Era  No.  2,  large  river-steamers,  which 
they  had  seized  and  converted  to  their  use.  The  retreat  was  accomplished 
in  such  a  way  as  to  prevent  effectual  pursuit.  The  Rebel  force  here  en 
gaged  had  been,  according  to  the  testimony  of  prisoners,  about  five  thou 
sand,  and  they  had  come  up  the  river  with  the  intention  of  defeating  and 
driving  General  Grover's  division  across  the  Bayou  Teche  before  General 
Banks  could  arrive  to  form  a  junction  with  him.  They  had  been  signally 
defeated  in  this  intention,  and  had  lost  between  three  and  four  hundred  in 
killed  and  wounded,  beside  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners.  The 
Union  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  in  Grover's  division  was  not  far  from, 
four  hundred.  Immediately  on  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  a  reconnoitering 
force  was  sent  out,  which  met  a  courier  from  General  Banks'  army,  who 
announced  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  from  the  Beasland  plantation,  where 
the  battles  of  the  12th  and  13th  had  been  fought.  General  Banks  sent  his 
cavalry  and  artillery,  supported  by  two  infantry  brigades,  early  Tuesday 
morning  in  pursuit  of  the  flying  foe,  and  they  proceeded  on  both  sides  of 
the  Teche,  the  Clifton  aiding  in  the  pursuit  as  far  as  possible.  On  the  ap 
proach  of  our  troops  to  Franklin,  the  Hart,  the  new  Rebel  iron-clad,  was 


COMPLETE   ROUT   OF   THE   REBELS   ON   THE  TECIIK..          497 

towed  across  the  Teche,  scuttled,  and  fired  by  the  Rebe's  to  prevent  her 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Union  troops;  her  armament,  consisting  of 
two  heavy  guns— one  rifled,  the  other  a  large  brass  piece — w  .s  saved  by 
the  Union  soldiers.  The  united  force  now  wholly  under  General  Banks' 
command,  pressed  on  to  New  Iberia,  where  five  Rebel  transports,  laden 
with  ammunition  or  commissary  stores,  were  either  burned  or  sunk,  and 
the  Rebel  hospital-boat,  Cornie,  with  a  load  of  wounded,  captured,  and 
some  Union  prisoners  captured  some  time  before  on  the  Mississippi,  ?md 
found  on  board  of  her,  released.  At  Franklin  a  large  foundry,  employed 
in  casting  cannon  and  gun-carriages  for  the  Rebel  army,  was  taken  posses 
sion  of,  and  another  at  New  Iberia.  The  New  Iberia  salt-works,  which 
had  furnished  salt  to  most  of  the  Rebel  States,  were  also  seized.  A  large 
number  of  prisoners  were  taken  each  day,  and  the  Rebels  did  not  attempt 
to  make  a  stand  but  once  after  their  retreat  on  Monday  night.  This  was 
at  Bayou  Yermillion,  on  the  17th,  and  after  a  short  but  sharp  contest 
they  again  fled  precipitately,  destroying  the  bridges  behind  them,  and 
throwing  their  guns  and  ammunition  into  the  bayou.  On  Friday  General 
Banks  had  about  fifteen  hundred  prisoners.  He  proceeded  as  far  as  Ope- 
lousas,  the  capital  of  St.  Landry  parish,  when,  the  Rebel  force  having 
become  so  thoroughly  scattered  and  demoralized  as  to  be  no  longer  formi 
dable,  he  desisted  from  further  pursuit  with  his  main  army,  but  sent  Briga 
dier-General  Dwight  on  with  his  brigade  to  push  forward  to  Alexandria. 
The  capture  of  Bute  a  la  Rose,  already  mentioned,  the  key  of  the  Atcha- 
falaya,  was  also  one  of  the  fruits  of  this  expedition,  and  with  the  previous 
victories,  secured  East  Louisiana  from  invasion  or  disturbance.  General 
Banks  reported  from  Opelousas,  on  the  28th  of  April,  as  the  fruits  of  this 
expedition,  two  thousand  prisoners,  two  transports,  and  twenty  guns  taken, 
and  three  gunboats  and  eight  transports  destroyed.  Tha  loss  of  the  Rebels 
in  killed  and  wounded  was  over  one  thousand.  General  Tanks'  loss  was 
seventy-seven  killed,  three  hundred  and  sixty-one  wounded,  and  forty 
missing. 
32 


498  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 


CHAPTER   XLIY. 

RAIDS  IN  BOTH  ARMIKS MARMADUKE*S  EXPEDITION  FOR  THE  CAPTURE  OP  CAPE  QIRARDEAT5 

— COLONEL  CARTER'S  DEMAND  FOR  THE  SURRENDER  OF  THE  TOWN — GENERAL  M'NEIL'S 
REPLY — MARMADUKE'S  DEMAND — THE  RESULT — FLIGHT  OF  MARMADUKE,  AND  PURSUIT 

BY  VANDEVER  AND    H*NEIL — COLONEL    STREIGHT's    RAID — DIFFICULTIES  AND  DISASTERS — 

PENETRATES   NEARLY  TO  ROME — IS  COMPELLED  TO  SURRENDER REBEL  TREATMENT  OF  THB 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  EXPEDITION — COLONEL  GRIERSON's  RAID — ITS  CONTINUED  AND  WONDER 
FUL  SUCCESS — HIS  BRIGADE  REACHES  BATON  ROUGE RESULTS  ACCOMPLISHED  BY  THB 

EXPEDITION COLONEL  CLAYTON'S  RAID — MEETS  MARMADUKE — CLAYTON  WITH  TWO  HUN 
DRED  AND  THIRTY  MEN  FIGHTS  AND  REPELS  MARMADUKE'S  DIVISION — LIEUTENANT- 
COLONEL  JENKINS'  FIGHT  WITH  CARTER'S  TEXAS  BRIGADE — THE  EXPEDITION  REACHES 

HELENA    IN    SAFETY — SKIRMISHES    IN    WESTERN     VIRGINIA THE     AFFAIR     AT     GREENLAND 

GAP CAPTURE    OF    ALEXANDRIA,    MISSISSIPPI — SKIRMISH    AT    MONTICELLO,    KENTUCKY. 

THE  vast  extent  of  territory  over  which  the  war  extended,  the  neces 
sity  of  railroad  lines  for  the  transportation  of  troops  and  supplies,  and 
the  immense  quantities  of  ammunition,  quartermasters'  and  commissary 
stores  which  were  deposited  at  points,  which,  though  within  the  lines  ot 
the  army  to  which  they  belonged,  were  not  always  adequately  protected, 
have  offered  inducements  for  expeditions  of  cavalry,  by  either  army,  into 
the  territory  claimed  by  the  other,  on  a  more  extended  scale,  and  to 
greater  distances,  than  have  been  known  in  any  previous  war. 

At  first,  as  was  natural,  the  Rebels  possessing  a  much  larger  share  of 
cavalry  than  the  Union  army,  these  raids,  as  they  were  called,  were 
mostly  made  by  Rebel  cavalry  officers  upon  the  towns,  depots,  or  rail 
roads  of  the  North.  Such,  for  instance,  were  the  repeated  raids  of  Ashby, 
Stuart,  and  Moseby,  in  the  rear,  and  occasionally  around  the  army  of  the 
Potomac ;  such  the  dashing  exploits  of  Morgan,  Forrest,  and  Wheeler,  at 
the  West.  These  men  were  regular  officers  in  the  Rebel  army,  and  their 
troops,  though  sometimes  composed  in  part  of  citizens — farmers  by  day, 
within  the  Union  lines,  and  guerrillas  by  night — were  usually  regularly 
enlisted  cavalry  of  that  army.  In  the  West,  however,  there  was  another 
set  of  raiders — bushwhackers,  as  they  were  called,  men  not  belonging  to 
the  army,  but  ruffians,  thieves,  murderers,  and  freebooters,  who  plundered 
indiscriminately,  and  were  guilty  of  the  greatest  outrages,  murder  being 
one  of  their  least  criminal  offences  against  society.  These  men,  when 
captured,  claimed  to  belong  to  the  Rebel  army,  and  indeed  fought  as 
irregular  troops  in  some  of  its  battles,  and  received  its  protection ;  but, 
being  regarded  by  the  Union  officers  as  outlaws,  deserving  of  condign 
punishment,  were  not  always  reserved  for  exchange.  To  this  class  be 
longed  Quantrell's  gang,  whose  outrage  on  the  steamer  Sam  Gaty  was 
noticed  in  a  previous  chapter.  Jeff  Thompson's  and  Marmaduke's  bands 


MARMADUKE'S   EXPEDITION  TO   CAPE   GIRARDEAU.          499 

were  also  largely  composed  o£  these  ruffians,  who  swarmed  in  Missouri 
and  Arkansas. 

As  the  Union  armies  grew  stronger  in  disciplined  cavalry,  they  too 
engaged  in  cavalry  raids  or  expeditions,  not  undertaken  for  purposes  of 
plunder,  but  to  break  up  the  enemy's  lines  of  communication,  to  destroy 
his  depots  of  supplies,  and  cut  off  reinforcements  to  his  armies  at  critical 
periods.  The  names  of  Stoneman,  Pleasanton,  Buford,  and  Kilpatrick,  in 
the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  of  Carter,  Stanley,  Grierson,  Wilson,  and 
Clayton,  at  the  West,  became  as  famous  for  successful  expeditions  of  this 
sort  as  those  of  the  Rebel  partisan  leaders. 

Several  of  these  raids  took  place  in  the  spring  of  1863,  and  in  most  of 
them  the  activity,  skill,  and  adroitness  of  the  Union  officers  placed  them 
in  favorable  contrast  with  the  Rebel  raiders. 

The  first  which  we  shall  notice,  in  the  large  number  of  the  troops 
employed  was  rather  the  movement  of  an  army  to  besiege  a  town  than  a 
partisan  expedition ;  but  its  leader  being  best  known  as  a  partisan  leader 
of  the  most  unscrupulous  character,  and  its  motives  and  aims  being  such 
,is  usually  characterize  such  expeditions,  it  is  generally  known  as  Marma- 
duke's  raid.  The  hope  of  regaining  some  portion  of  their  lost  foothold 
in  Missouri  had  never  been  relinquished  by  the  Rebels ;  and  General 
Sterling  Price  especially,  who  had  sacrificed  social  position,  standing,  and 
character,  for  the  sake  of  participating  in  the  Rebellion,  looked  from  his 
involuntary  exile  in  Arkansas  and  Mississippi,  with  longing  eyes  toward 
the  fair  cities  and  towns  of  his  own  State,  and  in  every  enterprise  for 
regaining  the  control  of  it  was  always  an  active  participator.  Great 
exertions  had  been  made  by  the  Rebel  commanders  in  the  Trans-Missis 
sippi  Department  to  bring  their  army,  which  had  been  repeatedly  defeated 
and  routed  by  Generals  Blunt,  Herron,  and  Banks,  up  to  a  degree  of 
efficiency,  in  numbers  at  least,  equal  to  that  of  the  Union  army  in  that 
region.  By  gathering  to  their  standard  large  numbers  of  the  bush 
whackers  or  outlaws  of  whom  we  have  spoken,  by  a  rigid  and  severe 
military  conscription,  and  by  bringing  into  the  field  all  the  Texan  troops 
which  could  be  raised,  they  had  succeeded  in  assembling  a  force  respecta 
ble  in  numbers,  if  in  nothing  else.  The  command  of  the  first  army  corps 
of  this  army  was  assigned  to  General  Price ;  and  at  his  earnest  solicitation 
it  was  sent  at  once  into  southeastern  Missouri,  to  plunder  the  towns  of  that 
region,  to  seize  the  large  quantities  of  ammunition  and  stores  belonging 
to  the  United  States  Government  at  Cape  Girardeau,  and,  perhaps,  should 
fortune  favor,  to  attack  St.  Louis.  For  some  reason,  General  Price  does 
not  seem  to  have  led  this  army  in  person,  but  confided  it  to  General 
Marmaduke.  The  first  considerable  town  reached  by  this  marauding 
army  was  Fredericktown,  on  the  headwaters  of  the  St.  Francis,  from 
which  place  there  is  a  good  road  to  Cape  Girardeau,  at  that  time  a  large 
depot  of  quartermasters'  and  commissary  stores.  The  post  was  under  the 


500  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Baumer,  ,pf  the  first  Nebraska  infantry, 
and  had  a  garrison  of  five  hundred  men,  mostly  of  his  regiment,  though 
there  were  a  few  artillerymen  of  the  second  Missouri  artillery  also  in  the 
town.  General  McNeil,  of  the  Missouri  State  militia,  a  brave  and  skilful 
officer,  was  at  Bloomfield,  Missouri,  with  twelve  hundred  men  and  six 
pieces  of  artillery;  and  having  received  intelligence  of  Marmaduke's 
entry  into  Missouri  and  appearance  at  Fredericktown,  started  thither  in 
search  of  him ;  but  on  reaching  Dallas,  thirty -five  miles  from  Cape 
Girardeau,  he  became  so  strongly  impressed  with  the  belief  that  Manna- 
duke  would  attack  that  city,  that  he  marched  his  force  thither  with  all 
speed,  reaching  it  himself  on  the  23d  of  April,  and  bringing  his  troops 
in  the  next  day.  He  also  established  communications  the  same  day  with 
St.  Louis,  and  asked  for  reinforcements  and  gunboats.  The  whole  force 
now  under  his  command,  including  Lieutenant-Colonel  Baumer's  regi 
ment,  was  seventeen  hundred  ;  and,  including  his  own  artillery,  there  were 
sixteen  guns,  of  various  calibres,  three  or  four  of  them  rifled  twelve 
pounders.  The  town  had  four,  so-called,  forts  for  its  defence — earthworks 
of  the  simplest  form,  over  which  cavalry  could  ride  without  difficulty; 
and  there  was  no  time  for  adding  materially  to  these  defences,  for  on 
Saturday  morning,  the  26th  of  April,  Marmaduke  advanced  with  his 
force  of  ten  thousand,  divided  into  four  brigades,  with  the  intention  of 
carrying  the  place  by  storm. 

General  McNeil  had  already  planted  his  batteries  and  stationed  his  sharp 
shooters  to  as  much  advantage  as  possible,  and  awaited  the  attack.  When 
the  enemy  approached,  he  advanced  his  artillery  to  within  four  hundred 
yards  of  their  line,  and  stationing  his  sharpshooters  as  supports,  he  poured 
such  a  terrible  fire  upon  their  advancing  columns  that  they  were  checked, 
fell  back,  and  in  spite  of  the  urgency  of  their  officers,  could  not  be  induced 
to  face  the  deadly  fire  again.  They  retreated  out  of  range  after  an  action 
of  little  over  an  hour ;  and  some  reinforcements  arrived  for  the  Union 
force  from  St.  Louis  about  the  same  time.  Determined  to  defend  the  town 
to  the  last,  General  McNeil  had  caused  all  the  government  stores,  etc.,  to 
be  removed  across  the  river  into  Illinois,  and  had  sent  away  the  women 
and  children ;  and  thus  prepared,  he,  with  his  little  force,  resolved  to  fight 
it  out  with  the  invaders.  At  ten  o'clock  Saturday  evening  the  Union 
pickets  reported  the  arrival  of  a  flag  of  truce  from  the  Eebel  camp.  It 
was  not  allowed  to  come  nearer  to  the  town  than  three  miles,  and  the  fol 
lowing  letter  was  transmitted  by  it : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  FOURTH  DIVISION,  NEAR  CAPE  GIRARDEAU, 

"April  25,  1863. 
"  To   the   officer   commanding    United  States  forces   in   and  around    Cape 

Girardeau : 
"SiR: — By  order  of  Major-General    Sterling   Price,   commanding,  I 


DEMAND  FOR  THE   SURRENDER  OF   CAPE   GIRARDEAU.      501 

formally  demand  of  you  the  immediate  surrender,  unconditionally,  of  the 
troops  in  Cape  Girardeau  and  the  adjoining  forts,  together  with  all  the 
ammunition,  stores,  and  other  property  belonging  to  the  United  States,  in 
the  same.  If  the  surrender  is  made,  I  pledge  myself  to  treat  the  troops 
as  prisoners  of  war,  and  to  parole  and  exchange  them  as  soon  as  practi 
cable.  I  shall  scrupulously  protect  private  property;  no  difference  will 
be  made  in  this  particular  between  parties,  whether  Union  or  Southern  in 
sentiment.  One  half  hour  is  allowed  for  your  decision.  Colonel  Watson, 
commanding  second  Texas  cavalry  brigade,  who  bears  the  flag  of  truce, 
will  present  this  demand,  and  wait  for  your  reply. 
"  I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servamt, 

"  G.  W.  CARTER, 

"Colonel-Commanding  Fourth  Division,  First  Army  Corps, 
Trans-Mississippi  Department." 

Colonel  Strachan,  General  McNeil's  chief  of  staff,  who  had  been  deputed 
to  receive  the  flag  of  truce,  requested  Watson  to  tell  Colonel  Carter  that 
he  must  credit  General  McNeil  with  twenty-nine  minutes,  as  one  was 
sufficient  for  reply,  and  at  once  wrote  the  following : 

"  To  G.  W.  Carter,  Colonel- Commanding  First  Army  Corps,  Trans- Mississippi 

Department : 

"  SIR  : — I  am  instructed  by  General  John  McNeil  to  decline  your  demand 
for  the  surrender  of  the  post  of  Cape  Girardeau.  He  thinks  himself  able  to 
maintain  its  possession.  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

"WILLIAM  R.  STRACHAN, 

"  Colonel  and  Chief  of  Staff." 

The  little  garrison  lay  on  their  arms  that  night,  and  the  next  morning, 
Sunday,  April  26th,  awaited  an  attack  from  the  Rebels.  At  about  fifteen 
minutes  after  ten  A.  M.,  they  opened  fire  upon  the  town  with  two  bat 
teries,  one  posted  on  the  Bloomfield,  the  other  on  the  Jackson  road.  Soon 
after  the  engagement  commenced  another  flag  of  truce  was  announced, 
and  the  following  letter  brought  in : 

"HEADQUARTERS  CONFEDERATE  STATES  FORCES, 
"DISTRICT  OF  SOUTHEAST  MISSOURI, 

"April  26,  1863. 

"  GENERAL  : — I  have  this  moment  arrived,  and  learn  that  Colonel 
Carter  has  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  forces  in  Cape  Girardeau,  the 
fortifications,  and  government  property,  which  demand  you  have  declined. 
With  my  combined  forces  now  surrounding  Cape  Girardeau,  I  deem  it  an 
easy  task  to  storm  and  capture  the  town,  and  I,  therefore,  reiterate  the 
demand  that  you  immediately  surrender  to  me  unconditionally  your 
command. 


502  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATEb. 

"In  case  the  demand  is  not  immediately  complied  with,  I  request  that 
you  will  inform  all  non-combatants  in  the  town  to  provide  for  their  safety, 
as  I  will  immediately  proceed  to  attack  your  position  and  storm  the 
works.  Major  Henry  Ewing,  adjutant-general,  is  intrusted  as  the  bearer 
of  this  flag  of  truce. 

"I  am,  general,  very  respectfully, 

"J.  MARMADUKE, 

"Brigadier-  General  Commanding. 
"BRIGADIER-GENERAL   McNEIL, 
"Commanding  D.  S.  Forces  in  Cape  Girardeau." 

The  Rebel  adjutant-general  was  stopped,  as  his  predecessor  had  been, 
at  a  distance  from  the  town,  and  knowing  the  base  uses  which  Marmaduke 
had  made  on  previous  occasions  of  the  flag  of  truce,  General  McNeil 
ordered  the  firing  to  be  continued,  and  gave  the  verbal  answer  to  the 
insulting  demand  of  the  Rebel  general,  that  he  had  already  removed  the 
women  and  children,  and  that,  so  far  from  surrendering,  he  should  defend 
the  place  to  the  last  extremity.  The  adjutant-general  attempting  to 
remonstrate,  General  McNeil  told  him  that  the  Rebels  had  had  their 
answer  the  evening  before,  and  that  any  further  discussion  was  super 
fluous.  A  sharp  action  ensued,  in  which,  however,  the  reinforcements 
from  St.  Louis  took  no  part,  nor  did  the  gunboats,  which  came  up  a  little 
after  noon,  fire  a  shot;  for  at  thirty  minutes  past  two  P.  M.,  Marmaduke 
was  retreating  with  heavy  loss.  The  fire  of  the  little  garrison  had  been 
too  steady  and  well  directed  for  his  bushwhackers  to  endure.  At  first 
General  McNeil  supposed  that  he  had  withdrawn  with  the  intention  of 
making  a  night  attack,  and  the  whole  force  was  kept  on  the  alert  through 
the  night  to  repel  it;  but  when  Monday  morning  came,  and  no  enemy 
was  in  sight,  he  reconnoitred,  and  finding  that  they  had  fled,  made  imme 
diate  preparations  for  pursuit.  During  the  afternoon  General  McNeil 
marched  with  his  wearied  men  sixteen  miles  to  Whitewater,  and  found 
the  bridge  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  and  that  General  Yandever,  his 
ranking  officer,  had  made  a  feeble  pursuit,  engaged  the  enemy,  and  lost 
quite  a  number  of  his  troops  as  prisoners.  The  bridge  was  repaired  in 
three  hours,  and  McNeil  pushed  on  ten  miles,  and  had  nearly  come  up 
with  the  enemy,  when  an  orderly  arrived  from  General  Vandever,  who 
had  not  left  Whitewater,  ordering  them  to  halt.  Finally,  the  column  was 
allowed  to  press  forward,  and  had  again  come  within  three  miles  of  the 
enemy  when  they  were  again  halted.  The  pursuit  was  continued  in  this 
way  for  three  days ;  and  though  there  were  occasional  skirmishes  with 
their  rear  guard,  yet  whenever  the  Union  troops  approached  near  enough 
to  make  an  engagement  imminent,  General  Vandever  was  sure  to  order  a 
halt ;  and  thus  the  Rebels  made  good  their  escape  into  Arkansas  with 
their  artillery,  and  with  a  less  severe  punishment  than  they  should  have 
received. 


RAID  OF  COLONEL  STREIGHT  THROUGH  GEORGIA.  503 

The  next  raid  was  one  led  by  a  Union  officer,  and,  for  the  energy  and 
ability  with  which  it  was  conducted,  deserved  a  better  fate  than  befell  the 
brave  men  who  composed  the  expeditionary  force.  General  Rosecrans, 
desirous  of  ascertaining  the  real  condition  of  affairs  among  the  Rebels  in 
northern  Georgia,  and  of  cutting  their  communications  by  which  rein 
forcements  were  sent  to  General  Bragg,  then  lying  at  Tullahoma,  and 
destroying  a  large  foundry,  the  Round  Mountain  Iron  Works,  where 
cannon  and  munitions  of  war  were  cast  for  the  Rebel  army,  determined 
to  send  a  cavalry  expedition  into  Georgia  by  way  of  Tuscumbia,  Alabama. 
He  selected  for  this  purpose  Colonel  A.  D.  Streight,  of  Indiana,  and  as  he 
could  spare  but  little  of  his  cavalry  force — the  greater  part  of  it  being 
required  to  hold  in  check  the  enemy's  partisan  officers,  who  were  con 
stantly  dashing  into  prominent  towns  of  Tennessee  and  southern  Ken 
tucky — he  assigned  to  him  two  companies  of  the  Tennessee  cavalry, 
composed  of  loyal  Alabamians,  and  four  regiments  of  infantry— the  fifty- 
first  and  the  seventy-third  Indiana,  eightieth  Illinois,  and  third  Ohio — 
who  were  to  be  mounted  for  the  expedition.  There  was  great  difficulty 
in  procuring  horses  for  this  force.  On  the  llth  of  April  they  were  sent 
down  the  Cumberland  from  Nashville,  and  up  the  Tennessee  to  Eastport; 
and  on  landing,  not  one  half  of  the  whole  number  were  mounted,  and 
many  of  those  who  were  had  only  broken-down  mules,  which  could  not 
endure  two  consecutive  days  of  travel.  On  the  24th,  following  in  the 
rear  of  General  Dodge's  forces,  they  reached  Tuscumbia,  Alabama,  where 
a  further  quantity  of  worn-out  mules  and  wagon-horses  were  received, 
but  not  enough  to  mount  the  whole  brigade,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
being  still  obliged  to  go  on  foot.  At  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
27th,  the  brigade  started  for  Russelville,  eighteen  miles  from  Tuscumbia, 
through  a  country  which  had  been  deluged  by  recent  heavy  rains.  Their 
object  in  moving  in  this  direction  was  to  obtain  as  many  good  horses  as 
possible  to  mount  the  men,  as,  if  this  was  not  accomplished,  the  expedition 
would  be  of  little  service. 

It  was  found  that  the  inhabitants  of  Lawrence  and  Morgan  counties, 
having  had  information  of  the  object  of  the  expedition,  had  concealed 
their  horses  and  mules  in  the  mountains,  and  very  few  could  be  obtained. 
The  brigade  finally  reached  Moulton  on  the  28th  of  April,  still  poorly 
mounted,  and  a  few  of  the  men  yet  on  foot.  Here  they  learned  that  the 
Rebels,  under  command  of  Colonel  Roddy,  a  well  known  cavalry  officer, 
were  advancing  on  them.  As,  however,  General  Dodge's  column  was 
advancing  also,  and  was  likely  to  be  more  than  a  match  for  Roddy,  they 
felt  little  apprehension,  but  moved  before  daylight  on  the  29th  from 
Moulton,  in  order  to  avoid  a  collision  with  the  Rebel  troops,  which  might 
delay  their  ultimate  purpose,  and  reached  Day's  gap  before  night,  where 
they  camped  and  rested.  On  the  morning  of  the  30th  of  April,  soon 
after  leaving  camp,  the  Rebels  commenced  firing  on  their  rear  guard  with 


504  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

two  pieces  of  artillery.  Selecting  a  favorable  position  on  the  crest  of  a 
hill,  and  dismounting  his  men,  Colonel  Streight  directed  them  to  await 
the  approach  of  the  enemy,  and  not  to  fire  till  they  came  very  near.  He 
had  two  small  pieces  of  artillery,  which  were  under  the  charge  of  Lieu 
tenant  Pavey,  an  experienced  artillery  officer.  The  Kebels  moved  up 
boldly,  bringing  up  their  artillery  very  close,  but  fired  without  precision, 
and  their  shells  went  over  the  heads  of  the  Union  troops.  When  they 
had  approached  sufficiently  near,  Colonel  Streight  opened  upon  them  with 
his  artillery,  and  at  the  same  time  ordered  a  charge,  which  was  made  with 
great  effect,  killing  and  wounding  seventy-five  of  the  Rebels,  and  cap 
turing  their  two  pieces  of  artillery  and  a  considerable  number  of  horses. 
The  Union  loss  was  one  killed  and  twenty  wounded,  some  of  them  mor 
tally.  Fearing  lest  the  Rebels  might  be  largely  reinforced,  and  return  to 
the  attack,  Colonel  Streight  moved  forward,  leaving  his  wounded  in  the 
care  of  a  surgeon  and  nurses.  This  apprehension  proved  to  be  well 
founded.  The  enemy,  reinforced  till  they  numbered  about  three  thousand 
pursued,  and  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  again  attacked  the  rear  of 
Colonel  Streight's  force  as  they  were  crossing  a  small  creek. 

Forming  his  men  in  line  of  battle,  the  Union  commander  again  awaited 
their  approach ;  and  as  they  came  forward  very  boldy,  in  consequence  of 
their  superior  numbers,  he  again  poured  upon  them  a  terrific  fire,  and 
charging  upon  them  with  great  fury,  repulsed  them  with  heavy  loss. 
They  fell  back  for  a  time,  but  approached  again  on  both  flanks,  and  suc 
ceeded  in  so  far  turning  the  Union  right  as  to  subject  the  troops  to  # 
galling  cross-fire  and  compel  the  centre  to  fall  back,  with  the  loss  of  the 
two  pieces  of  artillery  which  had  been  captured  in  the  morning,  though 
not  until  their  ammunition  was  entirely  exhausted  and  the  cannon  spiked. 
The  Union  troops,  after  falling  back  a  few  rods,  held  their  position  in 
flexibly,  and  with  their  two  small  brass  cannon  and  their  carbines  in 
flicted  severe  losses  on  the  enemy.  Their  own  loss  was  but  slight,  two  killed 
and  several  slightly  wounded.  Darkness  put  an  end  to  the  conflict,  and 
Colonel  Streight  again  moved  on,  the  Rebels  receiving  further  reinforce 
ments  just  as  he  left.  Expecting  to  be  followed,  on  reaching  a  favorable 
situation  he  disposed  his  men  in  ambush,  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  and 
waited  for  the  enemy  to  come  up.  After  two  hours'  delay,  as  they  did  not 
come,  he  again  pushed  forward,  and  arrived  at  Blountsville,  the  county 
seat  of  Blount  county,  on  the  Locust  fork  of  the  Black  Warrior,  at  noon, 
May  1st,  both  men  and  animals  being  nearly  exhausted  with  watching, 
fatigue,  and  hunger.  Stopping  here  for  two  hours,  rations  were  issued  to 
the  men,  and  ammunition  distributed.  All  the  wagons  but  one  were 
burned,  and  the  ammunition  put  upon  the  backs  of  pack- mules.  At  three 
p.  M.  the  brigade  was  again  on  the  move,  and  had  not  proceeded  far  when 
skirmishing  again  commenced  in  the  rear.  Selecting  his  position  on  the 
bank  of  a  stream,  the  commander  again  formed  his  men  in  line  of  battle 


FINAL  MOVEMENTS  OF   COLONEL   STREIGHT.  505 

and  again  repulsed  the  enemy,  whose  advance  only  had  yet  come  up, 
This  accomplished,  he  again  moved  forward,  and  continued  his  course  till 
twelve  o'clock  that  night,  when  he  stopped  and  rested  till  daylight.  On 
resuming  his  march,  he  found  that  the  enemy's  skirmishers  were  still 
upon  his  rear,  and  annoyed  his  troops.  During  the  forenoon  the  brigade 
passed  Gadsden,  on  the  Coosa  river,  stopping  only  long  enough  to  destroy 
a  large  quantity  of  commissary  stores  collected  there  by  the  Rebels.  It 
had  been  expected  that  a  small  steamer  would  be  found  here,  on  which  a 
detachment  of  men  could  be  placed,  and  sent  to  Rome,  Georgia,  to  hold  the 
place  till  the  brigade  arrived  ;  but  there  was  no  steamer  in  the  vicinity, 
and  the  wearied  troops  followed  the  north  side  of  the  Coosa,  toward  Rome. 
The  animals  were  becoming  very  much  exhausted,  and  several  of  the  men 
falling  in  rear  of  the  gaurd  were  taken  prisoners ;  and  to  prevent  this  the 
whole  body  were  compelled  to  proceed  very  slowly. 

At  about  one  o'clock,  p.  M.,  May  2d,  the  Rebels  again  attacked  the  rear ; 
but  the  coolness  and  bravery  of  the  rear-guard,  assisted  by  one  piece  of 
artillery,  kept  them  at  a  respectful  distance.  Arriving  soon  after  at 
Blount's  Farm,  which  was  well  provided  with  corn,  Colonel  Streight 
ordered  the  animals  to  be  sent  forward  and  fed,  while  one  or  two  regi 
ments,  dismounted,  held  the  enemy  at  bay.  The  Rebels  were  nearer, 
however,  than  was  supposed,  and  attacked  the  men  before  they  were  in 
position,  killing  Colonel  Hathaway  of  the  seventy-third  Indiana  regiment 
in  their  first  onset.  They  were  repulsed,  after  a  time,  with  considerable 
loss,  but  continued  to  skirmish  briskly.  From  this  point  Colonel  Streight 
sent  two  hundred  men,  in  command  of  Captain  M.  Russell,  to  Rome,  to 
take  and  hold  it  till  the  brigade  should  come  up.  Owing  to  delay  in  ferry 
ing  a  stream,  they  did  not  arrive  before  the  town  till  nine  A.  M.  the  next 
day,  and  then  found  that  the  citizens  had  been  advised  of  their  advance, 
and  had  torn  up  the  bridge  across  the  Coosa,  and  that  the  town  was  pro 
tected  by  a  considerable  force  and  four  pieces  of  artillery.  Finding  it  im 
possible  to  gain  possession  of  the  town,  Captain  Russell  slowly  retreated 
to  rejoin  the  main  force.  Meantime,  Colonel  Streight  had  held  the  enemy 
in  check  at  Blount's  Farm  till  late  in  the  evening,  and  during  this  time 
had  sent  on  the  pack-rnules  and  a  part  of  his  force  to  cross  two  tributaries 
of  Coosa  river.  At  the  first  ford  it  was  expected  that  a  ferry-boat  would 
be  found  on  which  the  ammunition  could  be  crossed,  but  it  had  been  taken 
away  by  the  Rebels,  and  after  a  delay  of  several  hours  the  train  proceeded 
two  or  three  miles  up  the  creek  to  a  point  where  there  was  an  unsafe  ford 
with  a  rapid  current.  In  crossing  this  most  of  the  ammunition  was  wetted 
and  ruined.  At  the  left  of  the  road,  about  a  mile  distant,  were  the  Round 
Mountain  Iron  Works,  already  referred  to,  where  large  quantities  of  can 
non  and  munitions  of  war  were  cast  for  the  Rebel  Government.  These 
were  burned  to  the  ground,  and  all  the  machinery  effectually  destroyed 
At  the  second  tributary  of  the  Coosa  was  a  bridge,  which  was  destroyed 


£06  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

as  soon  as  the  Union  forces  had  crossed  ;  and  believing  that  two  streams 
were  now  between  them  and  the  enemy,  the  commander  halted  his  men 
two  miles  beyond  Cedar  Bluffs  to  rest  and  feed  their  animals,  and  prepare 
their  rations;  but  they  had  hardly  dismounted  before  they  were  again 
disturbed  by  firing  upon  their  rear-gaurd.  Once  more,  wearied  and  jaded 
as  they  were,  they  promptly  formed  in  line,  when  a  flag  of  truce  came  up, 
demanding  a  surrender.  Colonel  Streight  refused;  but  the  officer  who 
bore  the  flag  of  truce  assured  him  that  General  Forrest,  with  five  thousand 
men  and  several  batteries  advantageously  posted,  had  surrounded  them, 
and  that  they  were  at  his  mercy.  Colonel  Streight  demanded  to  be  per 
mitted  to  go  round  their  lines  and  see  for  himself  whether  their  represen 
tations  were  correct.  This  was  allowed  ;  and  finding  that,  with  his  ammu 
nition  damaged  by  water,  and  his  men  exhausted  by  fatigue,  he  could  not 
hope  to  force  his  way  through  their  lines  and  escape,  he  surrendered,  first 
drawing  up  his  men  in  line,  and  stating  to  them  the  reasons  which  led 
him  to  do  so.  The  men  gave  three  cheers  for  him,  showing  their  confi 
dence  in  him  as  a  leader.  The  prisoners  were  first  taken  to  Rome;  and 
then,  after  a  litte  delay,  sent  thence  to  Richmond,  where  the  men  were  ex 
changed,  but  the  officers  were  subjected  <to  gross  indignities,  the  Rebel 
Government  refusing  to  exchange  them,  and  treating  them  with  the  ut 
most  cruelty.  It  was  said  that  the  Governor  of  Georgia  claimed  them  as 
felons,  in  consequence  of  several  negroes  being  found  with  them  when  they 
surrendered.  During  this  unsuccessful  raid  the  brigade  had  lost  twelve 
killed  and  sixty-nine  wounded.  The  number  surrendered  was  one  hundred 
and  one  officers,  and  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  privates; 
in  all,  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty -six.  The  Rebel  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  exceeded  five  hundred. 

Another  expedition  sent  out  during  the  same  month,  under  General 
Grant's  sanction,  was  more  successful,  and  indeed,  surpassed,  in  the  extent 
of  country  traversed,  the.  damage  inflicted  upon  the  enemy,  and  the  com 
pleteness  of  its  achievements;  any  previous  raid  of  the  war,  on  either 
side. 

General  Grant  being  about  to  transfer  his  operations  for  the  reduction 
of  the  stronghold  of  Vicksburg  to  the  region  below  that  city,  was  desirous 
of  effectually  breaking  the  railroad  communications  of  the  Rebels  with 
Vicksburg,  in  all  directions,  and  thus  preventing  them  from  obtaining 
reinforcements  or  supplies  of  ammunition,  arms,  or  quartermasters'  and 
commissary  stores.  For  this  purpose,  he  detailed  Colonel  B.  II.  Grierson. 
an  enterprising  and  skilful  cavalry  officer,  then  in  command  of  the  first 
cavalry  brigade,  composed  of  the  sixth  and  seventh  Illinois,  and  the 
second  Iowa  cavalry,  to  make  an  expedition  into  Mississippi,  and  cut  the 
Mobile  and  Ohio,  the  New  Orleans  and  Jackson,  and  the  Meridian  and 
Vicksburg  railroads,  and  to  destroy  or  capture  such  supplies  as  he  might 
find  on  his  route.  The  cavalry  force  under  Colonel  Grierson's  command 


CAVALRY   RAID   INTO   MISSISSIPPI.  507 

was  composed  of  picked  men,  well  mounted,  and  with  a  good  supply  of 
led  horses.  Two  of  the  regiments,  the  seventh  Illinois,  and  the  second 
Iowa,  had  previously,  under  their  present  commanders,  made  expeditions 
into  northern  Mississippi,  and  they  were  men  eminently  to  be  relied  upon 
for  skill  and  tact  in  the  management  of  such  an  enterprise. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  the  expedition  left  La  Grange,  Tennessee,  on  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad,  near  the  point  where  the  Mississippi 
Central  crosses  it,  and  marched  southerly  to  the  vicinity  of  Ripley,  Mis 
sissippi,  a  distance  of  about  thirty  miles.  The  next  day,  they  passed 
through  Ripley  to  New  Albany,  and  camped  four  miles  south  of  that 
town.  At  Ripley,  Colonel  Hatch,  with  his  regiment,  the  second  Iowa, 
had  been  detached  to  move  eastwardly,  and  then  southwardly,  to  cross  the 
Tallahatchie  about  five  miles  above  the  New  Albany,  and  then  rejoin  the 
brigade  six  miles  below  that  town.  This  was  accomplished  without  any 
incident.  From  this  point  regiments  and  parts  of  regiments  were  sent  in 
different  directions  to  scour  the  country,  and  ascertain  the  location  of 
Rebel  troops,  supplies,  etc.,  and  rejoin  the  brigade  at  night.  Several 
prisoners  were  taken,  and  horses  in  such  quantities,  that  about  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  men,  with  a  considerable  number  of  led  horses,  were  sent 
back  to  La  Grange  on  the  20th.  On  the  21st,  Colonel  Hatch  and  the 
second  Iowa  regiment,  were  directed  to  turn  eastward  from  Clear  Springs, 
which  had  been  their  camping  ground  the  night  before,  and  proceed 
toward  Columbus,  destroying  as  much  of  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad  as 
possible.  They  marched  about  twenty-five  miles  southeast  from  Houston 
on  the  route  to  Columbus,  encountered  a  force  of  about  eight  hundred 
Rebel  cavalry,  armed  with  shot-guns,  whom  they  repulsed  with  their 
rifles  and  a  small  cannon  they  had  with  them,  and  then  turning  directly 
north,  crossed  a  swamp,  swam  a  deep  creek,  and  at  sunset  of  the  23d 
entered  Okalona,  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad,  entirely  unexpected 
by  all,  as,  the  day  previous,  a  large  body  of  southern  cavalry  and  artillery 
had  gone  south  in  pursuit  of  them.  Here  they  destroyed  the  depots, 
barracks,  and  Rebel  Government  storehouses,  and  tore  up  the  railroad 
track  for  a  long  distance,  heating  and  bending  the  rails.  Private  property 
was  scrupulously  respected.  Thence  they  continued  northward,  destroy 
ing  the  track  and  bridges  on  the  railroad,  and  reached  La  Grange  some 
days  later.  Meanwhile,  Colonel  Grierson  continued  to  move  southward, 
with  the  sixth  and  seventh  Illinois,  camping  on  the  night  of  the  21st, 
eight  miles  south  of  Starkville. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d,  Captain  Forbes,  of  Company  C,  seventh 
Illinois,  was  detached  with  thirty-five  men  to  cut  the  Mobile  and  Ohio 
railroad  and  the  telegraph  between  Okalona  and  Macon  as  near  Macon  as 
possible,  with  instructions,  if  he  found  a  force  at  Macon,  to  try  to  cross 
the  Okanoxubee  river,  and  move  toward  Decatur  in  Newton  county  by 
the  shortest  route.  Captain  Forbes  found  a  Rebel  force  at  Macon,  and 


508  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

followed  his  directions,  moving  upon  the  trail  of  the  brigade  to  Newton, 
where  he  was  informed  they  had  gone  to  Enterprise,  on  the  Mobile  and 
Ohio  railroad.  He  pushed  on  to  Enterprise,  and  marched  into  the  town, 
where  he  found  about  three  thousand  Rebel  troops  just  landing  from  the 
cars.  Raising  a  flag  of  truce  and  riding  boldly  forward,  he  demanded  the 
surrender  of  the  Rebel  troops,  in  the  name  of  Colonel  Grierson.  The 
Rebel  commander,  Colonel  Goodwin,  asked  an  hour  to  consider  the 
proposition,  and  wished  to  know  where  Captain  Forbes  would  be  at  that 
time.  The  captain  answered  that  he  would  go  back  with  the  reply  to 
the  reserve,  which  he  did  with  all  speed,  having  first  ascertained  the 
strength  of  the  enemy.  As  may  be  imagined,  he  did  not  return  at  the 
expiration  of  the  hour  to  learn  the  decision  of  the  Rebel  commander. 

Colonel  Grierson  had  also  detached,  the  same  day,  Captain  Graham, 
with  one  battalion,  to  burn  a  Rebel  shoe-manufactory,  which  was  supply 
ing  shoes  to  the  Rebel  army.    He  succeeded  in  destroying  several  thousand 
pairs  of  boots  and  shoes,  and  a  large  quantity  of  hats  and  leather,  and 
captured  a  Rebel  quartermaster  from  Port  Hudson,  who  was  there  procuring 
supplies  for  his  regiment.  Colonel  Grierson  and  the  remainder  of  his  troops 
moved  on  to  a  point  ten  miles  below  Louisville,  a  distance  of  fifty-seven 
miles,  eight  miles  of  it  through  the  swamps  of  the  Okanoxubee,  at  this  time 
overflowed  with  water,  and  having  numerous  deep  mire-holes,  in  which 
about  twenty  of  the  horses  were  lost.     On  the  23d  they  crossed  the  Pearl 
river,  near  Philadelphia,  preserving  the  bridge  over  Pearl  river,  which 
the  Rebels  had  attempted  to  destroy.     The  same  day  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Blackburn,  of  the  seventh  Illinois,  was  sent  forward  with  two  hundred 
men  to  Decatur,  and  passing  through  that  place  at  four  A.  M.  of  the  24th, 
reached  Newton  station,  on  the  Meridian  and  Vicksburg  railroad,  at  seven 
A.  M.,  and,  with  the  aid  of  the  rest  of  the  command,  who  came  up  at  nine 
A.  M.  captured  two  locomotives  and  two  trains  of  cars,  took  seventy-five 
prisoners,  burned  the  bridges  and  trestles  for  six  miles  each  side  of  the  sta 
tion,  destroyed  two  warehouses  filled  with  commissary  stores,  and  four  car 
loads  of  ammunition,  mostly  for  heavy  artillery.  At  eleven  A.  M.  the  brigade 
moved  forward  to  a  plantation  twelve  miles  from  Newton,  where  they 
encamped.     During  the  25th  and  26th  they  passed  through  Raleigh  and 
Millhaven  to  TV  estville,  on  their  way  to  the  Mississippi  and  Jackson 
railroad,  and  on  the  27th  Colonel  Prince,  with  two  hundred  men,  passed 
on  in  advance  to  Hazlehurst  on  that  road,  cut  the  telegraph  wires,  and 
destroyed  a  large  number  of  cars,  four  of  them  loaded  with  ammunition. 
This  march  of  twenty-five  miles  was  performed  in  a  drenching  rain ;  and 
the  Georgetown  ferry,  over  Pearl  river — a  wide  and  deep  stream — crossed, 
the  proprietor  of  the  ferry  supposing,  till  the  troops  were  all  over,  that 
he  was  serving  the  first  Alabama  (Rebel)  cavalry,  on  their  way  to  Vicks 
burg. 

Colonel  Grierson  with  his  main  column,  moved  on  through  Hazlehurst 


RESULT  OF  THE   RAID  INTO   MISSISSIPPI.  509 

to  Gallatin,  and  encamped  near  that  town,  having  on  their  way  captured 
a  thirty-two  pounder  rifled  Parrott  gun,  and  fourteen  hundred  pounds  of 
powder,  on  its  way  to  Grand  Gulf.  The  next  day  (28th)  four  companies 
were  detached  to  proceed  to  Bahala,  two  miles  below  Ilazlehurst,  on  the 
New  Orleans  and  Jackson  railroad,  and  destroy  the  railroad  and  transpor 
tation.  The  sixth  Illinois  had  a  skirmish  this  day — the  first  during  their 
raid — with  the  Rebels,  in  which  they  wounded  two  and  took  a  number 
of  prisoners.  On  the  29th,  before  daylight,  the  four  companies  came  in, 
having  performed  their  mission,  and  bringing  about  thirty  prisoners.  The 
seventh  Illinois  led  the  way  this  day,  and  charging  into  Brookhaven — 
another  station  on  the  New  Orleans  and  Jackson  railroad — burned  the 
depot,  cars,  bridges,  etc.,  and  captured  and  paroled  two  hundred  and  one 
prisoners.  On  the  30th,  the  sixth  Illinois,  being  in  advance,  visited 
Bogue  Chitto,  and  burned  the  depot,  bridges,  and  cars  there,  and  all  the 
bridges  and  trestles  between  there  and  Summit,  eleven  miles  below,  and 
the  cars,  and  a  large  amount  of  property,  belonging  to  the  Rebel  Gov 
ernment,  at  Summit.  No  private  property  was  destroyed  at  any  of  these 
places. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  proceeding  southwestward,  they  came  to  a  bridge 
over  one  of  the  forks  of  Amite  river,  where  the  Rebels  had  stationed  an 
ambush,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Blackburn,  of  the  seventh  Illinois,  was 
severely  wounded  in  attempting  to  cross  the  bridge.  The  enemy  were 
put  to  flight  by  a  few  rounds  from  Smith's  battery,  and  the  column 
marched  on,  and  reached  and  crossed  the  Amite*  river  without  opposition 
at  ten  o'clock  p.  M. 

On  the  2d  of  May  they  surprised  and  burned  a  Rebel  camp  at  Sandy 
creek  bridge,  and  soon  after  captured  forty-two  of  Stewart's  Mississippi 
cavalry  on  Comitd  river,  and  at  noon  made  their  triumphant  entry  into 
Baton  Rouge. 

In  this  expedition  they  had  in  fifteen  days  marched  nearly  six  hundred 
miles,  had  cut  every  railroad  in  Mississippi,  and  destroyed  most  of  them 
for  miles,  had  burned  the  greater  part  of  the  cars,  and  most  of  the  locomo 
tives  on  those  roads,  taken  and  paroled  over  five  hundred  prisoners, 
liberated  and  brought  in  over  three  hundred  negroes,  and  taken  a  large 
number  of  excellent  horses.  Their  own  loss  had  been  very  trifling — none 
killed,  and  only  eight  or  ten  wounded.  The  communications  of  the 
Rebels  with  Vicksburg  in  all  directions  had  been  completely  broken  up, 
and  could  not  be  re-established  for  weeks ;  while  to  restore  them  to  their 
former  condition  was  beyond  the  power  of  the  Rebel  Government. 

After  the  Rebel  General  Marmaduke's  summary  expulsion  from  Mis 
souri — already  detailed — he  remained  in  Arkansas ;  and  it  was  generally 
supposed  had  made  his  way  toward  the  northwest  of  that  State,  hoping 
for  an  opportunity  to  slip  from  the  old  battle-grounds,  where  he  had  been 
so  often  repulsed,  into  Southwestern  Missouri.  The  supposition  proved 


510  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

erroneous;  for  he  was  still  in  the  region  lying  between  the  White  and  St. 
Francis  rivers,  watching  an  opportunity  for  mischief,  and  contemplating 
a  junction  with  General  Sterling  Price,  who  was  now  second  in  command 
in  the  Rebel  Trans-Mississippi  army,  when  the  two  purposed  to  make 
a  descent  upon  Helena,  Arkansas,  and  drive  out  the  Union  forces  there 
under  the  command  of  General  Prentiss. 

Rumors  of  this  purpose  on  the  part  of  the  Rebels  had  reached  General 
Prentiss  early  in  May,  and  he  resolved  to  ascertain  the  actual  position  of 
Price's  army,  to  break  up  a  gang  of  guerrillas  under  the  command  of  a 
Colonel  Dobbins,  and  also  to  destroy  any  supplies  which  the  Rebels 
might  have  collected  in  the  region  lying  between  the  White  and  St. 
Francis  rivers.  For  this  purpose,  on  the  6th  of  May,  he  directed  Colonel 
Powell  Clayton,  of  the  fifth  Kansas  cavalry,  one  of  the  best  partisan 
officers  in  the  West,  to  take  command  of  a  brigade — composed  of  his  own 
regiment,  the  fifth  Illinois  cavalry,  the  first  Indiana  cavalry,  one  section 
of  Hayden's  Dubuque  battery,  one  company  of  the  third  Iowa  cavalry, 
and  one  thousand  infantry  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Rice,  of  the 
thirty-third  Iowa,  for  an  expedition  to  scour  the  region  between  the 
White  and  St.  Francis  rivers. 

Colonel  Clayton  detached  the  infantry,  the  section  of  artillery,  and  the 
company  of  Iowa  cavalry,  under  command  of  Colonel  Rice,  to  take  the 
Cotton  Plant  road,  and  make  a  thorough  reconnoissance  in  that  vicinity. 
In  order  to  reach  this  place  it  became  necessary  to  bridge  the  Bayou  de 
Vue,  and  believing  that  it  would  occupy  too  much  time  to  construct  a 
bridge  over  this  extensive  swamp,  such  as  would  admit  the  passage  of 
artillery  and  cavalry,  and  having  ascertained  satisfactorily  that  there 
were  no  Rebel  troops  at  Cotton  Plant,  Colonel  Rice  concluded  to  return  to 
Mariana,  and  look  after  Dobbins,  who  was  said  to  be  in  that  vicinity.  By 
this  course,  too,  he  would  be  within  supporting  distance  of  the  cavalry, 
should  they  need  his  assistance. 

Meantime,  Colonel  Clayton,  with  his  cavalry  force  of  eleven  hundred 
men,  had  pushed  on  toward  Clarendon,  where  he  ascertained  that  the 
Rebel  General  Price  was  at  a  point  about  midway  between  the  Arkansas 
and  White  rivers,  fifty  miles  from  Clarendon,  with  three  brigades  of  in 
fantry,  and  four  companies  of  artillery.  From  Clarendon  Colonel  Clayton 
had  gone  northward,  toward  the  L'Anguille  river,  by  way  of  the  military 
road  leading  to  Memphis.  This  road  crosses  the  L'Anguille  by  a  cordu 
roy  bridge,  which  Colonel  Clayton  deemed  it  important  to  guard,  as,  if  they 
were  attacked  by  superior  numbers,  it  would  be  their  only  way  of  escape. 
The  Indiana  regiment  was  accordingly  detailed  to  guard  it,  and  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Jenkins,  of  the  fifth  Kansas,  (who  had  just  returned  from 
a  dash  to  a  camp  of  negroes,  some  eight  miles  distant,  and  had  brought  in 
about  twenty,)  was  sent  to  Taylor's  creek,  five  miles  distant,  to  recon 
noitre,  and  ascertain  where  Dobbins  was.  On  arriving  at  Taylor's  creek, 


MOVEMENTS   OF  COLONEL   CLAYTON.  511 

Colonel  Jenkins  learned  that  Dobbins  had  crossed  Hughes'  ferry,  near 
Mount  Vernon,  some  distance  up  the  L'Anguille  river,  that  afternoon, 
and  consequently  could  not  be  far  off.  This  intelligence  he  immediately 
communicated  by  messenger  to  Colonel  Clayton,  and  went  on  himself  to 
McDaniel's  mills,  seven  miles  from  the  ferry,  where  he  took  the  proprie 
tor  of  the  mill  (which  had  been  running  for  the  Rebel  army  all  winter) 
prisoner,  and  destroyed  between  fifty  and  sixty  thousand  bushels  of  corn. 
Before  dawn  of  the  12th,  a  negro  came  into  Colonel  Jenkins'  camp,  and 
brought  the  unexpected  and  startling  news  that  General  Marmaduke, 
with  his  whole  command,  was  encamped  not  more  than  twenty-five  miles 
up  the  creek,  at  Wittsburgh,  and  that  this  plan  had  been  devised  to  cut 
off  the  entire  expedition;  Colonel  Dobbins  was  to  be  at  Hughes'  ferry 
with  five  hundred  men  to  dispute  their  crossing,  while  Marmaduke 
moved  down  a  strong  force  to  attack  them  in  rear.  At  first  Colonel  Jen 
kins  was  inclined  to  disbelieve  the  report,  but  further  examination  of  the 
negro  convinced  him  of  its  truth,  and  he  immediately  despatched  a  second 
messenger  to  Colonel  Clayton  with  it.  That  officer,  on  the  receipt  of  his 
previous  message,  had  sent  him  orders  to  advance  at  daylight  on  Dobbins, 
and  he  would  follow  as  soon  as  possible.  On  receiving  his  second 
message,  there  seemed  to  be  no  other  course  but  to  move  directly  on  Mar 
maduke,  and  this  he  did,  without  informing  Colonel  Jenkins.  This  occa 
sioned  him  much  anxiety,  as  his  instructions  to  Colonel  Jenkins  had 
been  to  meet  him  at  Taylor's  creek,  where  he  would  await  his  coming, 
and  to  do  this  would  have  brought  him  immediately  upon  Marmaduke's 
force,  which  now  lay  between  him  and  Colonel  Clayton.  But  remember 
ing  that  Jenkins  and  his  command  (the  Kansas  fifth  and  the  fourth  Illi 
nois)  had  been  thoroughly  accustomed,  for  years,  to  independent  action  in 
emergencies,  he  felt  measurably  assured  that  he  was  informed  of  Marma 
duke's  position,  and  would  not  attempt  to  return  to  Taylor's  creek,  but 
would  cross  at  Hughes'  ferry,  where  he  would  receive  the  support  of  the 
infantry  force  under  Colonel  Rice. 

Colonel  Clayton's  entire  force  with  which  he  set  out  to  meet  Marmaduke, 
consisted  of  only  two  hundred  and  thirty  men,  (the  Indiana  cavalry)  the 
Illinois  and  Kansas  regiments  being  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jenkins. 
Of  these,  he  was  obliged  to  detail  forty  as  a  rear-guard  to  hold  the  bridge. 
Marmaduke  had  three  or  four  brigades,  and  his  advance,  which  met  Col 
onel  Clayton,  consisted  of  an  entire  brigade.  The  Kansas  officers  had, 
however,  met  Marmaduke  too  often,  and  driven  him  from,  the  field  too 
precipitately,  to  feel  much  concern  about  the  superiority  of  numbers  he 
could  bring  against  them.  Colonel  Clayton  first  found  the  Rebel  general 
near  the  village  of  Taylor's  Creek,  and  after  a  brisk  fight,  succeeded  in 
driving  him  out  of  that  village,  and  into  a  wood  beyond.  Following  him 
promptly,  and  securing  a  good  position,  he  fought  the  Rebels  for  an  hour 
longer,  when  they  fled  in  disorder.  A  part  of  them  turned  off  in  a  direc- 


512  THE   (5IVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

tion  which  Colonel  Clayton  knew  led  to  a  road  by  which  they  could  reach 
the  bridge  and  cut  oft'  his  retreat.  This  he  must  prevent  at  all  hazards, 
and  he  accordingly  formed  his  men  in  column,  and  marched  promptly 
for  the  bridge.  Just  before  his  arrival,  about  thirty  of  the  Rebels,  who 
were  in  advance  of  the  main  force,  came  up  and  endeavored  to  set  fire  to 
the  bridge,  but  were  quickly  dispersed  by  his  guard.  Colonel  Clayton 
had  just  placed  his  little  force  in  position,  with  his  two  small  field-pieces 
on  an  eminence  which  commanded  the  bridge,  when  Marrnaduke  came  up, 
and  opened  fire  upon  him  with  artillery  and  musketry.  Clayton  replied 
so  vigorously,  that  after  half  an  hour  Marmaduke  and  his  troops  fell  back, 
and  sought  the  shelter  of  the  hills. 

Colonel  Clayton  was  unwilling  to  show  the  weakness  of  his  force  by 
pursuing  them  to  their  stronghold,  and  accordingly  remained  at  the  bridge, 
thinking  it  possible,  also,  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jenkins  might  attempt 
to  come  there  according  to  instructions.  In  the  evening,  several  citizens 
were  brought  into  his  camp,  and  from  them  he  ascertained  that  there 
were  two  routes,  one  above  and  the  other  below  his  camp,  by  which  the 
enemy  could  cross  Taylor's  creek,  and  reach  his  rear.  Calculating  the 
time  it  would  take  them  to  arrive  at  the  bridge,  by  either  of  these  routes, 
Colonel  Clayton  waited  till  eight  P.  M.,  aL.d  then  causing  the  camp-fires 
to  be  replenished,  and  the  pickets  in  front  to  fire,  so  that  the  enemy 
might  believe  him  still  at  the  bridge,  he  quietly  took  up  his  march  for 
Helena. 

Meantime,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jenkins,  learning  that  Marmaduke  was 
at  Taylor's  creek,  and  appreciating  the  importance  of  consolidating  their 
little  forces,  started  at  daylight  of  the  eleventh,  to  join  Colonel  Clayton  at 
the  bridge.  He  .had  not  proceeded  far  before  his  advance-guard  came 
upon  the  enemy,  and  he  at  once  dismounted  seven  companies,  to  serve  as 
his  main  body,  threw  out  one  company  to  the  right,  and  another  to  the 
left  as  skirmishers,  two  more  to  guard  the  flanks,  and  one  to  protect  the 
rear,  and  ordered  an  immediate  advance.  The  fire  of  his  men  was  so  well 
directed  that  the  enemy  broke  and  retired  three  times,  retreating  in  all 
about  six  hundred  yards.  This  occupied  about  three  fourths  of  an  hour. 
In  thus  driving  the  enemy  back,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jenkins  had  reached 
a  very  favorable  position,  where  a  small  force  could  successfully  check  a 
large  one,  and  ordered  his  men  to  cover  the  road,  and  reserve  their  fire 
till  the  enemy  came  within  forty  yards.  Presently  the  Rebels  fired  a  most 
terrific  volley,  and  then  parted  right  and  left,  when  a  regiment  of  cavalry, 
finely  mounted,  rode  toward  them  at  full  gallop,  in  columns  of  platoons, 
their  colors  flying,  and  the  heavy  tread  of  their  horses  making  the  earth 
shake.  When  within  sixty  yards,  they  broke  out  into  a  prolonged  yell, 
such  as  might  have  came  from  ten  thousand  Comanche  Indians.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Jenkins,  sitting  calmly  on  his  horse,  watched  their  motions, 
and  gave  the  order  quietly  to  his  men :  "Reserve  your  fire  until  they  are 


ARRIVAL  OF  COLONEL   CLAYTON   AT  HELENA.  513 

close  on  you,  and  then  let  every  shot  tell."  He  knew  his  troops ;  not  an 
eye  quailed,  not  a  cheek  blanched,  but  with  set  teeth,  and  a  firm  grasp  of 
their  Sharps'  rifles,  every  man  awaited  the  shock.  The  Rebel  cavalry 
were  within  less  than  forty  yards  of  the  line,  when,  at  the  given  signal,  a 
stream  of  fire  burst  upon  them,  so  well  directed  and  terrible  that  the  head 
of  their  column  staggered,  reeled,  and  finally  broke  in  confusion,  and  fell 
back  through  the  woods  to  the  rear.  About  twenty  minutes  elapsed, 
when  the  twenty -first  Texas  (Rebel)  Rangers  came  down  in  the  same 
style,  led  by  Colonel  Carter,  their  brigade  commander,  (the  same  who  in 
Marmaduke's  raid  demanded  General  McNeil's  surrender).  Rendered 
desperate  by  the  previous  repulse  of  their  comrades,  they  rode  forward 
more  fiercely  than  their  predecessors,  and  uttering  the  same  wild  yell, 
were  allowed  to  approach  still  nearer,  when  at  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jenkins' 
word  of  command,  the  torrent  of  flame  again  burst  upon  them  and  swept 
them  down  as  with  the  besom  of  destruction.  Colonel  Carter  was  among 
the  wounded,  and  most  of  the  line  officers.  The  ground  was  strewed  with 
the  wounded,  who  were  begging  most  piteously  for  water,  and  the  Kansas 
men,  as  tender  to  the  wounded  as  brave  in  fight,  though  the  battle  still 
raged,  brought  water  to  the  men  who  but  a  few  moments  before  had 
sought  their  lives. 

A  third  time  the  enemy  attempted  a  cavalry  charge,  but  they  could  not 
be  brought  up  to  the  close  range  which  had  twice  proved  so  fatal,  and 
halting  at  the  distance  of  seventy  or  eighty  yards,  they  retired.  Thus  far  the 
fifth  Kansas  had  done  all  the  fighting,  but  the  fifth  Illinois  now  eame  up; 
and  were  greeted  with  hearty  cheers.  The  enemy,  who  were  now  ascer 
tained  to  be  the  Carter's  brigade  of  Texan  troops,  about  sixteen  hundred 
strong,  had  taken  up  a  position  beyond  musket  range,  and  commenced  a 
heavy  artillery  fire,  having  the  exact  range  of  Jenkins'  camp.  It  was 
now  dark,  and  finding  that  the  enemy  could  reach  his  rear  by  good  roads 
at  a  short  distance,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jenkins,  after  consulting  his  offi 
cers,  determined  to  cross  the  L' Anguille  at  Hughes  ferry,  though  Dobbins* 
force  was  said  to  be  there.  On  arriving  at  the  ferry,  he  found  that  Col 
onel  Rice  had  driven  Dobbins  away,  and  crossing  in  safety,  by  swimming 
his  horses,  he  reached  Helena  the  next  day,  May  12th.  The  loss  of  the 
Union  forces  in  this  expedition  was  two  killed,  and  nineteen  wounded. 
The  loss  of  the  Rebels  was  about  fifty  killed,  and  one  hundred  wounded, 
including  one  colonel,  four  captains,  and  five  lieutenants.  The  brigade 
destroyed  in  all,  about  one  hundred  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  Rebel  sup 
plies,  and  brought  away  thirty  or  forty  negroes. 

Among  the  minor  skirmishes  and  affairs  which  occurred  during  the 
latter  part  of  April,  and  the  first  week  in  May,  were  several  raids  made 
by  Rebel  cavalry  under  Imboden,  Jenkins,  Harper,  and  William  E.  Jones 
in  Western  Virginia,  at  Piedmont,  Cranberry  Summit,  Oakland,  Rowles- 
burg,  Altamont,  and  other  points  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad 
33 


514  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

intended  to  ascertain  the  feasibility  of  an  advance  of  General  Lee's  army 
upon  Pittsburg,  and  a  severe  fight  at  Greenland  gap,  a  narrow  pass  in 
Knobley  mountains,  Hardy  county,  where  a  little  Union  force  of  seventy- 
five  men  withstood  three  attacks  of  a  Rebel  force  of  fifteen  hundred  men, 
for  more  than  two  hours,  and  were  only  driven  from  their  position  by  the 
Rebels  firing  the  building  (a  church)  in  which  they  had  stationed  them 
selves.  The  Union  loss  was  two  killed,  and  four  wounded ;  the  Rebel 
loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  over  eighty,  including  one  colonel  and 
several  line  officers,  being  more  than  the  whole  Union  force.  In  the  De 
partment  of  the  Gulf,  Rear-Admiral  Porter,  early  in  May,  completed  the 
series  of  triumphs  of  the  Union  arms  in  Central  Louisiana,  already  com 
menced  by  General  Banks,  by  the  capture  of  Alexandria,  on  the  Red 
river,  and  the  destruction  of  its  fortifications,  and  by  the  burning  of  stores 
belonging  to  the  Rebel  Government,  of  the  value  of  about  three  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  on  the  Black  river,  by  gunboats  belonging  to  his 
squadron. 

In  the  Department  of  the  Ohio,  on  the  30th  of  April,  General  Carter, 
on  moving  his  division,  about  five  thousand  troops,  across  the  Cumberland 
river,  at  Monticello,  Kentucky,  encountered  a  considerable  Rebel  force, 
variously  estimated  at  from  two  thousand  to  thirty-five  hundred,  under  the 
command  of  Colonels  Chenault,  Morrison,  and  Pegram,  with  which  his 
advance-guard  skirmished  briskly  through  the  day,  driving  the  Rebels 
two  or  three  miles  on  the  Albany  road,  and  finally  pursuing  a  portion  of 
them  some  distance  farther.  The  Rebels  retreated  toward  Albany,  and 
the  Union  troops  returned  to  their  camp  at  Monticello.  The  Union  losses 
were  very  slight,  one  or  two  killed,  and  four  or  five  wounded.  The  Rebel 
loss  was  nine  killed,  a  considerable  number  wounded,  and  about  twenty 
prisoners,  including  two  officers. 


SIEGE  OF  WASHINGTON,  NORTH   CAROLINA-  515 


CHAPTER    XLV. 

THE  SIEOE  OP  WASHINGTON,  NORTH  CAROLINA — ATTEMPTS  TO  RAISE  IT — THE  STEAMER  ESCORT 
RUNS  PAST  THE  BATTERIES  WITH  REINFORCEMENTS  AND  SUPPLIES GENERAL  FOSTER  ES 
CAPES  IN  HER  AND  PREPARES  TO  RAISE  THE  SIEGE THE  REBELS  ABANDON  IT SIEGE  OF 

SUFFOLK,  VIRGINIA LONGSTREET  ABANDONS  IT  TO  REINFORCE  LEE HOOKER'S  MANAGE 
MENT  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC — HIS  PLANS  FOR  ATTACKING  LEE — MOVEMENTS  OP 
HIS  TROOPS — RUSE  BELOW  FREDERICKSBURG — THE  CONCENTRATION  OF  SIX  CORPS  IN  THE 

VICINITY  OF  CHANCELLORSVILLE THE  COUNTERPLOT  OF  LEE JACKSON'S  ATTACK    ON    THE 

RIGHT  WING — PANIC    IN    THE    ELEVENTH    CORPS — THEIR    FLIGHT — THE    ADVANCE    OF    THE 

REBELS  CHECKED  BY  BERRY'S  DIVISION — BATTLE  OF  THE  WILDERNESS JACKSON  MORTALLY 

WOUNDED HOOKER    RE-FORMS    HIS    LINES BATTLE    OF    CHANCELLORSVILLE,    ON     SUNDAY 

MORNING HOOKER    AGAIN    CHANGES    HIS    LINES MOVEMENTS     OF     SEDGWICK'S     CORPS 

BATTLE  OF  MARYE's  HILL BATTLE  OF  SALEM  HEIGHTS THE  REBELS  RECAPTURE  FREDERICKS- 
BURG BATTLE  OF  BANKS*  FORD SEDGWICK'S  CORPS  CROSS  THE  FORD GENERAL  HOOKER 

CALLS  A  COUNCIL  OP  WAR — RECROSSES  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK  AT  UNITED  STATES  FORD — 
REVIEW  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN. 

THE  Department  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  adjacent  region  of  South 
eastern  Virginia,  were,  during  the  month  of  April,  the  theatres  of  some 
severe  fighting.  Washington,  North  Carolina,  on  the  Tar  river,  at  the 
point  where  it  debouches  into  the  wide  estuary  known  as  Pamlico  river, 
had  been  occupied  by  a  Union  garrison  for  nearly  a  year,  greatly  to  the 
annoyance  of  the  Rebels,  who  had  made  frequent  attempts  to  recapture 
it,  but  without  success.  As  they  had  no  gunboats  in  the  waters  of  North 
Carolina,  they  were  obliged  to  confine  themselves  to  attacks  by  land,  and 
these  the  Union  gunboats  generally  repulsed  with  heavy  loss. 

On  the  30th  of  March,  there  was  a  garrison  of  about  two  thousand 
Union  troops  there,  and  the  commander  of  the  department,  Major-General 
Foster,  was  at  this  time  in  the  place.  A  strong  force  of  Rebels  (two 
divisions)  under  the  command  of  General  D.  H.  Hill  and  General  J.  J. 
Pettigrew,  appeared,  early  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  before  the  place, 
and  drove  in  the  Union  pickets  and  skirmishers  with  considerable  loss, 
but  they  were  held  at  bay  by  the  garrison ;  and  the  gunboat  Commodore 
Hull  opening  upon  them  with  shell,  they  were  driven  back  to  the  hills 
surrounding  the  town,  where  they  immediately  commenced  fortifying, 
with  a  view  of  besieging  it.  They  also  planted  batteries  with  strong 
earthworks  on  Rodman's  Point,  opposite  Washington,  at  Hill's  Point,  and 
at  other  promontories  on  the  Pamlico  river,  near  and  below  the  town, 
with  a  view  to  prevent  the  gunboats  from  aiding  in  its  defence.  On  the 
4th  of  April,  the  garrison  attempted  to  capture  the  battery  on  Rodman's 
Point,  two  hundred  infantry,  under  the  command  of  General  Potter,  em 
barking  for  that  purpose  on  the  gunboat  Ceres,  and  intending  to  land  at 


516  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

a  point  above,  and  attack  the  battery  in  rear,  while  the  gunboats  assailed 
in  front.  The  attempt  was  foiled,  however,  by  the  Ceres  grounding  while 
within  range  of  the  Rebel  battery,  before  the  troops  were  able  to  land. 
The  enemy  immediately  opened  fire  upon  her,  killing  and  wounding  five 
men,  when  the  gunboat  getting  afloat  retired.  The  same  day,  the  Sylvan 
Shore,  a  Union  transport,  coming  from  Beaufort  with  troops  for  Wash 
ington,  was  fired  at  by  the  batteries  on  the  Pamlico,  and  compelled  to 
return  to  Beaufort.  The  next  day,  the  Union  gunboats  Ceres  and  Com 
modore  Hull  attacked  the  Rebel  batteries  on  Hill's  Point,  and  bombarded 
them  for  two  hours,  but  were  unable  to  capture  them.  The  Rebel  force 
besieging  the  town  was  increased  by  constant  reinforcements,  and  was 
drawing  its  lines  closer  and  closer  around  the  town.  A  force  of  eight 
thousand  Union  troops,  under  the  command  of  General  Spinola,  sent  from 
Newbern  by  way  of  the  Neuse  river,  on  the  5th  of  April,  to  reinforce 
General  Foster  and  raise  the  siege,  met  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy, 
and  returned  to  Newbern,  reaching  that  city  on  the  10th.  Learning  of 
their  retreat,  the  Union  commander  at  Newbern  resolved  to  attempt  send 
ing  reinforcements,  ammunition,  and  supplies,  by  steamer  up  the  Pamlico, 
and  past  the  Rebel  batteries.  The  captain  of  the  transport  steamer  Escort 
volunteered  to  run  the  batteries  with  his  steamer,  which  was  very  fast, 
and  succeeded,  though  not  without  some  damage  to  the  steamer.  He 
reached  Washington  on  the  13th,  and  General  Foster  the  next  day  went 
on  board  the  steamer,  and  running  past  the  batteries  reached  Newbern 
in  safety,  when  he  immediately  commenced  organizing  an  expedition  for 
raising  the  siege.  The  Rebels  finding  that  he  had  left  the  beleaguered 
city,  and  knowing  that  he  would  soon  bring  a  force  against  them  which 
they  could  not  resist,  prudently  abandoned  the  siege  on  the  night  of  the 
15th. 

On  the  Nansemond  river,  in  the  vicinity  of  Suffolk,  Virginia,  there  was 
some  sharp  fighting  during  the  month.  On  the  12th  and  13th  of  April, 
there  was  considerable  skirmishing,  the  Union  force,  under  General  Peck, 
being  attacked  by  a  considerable  body  of  Rebels,  under  the  command  of 
Geneials  Longstreet  and  Anderson,  who  were  beaten  off  by  Peck's  troops 
and  the  gunboats  Mount  Washington  and  West  End.  In  the  action  of 
the  13th  the  Mount  Washington  was  seriously  damaged.  On  Tuesday, 
the  13th,  the  Rebels  were  reinforced,  and  one  division  assailed  General 
Peck,  while  another  engaged  the  Union  batteries  and  gunboats  on  the 
water  front.  Both  were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  though  the  West  End 
was  crippled,  and  seven  of  her  crew  killed  or  wounded.  The  Union  gun 
boats  Commodore  Barney  and  Stepping  Stones  participated  in  the  fight ; 
and  after  a  few  hours  bombardment  the  Rebel  batteries  were  silenced  and 
the  troops  driven  back.  On  Wednesday  (15th)  a  Rebel  battery  of  twenty 
pounder  rifled  guns  was  effectually  silenced,  and  an  attack  on  the  Smith 
Briggs,  an  armed  quartermasters'  boat,  reoulsed.  For  the  next  two  or 


HOOKER'S  PREPARATIONS  FOR  ATTACKING  LEE.  517 

three  days,  repeated  attempts  were  made  on  the  Union  lines — General 
Hill  having  come  from  Washington,  North  Carolina,  to  reinforce  Long- 
street — but  all  were  foiled.  On  the  13th  the  Rebel  battery  near  the  west 
branch  of  the  Nansemond  was  stormed  by  General  Getty,  and  the  Union 
gunboats  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Commander  Lawson,  and  six 
guns  and  two  hundred  prisoners  were  captured.  The  enemy  kept  up 
skirmishing  for  several  days  longer,  but  with  little  success,  and  finally 
abandoned  the  struggle,  having  lost  a  large  number  of  killed  and  wounded, 
four  hundred  prisoners,  and  six  guns,  during  its  progress.  The  Union 
loss  was  forty-four  killed,  two  hundred  and  one  wounded,  and  fourteen 
missing.  As  Suffolk  possessed  no  advantage  as  a  military  post,  and  was 
not  susceptible  of  a  good  defence,  the  garrison  was  soon  after  withdrawn 
within  the  new  lines  constructed  around  Norfolk. 

From  these  minor  skirmishes  and  battles,  which,  though  possessing  local 
interest,  were  in  no  sense  material  to  the  final  issue  of  the  war,  we  now 
turn  our  attention  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  where  preparations  were 
making  for  another  of  those  great  battles,  which  it  was  hoped  might  prove 
decisive. 

From  the  time  when  General  Hooker  took  command  of  that  army,  his 
energies  had  been  directed  to  increasing  its  efficiency  in  discipline,  in 
mobility,  and  in  esprit-du-corps.  Incompetent  and  disaffected  officers  bad 
been  dismissed ;  the  army  train,  that  incubus  which  had  always  paralyzed 
its  movements,  had  been  cut  down  to  two  wagons  for  each  regiment ;  pack 
mules  had  been  substituted  for  wagons,  whenever  they  could  be  with  ad 
vantage  ;  the  health  of  the  men  had  been  carefully  provided  for,  and  their 
comfort,  as  far  as  was  consistent  with  that  hardening  and  toughening 
which  is  necessary  to  make  first  rate  soldiers,  had  been  cared  for.  The 
cavalry  had  been  greatly  improved,  and  was  now  a  more  efficient  arm  of 
the  service ;  and,  in  every  respect,  the  army  was  in  more  perfect  condition 
than  it  had  ever  previously  been. 

It  was  not  the  purpose  of  a  commander,  whose  successful  and  skilfully 
managed  attacks  upon  the  enemy,  when  in  a  subordinate  command,  had 
won  him  the  sobriquet  of  "fighting  Joe  Hooker,"  to  bring  his  army  up  to 
this  splendid  condition,  without  hurling  them  upon  the  foe,  as  soon  as  a 
favorable  opportunity  presented  itself;  and  if,  as  was  hardly  to  be  expected, 
the  opportunity  did  not  come  of  itself,  he  held  it  to  be  the  duty  of  a  gen 
eral  to  make  one. 

The  topography  of  the  country  on  both  banks  of  the  Rappahannock 
and  Rapidan  had  been  carefully  studied,  and  the  fords,  the  slopes  of  the 
hills,  the  banks  of  the  rivers,  the  railroads,  plank-roads,  and  turnpikes 
traced,  in  the  hope  of  discovering  some  point  where  a  blow  could  be  suc 
cessfully  struck,  and  the  adroit  and  able  Rebel  general  outwitted. 

At  length  General  Hooker  seemed  to  have  found  what  he  sought,  and 
busied  himself  in  perfecting  the  details  of  a  plan  which  as  yet  he  did  not 


518  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

communicate  even  to  his  most  trusted  corps  commanders,  giving  them 
only  their  orders,  from  day  to  day,  for  each  day's  movements.  A  large 
cavalry  force  under  General  Stoneman,  with  General  Averill  and  Gen 
eral  Kilpatrick  as  subordinates,  was  sent  off  upon  a  secret  expedition ;  and 
on  the  26th  of  April  orders  were  issued  that  the  different  corps  should  be 
prepared  to  break  up  camp  the  following  day,  with  eight  days  cooked 
rations. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  April,  the  several  army  corps  were  put 
in  motion,  but  the  purpose  of  the  commander  was  still  impenetrably 
veiled.  Three  corps,  the  first  (Major-General  Reynolds),  the  third  (Major- 
General  Sickles),  and  the  sixth  (Major-General  Sedgwick),  were  moved, 
Monday  evening,  to  a  point  near  the  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  two 
miles  below  Fredericksburg — the  same  place  where  General  Franklin  had 
crossed  before  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg — and  were  covered  from  the 
enemy's  view  by  the  curtain  of  hills  which  fringe  the  Rappahannock  in 
that  part  of  its  course.  At  the  same  time,  the  fifth  corps  (Major-General 
Meade's),  and  the  twelfth  (Major-General  Slocum's),  were  despatched,  by 
different  roads,  up  the  north  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  and  took  up 
positions  in  the  neighborhood  of  Banks'  and  United  States  fords,  which 
are  respectively  eight  and  eleven  miles  above  Fredericksburg.  The 
eleventh  corps  (Major-General  Howard's)  had  gone  in  the  same  direction, 
on  the  night  of  the  26th.  The  second  (Major-General  Couch's)  remained 
in  camp  during  the  day. 

At  dawn  on  Tuesday,  April  28,  the  boats  had  been  unloaded  from  pon 
toon  trains,  and  under  cover  of  a  heavy  fog,  Russell's  brigade  of  Brookes' 
division,  sixth  (Sedgwick's)  army  corps,  pushed  rapidly  over  the  river, 
took  possession  of  the  Rebel  rifle-pits  on  the  Fredericksburg  side,  in  which 
were  about  four  hundred  Rebel  sharpshooters,  took  a  few  prisoners,  and 
assisted  in  laying  the  bridges,  over  which,  in  the  course  of  the  morning, 
the  whole  of  Brookes'  division  passed.  The  remaining  divisions  of  that 
corps  did  not  cross  that  day.  The  third  corps  (Major  General  Sickles') 
had  been  ordered  back  to  camp,  and  sent  up  the  river.  The  first  corps 
(Major  General  Reynolds')  attempted  to  cross  about  a  mile  and  a-half  be 
low  Sedgwick's,  but  were  annoyed  by  the  Rebel  sharpshooters  to  such  an 
extent  that  they  could  not  effect  a  crossing  till  after  ten  o'clock,  when 
the  batteries  opened  upon  the  rifle-pits  from  the  Falmouth  side,  and  kept 
the  sharpshooters  in  check  till  a  reinforcement  could  cross  in  boats 
and  drive  them  out.  One  hundred  and  fifty  Rebels  were  captured  by  this 
movement.  The  bridges  were  then  laid,  and  General  Wadsworth's  di 
vision  crossed.  The  remaining  divisions  of  both  Reynolds'  and  Sedg 
wick's  corps,  together  with  the  artillery  and  cavalry,  were  marched  and 
countermarched  around  the  hills,  near  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock, 
in  such  a  way  as  to  give  the  impression  that  the  force  crossed  there  was 
not  less  than  a  hundred  thousand  men.  This  had  the  desired  effect.  The 


MOVEMENTS  OF  THE   ARMY  OF  THE   POTOMAC.  519 

Rebel  forces  posted  below,  as  well  as  those  above,  began  to  swarm  into 
Fredericrksburg,  and  toward  the  fortified  heights  which  encompassed  it, 
evidently  expecting  a  repetition  of  the  scenes  of  December.  They  were 
destined  to  disappointment. 

Major-General  Howard's  corps  (the  eleventh)  had  passed  on  beyond 
United  States  ford  to  Kelley's  ford,  on  the  Upper  Rappahannock,  twenty- 
seven  miles  above  Fredericksburg,  where  they  crossed  on  a  pontoon  bridge, 
and  were  followed  by  Slocum's  and  Meade's  corps.  Howard's  and  Slocum's 
corps  proceeded  twelve  miles  south,  to  Germania  ford,  across  the  Rapidan, 
which  they  crossed  by  wading.  Meade's  corps  took  a  road  leading  east 
ward,  and  crossed  the  Rapidan  at  Ely's  ford.  At  Germania  ford,  a  force 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  Rebel  pioneers,  who  were  building  a  bridge, 
were  captured.  Having  crossed  the  Rapidan,  both  columns  moved,  as 
ordered,  toward  Chancellorsville,  a  large  mansion  situated  at  the  junction 
of  the  turnpike  from  Gordonsville  to  Fredericksburg,  with  the  Culpepper, 
Orange  Court  House,  and  Fredericksburg  plank  road,  about  ten  miles  west 
of  Fredericksburg.  Pleasanton's  cavalry  kept  up  a  communication  be 
tween  the  different  corps,  and  protected  them  on  either  side  from  Rebel 
cavalry.  By  this  movement,  United  States  ford,  eleven  miles  from  Fred 
ericksburg,  and  just  below  the  mouth  of  the  Rapidan,  was  opened,  the  Reb 
els  flying  from  our  cavalry,  and  Major-General  Couch's  corps  (the  second), 
which  had  lain  at  Falmouth  up  to  this  time,  moved  forward,  crossed  that 
ford,  and  approached  Chancellorsville  by  a  road  running  directly  south 
from  the  ford.  The  third  corps  (Sickles')  and  the  first  (Reynolds')  had 
been  withdrawn  from  their  position  below  Fredericksburg  and  followed 
Couch's  corps  to  United  States  ford.  As  these  corps  drew  near  their  des 
tination,  they  took  position  around  Chancellorsville  as  follows  :  Howard's 
lay  upon  the  road  by  which  they  had  come,  occupying  most  of  the  space 
between  Wilderness  church,  between  four  and  five  miles  west  of  Chancel 
lorsville,  and  Dowdall's  tavern,  two  miles  west  of  that  place.  Slocum's 
corps,  passing  Howard's,  had  camped  around  Dowdall's  tavern ;  Sickles', 
coming  from  United  States  ford,  had  passed  Chancellorsville  and  Dow- 
dall's,  and  lay  along  a  road  extending  southward  from  Dowdall's  to  the 
left,  and  in  rear  of  Howard's ;  Meade's,  which  had  been  the  first  to  reach 
Chancellorsville,  was  encamped  around  the  Chancellor  house,  and  to  the 
right  and  left  of  it ;  Couch  was  posted  along  the  road  leading  to  United 
States  ford,  to  guard  it,  while  Reynolds,  who  was  the  last  comer,  was  lying 
along  the  Rapidan,  northwest  of  Chancellorsville,  his  left  being  about 
four  miles  from  Howard's  right.  The  sixth  corps  (Sedgwick's)  had  finally 
crossed  below  Fredericksburg,  with  the  intention  of  flanking  and  capturing 
the  heights  which  had  been  so  formidable  in  December. 

The  movements  by  which  Hooker  had  thus  turned  Lee's  flank,  and 
compelled  him  to  move  out  of  his  fortifications  and  fight  in  the  open  field, 
were  masterly,  and,  as  it  appeared,  took  Lee  by  surprise.  The  Union 


520  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

troops  reached  Chancellorsville  on  Thursday  evening,  April  30.  In  the 
house  at  Chancellorsville  was  found  a  letter  from  Lee's  chief  of  staff,  Gen 
eral  Taylor,  dated  at  4.29  P.  M.  of  that  day,  in  which  he  informs  the  Rebel 
officer  in  command  at  that  post  that  General  Lee  had  that  moment  heard 
that  the  Federal  force  was  across  Ely's  ford,  (they  had  crossed  it  eighteen 
hours  before ;)  that  General  Anderson — who  commanded  at  United  States 
ford  with  a  couple  of  brigades — knew  nothing  of  their  arrival,  and  con 
cludes  by  asking  him  "  to  come  down  immediately  and  consult  the  com 
manding  general." 

On  Thursday  night,  April  30th,  General  Hooker  issued  the  following 
order : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  NEAR  FALMOUTH,  VIRGINIA, 

"  April  30,  1863. 

"It  is  with  heartfelt  satisfaction  that  the  general  commanding  announces 
to  the  army  that  the  operations  of  the  last  three  days  have  determined 
that  our  enemy  must  ingloriously  fly,  or  come  out  from  behind  their  de 
fences,  and  give  us  battle  on  our  own  ground,  where  certain  destruction 
awaits  them. 

"The  operations  of  the  fifth,  eleventh,  and  twelfth  corps  have  been  a 
series  of  splendid  successes. 

"  By  command  of  Major-General  HOOKER. 

"  S.  WILLIAMS,  Adjutant- General" 

General  Lee,  though  unquestionably  outgeneraled  by  this  brilliant  and 
rapid  movement,  was  too  shrewd  and  experienced  a  commander  to  hesi 
tate  long  in  his  action.  He  did  not  probably  comprehend  at  first  the  full 
magnitude  of  Hooker's  plans ;  but  he  was  strong  enough  to  give  battle  on 
equal  terms  to  General  Hooker,  even  on  ground  of  his  own  choosing,  for 
he  had,  as  it  afterward  appeared,  withdrawn  the  greater  part  of  the  Rebel 
troops  from  Charleston,  and  had  been  reinforced  by  Longstreet's  and  Hill's 
divisions,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  had  up  to  a  few  days  before  been  oper 
ating  in  the  vicinity  of  Suffolk.  With  these  additions  his  force  probably 
approached  very  nearly  one  hundred  thousand  men.  He  had  also  the  two 
advantages,  of  great  importance  to  a  general  in  his  position,  of  moving  on 
the  interior  or  shorter  line,  and  of  knowing  thoroughly  and  minutely  the 
topography  of  the  region  in  which  the  impending  battles  were  to  be 
fought. 

The  Union  troops,  on  Friday,  were  taking  their  positions  and  throw 
ing  up  defences,  with  a  view  to  resist  more  effectually  the  advance  of  the 
enemy;  for  it  was  General  Hooker's  design  to  make  the  battle  at  first  a 
defensive  one;  to  let  Jackson,  who,  from  the  situation  he  was  known  to 
occupy,  would  be  likely  to  be  the  first  to  assail  him,  throw  himself  upon 
his  front,  till  he  was  thoroughly,  exhausted,  and  then  to  bring  forward  his 
strong  reserves,  perfectly  fresh,  and  annihilate  the  Eebel  army.  To  effect 
this  purpose  he  had  arranged  hip  troops  in  the  form  of  an  irregular  tri- 


\ 


EVENTS  PRECEDING    THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  WILDERNESS  .  521 

ingle,  of  which  the  Rapidan  and  Rappahannock  formed  the  base,  the  Gor- 
donsville  turnpike  one  of  the  sides,  and  Chancellorsville  the  apex — How 
ard's,  Sickles'  and  Slocum's  corps  being  on  the  right  leg  of  the  triangle, 
Meade's  at  the  apex  and  along  the  left  leg,  and  Couch  extending  along  the 
left  leg,  to  join  Reynolds,  whose  corps  formed  the  base.  The  extreme  right, 
Howard's  corps,  should  have  joined  Reynolds',  but  there  was  really  a  gap 
of  four  miles  of  a  wooded  region  between  them.  Howard's  corps  had  been, 
until  recently,  commanded  by  General  Sigel;  it  was  composed  mainly  of 
German  regiments,  though  some  of  the  regiments  of  one  division  were  of 
American  birth,  and  they  were  somewhat  disaffected  at  the  loss  of  their 
favorite  commander.  The  three  divisions  of  which  the  corps  was  com 
posed  were  commanded  by  General  Steinwehr,  a  gallant  and  experienced 
officer,  General  Devens,  a  Massachusetts  officer  of  moderate  reputation, 
and  General  Carl  Schurz,  who,  though  possessing  undoubted  bravery  and 
resolution,  perhaps  lacked  somewhat  the  experience  to  make  him  in  all  re 
spects  qualified  to  occupy,  as  he  did  at  this  time,  the  post  of  danger. 

Before  proceeding  to  narrate  the  events  of  the  battle  of  Saturday,  May 
2d,  it  may  be  well  to  describe  briefly  the  topographical  character  of  the 
region  in  which  the  battle  was  fought.  The  turnpike  from  Fredericks- 
burg  to  Gordonsville  passed  in  this  part  of  its  route  three  prominent 
buildings,  which  we  have  already  named,  situated  at  about  two  miles 
distance  from  each  other,  viz :  the  Chancellor  House,  which  was  General 
Hooker's  headquarters,  ten  miles  west  of  Fredericksburg,  and  in  the 
middle  of  a  clearing  of  elliptical  form  about  a  mile  in  length,  by  half  a  mile 
in  width.  Beyond  this,  on  all  sides  the  country  was  broken  and  wooded, 
rising  toward  Fredericksburg,  to  the  heights  which  overlook  that  city. 
Two  miles  west  of  this  house  was  DowdalFs  tavern,  surrounded  by  undulat 
ing  fields,  but  on  the  northern,  eastern,  and  southern  sides  having  heavy 
timber;  within  a  moderate  distance,  on  the  west  side,  the  land  sloped  down 
toward  open  ground,  traversed  by  a  small  brook.  Two  miles  farther  west, 
in  the  midst  of  a  dense  forest,  was  a  church  known  as  "  Wilderness  Church," 
or  as  often  as  "  Wilderness."  On  either  side  of  this  turnpike  was  a 
broken  country,  wooded,  and  with  a  dense  undergrowth,  and  few  clearings, 
and  traversed  by  country  roads,  coming  into  the  turnpike  at  a  variety  of 
angles. 

There  had  been  some  skirmishing  during  the  afternoon  of  Friday,  May 
1st,  having  mainly  for  its  object  the  compelling  the  Rebel  commander  to 
develop  his  force,  while  at  the  same  time  it  made  the  Union  officers  more 
familiar  with  the  country,  and  the  routes  by  which  the  enemy  would 
approach  to  attack  them. 

All  through  Friday  night  General  Howard  heard  a  confused  sound 
south  and  west  of  him  in  the  woods — the  rattle  of  wagons,  the  clatter  of 
axes,  men's  voices,  the  low  words  of  a  multitude.  Many  supposed  that 
Lee,  finding  himself  flanked,  was  retreating  to  Gordonsville.  It  was 


THE   CI7IL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

known  that  there  was  a  country  road,  which  had  formerly  been  a  turnpike 
which  branched  from  the  Gordonsville  and  Fredericksburg  turnpike,  south 
ward,  five  or  six  miles  west  of  Fredericksburg,  and  crossed  the  Orange 
Court  House  and  Fredericksburg  plank  road  nearly  at  right  angles.^ 
This  road  crossed  the  one  running  south  from  Dowdall's,  on  which 
Sickles'  corps  was  posted,  also  at  right  angles.  The  movement  of 
troops  which  Howard  had  heard  on  that  Friday  night  was  "  Stonewall" 
Jackson's  corps,  with  Longstreet's  division,  making  in  all  a  force  of  about 
forty  thousand.  They  had  passed  along  this  old  road  to  a  point  southwest 
of  Wilderness  church,  and  had,  during  that  night  and  the  next  morning, 
cut  a  new  road  from  the  old  road  to  the  Gordonsville  turnpike,  and  by  a 
little  after  noon  of  Saturday,  May  2d,  were  massed  near  and  to  the  south 
of  the  Gordonsville  pike,  just  west  of  Wilderness  church.  A  part  of  his 
advance-guard  occupied  a  ridge  curving  round  to  the  road,  running  south 
from  Dowdall's,  and  had  thrown  up  some  temporary  earthworks  and 
planted  one  or  two  batteries  in  the  vicinity  of  that  road. 

General  Sickles  had  moved  down  on  this  road  in  the  afternoon  of  Satur 
day,  his  advance  going  nearly  five  miles  south.  In  thus  advancing,  he 
had  come  in  contact  with  Jackson's  right  wing,  under  General  Longstreet, 
and  the  Rebel  army  train,  and  had  found  it  intrenched.  As  he  had  but  one 
division  with  him,  and  met  a  steady  resistance,  he  sent  back  to  General 
Howard  asking  for  support,  as  he  was  going  to  attack  the  enemy.  Howard 
sent  word  that  he  would  support  him,  and  sent  a  staff  officer  to  ascertain 
the  exact  locality  of  his  line  of  battle,  that  he  might  join  it  on  the  right. 
A  few  moments  later,  he  received  an  order  from  General  Hooker  to  send 
a  brigade  to  General  Sickles.  In  compliance  with  this  order,  he  took 
his  reserve,  Bohlen's  brigade,  the  best  in  his  corps,  conducted  it  in  person 
to  its  position,  and  returned  with  all  speed,  but  was,  nevertheless,  too 
late  to  arrest  the  panic  which  in  that  brief  interval  had  seized  his  corps. 

He  had  been  suspicious,  during  the  afternoon,  that  the  Rebels  were 
massing  their  troops  to  the  southwest  of  his  position,  but  was  not  aware 
that  they  had  attained  a  location  in  which  they  could  flank  him.  The 
eleventh  corps  had  been  placed  in  a  position  in  which  its  three  divisions 
formed  three  sides  of  a  hollow  square;  the  third  division,  General  Carl 
Schurz,  lying  north  and  parallel  to  the  Gordonsville  pike ;  the  second 
division,  General  Steinwehr,  at  right  angles  with  them,  and  facing  Jack- 
eon's  troops;  and  the  first  division,  General  Devens,  lying  parallel  with 
the  third,  below  the  Gordonsville  pike.1  General  Sickles'  movement  had 
left  a  break  between  this  division,  and  Birney's  division  of  his  corps,  and 
Bohlen's  brigade  from  Howard's  corps,  which  had  just  reinforced  him. 

General  Howard,  returning  from  General  Sickles'  line,  about  half-past 
six  P.  M.,  as  we  have  said,  heard  the  roar  of  the  enemy's  artillery ;  and 
soon  after,  on  his  extreme  right,  where  General  Schurz's  division  was  in 
*ine,  the  rattle  of  musketry,  and  the  yells  of  the  Rebel  soldiery.  Putting 


PANIC  IN  THE   ELEVENTH   CORPS.  523 

his  horse  to  a  gallop,  he  soon  reached  the  left,  General  Devens'  division, 
which  had  also  been  attacked,  and  found  both  this  and  Schurz's,  under 
the  influence  of  the  terrible  panic,  caused  by  the  unexpected  onset  of  more 
than  three  times  their  number,  melting  away,  and  despite  the  efforts  of 
their  officers,  and  the  heroic  conduct  of  some  of  the  regiments,  flying  in 
sad  and  terrible  disorder  to  Chancellorsville.  Steinwehr's  division  held 
out  longest,  and  struggled  nobly  to  beat  back  the  tide  of  panic-stricken 
men  that  was  sweeping  them  down,  but  in  vain,  and  they  too  were  at  last 
drawn  into  the  current.  Howard,  left  almost  alone,  begged,  threatened, 
and  strove  with  all  his  might  to  rally  his  men  and  retrieve  their  disgrace, 
but  all  in  vain.  With  every  yell  of  the  enemy  they  fled  the  faster. 

The  news  of  this  panic  and  retreat  reached  General  Hooker  a  few  min 
utes  later,  and  mounting  his  horse,  he  was  soon  galloping  at  full  speed  to 
the  scene  of  the  disaster.  He  had  no  need  to  go  far;  the  flying  soldiers, 
who  had  now  lost  all  self-possession  in  the  agony  of  panic,  were  rushing 
toward  Chancellorsville  in  hot  haste,  each  believing  himself  but  an  arm's 
length  from  the  Rebel  force.  To  check  this  torrent  of  frightened  men, 
and  to  drive  back  the  advancing  Rebel  force  in  the  full  flush  of  victory, 
were  the  tasks  required  of  the  commanding  general,  and  with  a  prompt 
decision  he  undertook  them.  Before  him,  and  as  yet  unaffected  by  the 
panic,  was  General  Berry's  division  of  Sickles'  corps,  Hooker's  own  old 
division,  with  which  he  had  fought  through  the  battles  of  the  Peninsula 
and  Pope's  campaign,  and  which  had  fought  so  nobly  at  Antietam  and 
Fredericksburg.  That  division,  now  commanded  by  General  Berry,  was, 
in  many  respects,  the  finest  in  the  army.  To  send  this,  his  favorite  division, 
into  the  breach  to  stay  the  onward  rush  of  Stonewall  Jackson's  forty 
thousand  veterans,  was  his  determination,  and  very  characteristic  was  his 
order  to  General  Berry  :  "  General,  throw  your  men  into  the  breach — 
receive  the  enemy  on  your  bayonets — don't  fire  a  shot — they  can't  see 
you!"  The  order  was  obeyed  with  a  promptness  and  resolution  which 
showed  the  thorough  discipline  as  well  as  the  heroism  of  the  division. 
Forward  they  dashed,  at  the  double-quickstep,  but  in  perfect  line,  with 
their  bayonets  at  a  charge,  in  the  fast  gathering  darkness,  and  as  the 
Rebels  rushed  furiously  onward  their  advance  was  summarily  checked 
by  the  solid  line  of  glittering  steel,  but  not  until  the  head  of  their  columns 
had  gone  down  under  this  gallant  charge. 

Meantime,  General  Hooker  was  exerting  himself  to  stop  the  retreat  of 
the  eleventh  corps,  and  brave  officers  and  men  were  rendering  him  efficient 
aid  in  the  attempt.  Sickles  had  been  promptly  recalled,  and  did  himself 
great  honor  by  his  zeal  in  checking  the  fugitives.  The  artillery  of  the 
corps,  with  the  exception  of  seven  or  eight  guns  which  they  abandoned, 
was  thundering  down  the  road,  as  much  panic-stricken  as  the  infantry. 
About  half-way  from  Dowdall's  to  Chancellorsville  was  a  stone  wall, 
extending  from  Scott's  creek  to  the  woods,  with  a  gateway  across  the 


524  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

road.  Reaching  this  gateway  before  the  flying  artillery  had  arrived  at  it, 
he  rode  directly  at  the  foremost  piece,  with  sword  drawn  and  pistol  raised, 
and  threatened  instant  death  to  the  drivers  unless  they  stopped.  Unlim 
boring  the  piece,  it  was  turned  against  the  fugitives.  Those  behind  came 
crowding  on,  but  could  get  no  farther,  and  the  officers  rallying  them,  their 
courage  began  to  return,  and  they  soon  formed  in  order.  The  infantry 
tumbled  headlong  over  the  wall,  but  Pleasanton's  cavalry  checked  their 
progress,  and  General  Pleasanton  himself  took  charge  of  the  artillery, 
turned  it  up  on  the  ridge,  formed  it  in  battery,  and  brought  his  cavalry 
up  to  support  it.  Meantime,  Captain  Best,  chief  of  artillery  in  Sickles' 
corps,  had  brought  his  pieces  in  position  in  line  with  what  had  thus  been 
saved  of  Howard's,  and  with  these  forty  cannon,  all  pieces  of  large  calibre, 
opened  upon  the  Rebels,  already  checked  and  flung  back  by  the  bayonets 
of  Berry's  division.  It  was  when  his  columns  had  met  their  first  check, 
but  were  about  to  press  forward  for  another  assault  on  the  Union  troops, 
that  the  Rebel  General  Jackson  met  his  death-wound  from  the  fire  of  his 
own  men.  He  had  gone  forward  to  reconnoitre  with  some  members  of 
his  staff,  leaving  orders  to  General  Hill  not  to  fire  unless  the  enemy  (the 
Union  troops)  should  approach  to  attack  them.  Having  completed  his 
reconnoissance,  he  was  returning  upon  a  trot  toward  his  corps,  when  the 
advance,  supposing  that  the  enemy  were  approaching,  fired  and  wounded 
him  severely,  in  the  arm  near  the  shoulder,  and  in  both  fore-arms,  and 
killed  and  wounded  some  of  his  staff.  He  fell  from  his  horse,  but  was 
caught  by  one  of  his  staff;  and  at  this  moment  the  Union  troops  making 
a  charge,  drove  back  his  staff,  and  charged  over  his  body.  They  were  in 
turn  driven  back  a  short  distance,  and  the  Rebel  advance  coming  up  he 
was  placed  upon  a  litter,  and  while  being  borne  to  the  rear,  the  artillery 
fire,  already  mentioned,  opened  upon  the  Rebels,  his  litter  bearers  were 
shot  down,  and  he  was  seriously  injured  by  the  fall  and  contusions.  From 
these  injuries,  and  an  attack  of  pneumonia,  partly  if  not  wholly  induced 
by  them,  he  died  on  the  10th  of  May. 

General  Jackson  was  thus  disabled  at  a  critical  moment.  It  had  been 
his  intention,  as  he  himself  avowed,  to  penetrate  that  night,  and  within 
an  hour,  to  the  vicinity  of  the  United  States  ford,  and  thus  cutting  off  the 
line  of  retreat  of  the  Union  troops,  he  would  have  had  them  very  much 
at  his  mercy.  This  intention  failed  of  execution  in  consequence  of  his 
wound,  and  the  Rebels  losing  the  presence  and  enthusiasm  of  their 
greatest  general,  lost  with  it  their  desperate  energy  and  dash,  and  fell 
back  more  readily  under  the  galling  fire  and  determined  charges  of  the 
Union  troops.  It  was  nearly  ten  o'clock  when  General  Jackson  was 
wounded,  and  the  fighting  continued  till  about  midnight;  when,  after  a 
last  fierce  onslaught  upon  General  Berry's  division,  now  supported  by 
Whipple's  and  Birney's  divisions,  both  of  Sickles'  corps,  and  by  the 
remnants  of  Howard's  corps  (which,  with  almost  superhuman  exertion,  he 


NEW  LINES   ESTABLISHED   BY   HOOKER.  525 

had  reformed  and  brought  up  to  their  work),  they  gave  way  and  fell  back, 
the  Union  troops  regaining  a  part  of  their  lost  ground.  The  Rebel 
General  A.  P.  Hill,  "  Stonewall"  Jackson's  successor,  was  wounded  in  this 
attack.  There  was  no  more  fighting  through  the  night,  but  the  Union 
generals  had  full  employment  in  reforming  and  strengthening  their  lines 
for  the  renewal  of  the  struggle  in  the  morning. 

The  new  lines  established  by  General  Hooker  were  arranged  with  skill. 
The  eleventh  corps  re-organized,  but  after  its  flight  the  day  before,  hardly 
yet  firm  enough  to  be  trusted  in  a  dangerous  position,  was  placed  in 
reserve,  and  Berry's  and  Birney's  divisions  of  Sickles'  corps  in  the  advance. 
The  arrangement  of  the  troops  was  still  in  the  form  of  a  V  or  triangle, 
and  the  apex  was  a  little  below  Chancellorsville,  but  the  Gordonsville 
turnpike  was  no  longer  the  line  on  which  a  part  of  the  corps  was  massed; 
they  were  arranged  rather  with  reference  to  the  United  States  ford  road, 
which  runs  at  right  angles  with  the  turnpike.  The  line  which  the  day 
before  lay  along  the  Gordonsville  pike  from  Chancellorsville  to  Wilder 
ness  church,  had  been  swung  around  at  nearly  a  right  angle,  and  now 
rested  on  the  Rappahannock  near  the  embouchure  of  the  Rapidan. 
Reynolds'  corps  was  nearest  the  Rapidan,  Meade  below  him,  and  a  little 
farther  east,  while  Couch  was  still  farther  southeast  and  rested  near  the 
west  side  of  the  road  to  the  United  States  ford.  These  three  corps  were 
in  a  strong  position,  and  were  unassailed  by  the  enemy.  Below  and 
farther  west,  just  north  of  the  Gordonsville  pike,  and  perhaps  half  a  mile 
west  of  Chancellorsville,  Berry's  division  occupied  the  extreme  advance, 
with  Whipple's  division  in  reserve  immediately  behind  him;  south  of  the 
turnpike,  and  forming  a  continuation  of  Berry's  line,  was  Birney's 
division  of  Sickles'  corps,  with  Williams7  division  of  Slocum's  corps  in 
reserve.  In  rear  of  these,  on  the  other  side  of  the  United  States  ford 
road,  and  forming,  with  Birney  and  Williams,  the  apex  of  the  Y,  was  the 
remainder  of  Slocum's  corps;  while  extending  north  of  this  toward 
Banks'  ford,  and  joining  it  on  the  right,  was  Howard's  corps.  The 
artillery  was  massed  in  such  a  way  as  to  command  the  approaches  by  the 
turnpike  on  both  sides. 

Adhering  to  the  figure  of  the  Y  as  the  best  illustration  of  the  position 
of  General  Hooker's  forces,  it  will  be  seen  from  the  preceding  account  of 
the  location  of  the  different  corps  and  divisions  that  the  Gordonsville 
road  cut  the  Y  just  above  the  joint  thus,  y.  To  gain  possession  of  this 
road,  and  thus  press  the  Union  troops  back  to  the  Rappahannock,  was  the 
paramount  object  of  the  Rebel  commanders.  For  this  purpose,  they  had 
been  massing  their  troops  through  the  night  on  both  sides  of  the  turn 
pike,  and  now,  Lee  having  come  up,  confronted  Berry  and  Birney,  witn  a 
force  of  nearly  or  quite  seventy-five  thousand  men.  Jackson's  corps,  now 
commanded  by  the  Rebel  cavalry  general,  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  advanced  on 
the  north  side  of  the  turnpike,  and  the  rest  of  the  Rebel  army,  under 


526  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

command  of  Lee  himself,  on  the  south  side.  They  commenced  the  attack 
at  about  5.30  A.  M.,  Sunday  morning  May  3d,  coming  through  the  woods 
in  solid  mass,  and  receiving  in  their  faces  the  terrible  hailstorm  which 
burst  with  the  fury  of  a  tornado  from  Berry's  and  Birney's  lines,  and 
from  Whipple's  and  Williams',  which  were  at  once  advanced  to  the  front. 
The  batteries,  at  that  range,  hurled  upon  them  grape  and  canister.  The 
advancing  column  was  cut  up  and  gashed  as  if  pierced,  seamed,  and 
plowed  by  lightning  strokes.  Companies  and  regiments  melted  away, 
yet  still  they  came.  Berry  and  Birney  advanced  to  meet  them,  and  the 
shock  was  terrible.  The  living  masses  surged  and  rolled  against  each 
other  like  the  billows  of  the  sea  in  a  tempest.  The  enemy,  maddened  by 
the  resistance  of  these  brave  men,  rushed  up  to  the  muzzles  of  the  cannon, 
only  to  be  swept  back,  leaving  long  lanes  of  dead  men  piled  where  the 
grape  and  canister  passed  through.  The  Rebel  commanders  pushed  their 
men  forward,  and  filled  up  the  lines  as  fast  as  they  were  mowed  down. 

But  with  the  immense  odds  of  seventy-five  thousand  men  against 
twelve  or  fifteen  thousand,  the  preponderance  of  numbers  must  eventually 
tell,  and  the  weaker  party  be  forced  back  by  the  sheer  weight  of  the  foe 
It  was  so  in  this  case.  General  Sickles  sent  for  reinforcements,  and 
General  Hooker  ordered  Generals  French  and  Hancock  of  Couch's  corps 
to  advance  past  Meade  and  attack  the  enemy  in  flank.  Couch's  corps 
was  in  the  centre  of  the  V;  but  in  obedience  to  this  order,  instead  of 
marching  directly  down  to  the  point,  their  divisions  marched  westward 
and  encountered  Stuart,  and  in  half  an  hour's  hard  fighting  put  his  troops 
to  flight.  •  Meantime  Sickles  had  been  unable  to  hold  out  against  the  vast 
force  assailing  him,  and  his  divisions  were  being  driven  back  toward 
Chancellorsville ;  General  Berry  was  killed,  and  some  of  his  brigadiers 
disabled,  and  large  numbers  of  his  men  were  straggling  northward  toward 
the  ford,  not  panic-stricken,  but  worn  out  and  exhausted.  They  had  had 
no  food  since  noon  of  the  day  before,  and  no  sleep,  and  had  been  most  of 
the  time  fighting  five  or  six  times  their  number.  General  Hooker  feeling 
that  his  reserves,  Reynolds'  and  Meade's  corps,  might  yet  be  wanted  for  a 
still  more  desperate  struggle,  did  not  bring  them  forward,  but  drawing 
Sickles'  divisions  back  a  short  distance,  he  reinforced  them  with  Couch's 
divisions,  and  thus  still  retained  his  V-shaped  line,  only  that  the  V  was 
now  shorter,  thicker,  and  blunter ;  and  what  was  of  more  importance, 
every  part  of  this  new  line  was  strongly  intrenched.  The  battle  of  the 
morning  ended  at  a  little  past  eleven  o'clock.  During  this  battle,  and  that 
of  the  previous  evening,  the  Union  troops  had  taken  over  two  thousand 
prisoners,  and  had  lost,  by  the  panic  in  the  eleventh  corps,  somewhat 
more  than  three  thousand.  The  line  of  the  turnpike  had  been  relin 
quished  by  General  Hooker,  but  at  a  disastrous  cost  to  the  enemy,  who  now 
were  in  front  and  to  the  left,  the  greater  part  of  their  force  being  massed 
directly  between  him  and  Fredericksburg.  During  the  remainder  of  the 


MOVEMENTS  OF  SEDGWICK'S   CORPS.  527 

day  there  was  very  little  more  heavy  fighting  along  Hooker's  lines ;  the 
Rebels  attacked  his  positions  several  times,  apparently  by  way  of  feeling 
his  force,  but  retired  at  once  when  his  artillery  opened  upon  them. 

Meantime,  the  sixth  army  corps  (General  Sedgwick's)  which  we  left  at 
Fredericksburg,  had  been  busy.  Reynolds'  (the  first)  corps  having  re- 
crossed  the  Rappahannock,  and  marched  to  United  States  ford  on  Saturday 
morning,  to  join  the  main  army  at  Chancellorsville,  only  the  sixth  corps, 
which,  however,  was  the  strongest  and  perhaps  the  best  disciplined  in  the 
army,  was  left  for  the  attack  on  Fredericksburg.  At  a  little  past  eleven, 
p.  M.,  Saturday  night,  orders  were  issued  to  take  Fredericksburg  and  effect 
a  junction  with  General  Hooker.  The  corps  was  at  this  time  below  Hazel 
run  or  creek,  southeast  of  the  town.  Newton's  division,  with  the  light 
brigade  under  his  command,  led  the  advance,  followed  by  Howe's  and 
Brookes'  divisions.  The  enemy's  skirmishers  contested  the  advance 
almost  step  by  step,  but  were  pushed  back  gradually  to  Hazel  run,  where 
they  rallied  for  a  desperate  resistance,  but  a  bold  and  furious  charge, 
made  by  the  sixty-seventh  New  York  regiment,  routed  them,  and  the 
town  was  gained.  The  rifle-pits  and  batteries  on  the  heights  to  the  south 
west  of  the  city,  around  the  Marye  house,  yet  remained  frowning  upon 
them,  and  it  was  too  late  and  too  dark  to  attack  them.  The  Union  troops 
were  therefore  massed  in  town.  At  dawn  of  day,  on  Sunday  morning, 
May  3d,  four  regiments  were  thrown  forward,  in  open  order,  to  reconnoi 
tre  the  enemy's  works,  and  see  if  they  were  occupied,  as  it  had  been 
reported  that  the  Rebels  had  fled,  leaving  only  a  single  regiment  on  picket. 
The  reconnoitering  force  approached  to  within  twenty  paces  of  the  earth 
works,  when,  with  a  fierce  yell,  the  Rebels  unmasked  themselves,  and  the 
whole  hill  between  the  Marye  house  and  the  Richmond  and  Fredericks 
burg  railroad  became  a  double  girdle  of  flame.  Their  artillery  opened  at 
the  same  moment.  The  reconnoissance  had  accomplished  its  object,  but 
full  one  third  of  the  men  engaged  in  it  lay  dead  and  wounded  on  that 
blood-stained  slope.  General  Howe's  division  was  now  sent  to  the  left,  to 
attempt  to  storm  the  heights  on  the  left  of  Hazel  run,  and  orders  sent  to 
General  Gibbon's  division,  of  Couch's  corps,  which  had  remained  at  Fal- 
mouth  to  hold  the  camp  there,  to  cross  the  Rappahannock  and  endeavor 
to  gain  the  heights  upon  the  right  of  the  town.  Neither  of  these  attempts 
succeeded,  but  they  prevented  the  concentration  of  the  enemy  upon  Gen 
eral  Newton  in  the  centre,  where  the  principal  attack  was  to  be  made. 

At  eleven  A.  M.  (just  about  the  time  the  battle  with  General  Hooker 
ceased)  General  Newton  with  his  own  division  and  the  light  brigade  under 
his  command  moved  forward  to  attack,  General  Brookes'  division  being 
held  as  a  reserve,  to  support  him  if  necessary.  The  three  batteries  of 
McCarthy,  Butler,  and  Harris,  opened  with  concentrated  fire  upon  the 
Marye  house,  to  prevent  its  being  used  as  .a  shelter  for  the  enemy's  re 
serves.  The  division  moved  forward  rapidly,  with  fixed  bayonets  ;  the 


528  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

left,  consisting  of  four  regiments,  was  deployed,  while  the  centre  (two 
regiments)  and  the  right  (four  regiments)  marched  in  column.  The  attack 
lasted  ten  minutes,  and  was  successful,  the  enemy  being  bayoneted  in 
their  rifle-pits,  not  having  time  to  get  away  ;  but  in  that  ten  minutes  the 
Union  force  lost  a  thousand  men  in  killed  and  wounded. 

As  soon  as  General  Newton  had  succeeded,  General  Howe,  at  the  left, 
pushed  the  enemy  vigorously,  and  after  a  short  but  sanguinary  contest 
took  the  rifle-pits  and  heights  on  the  left  of  Hazel  run.  Newton  and 
Howe  together  took  about  eight  hundred  prisoners,  and  twelve  guns, 
among  them  the  battery  of  the  famous  Washington  artillery. 

After  gaining  these  formidable  and  almost  impregnable  heights,  General 
Sedgwick  reformed  his  lines,  placing  Brookes'  division  in  advance,  and 
Newton's  and  Howe's  following  it,  leaving  Gibbon's  division  to  garrison 
the  just  captured  heights,  and  pushed  forward  toward  Chancellorsville, 
where  he  was  assured  Hooker  was  hotly  pressing  the  enemy.  Lee,  it 
will  be  remembered,  had  succeeded  by  the  terrible  struggle  of  Sunday 
morning  in  obtaining  possession  of  the  turnpike  road  to  Fredericksburg ; 
and  as  Sedgwick  was  marching  rapidly  in  pursuit  of  the  flying  Rebels 
whom  he  had  driven  from  Marye's  hill,  he  was  suddenly  confronted  by 
the  advance-guard  of  Lee's  entire  force,  on  Salem  heights,  strongly  posted 
in  earthworks  in  the  timber  on  either  side  of  the  road,  and  the  under 
growth  filled  with  rifle-pits  and  abatis.  General  Brookes  at  once  engaged 
them  with  his  entire  division,  but  was  overpowered  by  their  superior  force, 
and  compelled  to  retire,  the  enemy  closely  following.  General  Newton, 
just  previous  to  this,  had  sent  two  regiments  (the  ninety-third  and  one 
hundred  and  second  Pennsylvania)  to  protect  the  right,  which  seemed  to 
be  in  danger,  and  which,  if  turned,  would  cut  off  the  possibility  of  retreat 
to  Banks'  ford.  These  two  regiments  passed  around  the  enemy's  left 
without  opposition,  crossing  a  deep  ravine  with  a  stream  in  it,  and  to  the 
top  of  the  ridge,  beyond  which  they  met  a  most  fearful  volley  from  a  hid 
den  foe.  To  sustain  this  line  many  minutes  was  evidently  impossible,  and 
three  more  regiments  (the  seventh  and  tenth  Massachusetts  and  second 
Rhode  Island)  were  sent  to  support  it.  They  arrived  just  in  season  to 
check  the  Rebel  advance  ;  and  pouring  a  flanking  fire  on  the  enemy,  who 
were  advancing  to  push  Brookes,  they  caused  them  to  retire  with  terrible 
loss.  As  they  retired,  the  Union  troops  advanced  ;  but  not  deeming  it 
advisable  to  enter  the  woods  again  with  the  force  then  at  command,  they 
held  the  west  of  the  hill  to  which  they  first  came  till  dark,  having  been 
strengthened  by  additional  reinforcements,  and  in  the  evening  were 
relieved  by  Shaler's  (late  Cochran's)  brigade. 

Sedgwick's  corps  bivouacked  on  the  field,  resupplyiog  the  stock  of 
ammunition  and  food,  obtaining  knapsacks,  and  collecting  their  wounded, 
the  number  of  whom  in  this  second  battle  (of  Salem  heights)  was  very 
large.  At  dawn  of  day  they  again  formed  under  arms,  and  rearranged 


CRITICAL   POSITION  OF  SKPGWICK'S   CORPS.  529 

their  lines,  extending  them  to  the  right  and  toward  the  Rappahamiock. 
The  light  brigade  was  sent  to  occupy  the  works  which  the  Rebels  had 
constructed  at  Banks'  ford  to  oppose  the  crossing  of  Burnside's  troops 
there  in  the  winter.  Skirmishing  soon  commenced,  and  continued  until 
nine  A.  M.,  and  the  enemy  seemed  determined  to  ascertain  what  was  the  best 
point  of  attack.  A  lull  of  an  hour  ensued,  during  which  General  Sedg- 
wick  learned  that  during  the  evening  previous  Lee  hud  sent  a  large  force 
past  his  left  and  rear,  and  had  repossessed  himself  of  Marye's  hill  and  the 
Fredericksburg  heights,  driving  Gibbon  into  the  city. 

Sedgwick's  position  was  a  critical  one.  In  his  rear  Fredericksburg 
was  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy ;  in  front  and  on  his  left  Lee's  victo 
rious  troops  interposed  between  him  and  the  remainder  of  Hooker's  army  • 
and  that  army,  with  its  six  corps,  had  found  the  Rebel  force  fully  its  match. 
Only  one  way  of  escape  remained,  and  from  this  the  enemy  were  pushing 
vigorously  to  cut  him  off.  He  held  as  yet  the  line  to  Banks'  ford,  and 
his  light  brigade  occupied  the  iutrenchments  built  for  the  defence  of  that 
ford.  Crossing  there,  he  might  yet  fall  into  a  snare,  for  there  was  appa 
rently  little  to  hinder  the  Rebels  from  crossing  over  to  Falmouth  and 
taking  possession  of  the  fortified  Union  camp,  and  thus  placing  his  corps 
at  their  mercy. 

General  Sedgwick,  however,  was  a  brave  and  skilful  general,  and  his 
decision  was  promptly  made.  Rearranging  his  lines,  he  placed  his  men 
in  position  to  meet  and  hold  the  enemy  at  bay,  from  whichever  point  they 
might  attack  him.  Newton  was  placed  on  the  right,  with  his  right  wing 
on  the  Rappahannock  and  facing  westward ;  Brookes  in  the  centre  and 
facing  south ;  Howe  on  the  left,  facing  eastward,  and  his  left  resting  on 
the  river.  At  four  P.  M.  the  enemy,  who  had  been  skirmishing  through 
out  three  charges,  approached  in  force  and  attacked  Newton's  left,  but 
were  repulsed;  then  Brookes'  centre  and  left,  and  were  a^iin  repulsed; 
they  then  concentrated  their  forces  against  Howe,  endeavoring  to  break 
his  line,  and  force  themselves  between  him  and  the  river,  to  cut  off  his  re 
treat  by  way  of  the  ford.  Brookes  repulsed  them,  but  they  massed  their 
forces,  and  hurled  them  against  him  with  such  fury  that  he  was  compelled 
to  fall  back  a  short  distance,  which  he  did  in  good  order.  Seeing  this, 
they  pressed  him  still  harder,  but  Sedgwick  sent  up  reinforcements,  in 
such  numbers,  that,  with  the  aid  of  his  batteries,  he  drove  them  back  with 
their  ranks  fearfully  thinned,  and  then  fell  back  to  the  ford,  the  Rebels 
not  following  closely ;  and  having  reached  the  fortifications  at  the  ford  he 
again  turned  and  offered  them  battle.  As  they  were  evidently  indisposed 
to  engage,  and  offered  no  further  annoyance,  General  Sedgwick  com 
menced  crossing  the  Rappahannock  at  two  A.M.  of  the  5th  with  his  corps, 
and  by  daylight  had  them  all  across  in  safety.  In  this  campaign  of  less 
than  three  days  he  had  lost  nearly  six  thousand  in  killed  and  wounded, 
out  of  a  force  of  not  more  than  twenty-two  thousand,  but  few  or  no 
84 


530  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

prisoners.  He  had  taken  eleven  hundred  prisoners,  twelve  guns,  and 
five  stands  of  colors. 

We  have  already  noticed  the  strength  of  Hooker's  position.  Finding 
it  vain  to  assail  it,  and  hoping  that  the  annihilation  of  Sedgwick's  corps, 
which  he  confidently  anticipated,  would  be  a  more  satisfactory  undertaking, 
General  Lee  attempted  nothing  more  on  Monday  than  to  place  a  battery 
at  Scott's  dam  on  Scott's  creek,  which  commanded  the  United  States 
ford,  and  commenced  shelling  that  position.  This  battery  was  driven 
away,  and  the  position  it  occupied  held,  though  not  without  some  difficulty, 
by  the  Union  troops.  Toward  night  on  Monday,  May  4th,  a  heavy  rain 
commenced  falling,  and  it  was  ascertained  that  it  had  been  raining  all  day 
in  the  mountains.  On  Monday  night,  General  Hooker  held  a  council  of 
his  officers.  Stoneman  had  not  been  heard  from,  and  it  was  not  known 
whether  his  expedition  had  been  successful  or  not.  Lee  had  evidently  all 
the  troops  he  needed,  and  holding  Fredericksburg,  was  not  likely  to  want 
for  supplies.  Meantime,  Hooker's  supplies  and  ammunition  were  nearly 
exhausted,  and  the  Rappahannock,  always  sensitive  to  rains  in  the  moun 
tains,  was  rapidly  rising,  and  might  soon  become  impassable.  Sedgwick, 
while  he  had  fought  with  the  most  undaunted  bravery  and  skill,  had 
failed  to  take  and  hold  Fredericksburg,  and  the  campaign,  from  several 
causes,  had  lost  its  chances  for  success.  Such  was  the  condition  of 
affairs  ;  and  the  council,  entertaining  the  same  views  in  regard  to  it  with 
the  commander,  advised  that  the  army  should  recross  the  next  morning 
at  the  ford,  and  returning  to  its  old  quarters  await  another  and  more 
favorable  opportunity  to  strike  a  decisive  blow.  Accordingly,  on  Tuesday 
evening,  May  5th,  General  Hooker  commenced  moving  his  troops  noise 
lessly  across  the  Rappahannock,  at  United  States  ford ;  and  though  the 
river  had  risen  so  much  that  he  was  obliged  to  use  the  pontoons  for  three 
bridges  to  r*ake  two,  he  brought  his  entire  force  and  train  across  in 
safety,  and  returned  to  Falmouth,  with  his  forces  in  perfect  order. 

The  losses  of  the  Union  army  in  this  series  of  battles  have  never  been 
officially  reported.  Including  General  Sedgwick's  losses  at  Fredericks 
burg,  and  Salem  Heights,  they  were  probably  not  far  from  eleven  thousand, 
of  whom  four  thousand  two  hundred  were  prisoners,  many  of  them 
wounded.  Of  this  number  about  one  thousand  six  hundred  were  killed. 
It  is.  a  matter  of  great  difficulty  to  ascertain,  even  approximately,  the  losses 
of  the  Rebels.  The  number  taken  prisoners  by  the  Union  troops  ex 
ceeded  three  thousand  six  hundred  ;  and  officers  of  great  experience  be 
longing  to  both  armies  were  confident  that  the  numbers  of  killed  and 
wounded  considerably  exceeded  that  of  the  Union  troops.  It  was  stated 
by  some  of  the  Rebel  papers  at  nine  thousand  two  hundred.  Whether 
this  was  intended  to  include  prisoners  also  is  not  stated ;  if  so,  it  was  un 
questionably  far  below  the  truth.  The  loss  of  General  T.  J.  Jackson, 
better  known  as  "  Stonewall  "Jackson,  was  a  severer  blow  to  them  than 


REVIEW   OF   HOOKER'S   CAMPAIGN.  531 

the  slaughter  of  twenty  thousand  troops,  for  with  the  exception,  perhaps, 
of  General  Lee,  they  had  no  commander  of  equal  ability  with  him. 

In  the  review  of  this  battle,  forming  as  it  did  the  fourth  unsuccessful 
attempt  to  open  the  way  to  the  capture  of  Richmond,  we  find  that  there 
were  certain  errors  apparent  in  the  movement,  which  prevented  its  suc 
cess,  although  they  do  not  tarnish  the  reputation  of  General  Hooker  as 
an  able  and  skilful  commander  of  a  great  arrny.  These  were,  1st.  That 
Stoneman  was  sent  too  late  upon  his  expedition.  To  have  sent  him  a 
week  earlier  would  have  prevented  the  reinforcement  of  Lee  by  Longstreet's 
division  of  the  South  Carolina  troops,  and  would  have  enabled  General 
Hooker  to  have  moved  with  more  certainty  and  confidence.  2d.  A  cav 
alry  force  should  have  been  placed  on  duty  to  guard  the  approaches  to 
the  right  wing  of  the  army  (the  eleventh  corps),  and  thus  have  prevented 
the  surprise  and  panic  which  proved  so  disastrous.  It  is  the  testimony  of 
the  officers  of  that  corps  that  there  were  but  thirty-five  cavalrymen  de 
tailed  for  service  on  the  flank  of  the  right  wing.  3d.  It  was  a  mistake 
to  have  attempted  the  capture  of  Fredericksburg  by  an  assault  in  front, 
as  was  done  by  Sedgwick's  corps.  The  possession  of  that  city,  in  that 
way,  was  of  no  consequence  to  the  Union  army,  while  it  cost  six  thousand 
men,  and  drew  off  twenty-two  thousand  of  the  best  troops  in  the  army, 
whose  services  were  needed  in  striking  a  heavy  blow  upon  the  Rebel 
force.  Had  Lee  been  defeated,  Fredericksburg  would  have  fallen  into 
Hooker's  hands  as  a  part  of  the  victory.  As  it  was,  it  was  in  the  pos 
session  of  the  Union  troops  less  than  twenty-four  hours. 

Aside  from  these  errors,  the  plan  of  the  campaign  seems  to  have  been 
judicious,  and  displayed  a  high  order  of  strategic  ability ;  while  the  un 
daunted  courage,  readiness  of  resource,  and  skilful  management  of  his 
troops,  showed  conclusively  that  General  Hooker  possessed  many,  if  not 
all,  of  the  qualities  of  a  great  general. 

In  the  narrative  of  this  series  of  battles,  we  have  alluded  more  than 
once  to  the  expedition  of  General  Stoneman,  as  forming  an  important 
part  of  General  Hooker's  plan  of  the  campaign,  but  we  must  reserve  for 
another  chapter  the  account  of  that  ably-conducted  and  successful  expe 
dition. 


532  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN   THE   UNITED    STATES. 


CHAPTER    XLYI. 

STONKMAN'R  EXPEDITION — THE  PLAN  OF  IT  SUBSTANTIALLY  THAT  OF  GENERAL  BURNSIDK — 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH    OF    GENERAL    STONEMAN STARTING  OF  THE  EXPEDITION — ITS 

ADVENTURES — DETACHMENTS    SENT    IN  DIFFERENT  DIRECTIONS  FROM  THOMPSON'S  CROSS 

ROADS — COLONEL  WYNDHAM'S    RAID    TO    COLUMBIA COLONEL    KILPATRICK's    ADVENTURES 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  DAVIS'S  EXPEDITION    TO    CUT    THE    TWO    RAILROADS RESULTS    OF 

THE    EXPEDITION — THE    ARMY    OF    THE     POTOMAC    AFTER    THE    BATTLE — LEE'S    DETERMINA 
TION    TO    INVADE    PENNSYLVANIA — PLEASONTON     SENT     TO    ATTACK    STUART'S    CAVALRY 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH    OF    GENERAL    PLEASONTON — SUCCESS  OF  HIS  ATTACK — HIS  SUBSE 
QUENT    SKIRMISHES  AND    FIGHTS    WITH    STUART'S    CAVALRY — LEF/S    POSITION    DISCOVERED 

MOVEMENT    OF    HOOKER'S    ARMY THE    REBEL     ARMY     CROSS     THE     POTOMAC — HOOKER'S 

FOLLOW HOOKER    RELIEVED    OF    THE    COMMAND    OF   THE     ARMY MEADE     APPOINTED     HIS 

SUCCESSOR POSITION      OF     THE     TWO     ARMIES ONLY     TWO     UNION    CORPS    NEAR    GETTYS 
BURG A    BATTLE    IMPENDING. 

THE  expedition,  or  raid,  of  General  Stoneman,  properly  comes  under 
the  history  of  the  expeditions  of  that  class  given  in  Chapter  XLIV.,  but 
from  its  forming  a  part  of  General  Hooker's  campaign  it  was  deemed 
necessary  to  give  it  a  place  in  connection  with  that  campaign.  In  its 
boldness,  the  amount  of  damage  it  inflicted  upon  the  enemy,  and  the 
success  which  attended  it,  from  its  inception  to  its  close,  it  may  well  rank 
as  one  of  the  most  remarkable  expeditions  into  the  enemy's  country  ever 
undertaken. 

"Without  desiring  to  detract  any  thing  from  the  merits  of  General 
Hooker's  well-considered  plan  of  operations  for  the  turning  of  Lee's  flank 
and  crippling  his  army,  we  must  admit  that  the  idea  of  a  raid  like  Stone- 
man's  was  not  original  with  him.  It  was  conceived,  and  would  have  been 
carried  out,  by  General  Burnside  in  January,  but  for  the  interference  of 
some  of  his  subordinate  generals.  Indeed,  Burnside's  plan,  though  not 
exactly  identical,  contemplated  a  still  bolder  movement — the  extending 
his  raid  in  the  rear  of  Kichmond,  and  reaching  the  Union  lines  at 
Suffolk. 

It  is  to  the  credit  of  General  Hooker  that  he  saw  clearly  the  advan 
tages  of  such  an  expedition,  and  arranged  its  details  so  skilfully  as  to 
insure  its  success.  Could  it  have  been  undertaken  a  week  earlier,  as  it 
would  have  been  but  for  severe  storms  and  floods,  it  would  in  all  human 
probability  have  made  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville  successful,  instead 
of  disastrous,  as  Lee  would  have  had  from  forty  thousand  to  fifty  thou 
sand  less  men  with  whom  to  defend  his  position,  and  attack  the  Union 
troops. 

Major-General  George  Stoneman,  the  chief  of  the  cavalry  corps  of  the 
army  of  the  Potomac,  under  General  Hooker,  and  now  (February,  1864) 
chief  of  cavalry  in  the  grand  military  division  of  the  Mississippi,  was  the 


STARTING   OF  THE   EXPEDITION    UNDER  STONEMAN.        533 

leader  of  this  expedition.  He  was  born  in  Busti,  New  York,  in  August, 
1822,  was  educated  at  West  Point,  where  he  graduated  in  1846,  and  was 
appointed  on  the  1st  of  July  of  that  year  brevet  second  lieutenant  of  the 
first  dragoons,  but  did  not  obtain  his  full  commission  till  July  12,  1847. 
In  July,  1854,  he  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenantcy,  and  the  next  year 
acted  as  aide-de-camp  to  General  Wool.  On  the  3d  of  March,  1858,  he  was 
made  captain  in  the  second  cavalry,  and  for  the  next  two  or  three  years 
served  in  the  southwest.  In  1859, 1860,  and  the  winter  of  1861,  he  was  sta 
tioned  at  Palo  Alto,  Texas.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Eebellion  he  returned 
north,  and  on  the  9th  of  May,  1861,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major 
in  the  fourth  cavalry,  and  on  the  13th  of  August  was  appointed  brigadier- 
general  of  volunteers.  He  reported  to  General  McClellan,  and  when  the 
army  of  the  Potomac  moved,  was  placed  in  command  of  the  cavalry. 
When  the  Eebels  evacuated  Yorktown,  he  pursued  them  closely ;  and  for 
his  gallantry  at  the  battle  of  Williamsburg  was  brevetted  lieutenant- 
colonel  in  the  regular  army.  He  was  engaged  in  active  operations  during 
the  whole  campaign  of  the  peninsula,  and  for  his  brilliant  movements  at 
the  battle  of  Games'  mill,  June  27,  1862,  was  further  brevetted  colonel 
of  cavalry  in  the  regular  army.  He  served  under  General  Pope,  in  the 
several  engagements  before  Washington,  and  also  under  McClellan  in  the 
Maryland  campaign.  At  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  he  commanded 
the  third  army  corps,  and  with  his  corps  exhibited  great  bravery  and 
resolution.  General  Hooker  made  him  chief  of  his  cavalry  corps  on  the 
6th  of  February,  1863 ;  and  on  the  twelfth  of  the  same  month,  he  was 
promoted  to  a  major-generalship  of  volunteers.  In  March,  he  made 
several  successful  reconnoissances  along  the  upper  Kappahannock,  and 
undertook  with  great  heartiness  the  expedition  we  are  about  to  describe. 
After  that  expedition  he  was  placed  by  the  Government  at  the  head  of  the 
new  cavalry  bureau,  organized  in  connection  with  the  War  Department, 
and  rendered  valuable  aid  in  bringing  that  department  of  the  service  up 
to  a  high  degree  of  perfection. 

The  plan  of  the  expedition,  and  the  object  to  be  accomplished  by  it, 
having  been  laid  down  by  General  Hooker,  and  instructions  furnished, 
which  still  gave  a  large  discretion  to  General  Stoneman,  he  left  Fal  mouth 
on  the  27th  of  April,  and  on  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  the  29th, 
crossed  his  entire  force,  of  about  two  thousand  seven  hundred  men,  over 
the  Rappahannock  at  Kelly's  ford,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  division 
under  General  Averill,  which  was  sent  still  further  up  the  river,  and 
crossed  near  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad.  This  division  en 
countered  a  small  body  of  Rebel  cavalry,  soon  after  crossing,  which  it 
repulsed,  after  a  brave  contest.  General  Averill's  orders  were  to  proceed 
along  the  road  toward  Culpepper  and  Gordonsville,  and  by  a  dashing 
flank  movement,  keep  the  Rebel  troops,  which  were  known  to  be  in  that 
vicinity,  employed,  while  detachments  from  the  main  column  of  cavalry 


554  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

were  engaged  in  the  important  work  of  cutting  off  the  Kebel  army  on 
the  Rappahannock  from  its  base  of  operations — Richmond.  General 
Averill  was  not  successful  in  his  attempt  to  accomplish  this.  Tie  en 
countered  on  Thursday,  April  30th,  a  considerable  force  of  Rebel  cavalry 
at  Rapidan  station,  on  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad,  and  after  a 
short  fight  retreated  and  returned  to  the  Union  camp  at  Chancellorsville. 

When  General  Stoneman  crossed  the  Rappahannock  at  Kelly's  ford  he 
had  entered  the  enemy's  country,  and  he  ordered  at  once  the  most  careful 
precautions  to  be  taken,  to  avoid  surprise  from  the  enemy,  and  to  prevent 
such  intelligence  of  his  movements  from  preceding  him  as  would  thwart 
his  purposes.  After  crossing,  he  sent  General  Buford  with  a  small  force 
to  the  left,  where  he  had  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  whom  he  repulsed, 
and  before  they  could  advance  again  he  had  constructed  an  abatis  of  trees, 
and  as  they  charged  again,  he  received  them  with  a  volley  which  sent 
them  back  with  some  loss. 

General  Stoneman,  with  the  bulk  of  his  command,  remained  near 
Kelly's  ford,  till  nightfall,  when  the  order  to  march  was  given,  and  the 
whole  force  crossed  and  bivouacked  a  short  distance  beyond  a  little  rivulet, 
then  much  swollen  by  the  recent  rains,  known  as  Fleischman's  river,  in 
an  open  ploughed  field,  with  no  other  protection  from  the  heavy  rain  then 
falling  than  their  blankets  and  rubber  coats.  All  fires  were  prohibited, 
all  bugle-calls  suspended,  and  orders  delivered  sotto  voce,  so  that  the  enemy 
might  have  no  opportunity  of  judging  of  the  number  and  position  of  their 
force.  At  dawn  the  following  morning,  the  force  was  carefully  inspected, 
and  all  weak  horses,  all  sick  or  weak-kneed  troops,  and  all  the  pack 
animals  except  about  twenty,  were  sent  back  across  the  river.  Having 
brought  his  command  thus  into  light  marching  order,  General  Stoneman 
proceeded  cautiously  for  several  miles  through  the  woods,  till  a  large  open 
space  of  rolling  ground  was  reached,  when  the  whole  district  was  patrolled 
to  ascertain  the  position  of  the  enemy.  The  same  precautions  were 
adopted  every  day.  When  the  advance  of  General  Buford's  column 
arrived  near  Minot's  ford,  on  the  Rapidan,  Lieutenant  Gaskill,  with  a 
squadron  of  the  fifth  cavalry,  crossed,  and  dashing  up  the  river,  caused  a 
force  of  about  sixteen  hundred  Rebel  cavalry,  who  had  been  stationed 
there  to  prevent  the  crossing  of  Union  troops,  to  retreat  in  haste.  They 
had  one  piece  of  artillery,  which,  however,  they  took  with  them.  He 
pursued  them  nearly  five  miles  on  the  road  to  Orange  Court  House,  and 
captured  ten  prisoners.  General  Gregg's  column,  meantime,  crossed 
Raccoon  ford  without  opposition.  At  night  the  whole  force  encamped 
on  a  hill  commanding  the  ford.  The  march  was  commenced  on  the  morn 
ing  of  Friday,  soon  after  daylight,  and  the  force  proceeded  to  Orange 
Spring,  pressing  a  column  of  Rebel  cavalry  so  closely  that  they  were 
forced  to  throw  away  several  wagon-loads  of  provisions  and  abandon  their 
jaded  horses.  A  few  prisoners  were  captured.  Several  hundred  of  the 


STONEMAN   AT  LOUISA  COURT  HOUSE.  535 

Rebel  cavalry  escaped  by  a  side  road,  with  their  train,  but  were  pursued 
as  far  as  Madison  by  Colonel  Wyndham.  Having  halted  for  a  rest,  and 
the  night  being  pleasant,  the  march  was  continued  till  three  and  a-half 
o'clock  A.  M.  Saturday  morning,  May  2d,  when  they  halted  at  Greenwood, 
one  mile  west  of  Louisa  Court  House.  Here  they  reached  the  Virginia 
Central  railroad,  and  detachments  were  sent  up  and  down  the  road  for 
miles,  to  destroy  the  track,  culverts,  and  bridges,  and  also  to  act  as  pickets 
to  prevent  surprise.  The  work  was  well  and  thoroughly  done.  Just  at 
dawn,  Colonel  (since  General)  Kilpatrick  charged  into  the  village  of 
Louisa  Court  House.  The  people  of  the  village  were  panic-stricken,  and 
supposed,  at  first,  that  they  should  all  be  murdered  and  their  property 
plundered,  but  on  finding  that  no  outrages  or  insults  were  offered  to  pri 
vate  citizens,  and  that  no  private  property  was  taken  without  compensation, 
they  recovered  their  equanimity. 

While  the  troops  were  halting  at  Louisa,  a  squadron  of  the  first  Maine 
cavalry,  picketing  the  Culpepper  road,  was  attacked  by  a  superior  Rebel 
force,  and,  after  a  most  gallant  resistance,  fell  back,  leaving  two  dead. 
The  remainder  of  the  first  Maine,  and  the  second  New  York,  were  sent 
to  their  support,  when  the  enemy  fled.  At  four  o'clock  p.  M.  on  Saturday, 
the  railroad  having  been  destroyed  for  many  miles,  and  a  number  of  cars 
and  bridges  burned,  and  the  horses  and  troopers  well  supplied  with 
forage  and  rations,  General  Stoneman  moved  his  command  upon  a  hill  to 
the  east  of  the  town,  and,  for  an  hour,  awaited  the  threatened  attack  of 
Rebel  troops  known  to  be  approaching  from  Gordonsville,  but  the  repulse 
those  troops  had  already  received  was  sufficient  to  cause  them  to  fall  back 
toward  Gordonsville.  At  five  o'clock  the  command  resumed  their  march, 
and  arrived  at  Thompson's  Cross  Roads  (or  Four  Corners)  at  half-past 
eleven  o'clock,  P.  M.  From  this  point  General  Stoneman  had  determined 
to  send  expeditions  in  different  directions  to  cut  the  enemy's  lines  of  com 
munication.  At  twelve  o'clock,  midnight,  he  called  all  the  principal 
officers  together  and  explained  his  general  plan  of  operations.  The  com 
mander  of  each  detachment  was  directed  to  destroy  certain  specified  points, 
and,  the  special  object  of  his  mission  being  accomplished,  he  was  allowed 
the  widest  latitude  for  any  further  operations.  Colonel  Percy  Wyndham, 
with  the  first  New  Jersey  and  the  first  Maine  cavalry,  about  five  hundred 
men  in  all,  was  sent  south  to  Columbia,  on  the  James  river ;  Colonel 
Kilpatrick  to  Hungary,  on  the  Fredericksburg  railroad,  and  below  on  the 
Virginia  Central  railroad,  with  the  Harris  light  cavalry  ;  Lieutenant-Col 
onel  Davis,  with  the  twelfth  Illinois,  to  the  South  Anne  river,  and  Ash 
land,  on  the  Fredericksburg  road ;  General  Buford  struck  westward 
toward  the  James  river  canal  at  Cedar  Point,  and  thence  passed  near 
Gordonsville  ;  and  the  remainder  of  the  force  scoured  the  country  in  the 
vicinity  of  Thompson's  Four  Corners  and  Yancey  ville.  And  on  Friday 
morning,  the  8th  of  May,  the  whole  force,  except  Colonel  Kilpatrick's 


536  THE  CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

and    Lieutenant-Colonel    Davis's    commands,    reached    Kelly's    ford    in 
safety. 

The  adventures  of  some  of  these  detachments  were  interesting,  and  ex 
hibited  in  a  favorable  light  the  tact  and  ability  of  their  commanders. 
Colonel  Wyndham  left  Thompson's  Cross  Koads  at  half  past  two,  A.  M., 
May  3d,  and  taking  a  southerly  direction,  crossed  six  or  seven  creeks,  and 
reached  Columbia,  on  the  James  river,  nearly  fifty  miles  northwest  of 
Richmond,  at  about  eight  o'clock  A.  M.,  May  4th.  The  approach  of  his 
force  had  been  heralded  by  a  man  who  had  ridden  ten  miles  to  warn  the 
people,  but  no  one  believed  it.  The  citizens  hooted  at  him,  threw  dirt  at 
him,  and  threatened  him  with  all  sorts  of  vengeance,  for  starting  a  report 
so  absurd  as  that  the  Yankees  were  coming  into  Columbia.  Just  then 
Colonel  Wyndham's  advance-guard,  under  Major  Beaumont,  dashed  into 
the  town.  The  people  persisted  that  it  must  be  Stuart's  cavalry,  and  were 
only  undeceived  when  they  found  that  the  gentlemanly  and  well-behaved 
troopers  took  no  private  property,  but  destroyed  all  that  belonged  to  the 
Rebel  Government.  The  banks  of  the  James  river  canal,  which  had 
been  the  great  route  of  transportation  for  Rebel  commissary  stores  and 
supplies,  were  cut  in  several  places,  and  the  locks  destroyed  for  a  distance 
of  five  miles.  An  attempt  was  made  to  destroy  the  aqueduct  by  which  the 
canal  crosses  the  James  at  this  point,  but  for  want  of  suitable  tools  it  was 
not  accomplished.  Several  canal-boats,  loaded  with  commissary  stores  for 
the  Rebel  army,  were  burned,  and  a  large  quantity  of  such  stores  in  ware 
houses  were  destroyed.  Finding  that  two  Rebel  regiments  with  eight 
pieces  of  artillery  were  approaching,  Colonel  Wyndham,  at  four  p.  >r., 
moved  down  the  river  about  five  miles  to  Byrd's  creek,  which  he  forded, 
and  then  turning  north,  arrived  at  Thompson's  Cross  Roads  at  ten  p.  M. 
The  command  had  captured  during  the  day  several  hundred  horses,  and 
were  followed  into  camp  by  a  large  number  of  negroes.  Colonel  Kilpat- 
rick's  experiences  read  almost  like  the  feats  of  a  knight-errant  in  the 
palmiest  days  of  chivalry.  He  had  under  his  command  his  own  regiment, 
the  Ira  Harris  light  cavalry,  and  left  the  rendezvous  at  Thompson's  Cross 
Roads  early  in  the  morning  on  Sunday,  May  3d ;  reached  Hungary,  a 
station  on  the  Fredericksburg  railroad,  about  forty  miles  distant,  and  eight 
miles  from  Richmond,  at  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  and  de 
stroyed  the  depot,  telegraph  wires,  and  railroad  track  for  several  miles. 
He  then  passed  over  to  the  Brook  turnpike ;  drove  in  the  Rebel  pickets 
down  the  turnpike  and  across  the  Brook  ;  charged  upon  a  moveable 
battery,  and  forced  it  to  retire  within  two  miles  of  Richmond  ;  and  cap 
tured  Lieutenant  Brown,  aide-de-camp  to  the  Rebel  General  Winder, 
commander  of  the  fortifications  at  Richmond,  and  eleven  men,  inside  the 
fortifications,  and  narrowly  missed  capturing  General  Winder  himself. 
Having  thus  bearded  the  lion  in  his  den,  he  turned  eastward,  and  followed 
the  line  of  the  York  river  railroad  to  the  Meadow  bridge,  ovei  the 


EXPLOITS   OF   LIEUTENANT   COLONE1     DAVIS.  537 

Chickahominy,  burned  the  bridge,  and  ran  a  train  of  cars  into  the  river. 
He  then  retired  to  Hanovertown,  on  the  peninsula,  crossed  the  Pamunkey, 
and  destroyed  the  ferry  just  in  time  to  check  the  advance  of  a  pursuing 
cavalry  force ;  burned  a  train  of  thirty  wagons  loaded  with  bacon  for  the 
Rebel  army;  captured  thirteen  prisoners;  and  encamped  for  the  night 
live  miles  from  the  river.  At  one  o'clock,  A.  M.,  of  the  fifth  of  May,  he 
resumed  his  march — surprised  a  troop  of  three  hundred  Rebel  cavalry,  at 
Aylett's,  on  the  Mattapony  river,  captured  two  officers  and  thirty-three 
men;  burned  fifty-six  wagons,  and  a  depot  of  Rebel  stores  containing  up 
wards  of  twenty  thousand  barrels  of  corn  and  wheat,  large  quantities  of 
clothing  and  commissary  stores,  and  safely  crossed  the  Mattapony,  and 
again  destroyed  the  ferry,  just  in  time  to  escape  the  advance  of  the  Rebel 
cavalry — and  proceeded  northeast  on  the  Richmond  and  Warsaw  turnpike 
to  a  point  a  few  miles  west  of  Tappahannock,  on  the  Rappahannock  river, 
where  he  destroyed  a  third  wagon  train  and  depot  of  stores.  From  this 
ooint,  finding  a  large  force  of  Stuart's  cavalry  in  pursuit  of  him,  he  made 
a  forced  march  of  twenty  miles,  almost  directly  southward,  capturing 
prisoners  from  his  pursuers  whenever  they  pressed  too  closely.  At  sun- 
dovn  of  the  sixth  he  discovered  a  force  of  cavalry  drawn  up  in  line  of 
batt'e  above  King-and-Queen  Court  House.  He  advanced  at  once  to 
attacc  them,  but  ascertained  that  they  were  a  part  of  the  twelfth  Illinois, 
under  Major  Bronson,  who  had  become  separated  from  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  Daris's  command.  At  ten  A.  M.  of  the  7th  of  May,  after  a  severe 
march  of  over  fifty  miles,  he  reached  the  Union  post  at  Gloucester  Point. 
In  this  separate  expedition  Colonel  Kilpatrick's  command  had  marched 
nearly  two  hundred  miles  in  less  than  five  days,  with  a  loss  of  one  officer 
and  thirty-seven  men,  having  captured  and  paroled  upward  of  eight 
hundred  men.  Lieutenant  Estes,  of  his  command,  volunteered  to  carry 
despatches  to  General  Hooker.  He  failed  in  the  attempt,  but  with 
his  escort  of  ten  men,  captured  and  paroled  one  major,  two  captains,  a 
lieutenant,  and  fifteen  men.  He  was  afterward  captured  himself,  with  his 
escort,  but  was  retaken  by  the  Union  troops. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Davis's  exploits  were  hardly  less  remarkable.  He 
left  General  Stoneman's  camp  at  Thompson's  Cross  Roads  at  the  same 
time  with  Colonel  Kilpatrick.  His  orders  were  to  penetrate  to  the  Fred- 
ericksburg  railroad,  and,  if  possible,  to  the  Virginia  Central  also,  and 
destroy  the  communications  on  both.  Should  he  cross  the  Virginia  Cen 
tral  he  was  to  make  for  Williamsburg,  which  was  said  to  be  in  possession 
of  the  Union  forces.  Passing  down  the  bank  of  the  South  Anna  river,  he 
burned  one  bridge,  and  routed  a  party  of  mounted  guerrillas  who  attempted 
to  oppose  their  advance.  Arriving  at  Ashland,  on  the  Fredericksburg  rail 
road,  he  sent  Lieutenant  Mitchell  forward  with  a  dozen  men  to  occupy  the 
place.  The  Rebel  force  there  was  small,  and  they  escaped  with  such  haste 
as  to  leave  their  arms,  which  he  destroyed.  Assuring  the  inhabitants. 


538  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  {JNITED   STATES. 

who  were  in  great  terror,  that  no  injury  would  be  done  to  persons  or 
private  property,  he  proceeded  to  cut  the  telegraph  wires,  and  tear  up  the 
rails  on  the  railroad,  and  burned  an  extensive  trestle-work  south  of  the 
town,  captured  an  ambulance  train  of  seven  cars  filled  with  sick  and 
wounded  from  the  late  battle,  and  paroled  the  officers  of  the  guard,  some 
of  whom  were  of  considerable  rank.  The  cars  were  left  for  the  benefit  of 
the  wounded,  but  the  engine  and  tender,  as  well  as  another  found  in  the  town, 
were  rendered  completely  useless.  He  captured  also  a  large  number  of 
horses  and  mules  collected  there  for  the  Rebel  Government,  and  destroyed 
about  twenty  wagons.  Leaving  Ashland  about  six  P.  M.,  and  destroying  on  his 
way  eighteen  wagons  laden  with  Rebel  stores,  he  reached  Hanover  station, 
on  the  Virginia  Central  railroad,  at  about  eight  p.  M.?  captured  and  paroled 
about  thirty  officers  and  men  at  the  station,  burned  an  extensive  trestle- 
work  below  the  depot,  destroyed  a  culvert,  cut  the  telegraph  wires,  and 
burned  the  depot-buildings,  storehouses,  stables,  and  a  train  of  cars,  all 
filled  to  overflowing  with  stores  belonging  to  the  Rebel  army.  He  also 
burned  a  hundred  wagons  loaded  with  commissary  stores,  a  thousand  sacks 
of  flour  and  corn,  and  a  large  quantity  of  clothing  and  horse  equipment. 
No  private  property  was  injured.  He  next  marched  to  Hanover  Court 
House,  where  several  prisoners  were  captured,  and  proceeded  southvard 
to  a  point  within  seven  miles  of  Richmond,  where  his  command,  bi 
vouacked  till  morning,  when  they  marched  toward  Williamsburg.  At 
Tunstall  station,  near  the  White  House  and  Richmond  and  York  river 
railroad,  a  train  of  cars,  filled  with  infantry  and  a  battery  of  three  guns, 
was  run  out  to  oppose  them.  Colonel  Davis  charged  upon  them,  "but  could 
not  break  through,  as  there  were  formidable  rifle-pits  to  the  laft  of  the 
road,  and  the  force  largely  outnumbered  his.  He  was  forced  to  retire, 
with  a  loss  of  two  killed  and  several  wounded.  Failing  to  penetrate  the 
enemy's  lines  at  thi?  rjoint,  he  turned  northward  to  cross  the  Pamunkey 
and  Mattapony  rivers,  ™d  reach  Gloucester  Point.  He  succeeded  in 
crossing  the  former  river  at  Plunkett's  ferry  after  a  slight  skirmish,  and 
the  Mattapony  at  Walkertown,  capturing  a  few  persons  at  each  ferry. 
Between  the  two  ferries  Major  Bronson  and  a  part  of  the  regiment  be 
came  detached,  and  captured  fifteen  Rebels,  and  destroyed  a  quantity  of 
saddles  at  King-and-Queen  Court  House.  Colonel  Davis  having  crossed 
the  Mattapony,  made  the  best  of  his  way  toward  Gloucester  Point, 
stopping  however  at  Saluda  to  destroy  a  train  of  wagons  laden  with  corn 
and  provisions  for  the  Rebel  army.  His  total  loss  in  this  separate  expe 
dition  was  two  commissioned  officers  and  thirty-three  enlisted  men.  He 
brought  into  the  Union  lines  at  Gloucester  Point,  one  hundred  mules  and 
seventy-five  horses  captured  from  the  enemy,  and  reported  Rebel  property 
destroyed  to  the  estimated  value  of  over  one  million  dollars.  The  fol 
lowing  summary  of  the  work  accomplished  by  General  Stoneman  in  this  ex- 


GENERAL  HOOKER'S   ADDRESS   TO    HIS   ARMY.  539 

pedition,  shows  that  it  was  the  most  successful  raid  ever  undertaken  in 
this  country:  bridges  destroyed,  twenty-two;  culverts  destroyed,  seven; 
ferries  destroyed,  five;  railroads  broken  in  seven  places;  supply  trains 
burned,  four ;  wagons  destroyed,  two  hundred  and  twenty-two ;  horses 
captured,  two  hundred ;  mules  captured,  one  hundred  and  four ;  canals 
broken,'  three;  canal-boats  burned,  five;  trains  of  cars  destroyed,  eight, 
storehouses  burned,  twelve  ;  telegraph  stations  burned,  four ;  wires  cut 
in  five  places;  depots  burned,  three;  towns  visited,  twenty-five;  contra 
bands  liberated,  one  hundred  and  fifty.  Value  of  property  destroyed  es 
timated  at  over  two  million  dollars. 

Colonel  Kilpatrick  remained  with  his  command  at  Gloucester  Point 
till  near  the  close  of  May,  making  an  expedition  on  the  20th  into  Glou 
cester  and  Matthew  counties,  in  conjunction  with  the  gunboat  Commo 
dore  Morris,  and  capturing  a  large  number  of  horses,  mules  and  cattle ; 
burning  five  mills  which  were  running  for  the  Rebel  Government,  and 
which  were  filled  to  their  utmost  capacity  with  flour  and  grain,  and  de 
stroying  a  large  quantity  of  corn  and  wheat  collected  in  storehouses.  On 
the  30th  of  May  Colonel  Kilpatrick  and  his  command  passed  through  ,  j 
Saluda  and  Urbanna,  crossed  the  Kappahannock  at  Union  Point,  and  re 
ported  in  person  to  General  Hooker. 

A  portion  of  the  fourth  army  corps,  under  command  of  Major-General 
Keyes,  arrived  at  West  Point  on  the  7th  of  May,  having  come  thither 
from  Fortress  Monroe  by  transports,  accompanied  by  a  fleet  of  gunboats, 
and  the  same  day  sent  forward  a  reconnoitering  party,  which  penetrated 
as  far  as  the  White  House,  and  rescued  Lieutenant  Estes  and  fifteen  men 
of  Colonel  Kilpatrick's  party  who  had  been  taken  prisoners.  The  fourth 
corps  moved  forward  to  a  point  within  a  few  miles  of  Richmond,  where 
it  remained  for  several  weeks,  it  being  the  intention  of  General  Dix,  then 
in  command  of  Fortress  Monroe,  that  it  should  attack  Richmond  while 
stripped  of  its  defenders  and  before  the  communications  between  that 
city  and  Lee's  army  could  be  re-established.  It  failed  however  to  accom 
plish  this  object,  or  even  to  attempt  it — the  failure  resulting,  it  was  al 
leged,  from  the  inefficiency  of  one  of  the  generals  commanding.  It  was 
therefore  recalled  in  June,  and  the  troops  sent  to  reinforce  the  army  of 
the  Potomac. 

We  return  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  Major-General  Hooker  issued  the  following  address 
to  his  troops : 

"HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  or  THE  POTOMAC, 

"May  6,  1863. 

"GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  49. — The  Major-General  commanding  ten 
ders  to  this  army  his  congratulations  on  its  achievements  of  the  last  seven 
days. 


540  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

"  It  has  not  accomplished  all  that  was  expected — the  reasons  are  well 
known  to  the  army. 

"  It  is  sufficient  to  say  they  were  of  a  character  not  to  be  foreseen  or 
prevented  by  human  sagacity  or  resources. 

"  In  withdrawing  from  the  south  bank  of  the  Kappahannock  before 
delivering  a  general  battle  to  our  adversaries,  the  army  has  given  re. 
newed  evidence  of  its  confidence  in  itself  and  its  fidelity  to  the  principles 
it  represents. 

"In  fighting  at  a  disadvantage,  we  would  have  been  recreant  to  our 
trust,  to  ourselves,  our  cause,  and  our  country.  Profoundly  loyal,  and 
conscious  of  its  strength,  the  army  of  the  Potomac  will  give  or  decline 
battle  whenever  its  interest  or  honor  may  demand. 

"  It  will  also  be  the  guardian  of  its  own  history  and  its  own  arm. 

"By  our  celerity  and  secrecy  of  movement,  our  advance  and  passage 
of  the  rivers  was  undisputed,  and  on  our  withdrawal  not  a  Rebel  returned 
to  follow. 

"  The  events  of  the  last  week  may  swell  with  pride  the  hearts  of 
every  officer  and  soldier  of  this  army. 

"  We  have  added  new  laurels  to  its  former  renown.  We  have  made 
long  marches,  crossed  rivers,  surprised  the  enemy  in  his  intrenchments, 
and  whenever  we  have  fought  we  have  inflicted  heavier  blows  than  we 
have  received. 

"  We  have  taken  from  the  enemy  five  thousand  prisoners  and  fifteen 
colors,  captured  and  brought  off'  seven  pieces  of  artillery,  and  placed 
hors  du  combat  eighteen  thousand  of  his  chosen  troops. 

"  We  have  destroyed  his  depots  filled  with  vast  amounts  of  stores, 
damaged  his  communications,  captured  prisoners  within  the  fortifications 
of  his  capital,  and  filled  his  country  with  fear  and  consternation. 

"  We  have  no  other  regret  than  that  caused  by  the  loss  of  our  brave 
companions;  and  in  this  we  are  consoled  by  the  conviction  that  they 
have  fallen  in  the  holiest  cause  ever  submitted  to  the  arbitrament  of 
battle. 

"  By  command  of  MAJOR-GENERAL  HOOKER. 

"S.  WILLIAMS,  Assistant  Adjutant- General" 

The  President  visited  the  camp  at  Falmouth  on  the  seventh,  and  con 
ferred  with  General  Hooker,  in  regard  to  the  campaign  and  future  move 
ments,  and  on  his  return  to  Washington  expressed  his  gratification  at  the 
condition  and  spirit  of  the  army.  During  the  remainder  of  May  the 
army  lay  at  Falmouth,  and  except  some  slight  skirmishes  at  the  outposts, 
and  cavalry  affairs  in  General  Stahl's  brigade,  there  were  no  military 
movements. 

The  Rebel  general-in-chief  had  determined,  as  soon  as  his  broken  com 
munications  could  be  repaired  and  his  supplies  accumulated  to  a  degree 
sufficient  to  warrant  it,  to  attempt  again  to  invade  Maryland  and  Pennsyl- 


LEE'S  DETERMINATION   TO    INVADE    PKN  XSYLVANIA.        541 

vauia.  His  previous  attempt  at  invasion  had  indeed  terminated  dis 
astrously,  though  with  less  loss  than  he  expected,  but  he  had  what  he 
deemed  substantial  reasons  for  believing  that  greater  success  would  attend 
a  second  undertaking.  The  successful  raid  of  General  Stonernan  had 
materially  diminished  the  not  over-abundant  supplies  upon  which  his 
army  was  dependent,  and  had  deprived  him  of  a  large  number  of  cavalry 
and  artillery  horses,  of  which  he  had  great  need.  The  portion  of  Mary 
land  and  Pennsylvania  which  he  intended  to  invade  was  rich  in  agricul 
tural  products,  and  abounded  in  fine  horses,  and  he  could  thus  supply  his 
army  at  the  enemy's  expense.  In  addition  to  this,  it  was  alleged  that 
General  Hooker's  army  was  greatly  demoralized  by  the  unsuccessful 
termination  of  the  recent  campaign,  and  it  was  well  known  that  a  large 
body  of  the  Union  troops  which  had  been  enlisted  for  two  years  were 
returning  home,  their  term  of  service  having  expired;  and  he  might 
reasonably  regard  the  Union  forces  as  too  much  weakened  from  these 
causes  to  be  able  to  offer  sufficient  and  determined  resistance  to  his 
attacks.  There  was  also  an  apparent  division  of  sentiment  in  the  loyal 
States  in  regard  to  the  conduct  and  continuance  of  the  war,  and  some 
prominent  men,  in  most  of  the  States,  were  avowing  their  sympathy  with 
the  Rebellion ;  or,  if  they  did  not  openly  do  this,  were  seeking  in  every 
possible  way  to  obstruct  the  action  of  the  Government.  The  number  of 
these  sympathizers  with  the  South  was  far  smaller  than  General  Lee  sup 
posed,  but  his  information  led  him  to  believe  that  he  had  only  to  cross 
the  border  to  find  an  army  of  Secessionists  ready  to  join  him.  So  con 
fident  were  the  Rebels  of  success  in  the  enterprise,  that  it  was  heralded 
and  boasted  over  for  weeks  before  it  took  place.  With  a  view  to  this 
movement,  General  Lee  arranged  and  perfected  his  plans  as  rapidly  as 
possible,  and  remodelled  and  strengthened  his  army,  improving  its  dis 
cipline,  and  increasing  its  numbers  from  all  quarters,  till,  about  the  first 
of  June,  when  he  was  ready  to  advance,  he  was  at  the  head  of  one  of  the 
best  disciplined  and  most  efficient  armies  ever  marshalled  on  this  continent. 
The  accumulating  signs  of  the  coming  storm  had  not  been  unnoticed 
by  the  United  States  Government,  or  the  commander  of  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  suspecting  that  an  advance  was  speedily  to  take  place, 
General  Hooker,  having  first  made  a  reconnoissance  in  force,  with  the 
sixth  army  corps,  across  the  Rappahannock,  on  the  5th  of  June,  to  ascer 
tain  whether  any  considerable  portion  of  Lee's  army  had  yet  evacuated 
their  camps  near  that  city,  directed  that  an  attack  should  be  made  upon 
the  Rebel  General  Stuart's  cavalry  corps,  at  Beverly  ford,  on  the  Rappa 
hannock,  by  a  cavalry  and  infantry  force  under  the  command  of  General 
Alfred  Pleasonton.  This  officer,  who,  on  the  promotion  of  General  Stone- 
man  to  the  head  of  the  cavalry  bureau,  had  been  appointed  commander 
of  the  cavalry  corps  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  was  born  in  the  District 
of  Columbia  in  1824,  and  appointed  a  cadet  at  West  Point  in  1840.  He 


542  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE    UNITED  STATES. 

graduated  from  the  military  academy  on  the  30th  of  June,  1844,  ranking 
seventh  in  his  class,  and  was  at  once  appointed  brevet  second -lieutenant 
in  the  first  regiment  of  dragoons.  lie  received  his  commission  as  second- 
lieutenant  in  the  second  dragoons  November  3d,  1845.  He  served  under 
General  Taylor  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was  brevetted  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  conduct  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la  Palrna.  In  September, 
1849,  he  was  promoted  to  the  first-lieutenancy ;  in  1854  he  became  adju 
tant  of  his  regiment,  and  on  the  3d  of  March,  1855,  received  a  captain's 
commission.  In  1856,  he  was  appointed  assistant  adjutant-general  to 
General  Harney  in  the  department  o£  the  West.  On  the  15th  of  Feb 
ruary,  1862,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  in  the  regular  army, 
and  served  with  distinction  in  the  peninsula  in  the  corps  of  regular 
cavalry,  winning  two  nominations  for  brevet  rank.  On  the  16th  of  July, 
1862,  he  was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  placed  in 
command  of  one  of  the  best  brigades  in  Stoneman's  division  of  cavalry. 
During  the  Maryland  campaign  he  served  with  great  celerity  and  bril 
liancy,  and  ma.de  his  splendid  dash  into  Frederick,  on  the  twelfth  of  Sep 
tember,  driving  the  Rebels  through  the  town.  At  Boonsboro,  on  the 
15th  of  the  same  month,  he  again  engaged  the  Rebel  cavalry,  and 
drove  them  out  of  the  place,  capturing  two  guns  and  several  prisoners. 
During  the  march  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  from  Berlin,  Maryland, 
to  Fredricksburg,  in  November,  1862,  General  Pleasonton  commanded 
the  advance,  and  was  continually  engaged  in  skirmishing  with  the  enemy, 
driving  them  from  various  gaps  of  the  mountains,  and  clearing  the  way 
for  the  infantry.  Although  present,  he  was  not  engaged  in  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  in  December,  1862,  but  was  employed  in  reconnoissances 
and  scouting  expeditions.  During  the  advance  upon  and  the  battles  in 
the  vicinity  of  Chancellorsville,  he  was,  as  we  have  seen,  actively  engaged, 
first  in  keeping  up  the  communications  between  the  different  corps  on 
their  march  from  Kelly's  ford,  and  afterward  in  checking  the  flight  of  the 
eleventh  corps,  and  opposing  the  advance  of  the  Rebel  force.  He  was 
next  ordered  to  the  command  of  the  expedition  which  we  are  about  to 
describe;  and  his  brilliant  conduct  in  that  expedition  led  to  his  promotion 
to  the  rank  of  major-general  of  volunteers,  and  the  command  of  the  cav 
alry  corps ;  and  in  this  new  capacity  his  services  were  of  the  highest  order 
in  the  subsequent  battles. 

The  force  under  General  Pleason ton's  command  in  the  battle  of  Beverly 
ford  was  composed  of  the  first  cavalry  brigade,  under  General  Gregg,  a 
brigade  of  regular  cavalry,  under  General  John  Buford,  and  the  second 
cavalry  brigade,  under  Colonel  Duffie  ;  together  with  an  infantry  force 
of  about  two  thousand,  from  the  first  and  second  army  corps,  and  two 
batteries  of  artillery — making  in  all  about  nine  thousand  men.  The 
command  bivouacked  at  Beverly  ford,  on  the  Rappahannock,  at  twelve 
o'clock,  Monday  night,  Jure  1st,  commenced  their  march  at  three  A.M. 


PLEASONTON'S   ATTACK   ON   STUART'S   CAVALRY.  543 

next  morning,  and  at  four  o'clock  crossed  the  ford.  After  marching 
about  two  miles  they  came  up  to  a  semicircle  belt  of  woods,  where  the 
Rebels  had  a  line  of  rifle-pits  just  within  the  timber,  and  had  massed  their 
cavalry  force,  about  twelve  thousand  or  fourteen  thousand  strong,  with 
twenty-five  pieces  of  artillery,  under  the  charge  of  their  most  skilful 
cavalry  commander,  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart.  This  force  was  collected 
for  the  purpose,  as  was  ascertained  from  papers  found  on  one  of  the  pris 
oners  taken  by  the  Union  troops,  ot  leading  the  way  in  Lee's  advance 
into  Pennsylvania,  and  would  have  started  on  their  march  within  an  hour 
but  for  the  attack  of  the  Union  troops. 

General  Buford's  brigade,  which  was  on  the  right,  charged  at  once  on 
the  Rebels,  Colonel  Davis,  of  the  eighth  New  York,  leading  the  charge. 
A  very  severe  battle  ensued,  the  Rebels  being  in  strong  force,  and  re 
sisting  the  advance  with  great  determination.  }n  this  battle  Colonel 
Davis  was  killed.  The  Union  troops  used  the  sabre  with  terrible  effect, 
while  the  Rebels  replied  with  the  revolver.  Finding  the  resistance  too 
great  for  Buford's  brigade,  Gregg's,  which  was  in  the  reserve,  moved  up 
to  its  support,  and  charge  after  charge  was  made  by  the  Union  troops  with 
the  greatest  gallantry,  and  resisted  by  the  Rebels  with  equal  determina 
tion.  At  last,  about  twelve  M.,  the  Rebel  force  began  to  fall  back,  and  re 
treated  nearly  five  miles  to  the  position  where  their  artillery  was  parked. 
Here  they  were  heavily  reinforced,  with  infantry  and  artillery,  from  Cul- 
pepper.  Finding  that  he  should  be  greatly  outnumbered,  and  his  orders 
being  only  to  execute  a  reconnoissance  in  force,  General  Pleasonton  re 
tired  about  four  o'clock  P.  M.  across  the  Rappahannock,  in  perfect  order, 
taking  with  him  two  hundred  prisoners,  whom  he  had  captured,  and  all 
his  own  killed  and  wounded.  His  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  some 
what  more  than  two  hundred,  and  from  two  to  three  hundred  prisoners, 
and  tnat  of  the  Rebels  was  acknowledged  bv  them  to  exceed  six  hundred, 
including  the  prisoners/ 

The  information  obtained  by  this  reconnoissance  of  the  intended  im 
mediate  advance  of  the  Rebel  army  was  of  great  importance,  and  led 
General  Hooker  to  put  his  army  immediately  in  motion,  so  as  to  prevent 
Lee,  who  had  several  days  start  of  him,  from  flanking  him,  and  coming 
between  his  army  and  Washington  and  Baltimore.  Hooker  had  not, 
however,  confined  himself  to  this  single  reconnoissance.  StahFs  cavalry 
had  hovered  for  several  days  in  the  vicinity  of  Winchester,  New  Balti 
more,  and  Front  Royal,  and  had  had  several  skirmishes  with  Lee's  ad 
vance-guard,  whom  they  drove  back  toward  the  main  body. 

On  the  llth  of  June,  the  War  Department  organized  two  new  military 
departments — the  Susquehanna  and  the  Monongahela — and  assigned 
Major-General  D.  N.  Couch  to  the  command  of  the  former,  with  his  head 
quarters  at  Harrisburg,  and  Major-General  W.  T.  H.  Brookes  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  latter,  with  his  headquarters  at  Pittsburg.  On  the  12th, 


544  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

Governor  Curtin  issued  a  proclamation  and  General  Couch  a  call  to  the 
people  of  Pennsylvania,  urging  them  to  organize  and  to  hasten  to  the 
defence  of  the  State,  and  if  possible  to  drive  back  the  invader  before  he 
touched  the  soil  of  Pennsylvania. 

On  the  the  18th  of  June,  the  Rebel  advance,  under  Longstreet,  about 
eighteen  thousand  strong,  reached  Winchester,  Virginia,  and  gave  battle 
to  General  Milroy,  who  occupied  that  post  with  a  force  of  eight  thousand 
to  nine  thousand  men.  After  a  severe  battle,  General  Milroy  succeeded 
in  repulsing  them ;  but  on  the  next  day  they  renewed  their  attack  with  a 
largely  increased  force,  and  surrounded  the  town  ;  and  finding  that  there 
was  no  hope  of  a  successful  defence  of  the  place,  General  Milroy  resolved 
to  cut  his  way  through,  and  in  the  attempt  to  do  so  lost  nearly  all  his  am 
munition  and  artillery,  and  a  considerable  number  of  men,  in  killed, 
wounded,  or  prisoners,-  He  succeeded  in  reaching  Harper's  Ferry  with  a 
portion  of  his  command,  and  ran  his  baggage  train  through  safely,  by 
Hagerstown  and  Charnbersburg,  to  Harrisburg.  About  two  thousand 
cavalry  and  stragglers  from  his  force  broke  through  in  another  direction, 
and  effected  their  escape  to  Bloody  Kun,  Pennsylvania,  where  they  were 
reorganized  and  joined  by  recruits  from  the  Pennsylvania  militia. 

General  Jenkins,  one  of  Longstreet's  division  commanders,  followed  in 
pursuit  of  Milroy's  train  to  Hagerstown,  where  he  arrived  at  10.30  A.  M. 
of  the  15th  of  June,  and  pushing  forward  rapidly,  entered  Chambersburg, 
Pennsylvania,  at  8.30  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day. 

On  the  15th  of  June  the  President  issued  the  following  Proclamation: 

"  WASHINGTON,  Monday,  June  15,  1863. 

"By  the  President  of  the  United  States  of  America : 

"A   PROCLAMATION 

"  Whereas,  The  armed  insurrectionary  combinations  now  existing  in 
several  of  the  States  are  threatening  to  make  inroads  into  the  States  of 
Maryland,  Western  Virginia,  Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio,  requiring  immedi 
ately  an  additional  military  force  for  the  service  of  the  United  States: 

"  Now  therefore  I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United  States, 
and  Commander- in-Chief  of  the  army  and  navy  thereof,  and  of  the 
militia  of  the  several  States  when  called  into  actual  service,  do  hereby  call 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States  one  hundred  thousand  militia  from 
the  States  following,  namely : 

"  From  the  State  of  Maryland,  ten  thousand. 

"From  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  fifty  thousand. 

"  From  the  State  of  Ohio,  thirty  thousand. 

"  From  the  State  of  West  Virginia,  ten  thousand. 

"To  be  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  forthwith,  and  to 
serve  for  the  period  of  six  months  from  the  date  of  such  muster  into  said 
service,  unless  sooner  discharged — to  be  mustered  in  as  infantry,  artillery, 


PROGRESS   OP   LEE'S   INVASION.  545 

and  cavalry,  in  proportions  which  will  be  made  known  through  the  War 
Department,  which  department  will  also  designate  the  several  places  of 
rendezvous. 

"  These  militia  are  to  be  organized  according  to  the  rules  and  regula 
tions  of  the  volunteer  service,  and  such  orders  as  may  hereafter  be  issued. 

"  The  States  aforesaid  will  be  respectively  credited,  under  the  enroll 
ment  act,  "or  the  militia  service  rendered  under  this  proclamation. 

"  In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  and  caused  the 
seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

"  Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  15th  day  of  June,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  1863,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  the  87th. 

"ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

'*  By  the  President : 

"  WM.  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State." 

Governor  Curtin,  of  Pennsylvania,  issued  a  proclamation  the  same  day, 
calling  upon  the  citizens  of  Pennsylvania  to  enrol  themselves  in  military 
organizations,  and  to  encourage  others  to  do  so,  as  well  as  to  contribute 
money  in  the  defence  of  the  Commonwealth.  Governor  Tod,  of  Ohio,  and 
Governor  Bradford,  of  Maryland,  also  issued  proclamations,  urging  the 
speedy  arming  of  their  people,  and  calling  out  the  militia  for  service  in 
the  emergency.  Governor  Seymour,  of  New  York,  tendered  twenty 
thousand  militia  from  that  State,  and  Governor  Andrew,  of  Massachusetts, 
all  the  available  militia  of  that  State,  including  three  recently  returned 
regiments. 

As  yet,  however,  but  a  single  division  of  Lee's  army  had  entered 
Pennsylvania,  and  no  more  than  that  force  had  crossed  the  Potomac. 
The  remainder  were  occupying  the  different  passes  or  gaps  in  the  Bull 
Bun  range,  and  were  moving  within  supporting  distance  of  each  other, 
ready  to  cross  the  Potomac  as  soon  as  their  commander  deemed  the  time 
fora  movement  in  that  direction  propitious.  General  Pleasonton,  who  had 
hovered  around  them,  seeking  the  opportunity  to  strike  telling  blows, 
and  who  never  permitted  such  an  opportunity  to  pass  unimproved,  sent 
his  forces  out,  on  the  morning  of  the  17th  of  June,  from  Aldie,  to  the 
right  and  left  of  Goose  creek,  in  search  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  which  he 
supposed  to  be  near  Aldie's  gap.  General  Kilpatrick's  brigade  succeeded 
in  finding  them,  and  a  sharp  and  determined  battle  ensued,  both  sides 
charging  with  great  fury,  and  after  a  fight  of  about  three  hours  the  Rebels 
fled,  having  lost  heavily,  and  did  not  make  a  stand  again  till  they  reached 
Ashby's  gap,  where  the  main  column  of  Stuart's  cavalry  were  encamped. 
General  Gregg,  who  had  been  fighting  the  Rebels,  at  the  same  time,  near 
Aldie,  also  drove  them  to  Snickersville,  and  ordered  Colonel  Duffle,  with 
about  three  hundred  and  sixty  men,  to  proceed  to  Middleburg,  and  hold 
that  place.  On  arriving  there,  he  found  that  a  force  of  Rebel  cavalry 
greatly  outnumbering  his  own  were  encamped  around  the  town,  and  that 
35 


546  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Stuart's  whole  force  were  within  supporting  distance.  Determined  to 
carry  out  his  instructions,  he  sent  back  messengers  to  Aldie,  asking  for 
reinforcements.  Meantime  the  Kebels  in  force  attacked  him  at  several 
different  points,  and  finding  himself  in  danger  of  being  overpowered  by 
superior  numbers,  he  resolved  to  cut  his  way  through  them,  and  regain 
his  position  at  Aldie.  Failing  in  this,  he  turned  toward  Thoroughfare 
gap,  and  had  proceeded  several  miles,  when  he  ascertained  that  the  gap 
was  held  by  Ewell,  commanding  the  centre  of  Lee's  grand  army,  and  that 
he  was  in  the  vicinity  in  person.  Colonel  Duffie  then  turned  to  the  left, 
crossed  the  mountains  at  Hope  gap,  and  by  a  circuitous  route,  succeeded 
in  rejoining  the  division.  In  the  reconnoissances  undertaken  by  General 
Pleasonton,  between  the  9th  and  the  18th  of  June,  he  had  caused  a  loss 
to  the  Rebels  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners  of  about  two  thousand  five 
hundred.  In  some  of  the  skirmishes  his  own  loss  had  been  considerable, 
but  in  the  whole  it  had  been  less  than  one  thousand.  By  the  reconnois- 
sance  in  the  vicinity  of  Aldie,  in  connection  with  others,  he  succeeded  in 
discovering  the  location  of  the  three  columns  of  Lee's  army.  Longstreet, 
with  the  left  wing,  was  at  this  time  at  Leesburg,  and  Jenkins'  division, 
from  his  corps,  had  crossed  into  Pennsylvania;  Ewell,  with  the  centre, 
was  at  Thoroughfare  gap,  in  the  Bull  Run  mountains ;  and  Hill,  with  the 
right  wing,  was  advancing  by  way  of  Occoquan  and  Maple  Run  Shoals. 
His  force  was  estimated,  and  probably  correctly,  to  be  between  ninety 
thousand  and  one  hundred  thousand  men. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  another  engagement  took  place  between  Pleason- 
ton's  cavalry  and  the  Rebel  cavalry  force,  in  which,  after  desperate  fight 
ing  through  the  day,  the  Union  troops  drove  the  Rebels  through  Ashby's 
gap  into  the  Shenandoah  valley,  capturing  about  one  hundred  and  forty 
prisoners,  and  inflicting  very  severe  loss  upon  them  in  killed  and  wounded. 
He  also  captured  two  pieces  of  artillery,  three  caissons  and  many  small 
arms. 

During  this  time,  General  Hooker  had  been  moving  his  army,  by  as 
rapid  marches  as  possible,  from  Falmouth  toward  Manassas  Junction  and 
Fairfax,  keeping  between  the  Rebel  army  and  Washington  and  Baltimore, 
and  crowding  Lee's  army  constantly  to  the  west  of  the  Bull  Run  range, 
and  toward  the  Shenandoah  valley,  thus  compelling  them  to  cross  the  Po 
tomac  at  a  higher  point  than  they  desired.  The  people  of  Pennsylvania 
complained  very  bitterly,  at  the  time,  that  troops  were  not  sent  to  the  de 
fence  of  their  towns,  which  were  invaded,  and  threatened  with  invasion  by 
the  enemy ;  but  General  Hooker  understood  too  well  that  this  was  just 
what  General  Lee  desired,  and  that  if  his  army  were  weakened  by  sending 
detachments  to  Pennsylvania,  Lee  would  at  once  precipitate  himself  upon 
the  remainder,  with  his  whole  force,  and  if  he  could  defeat  it,  would  then 
be  prepared  to  attempt  the  capture  of  Washington  or  Baltimore. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  Lee  had  reached   Winchester  with  his  left  and 


APPARENT  APATHY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

centre,  and  General  A.  P.  Hill,  commanding  his  right,  had  been  forced 
beyond  the  Bull  Run  mountains,  and  was  following  toward  Winchester. 
On  the  22d,  E well's  corps  crossed  the  Potomac — a  part  of  them  at  Shep- 
herdstown,  near  the  site  of  the  battle  of  Antietam,  and  a  part  at  Williams- 
port.  Longstreet's  corps  crossed  on  the  27th  at  Williamsport.  Hill's 
corps  crossed  on  the  24th  at  the  same  place,  or  a  little  above.  On  the  23d, 
the  Rebel  General  Rhodes'  division  of  Ewell'scorps  entered  Chambersburg, 
and  was  followed,  the  next  day,  by  the  remainder  of  that  corps.  On  en 
tering  the  town,  General  Ewell  issued  general  orders,  prohibiting  the  sale 
of  intoxicating  liquors  to  his  command,  and  requiring  all  persons  having 
such  liquors  in  their  possession  to  report  the  fact  and  state  the  amount  to  the 
provost-marshal,  or  nearest  general  officer,  that  a  guard  might  be  placed  on 
them,  and  the  men  prevented  from  obtaining  them.  A  failure  to  do  this 
would  be  punished  by  confiscation  of  the  liquors,  and  render  the  other  prop 
erty  of  the  parties  liable  to  seizure.  He  also  admonished  all  citizens  to  ab 
stain  from  all  acts  of  hostility,  under  penalty  of  being  dealt  with  in  a 
summary  manner. 

Up  to  this  time,  the  people  of  Pennsylvania  had  apparently  been  apa 
thetic  under  the  earnest  calls  of  their  Governor  and  General  Couch,  and 
the  proclamation  of  the  President.  Although  large  bodies  of  militia  from 
New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  some  from  Massachusetts,  had  hastened  to 
defend  the  State  from  the-  threatened  invasion,  the  citizens  themselves, 
with  but  few  exceptions,  seemed  either  utterly  indifferent  to  the  approach 
of  the  enemy,  or  so  panic-stricken  that  they  fled  northward  or  eastward, 
leaving  their  property  at  the  mercy  of  whoever  might  choose  to  take  it. 
As  the  Rebels  actually  entered  the  State  in  large  numbers,  this  pusilla 
nimity  was  less  marked,  and  there  was  a  rallying  of  the  volunteer  militia 
of  the  State  in  considerable  numbers  to  Harrisburg.  Even  at  this  time, 
however,  they  were  inclined  to  haggle  in  regard  to  the  terms  and  time 
of  enlistment,  and  to  refuse  to  be  enlisted  in  the  United  States  service, 
lest  they  should  be  required  to  go  into  another  State  to  fight  the  Rebels. 
In  the  language  of  one  of  her  own  citizens,*  "It  was  not  until  the  enemy 
was  at  our  very  doors,  and  three  days  before  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was 
begun,  that  the  people  began  to  realize  the  magnitude  of  their  danger, 
and  Philadelphia,  which  was  a  most  tempting  bait  for  the  invaders,  began 
to  pour  forth  her  men  and  treasures  in  real  earnest."  Lee,  on  his  arrival 
in  Pennsylvania,  was  in  ignorance  of  Hooker's  movements,  his  cavalry 
having  been,  by  unskilful  management,  separated  from  his  main  army, 
and  Hooker's  army  interposed  between.  He  knew,  however,  that  there 
was  little  leisure  for  delay,  and  he  accordingly  directed  Ewell  to  send  two 
of  his  divisions  to  Carlisle  and  York.  In  their  route  to  York,  Early's 
division  entered  Gettysburg  on  the  26th,  and  finding  very  little  there  (the 
inhabitants  having  sent  off  almost  all  their  movable  goods  which  would 

*  Professor  M.  Jacobs  of  Gettysburg. 


548  THE   CIVIL   WAH  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

be  of  value  to  the  Rebels  to  Philadelphia),  they  at  first  attempted  to  levy 
a  cash  contribution  of  considerable  amount,  but  failing  also  in  this,  thev 
abandoned  the  place,  and  proceeded  toward  York,  the  cowardly  chief 
burgess  of  which  went  six  miles  from  the  town  toward  the  Rebels,  to  find 
them,  in  order  to  surrender  the  town  to  them.  They  occupied  York  on 
the  28th  of  June. 

Meantime,  General  Hooker  lost  no  time  in  following  Lee.  On  the  day 
after  the  Rebel  army  entered  Maryland,  the  Union  army  crossed  the 
Potomac  at  Edwards'  ferry,  and  on  the  27th  were  between  Harper's 
Ferry  and  Frederick,  Maryland. 

On  the  27th  of  June,  General  Hooker  was  relieved  of  the  command  of 
the  army  of  the  Potomac,  General  Halleck  says,  in  his  report,  at  his  own 
request — a  request  made  probably  from  the  conviction  that,  with  divided 
counsels  and  a  lack  of  efficient  co-operation  with  him  on  the  part  of  some 
of  his  generals,  there  would  be  little  hope  of  success,  in  the  battle  which 
it  was  evident  must  soon  be  fought.  Major-General  George  G.  Meade 
was  appointed  his  successor.  The  general  orders  of  the  retiring  and  the 
incoming  general  were  as  follow: 

"  HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  FREDERICK,  MARYLAND, 

"June  28,  1863. 

"GENERAL  ORDER,  No.  65. — In  conformity  with  the  orders  of  the 
War  Department,  dated  June  27,  1863,  I  relinquish  the  command  of  the 
army  of  the  Potomac.  It  is  transferred  to  Major-General  George  G. 
Meade,  a  brave  and  accomplished  officer,  who  has  nobly  earned  the  con 
fidence  and  esteem  of  the  army  on  many  a  well-fought  field.  Impressed 
with  the  belief  that  my  usefulness  as  the  commander  of  the  army  of  the 
Potomac  is  impaired,  I  part  from  it,  yet  not  without  the  deepest  emotion. 
The  sorrow  of  parting  with  the  comrades  of  so  many  battles  is  relieved 
by  the  conviction  that  the  courage  and  devotion  of  this  army  will  never 
cease  nor  fail;  that  it  will  yield  to  my  successor,  as  it  has  to  me,  a  willing 
and  hearty  support.  With  the  earnest  prayer  that  the  triumph  of  its 
arms  may  bring  successes  worthy  of  it  and  the  nation,  I  bid  it  farewell. 

"JOSEPH  HOOKER, 

"  Major- General. 

"S.  F.  BARSTOW, 

"Acting  Adjutant-General" 

"HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 

"  June  28,  1863. 

"GENERAL  ORDER,  No.  66.— By  the  direction  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  I  hereby  assume  command  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 
As  a  soldier,  in  obeying  this  order,  an  order  totally  unexpected  and  un 
solicited,  I  have  no  promises  or  pledges  to  make.  The  country  looks  to 
this  army  to  relieve  it  from  the  devastation  and  disgrace  of  a  hostile 
invasion.  Whatever  fatigues  and  sacrifices  we  may  be  called  upon  to 
undergo,  let  us  have  in  view  constantly  the  magnitude  of  the  interests 
involved,  and  let  each  man  determine  to  do  his  duty,  leaving  to  an  all- 


POSITION  OF  THE  TWO  ARMIES.  649 

controlling  Providence  the  decision  of  the  contest.  It  is  with  just  diffi 
dence  that  I  relieve  in  command  of  this  army  an  eminent  and  accomplished 
soldier,  whose  name  must  ever  appear  conspicuous  in  the  history  of  its 
achievements;  but  I  rely  upon  the  hearty  support  of  my  companions  in 
arms  to  assist  me  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  important  trust 
which  has  been  confided  to  me. 

"GEORGE  G.  MEADE, 

"  Major-General  Commanding 

"S.  F.  BARSTOW, 

''Assistant  Adjutant- General." 

Having  assumed  command  on  the  28th  of  June,  General  Meade  di 
rected  his  left  wing,  the  first  corps,  commanded  by  General  J.  F.  Reynolds, 
to  move  to  Emmettsburg,  Maryland,  and  the  right  wing,  the  eleventh 
corps,  under  General  0.  O.  Howard,  upon  New  Windsor,  leaving  General 
French,  with  eleven  thousand  men,  to  protect  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
railroad,  and  convey  the  public  property  from  Harper's  Ferry  to  Wash 
ington.  Buford's  cavalry  was  at  Gettysburg,  and  Kilpatrick's  at  Hanover, 
Pennsylvania.  The  Rebel  commanders,  Ewell  and  Hill,  with  their  corps, 
reached  Fayetteville  on  the  Cashtown  road,  on  the  28th,  and  Longstreet 
came  up  to  the  same  po'int  on  the  day  following. 

It  now  became  evident  that  the  point  of  collision  of  the  two  hostile 
armies  would  be  in  the  vicinity  of  Gettysburg,  to  which  they  were  con 
verging  from  opposite  directions.  On  the  29th  of  June,  Buford's  Union 
cavalry  encamped  in  the  vicinity  of  Gettysburg,  on  McPherson's  farm,  a 
mile  and  a  half  Horthwest  of  the  village.  The  first  and  eleventh  corps 
(General  Reynolds'  and  General  Howard's,  numbering  in  all  about  twenty- 
three  thousand  men)  also  came  from  Emmettsburg,  and  encamped  four 
miles  southwest  of  the  village,  on  the  right  bank  of  Marsh's  creek.  On 
the  Rebel  side,  Hill's  corps,  consisting  of  Heath's  division,  ten  thousand 
men ;  Fender's,  ten  thousand ;  and  Anderson's,  fifteen  thousand,  were 
moved  to  the  vicinity  of  Marsh's  creek;  while  from  Longstreet's  corps, 
McLaws'  division,  twelve  thousand  men,  and  Hood's,  twelve  thousand, 
were  encamped  in  the  same  vicinity.  Pickett's  division,  seven  thousand 
men,  was  at  Chambersburg,  and  Rhodes'  and  Early's  divisions  of  Ewell's 
corps,  together  nineteen  thousand  strong,  were  at  Heidlersburg,  nine 
miles  distant;  and  Johnson's  of '  the  same  corps,  twelve  thousand,  was  at 
Carlisle.  The  plan  of  Lee  was  evidently  that  which  he  so  often  found 
successful,  of  massing  an  overwhelming  force  upon  a  numerically  feeble 
foe,  and  thus  defeating  the  Union  army  in  detail.  He  had,  as  wiH  be 
seen,  fifty-nine  thousand,  ready  to  give  battle  to  the  two  Union  corps  of 
twenty-three  thousand,  while  he  had  also  nineteen  thousand  more  in  sup 
porting  distance.  The  remaining  corps  of  the  Union  army,  except  the 
six  thousand  cavalry  of  Buford,  were  not  within  a  day's  march,  and 
hence  could  not  furnish  adequate  support.  The  great  battle  could  not  be 
delayed,  and  the  prospect  for  the  Union  forces  was  exceedingly  dark. 


550  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER    XLYII. 

8KKTCH  OF  GENERAL  MEADE TOPOGRAPHY  OF    THE    BATTLE-FIELD THE    BEGINNING    OF    THB 

BATTLE — DEATH     OF     GENERAL     REYNOLDS SKETCH     OF     HIS     LIFE — COMING     UP    OF    THB 

ELEVENTH    CORPS — THE    POSITION    ON    CEMETERY    HILL    SECURED — RETREAT  OF  THE  FIRST 

AND    ELEVENTH    CORPS    TO    CEMETERY    HILL GREAT    LOSS    OF    PRISONERS — TUB  STATR    OF 

FEELING    IN    THE   TWO    ARMIES — DEPRESSION     OF     THE     CITIZENS     OF    GETTYSBURG — REIN 
FORCEMENTS    OF    THE   UNION    ARMY — POSITION    OF    THE    TWO    ARMIES    ON    THE  MORNING  OF 

JULY    2 — OPENING    OF    THE    SECOND     DAY'S     BATTLE THE     ATTACK    ON    SICKLES'    CORPS 

THE    NINTH    MASSACHUSETTS    BATTERY THE    CHARGE  OF  THE  PENNSYLVANIA    RESERVES 

THK  ENEMY  BEATEN  BACK EWELL's    ATTACK     ON    THE    ELEVENTH    CORPS    AND  ON  GREEN'S 

BRIGADE — HE    PENETRATES    TO    SPANGLER's    SPRING THE    THIRD  DAY'S  BATTLE — ATTACK 

ON    THE    UNION    RIGHT THE    REPULSE TERRIBLE    ARTILLERY  DUEL  ON  THE  LEFT  CENTRE 

ASSAULT    BY     PICKETT's     DIVISION TERRIBLE     SLAUGHTER LONGSREET's     ATTACK    ON 

ROUND     TOP THIS     TOO     REPULSED — THE     BATTLE     OVER — RETREAT     OF     THE     REBELS  — 

CROSSING  OF    THE    POTOMAC GENERAL    MEADE'S    ERROR THE    LOSSES    ON    BOTH    SIDES 

GENERAL    ORDERS    OF    THE   TWO    COMMANDERS — BENEFICIAL    RESULT    OF  THE  INVASION  JO 
THE    UNION    CAUSE. 

AT  the  close  of  the  last  chapter,  we  left  the  two  armies  rapidly  ap 
proaching  each  other,  and  both  preparing  for  a  battle,  whose  results  could 
hardly  fail  of  being  decisive  in  their  character.  Before  proceeding  to 
describe  the  battle  of  the  first  three  days  of  July,  it  may  be  well  to  give 
some  account  of  the  new  commander  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  who 
had  been  promoted  to  that  difficult  and  responsible  position  only  two  days 
before  the  battle.  George  Gordon  Meade  was  born  in  Cadiz,  Spain,  in 
1816,  where  his  father  was,  at  that  time,  United  States  consul.  His  elder 
brother,  Captain  Richard  W.  Meade,  entered  the  navy  in  1826,  and  is 
now  (January,  1865)  in  command  of  the  steam  frigate  San  Jacinto. 
General  Meade  was  appointed  to  the  West  Point  military  academy,  from 
Pennsylvania,  in  1831,  and  graduated  in  June,  1835.  He  was  appointed 
brevet  second-lieutenant  of  the  third  artillery,  July  1,  1835,  and  received 
his  full  commission  in  the  same  rank,  in  December  of  that  year.  On  the 
26th  of  October,  1836,  he  resigned  his  commission,  and  for  the  next  six 
years  lived  in  complete  retirement.  In  may,  1842,  he  again  entered  the 
army,  as  second-lieutenant  of  topographical  engineers,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  throughout  the  Mexican  war,  distinguishing  himself  at  the 
battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Monterey,  and  receiving  a  brevet  for  "gallant 
and  meritorious  conduct"  in  the  latter  battle.  He  was  appointed  to  a 
first- lie-ate  nancy  in  the  topographical  engineers,  in  August,  1851,  and  to 
a  captaincy  in  the  same  corps  in  May,  1856.  During  the  period  which 
had  elapsed  since  the  Mexican  war,  he  had  been  engaged  in  topographical' 
surveys  of  the  northern  lakes,  and  in  other  duties  connected  with  his 
corps.  "When  the  Pennsylvania  Reserve  corps  was  organized  for  three 


SKETCH   OF    GENERAL  MEADB.  551 

years,  Captain  Meade  was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and 
ordered  to  the  command  of  the  second  brigade  of  the  Reserves,  his  com 
mission  dating  from  August  31,  1861. 

While  serving  in  this  corps,  he  superintended  the  erection  of  Fort 
Pennsylvania  at  Tenallytown,  and  subsequently  joined  the  army  of  the 
Potomac  in  the  winter  of  1862.  His  brigade  belonged  to  McDowell's 
corps,  and  remained  at  Fredericksburg  for  some  months.  On  the  18th  of 
June,  1862,  General  Meade  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of  major  of  topo 
graphical  engineers  in  the  regular  army,  and  assigned  the  same  rank  in 
the  newly  organized  engineer  corps  of  the  United  States  army,  In  June, 
1862,  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves  were  added  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac 
ou  the  peninsula.  General  Meade  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Mechanics- 
ville,  on  the  26th  of  June,  and  in  the  battle  of  Gaines' Mill,  June  27 ;  and 
for  his  bravery  in  the  latter  battle,  received  the  brevet  of  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  engineers  in  the  regular  army.  After  the  capture  of  Generals 
McCall  and  Reynolds,  he  took  command  of  the  Reserves,  and  in  the  battle 
of  June  30  was  severely  wounded,  but  recovered  in  season  to  command 
his  division  in  the  Maryland  campaign ;  and  after  General  Hooker  was 
wounded  at  Antietam,  commanded  his  corps,  and  had  two  horses  killed 
under  him,  and  was  himself  slightly  wounded.  During  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  he  commanded  th^  second  division  of  the  first  army 
corps,  and  fought  in  the  left  wing,  under  General  Franklin,  with  a 
tenacity  and  daring  which  was  hardly  equalled  in  that  day  of  magnificent 
bravery.  All  his  brigade  officers,  many  of  his  field  and  line  officers,  and 
more  than  fifteen  hundred  men  of  his  division,  were  either  killed  or 
wounded,  before  he  relinquished  the  attack.  Two  days  after  the  battle  he 
was  promoted  to  the  command  of  the  fifth  army  corps,  and  was  appointed 
major-general  of  volunteers,  his  commission  dating  from  the  29th  of  No 
vember,  1862.  He  remained  in  command  of  the  fifth  corps  during  the 
whole  period  of  General  Hooker's  command  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  ; 
and  during  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville,  his  corps,  though  less  actively 
engaged  than  some  of  the  others,  was  yet  a  tower  of  strength  to  the  rest 
of  the  army.  When  it  was  found  to  be  the  intention  of  the  Government 
to  relieve  General  Hooker  of  the  command  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
the  other  corps  commanders,  without  General  Meade's  knowledge,  unani 
mously  asked  his  appointment  of  the  Government;  and  the  order  re 
quiring  him  to  take  command  of  the  army  took  him  completely  by  sur 
prise.  In  his  stragical  movements  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  he 
displayed  admirable  skill  and  fertility  of  resource,  and  showed,  conclu 
sively  that  he  understood  how  to  foil  the  most  cherished  plans  of  his  able 
and  adroit  adversary. 

Gettysburg,  the  point  toward  which  the  two  hostile  armies  were 
hastening,  and  which  was  the  scene  of  the  most  bloody  and  desperate 
battle  of  the  war,  is  the  county  seat  of  Adams  county,  Pennsylvania.  It 


552  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

is  situated  in  a  small  valley,  surrounded  by  hills,  some  of  them  rising  to  a 
considerable  height.  South  Mountain,  the  northern  prolongation  of  the 
easternmost  range  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  is  about  ten  miles  west  of  the  town, 
and  has  a  general  course  from  northeast  to  southwest.  Half  a  mile  west 
of  the  town,  parallel  with  South  Mountain,  and  extending  southward  for 
several  miles,  is  Oak  or  Seminary  ridge.  North  of  the  town  this  ridge 
extends  across  the  roads  leading  to  Carlisle  and  Harrisburg.  Immediately 
south  of  the  town  rises  the  bold,  bluff  eminence  of  Cemetery  hill,  almost 
wholly  destitute  of  timber,  but  commanding,  from  its  height,  the  Semi- 
nary  ridge  and  the  borough  of  Gettysburg.  Southeast  of  Seminary  hill, 
there  are  two  other  smaller  elevations — the  nearer  and  smaller,  Gulp's 
hill,  and  the  remoter,  Wolfs  hill.  Both  are  heavily  wooded.  About  one 
and  three-fourths  miles  directly  south  of  Cemetery  hill,  and  forming  a 
continuation  of  the  elevated  plateau,  are  two  summits — Little  Round  Top 
or  Granite  Spur,  and  Round  Top.  These,  too,  are  crowned  with  heavy 
forest-trees.  Perhaps  half  a  mile  further  south,  or  a  little  southwest,  was 
another  and  somewhat  lower  eminence,  occupied,  on  the  3d  of  July,  by 
two  brigades  of  Kilpatrick's  cavalry. 

Having  thus  briefly  sketched  the  leader  and  the  field  of  'battle,  let  us 
take  up  the  narrative  of  the  battle  itself,  from  the  morning  of  the  30th 
of  June,  when  the  first  corps  (Reynolds')  and  the  eleventh  (Howard's)  of 
the  Union  army,  camped,  late  in  the  evening,  wearied  with  a  long  march, 
on  the  bank  of  Marsh's  creek,  five  miles  from  Gettysburg,  with  Hill's  and 
Longstreet's  corps,  fifty-nine  thousand  strong,  in  their  immediate  vicinity, 
and  nineteen  thousand  more  but  nine  miles  distant.  General  Buford  had 
that  day  entered  the  borough  of  Gettysburg,  with  his  division  of  six 
thousand  cavalry,  and  had  taken  a  position  on  the  western  slope  of  Semi 
nary  ridge,  northwest  of  the  town. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  July  1,  he  moved  forward  to  a 
cultivated  hill,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  Seminary  ridge,  and  placed  his 
batteries  on  the  eastern  slope  of  it,  near  the  summit,  and  formed  his  line 
in  rear  of  his  batteries,  near  the  base  of  the  hill.  He  threw  out  his 
pickets  a  mile  or  more  in  advance  of  his  batteries. 

On  this  point,  the  attack  commenced  a  few  minutes  before  ten  A.  M.,  by 
the  firing  of  some  of  the  Rebel  skirmishers  upon  Buford's  pickets.  Hill's 
(Rebel)  corps,  or  at  least  Fender's  and  Heath's  divisions,  numbering 
twenty  thousand  men,  had  moved  forward  by  the  Cashtown  road,  and 
posted  themselves  along  the  line  of  Willoughby  creek  or  river,  which 
flows  along  the  western  base  of  the  hill,  on  which  Buford  was  posted. 
Anderson's  division,  of  the  same  corps,  followed  soon  after,  and  took  its 
position  toward  the  Hagerstown  road.  The  engagement  between  the 
«  pickets  and  the  skirmishers  soon  grew  into  the  proportions  of  a  battle, 
and  about  ten  o'clock  A.  M.  the  artillery  on  both  sides  opened.  At  half- 
past  ten,  Major-General  Reynolds,  with  the  first  corps,  came  at  full  speed 


DEATH  OF  GENERAL  REYNOLDS.  553 

through  Gettysburg,  and  formed  in  line  of  battle  along  the  eastern  slope 
of  Oak  ridge,  their  right  wing  resting  near  the  Seminary.  From  this 
position  he  ordered  the  corps  to  advance  to  Buford's  relief,  who  was  at 
this  time  warmly  engaged  with  a  force  nearly  four  times  the  number  of 
his  own.  In  thus  advancing,  they  passed  to  the  northwest  till  their  left 
was  nearly  opposite  the  Seminary,  and  half  a  mile  west  of  it. 

On  the  east  bank  of  Willoughby  run,  and  about  one  hundred  yards 
south  of  Chambersburg  tunpike,  is  a  small  grove  of  timber,  extending 
eastward  from  the  run  nearly  half  a  mile,  to  the  summit  of  the  hill  on 
which  Buford's  batteries  were  placed.  This  grove  the  Rebels  had  filled 
with  sharpshooters ;  and  as  the  first  corps  approached  it,  Major-General 
Reynolds,  according  to  his  usual  custom,  rode  forward  toward  the  woods, 
and  dismounted  to  reconnoitre.  As  he  drew  near  a  fence  at  the  eastern 
extremity  of  the  grove,  and  stooped  forward  to  examine  the  woods,  he 
was  struck  by  a  ball  in  the  neck,  breaking  the  bone.  He  fell  forward  on 
his  face,  and  expired  in  a  few  minutes.* 

*  Major-General  John  Fulton  Reynolds  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1820.  He  was  admitted  a  cadet  at  West  Point  in  1837,  and  graduated  on  the  30th 
of  June,  1841.  He  was  appointed  a  brevet  second  lieutenant  of  artillery  on  the  1st  of 
July,  1841,  and  on  the  23d  of  October  following  received  his  commission  as  second 
lieutenant  in  the  third  artillery.  On  the  18th  of  June,  1846,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  first  lieutenant  in  the  same  regiment,  and  served  throughout  the  Mexican 
war,  winning  the  brevets  of  captain  and  major  for  his  "  gallant  and  meritorious  con 
duct"  at  Monterey  and  Buena  Vista.  After  his  return  from  Mexico  he  was  engaged 
in  military  service  in  California  and  against  the  Indians  on  the  Pacific  coast.  In 
IS.") 2.  he  was  appointed  aid  to  General  Wool,  and  on  the  3d  of  March,  1855,  was  pro 
moted  to  the  captaincy  in  the  third  artillery. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war  Captain  Reynolds  assisted  Governor  Curtin  of 
Pennsylvania  in  organizing  the  State  troops,  and  under  the  act  of  the  Legislature  of 
May  15,  proceeded  to  raise  the  Pennsylvania  Reserve  corps.  For  these  services  he 
was  presented  with  a  sword  by  his  native  State.'  On  the  14th  of  May,  1861,  he  was 
appointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  fourteenth  United  States  infantry.  On  the  20th 
of  August,  1861,  he  was  commissioned  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  first  brigade  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserve  corps,  then  under 
General  McCall.  With  this  command  he  was  engaged  in  the  construction  of  Fort 
Pennsylvania  at  Tenallytown,  and  in  the  early  part  of  1862  passed  over  the  Potomac, 
joining  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  The  "  Reserves,"  it  will  be  remembered,  formed 
the  second  division  of  the  first  army  corps  under  General  McDowell.  In  Juiie,  1862, 
they  joined  the  army  of  the  Potomac  on  the  peninsula ;  and  General  Reynolds,  on 
the  26th  of  June,  1862,  participated  in  the  battle  of  MechanicsvilJe,  and  the  next  day 
took  part  in  the  severe  and  disastrous  battle  of  Games'  Mill.  He  was  also  engaged 
at  Savage's  station  and  at  Charles  City  Cross  Roads,  where  he  took  command  of 
the  division  after  General  McCall  was  taken  prisoner,  and  at  a  later  hour  the  same 
day  was  himself  captured  by  the  enemy  and  sent  to  Richmond.  For  his  gallantry  in 
these  battles  he  received  the  brevets  of  colonel  and  brigadier-general  in  the  regular 
army.  After  his  release  from  Richmond,  he  took  command  of  the  Pennsylvania 
militia  when  that  State  was  invaded  in  September,  1862,  and  for  his  gallant  conduct 
at  that  time  received  the  thanks  of  the  State,  through  Governor  Curtin,  and  also 


554  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

On  the  fall  of  General  Reynolds,  the  command  of  the  corps  devolved 
on  General  Doubleday.  The  corps,  which  had  been  much  reduced  by 
losses  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  numbered  but  about  eight  thousand 
men.  The  battle  now  raged  furiously  for  nearly  two  hours,  the  Rebels 
relying  on  their  superior  numbers,  and  assaulting  the  Union  lines  with 
great  fury,  and  these  resisting  their  efforts  with  equal  determination.  A 
Rebel  brigade,  under  command  of  General  Archer,  of  Maryland,  num 
bering  about  fifteen  hundred  men,  attempting  to  outflank  and  capture  the 
Union  brigade  on  the  extreme  right,  was  itself  captured  and  sent  to  the 
rear;  and  a  regiment  of  Mississippi  troops,  eight  hundred  strong,  had  also 
been  taken  prisoners.  As  he  came  upon  the  field,  General  Reynolds,  ob 
serving  the  numerical  superiority  of  the  Rebel  force,  had  sent  back  to 
Major-General  Howard,  commanding  the  eleventh  corps,  requesting  him 
to  hasten  forward  with  his  troops. 

General  Howard  came  up  about  noon,  and  having  stationed  Steinwehr's 
division  on  Cemetery  hill,  as  the  best  position  for  the  coming  struggle, 
hastened  with  Schurz's  and  Barlow's  divisions  to  the  support  of  the 
struggling  heroes  of  the  first  corps.  It  was  time.  Rhodes'  and  Early's 
divisions  of  Swell's  (Rebel)  corps,  each  about  twelve  thousand  strong, 
which  it  will  be  remembered  were  at  Heidlersburg,  nine  miles  distant,  the 
day  before,  had  been  ordered  forward  at  an  early  hour,  and  formed  on  the 
left  of  Heath  (of  Hill's  corps)  with  the  intention  of  flanking  the  Union 
troops.  Rhodes'  division,  which  was  in  the  advance,  moved  forward  on 
the  Harrisburg  road,  and  took  part  in  the  battle  about  noon,  and  were 
pressing  the  first  (Union)  corps  so  hard  that  they  were  beginning  to  give 
way,  when  the  divisions  of  Schurz  and  Barlow  coming  up  upon  the 
double-quick  step,  took  position  on  their  extreme  right,  resting  on  the 
Mummasburg  road.  This  stayed  the  tide  of  battle  for  an  hour,  when 
Early's  (Rebel)  division  coming  up  on  the  York  road,  arrived  on  the 

those  of  General  McClellan.  On  the  26th  of  September  he  relinquished  this  position, 
and  returned  to  the  command  of  his  division,  and  soon  after  assumed  the  command  of 
the  first  army  corps  by  virtue  of  seniority  of  rank.  He  commanded  this  corps  in  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg,  being  in  the  left  wing  under  General  Franklin.  In  January, 
1863,  he  was  nominated  major-general  of  volunteers,  arid  confirmed  in  March,  his 
commission  dating  from  the  29th  November,  1862.  In  the  movements  preceding  the 
battles  around  Chancellorsville,  General  Reynolds  distinguished  himself  for  the 
promptness  and  skill  with  which  he  moved  his  corps,  carrying  out  the  points  which 
General  Hooker  had  planned  to  deceive  the  enemy.  In  the  battles  the  first  corps 
took  no  active  part,  being  in  the  reserve.  On  the  12th  of  June  he  was  appointed  to 
the  command  of  the  right  wing  of  Hooker's  army,  having  charge  of  three  corps.  He 
moved  rapidly  from  the  Rappahannock,  and  crossed  the  Potomac  on  the  25th  of  June. 
He  was, -as  we  have  seen,  with  his  own  corps,  in  the  vanguard  at  Gettysburg,  and  fell 
in  the  very  beginning  of  the  battle.  He  endeared  himself  greatly  to  his  officers  and 
men  by  his  thoughtfulness  for  their  welfare,  and  his  extraordinary  personal  courage 
and  daring. 


MOVEMENTS   OF  THE  TWO   ARMIP:S  555 

field,  and  took  part  in  the  fight.  The  Rebels  had  now  forty-four  thousand 
men  actually  engaged  in  the  battle,  and  as  many  more  within  supporting 
distance,  against  not  more  than  twenty  thousand  Union  troops;  and  as 
their  fresh  troops  were  constantly  moving  up,  and  extending  farther  east, 
with  the  evident  intention  of  flanking  the  Union  troops,  it  became  evident 
that  these  must  fall  back  to  Cemetery  hill  or  be  killed  or  captured. 
General  Howard  had  anticipated  this  contingency,  and  had,  on.  first 
coming  upon  the  field,  ordered  the  removal  of  the  heavy  artillery  to 
Cemetery  hill,  and  sent  orders  to  Steinwehr's  division  to  be  ready  to  sup 
port  the  Union  troops,  should  they  find  it  necessary  to  retreat. 

As  the  pressure  of  the  advancing  columns  of  the  enemy  became  greater, 
the  men  of  the  first  and  eleventh  corps  were  forced  to  yield  before  them. 
The  first  corps,  for  the  most  part,  moved  in  very  good  order  through  the 
southwestern  suburbs  of  the  town,  and  took  position  on  the  left  and  rear 
of  Steinwehr ;  while  the  eleventh  corps,  crowding  through  Washington 
and  Baltimore  streets,  took  position-  in  front,  and  on  the  right  centre  of 
the  hill.  In  the  confusion  consequent  upon  the  dense  crowd,  they  were 
unable  to  repel  the  assaults  of  the  enemy,  who  were  pressing  hard  upon 
them,  and  from  two  thousand  five  hundred  to  three  thousand  were  taken 
prisoners. 

At  4.30  P.  M.  the  two  corps  had  reached  Cemetery  hill,  and  the  well 
directed  artillery  fire  of  Steinwehr's  division,  and  a  heavy  force  of  sharp 
shooters  stationed  along  the  front  of  the  hill,  prevented  the  Rebels  from 
pursuing.  Soon  after  they  had  reached  the  hill,  General  Hancock,  com 
mander  of  the  second  army  corps,  who  had  been  sent  forward  by  General 
Meade  to  represent  him  upon  the  field,  arrived,  and  approving  of  the  ju 
dicious  choice  of  position  made  by  General  Howard,  proceeded  to  post 
the  troops  on  the  hill,  and  assign  positions  to  the  different  corps,  which, 
under  urgent  orders  from  General  Meade,  were  now  rapidly  coming  up. 
The  twelfth  corps  (Major-General  Slocum's)  and  part  of  the  third,  with 
its  commander,  General  Sickles,  arrived  about  seven  P.  M.  The  twelfth 
was  stationed  on  Gulp's  hill,  extending  to  Wolfs  hill,  and  the  third  on 
Cemetery  hill,  to  the  left  of  the  first. 

At  night  the  Rebel  forces  were  stationed  as  follows:  Ewer's  corps 
(Rhodes'  and  Early's  divisions)  occupied  the  town,  and  formed  a  line 
thence  southeast  to  Rock  creek,  a  stream  flowing  southward  about  a  mile 
east  of  the  town.  Johnston's  division  of  this  corps  did  not  arrive  till  the 
next  day  (July  2d),  and  then  took  its  position  on  the  extreme  left,  beyond 
Rock  creek.  Hill's  corps  was  posted  on  Seminary  ridge  in  the  follow 
ing  order :  on  the  left,  and  extending  from  the  Chambersburg  turnpike, 
to  the  Shippensburg  or  Murnmasburg  road,  was  Heath's  division  ;  next 
came  Fender ;  then  Anderson,  who  had  come  up  late,  and  had  taken  no 
part  in  the  day's  fighting;  then  McLaws'  division  of  Longstreet's  corps 

v  irabal  ^'q^k   uoJ    J  HIK  tnooe  ooJ   oaioo  Jjiiii  fl* 


556 


THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 


which  had  also  come  up  too  late  for  the  battle  of  that  day  ;  and  this  was 
joined  still  further  on  the  right,  the  next  morning,  by  Hood's  division. 

The  tone  of  feeling  in  the  two  armies  was  very  dil/crent.  The  Rebels 
were  boastful  and  jubilant;  they  were  elated  with  their  success  on  that 
day,  and  fully  confident  that  on  the  morrow  they  should  completely  an 
nihilate  the  Union  army,  fatigued  as  it  was  by  long  marches,  and  yet 
scattered,  for  they  were  well  aware  that  but  two  small  corps  had  been 
fighting  them  through  the  day.  Their  commander,  however,  saw  less  oc 
casion  for  rejoicing  than  some  of  his  subordinates.  lie  had,  indeed,  driven 
the  small  force  opposed  to  him  back  about  two  miles,  and  taken  about 
three  thousand  prisoners;  but  they  had  retreated  to  a  strong  and  almost 
impregnable  position,  and  had  carried  off  twenty -three  hundred  of  his 
men ;  and  their  forces  would  come  up  rapidly,  and  soon  would  be  equal 
in  numbers  to  his  own,  with  a  decidedly  superior  position. 

On  the  Union  side  there  was  very  little  dejection  or  discouragement, 
but  as  little  rejoicing.  The  two  corps  which  had  been  engaged  had  made 
a  good  fight,  and  though  they  had  lost  heavily,  in  killed,  wounded  and 
prisoners,  they  had  not  been  panic-stricken  and  dishonored.  They  had, 
indeed,  lost  their  noble  and  gallant  commander,  General  Reynolds,  and  the 
youthful  but  fearless  General  Barlow  was  wounded  well  jigh  to  death. 
Of  Schurz's  division,  of  the  eleventh  corps,  numbering  in  the  morning 
three  thousand  six  hundred  men,  two  thousand  two  hundred  were  killed; 
wounded,  or  prisoners.  With  all  these  misfortunes,  however,  there  was 
a  full  belief  in  the  advantages  of  their  position,  a  certainty  that  they 
would  be  largely  reinforced  before  another  day's  fighting,  and  an  un 
shaken  confidence  in  the  ability  of  General  Meade.  When  evening 
brought  Slocum's  and  part  of  Sickles'  corps,  and  especially  when,  soon 
after  midnight,  General  Meade  and  his  staff'  rode  into  camp  from  Taney. 
town,  the  spirits  of  the  men,  weary  as  they  were,  began  to  rise,  and  they 
felt  that  victory  was  yet  within  their  reach. 

The  people  of  Gettysburg  were  overwhelmed  with  distress  and  anxiety 
during  this,  the  first  night  of  the  battle.  They  had  seen  one  of  the  finest 
dwellings  of  the  town,  the  Ilarrnan  house,  wantonly  burned  in  the  morn 
ing;  th^p  knew  that  the  rebels  were  plundering  others  at  this  very  time? 
they  had  seen  the  Union  army  flying  before  a  triumphant  foe  through 
their  streets,  and  though  they  knew  that  they  had  succeeded  in  gaining 
the  Cemetery  hill,  yet  they  feared  they  would  not  be  able  to  hold  it, 
especially  as  they  knew  nothing  of  General  Meade's  near  approach,  or  of 
the  reinforcements  already  come  in,  or  within  a  short  distance  from  the 
town.  Furthermore,  the  Rebels  encamped  in  the  town  were  loquacious 
and  boastful,  and  took  delight  in  telling  how  easily  they  should  be  able  to 
destroy  the  Union  army  on  the  morrow.  Disheartened,  and  almost  in 
despair,  the  citizens  of  Gettysburg  watched  sadly  for  the  dawn,  which 
they  feared  after  all  might  come  too  soon,  and  too  deeply  laden  with  * 


OPENING  OF  THE  BATTLE  AT  GETTYSBURG.  557 

sorrow.  At  seven  A.  M.f  Thursday  morning,  July  2d,  the  remainder  of 
the  third  corps  (Sickles')  and  the  whole  of  the  second  (Hancock's)  and 
the  fifth  (Sykes')  had  reached  the  camp.  Hancock's  corps  was  placed  on 
the  left  centre,  next  to  the  first  corps,  and  Sickles  joined  it  still  further 
on  the  left,  while  Sykes'  held  the  extreme  left  wing,  resting  on  Round 
Top  and  Granite  Spur,  or  Little  Round  Top.  Sedgwick's  corps  (the  sixth) 
did  not  arrive  till  two  P.  M.,  having  marched  thirty-two  miles  since  nine 
A.  M.  of  the  previous  day.  As  the  men  were  very  much  wearied  with 
their  fatiguing  march,  they  were  ordered  to  take  a  place  behind  the  fifth  in 
reserve,  to  be  able  to  support  either  the  right  or  left  as  might  be  required- 

The  Rebels  were  in  no  haste  to  commence  the  attack.  General  Lee,  the 
Rebel  commander,  says  in  his  report,  that  the  force  of  the  enemy  (the 
Union  troops)  was  unknown,  and  that  he  deemed  it  advisable  to  wait  till 
the  rest  of  his  troops  came  up.  They  were,  however,  all  in  the  field  ex 
cept  Pickett's  division  of  Longstreet's  corps,  Johnston's  division  of 
E well's  corps,  and  Stewart's  cavalry — all  of  which  came  up  on  Thursday. 

The  force  which  was  present  for  duty  at  Gettysburg,  under  his  com 
mand,  on  the  morning  of  July  2d,  was  not  less  than  seventy-five  thousand 
men ;  and  about  twenty-nine  thousand  more  came  in  during  the  day,  in 
cluding  Stuart's  cavalry,  giving  an  entire  force  of  one  hundred  and  four 
thousand.  The  Union  army,  in  the  morning,  numbered  about  seventy- 
eight  thousand ;  and  Sedgwick's  corps,  of  about  sixteen  thousand,  came 
in  at  two  P.  M.,  making  the  entire  Union  force  about  ninety-four  thousand. 

The  day  passed  in  silence,  except  occasional  picket-firing,  and  now 
and  then  a  cannon-shot  from  the  Union  lines  to  ascertain  the  position 
and  strength  of  the  enemy,  till  twenty  minutes  past  four  P.  M.,  when, 
having  perfected  his  arrangements,  the  Rebel  commander  opened  a  ter 
rific  artillery  fire  upon  the  left,  and  followed  it  by  an  infantry  attack  upon 
the  left  wing.  General  Sickles,  in  command  of  the  third  corps  on  that 
wing,  moved  forward  with  his  corps  from  half  to  three  fourths  of  a  mile 
in  front  of  the  main  line  of  the  Union  army,  to  the  vicinity  of  Sherfey's 
peach  orchard.  The  ninth  Massachusetts'  battery,  Captain  Bigelow,  ac 
companied  the  corps.  General  Sickles'  position  was  unfortunately  too 
far  from  the  main  line  to  be  promptly  or  immediately  supported  by  the 
second  or  fifth  corps.  General  Meade  sought  General  Sickles  at  once,  and 
discussed  with  him  the  propriety  of  falling  back  to  the  line  of  his  sup 
ports  ;  but  the  enemy  had  perceived  his  exposed  position,  and  were  rush 
ing  forward  to  the  attack  in  heavy  force,  about  twenty-six  thousand  men 
being  thrown  at  once  upon  this  single  corps.  Very  early  in  the  engage 
ment,  General  Sickles  was  severely  wounded,  and  Major-General  Birney 
took  command  of  the  corps,  and  retained  it,  though  himself  wounded 
soon  after.  After  a  brave  and  determined  resistance,  the  corps  was  forced 
back;  and  the  enemy,  flushed  with  success,  pressed  forward  with  all  their 
might  for  the  high  ground  between  R&und  Top  and  Little  Round  Top  or 


558  THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Granite  Spur.  If  they  could  reach  and  hold  this,  they  would  be  able  to 
command  the  Union  position  on  Cemetery  hill.  The  struggle  was  fierce 
and  desperate,  and,  for  nearly  four  hours,  victory  seemed  poised  in  the 
balance.  Bigelow's  ninth  Massachusetts  battery,  nine  months'  men,  who 
had  not  previously  been  under  fire,  occupied  an  exposed  position,  and  the 
Rebels  seemed  determined  to  take  it.  Major  McGilvray,  who  commanded 
the  artillery  on  the  left,  ordered  Captain  Bigelow  to  hold  his  position  till 
he  could  get  up  two  batteries  on  the  ridge,  and  to  give  the  Rebels  grape 
and  canister.  Captain  Bigelow  obeyed,  and  as  the  Rebels  came  up  to  the 
very  muzzles  of  his  cannon  to  capture  them,  he  blew  them  to  pieces,  and 
filled  the  air  with  the  scattered  fragments  of  their  bodies.  Still  they 
rushed  on  with  demoniac  yells,  climbing  upon  the  limbers,  and  shooting 
the  horses,  but  Bigelow  held  on,  though  nearly  all  his  horses  were 
killed,  five  of  his  sergeants  dead,  and  three  of  his  cannoneers  and  twenty- 
two  of  his  men  wounded,  and  himself  shot  through  the  side,  till  the  booming 
of  the  guns  from  the  ridge  told  that  McGilvray  had  planted  his  batteries. 
He  then  brought  off  five  of  his  limbers  and  two  of  his  guns,  dragging 
them  in  part  by  hand.  The  Rebels  rushed  forward,  seized  the  four  pieces 
with  loud  shouts,  and  came  on  for  new  triumphs,  but  McGilvray's  batteries 
drove  them  back  with  terrible  slaughter,  and  a  fresh  division  (Humphrey's) 
coming  up  to  reinforce  the  third  corps,  charged  upon  the  Rebels  and  re 
captured  the  guns. 

In  this  desperate  struggle,  Doubleday's  division  of  the  first  corps,  the 
second,  and  part  of  the  fifth  and  sixth  corps,  together  with  two  divisions 
of  the  twelfth  corps,  came  to  the  assistance  of  the  third,  and  after  nearly 
three  hours  of  the  hardest  fighting  of  the  war,  succeeded  in  repulsing  the 
enemy,  who  had  at  one  time  gained  possession  of  the  summit  of  Little  Round 
Top.  From  this  point  they  were  driven  by  Crawford's  division  of  the  fifth 
corps  (the  Pennsylvania  Reserves)  who,  coming  up  fresh,  charged  upon  them 
with  great  fury,  drove  them  down  the  rocky  front  of  that  hill,  across  the 
valley  below,  over  the  next  hill,  and  into  the  woods  beyond,  taking  over 
three  hundred  prisoners.  In  this  charge,  the  gallant  Colonel  Taylor,  com 
mander  of  the  Bucktail  regiment  of  the  Reserves,  and  brother  of-  the  dis 
tinguished  author,  Bayard  Taylor,  was  killed,  and  the  Rebel  General 
Barksdale  also  fell.  Thus  thoroughly  driven  back,  and  with  severe  loss, 
the  enemy  made  no  further  attempts  upon  the  Union  left  wing,  but  the 
Rebel  General  Ewell,  who  commanded  on  the  enemy's  left  (opposite  the 
Union  right)  and  had  determined  to  obtain  possession  of  Culp's  arid 
Wolfs  hills  to  the  right  and  southeast  of  Cemetery  hill,  took  advantage 
of  the  weakening  of  the  Union  right  to  support  the  attack  of  Longstreet 
and  Hill  on  the  left,  massed  his  force  first  against  the  position  of  the 
eleventh  corps  on  Cemetery  hill,  and  afterward  on  Green's  brigade  of 
Geary's  division,  which,  with  Williams'  division,  alone  remained  of  the 
twelfth,  the  rest  having  crossed  t<3  the  support  of  the  third  corps,  and 


THE  SECOND  DAY'S  BATTLE  AT  GETTYSBURG.  559 

which  guarded  the  valley  between  Gulp's  and  Wolfs  hills.  The  attack 
upon  the  eleventh  corps  was  speedily  repulsed,  and  with  fearful  loss  to 
the  Rebels.  Howard,  depressing  the  muzzles  of  his  forty  cannon,  poured 
such  volumes  of  flame,  with  such  a  hail  of  shell,  upon  the  Rebel  troops, 
who  were  flying  to  climb  the  steep  front  of  the  hill,  that  they  fell  back 
completely  routed.  Ewell's  success  was  somewhat  better,  in  his  attempt 
upon  the  lines  further  to  the  Union  right.  He  attacked  Green's  brigade, 
in  the  darkness,  with  great  fury,  but  was  received  by  the  brigade  with  the 
most  resolute  courage,  and  the  whole  ground  in  front  of  Green's  breast 
works  was  covered  with  the  killed  and  wounded.  After  some  time  a 
brigade  of  the  first  corps  was  sent  down  to  the  assistance  of  this  little 
band  of  heroes.  The  conflict  raged  nearly  two  hours,  till  9.30  P.  M. ;  and 
though  repelled  from  Green's  breastworks,  a  small  Rebel  force  succeeded 
in  penetrating  to  a  point  inside  of  the  Union  lines,  near  Spangler's  Spring, 
where  they  lay  on  their  arms  during  the  night.  Owing  to  the  late  hour  and 
the  darkness,  they  dared  not  push  on  further,  lest  they  should  fall  into  a  trap. 

The  losses  during  this  day's  fighting  had  been  very  severe  on  both  sides, 
but  they  were  heaviest  on  the  side  of  the  Rebels  ;  and,  with  the  exception 
of  the  slight  advantage  gained  at  Spangler's  Spring,  which  proved  of  no 
subsequent  importance,  they  had  been  repulsed  with  great  loss  in  their 
attempts  to  carry  every  point.  They  were  not  however  defeated ;  and 
the  reinforcements  which  they  had  received  during  the  day,  and  which 
had  as  yet  taken  no  part  in  the  fighting,  together  with  the  fact  that  »& 
retreat  could  only  prove  ruinous  to  their  cause,  led  the  Rebel  commander 
to  resolve  to  continue  the  assault  on  the  next  day,  July  3d.  To  General 
Ewell  he  assigned  the  task  of  carrying  the  Union  right  wing,  and  to 
Longstreet  that  of  breaking  the  Union  left  centre,  the  weakest  point  of 
the  Union  lines. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3d,  General  Geary,  who  had  returned  to  the 
right  during  the  night,  was  attacked  at  early  dawn  by  the  enemy,  and  re 
plied  with  his  batteries.  The  attacking  force  was  that  which  had  pene 
trated  to  Spangler's  Spring  the  night  previous,  now  largely  reinforced  by 
Swell's  best  troops.  At  sunrise  Geary's  division,  which  had  been  rein 
forced  by  Shaler's  brigade  from  the  sixth  corps,  and  Lock  wood's  Maryland 
brigade,  charged  furiously  upon  the  enemy  and  drove  them  back.  Rein 
forced,  they  again  advanced,  only  to  be  again  driven  back,  and  from  4.30 
to  eight  A.  M.  the  battle  raged  with  the  utmost  violence,  and  there  were 
no  symptoms  of  yielding  on  either  side.  At  eight  o'clock  there.was  a  lull 
of  a  few  minutes,  and  then  the  strife  was  renewed  again  with  ever  in 
creasing  fury.  At  10.30  A.  M.  the  Rebels  were  retreating,  driven  by 
main  force  over  the  breastworks  with  dreadful  slaughter,  and,  as  they 
fell  back,  a  battery  on  the  Baltimore  turnpike  ploughed  through  their 
lines  with  shot  and  shell,  hurled  over  the  heads  of  the  twelfth  corps,  and 
made  terrible  havoc  in  their  ranks. 


560  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

After  the  retreat  of  E well's  troops  to  the  west  and  northwest  of  the 
town  of  Gettysburg,  the  enemy  remained  quiet  till  one  P.  M.,  when  they 
opened  fire  with  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  to  one  hundred  and  fifty 
guns  on  the  centre  and  left,  the  position  of  General  Hancock's  corps, 
which,  from  the  want  of  natural  defences,  was  the  weakest  portion  of  the 
Union  lines.  The  Union  batteries,  fully  equal  in  number  and  calibre, 
replied  promptly,  and  for  the  next  two  hours  the  earth  shook  under  the 
feet  of  the  two  armies  with  the  terrible  concussion.  The  air  seemed  filled 
with  iron  missiles,  and  the  forest  trees  on  both  sides  were  riven,  torn 
and  splintered,  as  if  struck  by  lightening.  At  last  the  Union  troops 
ceased  to  reply,  not  from  any  disposition  to  yield,  or  from  lack  of  am 
munition,  but  to  compel  the  Kebels  to  a  further  demonstration. 

They  were  not  slow  in  making  it.  Pickett's  division,  the  elite  of 
Longstreet's  corps,  which  had  not  yet  been  under  fire  in  this  battle,  was 
advanced,  and  supported  by  three  brigades  from  Heath's  and  Anderson's 
divisions  of  Hill's  corps.  They  moved  steadily  forward  for  nearly  a  half 
mile,  intending  evidently  to  carry  the  Union  lines  by  assault,  when  having 
arrived  within  short  range,  the  artillery  opened  on  them  with  grape,  can 
ister,  and  shell.  They  hesitated  for  a  moment,  then  with  tremendous 
yells  rushed  on  till,  when  within  a  short  distance  of  the  lines,  they  were  re 
ceived  with  a  most  deadly  and  destructive  fire  of  musketry.  Under  this 
they  reeled  and  staggered,  and  a  part  rushing  up  to  the  Union  lines  threw 
down  their  arms  and  surrendered,  while  the  remainder  turned  and  fled. 
Webb's  and  Stannard's  brigades  of  Doubleday's  division  sprang  forward, 
and  each  captured  about  eight  hundred  prisoners,  and  the  other  brigades 
considerable  numbers.  Fifteen  stands  of  colors  were  also  taken  by  the 
Union  troops.  Of  the  three  brigade  commanders  of  Pickett's  division, 
Garnett  was  killed,  Armistead  mortally  wounded,  and  Kemper  severely 
wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  General  Pettigrew  and  General  Semmes 
were  also  wounded,  the  latter  mortally.  Over  one  third  of  the  men  en 
gaged  in  this  assault  were  left  upon  the  field,  and  three  thousand  more 
taken  prisoners.  On  the  Union  side  the  loss  had  been  much  less,  but 
Major-General  Hancock  and  Brigadier-General  Gibbon  were  severely,  and 
Generals  Warren  and  Hunt  slightly  wounded.  Of  course  this  closed  the 
battle  in  this  part  of  the  field,  as  there  was  no  probability  of  rallying  these 
broken  troops  for  another  attack. 

But  Longstreet  had  not  relinquished  his  hope  of  effecting  a  lodgment 
of  his  troops  upon  Kound  Top  or  Granite  Spur.  Hood's  and  McLaws' 
division  of  his  corps,  while  the  fight  with  the  Union  centre  was  progress 
ing,  assaulted  these  points  with  great  vigor  in  front,  and  at  the  same  time 
Longstreet  sent  an  infantry  force  with  two  or  three  batteries,  to  a  point 
nearly  two  miles  southwest  of  Kound  Top,  with  orders  to  press  forward 
and  turn  the  flank  of  the  sixth  corps,  so  as  to  fall  upon  the  Union  rear 
and  secure  its  trains  of  ammunition,  which  were  packed  behind  Bound 


RETREAT  OF  THE  REBEL  ARMY  FROM  GETTYSBURG.   561 

Top.  They  were,  as  they  thought,  making  good  progress  in  this  move 
ment,  when  they  suddenly  found  themselves  confronted  by  two  brigades 
of  Kilpatrick's  division  of  cavalry.  A  fierce  engagement  ensued,  in 
which  the  Rebel  batteries  were  silenced,  and  the  infantry  driven  back  to 
their  original  position  in  front  of  Bound  Top,  and  the  Pennsylvania  Re 
serves  charged  upon  them,  capturing  the  battery,  taking  three  hundred 
prisoners,  and  five  thousand  stand  of  arms.  At  the  same  time,  General 
Gregg,  with  his  division  of  cavalry,  who  had  held  a  position  on  tho 
extreme  right,  crossed  the  Baltimore  and  Bonaughtown  road,  and  attacked 
Stuart's  cavalry  and  Ewoll's  force  on  the  left  and  rear. 

The  great  battle  was  over.  Thwarted  at  every  point,  his  efforts  to 
penetrate  and  destroy  the  Union  army  all  defeated,  with  nearly  one  third 
of  his  whole  force  either  killed,  wounded,  or  prisoners,  his  ammunition 
and  supplies  nearly  exhausted,  the  Rebel  commander  sullenly  drew  back 
to  his  intrenchments,  and  ordered  the  gathering  up  of  such  of  hia 
wounded  as  could  be  most  readily  moved.  The  Rebel  troops  which  had 
hitherto  occupied  the  town  and  the  tract  southeast  of  it,  moved  during  the 
night  to  Seminary  ridge.  "Owing  to  the  strength  of  the  enemy's  posi 
tion,"  says  General  Lee  in  his  report,  "and  the  reduction  of  our  ammu 
nition,  a  renewal,  of  the  engagement  could  not  be  hazarded,  and  the 
difficulty  of  procuring  supplies  rendered  it  impossible  to  continue  longer 
where  we  were."  Accordingly,  he  commenced  his  retreat  by  the  Fairfteld 
and  Cashtown  roads  toward  Williamsport,  on  the  evening  of  the  fourth 
of  July,  in  a  heavy  rain,  and  with  the  utmost  secrecy,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fifth  General  Meade  ascertained  that  he  was  in  full  retreat,  and  the 
sixth  corps  was  sent  to  pursue  him  on  the  Fairfield  road,  and  cavalry 
on  the  Cashtown  road,  by  the  Emmettsburg  and  Monterey  passes.  The 
fifth  and  sixth  of  July  having  been  occupied  with  the  succor  of  the 
wounded  and  the  burial  of  the  dead,  and  General  Sedgwick  having 
returned  from  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  which  he  had  pushed  as  far  as 
the  Fairfield  Pass,  with  the  report  that  the  pass  was  very  strong — one  in 
which  a  small  force  of  the  enemy  could  hold  in  check  and  delay  any 
pursuing  force — General  Meade  resolved  to  follow  the  enemy  by  a  flank 
movement,  and  accordingly,  leaving  a  brigade  of  cavalry  and  one  of  in 
fantry  to  continue  harassing  the  enemy,  he  put  his  army  in  motion  for 
Middletown,  Maryland,  and  sent  orders  to  Major-General  French,  at 
Frederick,  to  re-occupy  Harper's  Ferry,  and  to  send  a  force  to  hold 
Turner's  Pass  in  South  Mountain.  He  ascertained  subsequently  that 
Major  General  French  had  not  only  anticipated  some  of  these  orders  in 
part,  but  had  pushed  a  cavalry  force  to  Williamsport  and  Falling  Waters, 
where  they  partially  destroyed  the  enemy's  pontoon  bridge,  and  captured 
its  guard.  General  Meade  sent  Buford  at  the  same  time  with  his  cavalry 
division  to  Williamsport  and  Hagerstown,  where  they  successfully 
36 


562  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

harassed  the  Rebel  army,   destroying  its   trains,  and  making  many  cap 
tures  of  guns  and  prisoners. 

After  halting  a  day  at  Middletown,  to  procure  necessary  supplies  and 
bring  up  trains,  the  Union  army  moved  through  South  Mountain,  and  by 
the  12th  of  July  was  in  front  of  the  enemy,  who  occupied  a  strong 
position  on  the  heights  near  the  marsh,  which  lies  in  advance  of  Williams- 
port.  In  taking  this  position  several  skirmishes  and  affrays  had  been  had 
with  the  enemy,  principally  by  the  cavalry,  and  the  eleventh  and  sixth  corps. 
The  13th  of  July  was  occupied  in  reconnoissances  of  the  enemy's  position 
and  in  preparations  for  an  attack ;  but  on  advancing  the  next  day,  it  was 
found  that  during  the  night  of  the  13th  they  had  crossed  the  river  at 
Falling  Waters  and  Williamsport,  Ewell's  corps  fording  the  river  at  the 
latter  point,  wading  waist  deep,  and  Longstreet  and  Hill's  corps  crossing 
at  the  former  on  the  pontoon  bridge,  which  had  been  repaired.  The  cav 
alry  in  pursuit  overtook  the  rear-guard  of  Longstreet  and  Hill  at  Falling 
Waters,  and  captured  two  guns  and  numerous  prisoners.  Such  is  Gen 
eral  Meade's  account  of  the  retreat.  General  Lee,  on  the  contrary,  states 
that  he  awaited  an  attack  at  Williamsport  for  two  days  (June  12th  and 
13th)  and  that  as  none  was  made,  and  his  preparations  were  completed,  he 
crossed  deliberately,  and  without  interference  on  the  part  of  the  Union 
army.  Were  it  not  that  General  Lee's  report  is,  throughout,  disingenuous, 
and  that  though  he  does  not  directly  assert  falsehoods,  yet  often  he  so 
states  facts  as  to  compel  the  drawing  of  false  inferences,  and  as  often  sup 
presses  important  truths  which  would  tell  against  his  cause,  we  might 
be  disposed  to  accept  as  the  whole  truth  his  version  of  his  escape.  Gen 
eral  Meade  did  not  fail  of  censure  from  the  Government  for  thus  permitting 
the  Rebel  army  to  glide  away  from  him  when  it  was  seemingly  within 
his  grasp.  It  should  be  said  in  his  favor,  that  his  forces  were  much  ex 
hausted  by  their  very  long,  forced  marches  ;  that  the  Rebel  position  was 
one  of  great  strength,  and  that  the  Rebel  army,  fighting  for  existence, 
would  undoubtedly  have  fought  with  the  utmost  desperation,  and  the  re 
sult  of  the  battle  might  have  been  doubtful.  Yet  to  have  fought  and  been 
repulsed  would  have  been  better  than  not  to  have  fought  at  all,  since  he 
could  hardly  have  failed  to  have  inflicted  as  much  injury  on  the  Rebel 
army  as  he  received,  and  this  would  have  so  thoroughly  crippled  Lee's 
army  as  to  have  rendered  it  powerless  in  the  future.  It  cannot  be  denied 
that  the  mistake  was  a  grave  one. 

General  Gregg's  cavalry  force,  which  had  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Har 
per's  Ferry  on  the  12th  or  13th,  came  up  with  the  rear  of  the  enemy  at 
Charlestown  and  Shepherdstown,  had  a  spirited  contest,  in  which  the 
enemy  was  driven  to  Martinsburg  and  Winchester,  and  pursued  and 
harassed  in  his  retreat.  General  Lee  says  that  this  cavalry  force  was  at 
tacked  by  (Rebel)  General  Fitz  Lee  near  Kearneyville,  and  defeated  with 
heavy  loss,  leaving  its  dead  and  many  of  its  wounded  on  the  field.  Gen 


THE  LOSSES  OF  THE  TWO   ARMIES.  563 

eral  Meade's  army  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Berlin,  and  moved  down  the 
London  valley,  and  keeping  between  the  Blue  Ridge  and  the  Potomac, 
compelled  Lee  to  retreat  up  the  Shenandoah  valley,  and  to  take  a  position 
on  the  Rapidan,  where  his  army  remained  for  some  time. 

In  the  magnitude  of  the  losses  on  both  sides  in  this  campaign,  it  is  en- 
titled  to  be  regarded  as  the  greatest  campaign  of  the  war  up  to  that  period, 
and  the  battle  as  one  of  the  severest  of  modern  times.  The  Union  losses, 
as  officially  stated,  were  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-four  killed, 
fourteen  thousand  seven  hundred  and  nine  wounded,  and  six  thousand  six 
hundred  and  forty-three  missing,  of  whom  not  far  from  four  thousand 
were  prisoners.  The  total  loss  was  therefore  twenty -three  thousand  one 
hundred  and  eighty-six.  Among  the  killed  were  Major-General  Reynolds, 
and  Brigadier-Generals  Weed,  Zook  and  Farnsworth  ;  while  Major-Gen 
erals  Sickles,  Hancock,  Butterfield,  Doubleday,  and  Birney,  and  Brigadier- 
Generals  Barlow,  Barnes,  Warren,  Gibbon,  Hunt,  Graham,  Willard,  and 
Paul,  were  wounded.  The  Rebel  losses  have  never  been  officially  stated, 
but,  from  the  best  data  to  be  obtained,  it  is  believed  that  their  dead  num 
bered  about  five  thousand  five  hundred.  Nearly  that  number  were  buried 
by  the  Union  army,  and  others  were  found  in  the  woods  and  ravines  sub 
sequently.  The  number  of  wounded,  from  the  most  accurate  estimates 
to  be  obtained,  exceeded  twenty-one  thousand.  Of  these  seven  thousand 
five  hundred  and  forty  were  left  on  the  field,  and  abandoned  to  the  care  of 
the  victors,  and  were  attended  with  the  same  assiduity  and  tenderness  as 
the  wounded  of  the  Union  army.  The  number  of  Rebel  prisoners  was 
thirteen  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-one,  inclusive  of  the  wounded. 
The  total  loss  then  of  the  rebel  army  was  not  less  then  thirty-two  thousand 
one  hundred.  Among  these  were  Major-General  Fender,  and  Brigadier- 
Generals  Barksdale,  Armistead,  Garnett,  Semmes,  and  Pettigrew  (killed  nt 
Falling  Waters),  killed ;  and  Major-Generals  Heath,  Hood  and  Trimble, 
and  Brigadier-Generals  Kemper,  Scales,  Anderson,  Hampton,  Jones  and 
Jenkins,  wounded ;  and  Brigadier-Generals  Archer  and  Kemper  taken 
prisoners.  Three  cannon  and  forty-one  standards  were  also  captured  from 
the  Rebels. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  General  Meade  issued  the  following  general  order 
to  his  army : 

"HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC, 
"  NEAR  GETTYSBURG,  July  4,  1863. 

rt  GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  68. — The  commanding  general,  in  the  name 
of  the  country,  thanks  the  army  of  the  Potomac  for  the  glorious  result 
of  the  recent  operations. 

"  Our  enemy,  superior  in  numbers,  and  flushed  with  the  pride  of  a  suc 
cessful  invasion,  attempted  to  overcome  or  destroy  this  army.  Baffled 
and  defeated,  he  has  now  withdrawn  from  the  contest.  The  privations  and 
fatigues  the  army  has  endured,  and  the  heroic  courage  and  gallantry  it 
displayed,  will  be  matters  of  history  to  be  ever  remembered. 


664  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

"  Our  task  is  not  yet  accomplished,  and  the  commanding  general  looks 
to  the  army  for  greater  efforts  to  drive  from  our  soil  every  vestige  of  the 
presence  of  the  invader. 

"  It  is  right  and  proper  that  we  should  on  suitable  occasions  return  our 
grateful  thanks  to  the  Almighty  Disposer  of  events,  that  in  the  goodness 
of  his  providence  he  has  thought  fit  to  give  victory  to  the  cause  of  the 
just.  By  command  of 

"  (Signed)  MAJOR-GENERAL  MEADE. 

«  S.  WILLIAMS,  A.  A.  G." 

General  Lee  on  reaching  Williamsport  also  issued  a  general  order  to 
his  arrny,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy : 

*'  HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OP  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA, 

11  July  II,  1363. 

"GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  16. — After  the  long  and  trying  marches,  en 
dured  with  the  fortitude  that  has  ever  characterized  the  soldiers  of  the 
army  of  Northern  Virginia,  you  have  penetrated  to  the  country  of  our 
enemies,  and  recalled  to  the  defences  of  their  own  soil  those  who  were 
engaged  in  the  invasion  of  ours. 

"  You  have  fought  a  fierce  and  sanguinary  battle,  which,  if  not  attended 
with  the  success  that  has  hitherto  crowned  your  efforts,  was  marked  by 
the  same  heroic  spirit  that  has  commanded  the  respect  of  your  enemies, 
the  gratitude  of  your  country,  and  the  admiration  of  mankind. 

"  Once  more  you  are  called  upon  to  meet  the  enemy  from  whom  you 
have  torn  so  many  fields  names  that  will  never  die.  Once  more  the  eyes 
of  your  countrymen  are  turned  upon  you,  and  again  do  wives  and  sisters, 
fathers  and  mothers,  and  helpless  children,  lean  for  defence  on  your  strong 
arms  and  brave  hearts.  Let  every  soldier  remember  that  on  his  courage 
and  fidelity  depends  all  that  makes  life  worth,  having,  the  freedom  of  his 
country,  the  honor  of  his  people,  and  the  security  of  his  home. 

"  Let  each  heart  grow  strong  in  the  remembrance  of  our  glorious  past, 
and  in  the  thought  of  the  inestimable  blessings  for  which  we  contend; 
and,  invoking  the  assistance  of  that  benign  Power  which  has  so  signally 
blessed  our  former  efforts,  let  us  go  forth  in  confidence  to  secure  the 
peace  and  safety  of  our  country.  Soldiers,  your  old  enemy  is  before  you. 
Win  from  him  honor  worthy  of  your  right  cause,  worthy  of  your  comrades 
dead  on  so  many  illustrious  fields. 

"  R.  E.  LEE,  General  Commanding." 

The  invasion  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  by  the  Rebel  army,  so  far 
from  accomplishing  what  the  Rebels  and  their  sympathizers  at  the  North 
had  hoped  from  it,  was,  notwithstanding  its  immense  expenditure  of 
loyal  blood  and  treasure,  of  great  service  to  the  Union.  It  thwarted  the 
schemes  of  the  "  Peace "  party,  and  transformed  many  who  had  been 
ardent  sympathizers  with  the  Rebellion,  into  active  advocates  of  the  war. 


RESULTS  OF  THE  INVASION   OF  PENNSYLVANIA.  565 

It  roused  the  dormant  patriotism  of  the  professed  friends  of  the  Union, 
and  gave  a  new  impulse  to  volunteering.  The  heavy  loss  sustained  by 
the  Rebels  in  the  expedition,  in  men  and  munitions  of  war,  convinced 
them  that  the  party  on  whose  sympathy  they  had  relied  to  sustain  them 
in  their  struggle,  by  rising  against  the  United  States  Government,  were 
utterly  powerless  to  effect  any  thing  in  their  favor,  and  this  did  more  to 
dispirit  and  discourage  them,  and  to  injure  their  cause  abroad,  than  any 
previous  event.  Coming,  as  it  did,  in  connection  with  other  and  still 
more  decisive  victories  for  the  Union  arms,  it  encouraged  the  timid, 
established  the  wavering,  infused  fresh  courage  into  the  hearts  of  the 
friends  of  the  Union  at  home  and  abroad,  and  turned  the  tide  which  had 
in  other  countries  set  so  strongly  and  unjustly  against  the  national  cause, 
if  not  to  favorable  regard,  at  least  to  a  far  stricter  impartiality  than  had 
previously  been  manifested. 


566  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER    XLYIII. 

GENERAL  ORANT  TAKES  COMMAND  IN  PERSON  OF  THE  ARMY  FOR  THE  REDUCTION  OF  VICKS- 
BURG — HIS  CANAL  PROJECTS — THE  CANAL  ACROSS  THE  PENINSULA — ROUTE  BY  ROUNDAWA  Y 

BAYOU LAKE  PROVIDENCE  CANAL YAZOO  PASS STEELE's  BAYOU — SUCCESSIVE  FAILURES 

HE  RESOLVES  TO  ATTACK  FROM  BELOW THE  RUNNING  OF  THE  BATTERIES — EXCITEMENT 

AMONG  THE  SPECTATORS — MARCH  OF  TJIE  ARMY  TO  HARD  TIMES,  LOUISIANA — ATTACK  ON 

GRAND  GULF REPULSE  OF  THE  GUNBOATS THEY  RUN  PAST  THE  BATTERIES LANDING  AT 

BRUINSBURG BATTLES  OF  SHAIFER's   PLANTATION  AND  PORT  GIBSON EVACUATION  OF 

GRAND  GULF — SKIRMISH  AT  FOURTEEN  MILE  CREEK BATTLE  AT  RAYMOND CAPTURE  OF 

JACKSON,  MISSISSIPPI,  AND  DESTRUCTION  OF  REBEL  PROPERTY  THERE MARCH  OF  THE 

ARMY  WESTWARD BATTLE  OF  CHAMPION  HILL BATTLE  OF  BLACK  KIVER   BRIDGE 

VICKSBURG  INVESTED ASSAULTS  OF  THE  NINETEENTH  AND  TWENTY-SECOND  OF  MAY 

SIEGE  OF  THE  CITY ITS  CAPITULATION  ON  THE  FOURTH  OF  JULY— TERMS  OF  THE  SUR 
RENDER THE  RESULTS  OF  THE    CAMPAIGN REBEL    AND    UNION   LOSSES — SHERMAN'S 

PURSUIT  OF  JOHNSTON CAPTURE  OF  JACKSON  AND  DEFEAT  OF  THE  REBELS GENERAL 

RANSOM'S  EXPEDITION  TO   NATCHEZ — GENERAL  HERRON'S   CAPTURE   OF   YAZOO  CITY — 

OPERATIONS  OF  THE  GUNBOATS  ON  THE  TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI THE  BATTLE  OF 

MILLIKEN'S  BEND — BRAVERY  OF  THE  COLORED  TROOPS — ATTACK*ON  LAKE  PORVIDENCE. 

THE  efforts  for  the  reduction  of  Vicksburg,  the  principal  stronghold  of  the 
Rebellion  at  the  West,  had  thus  far  proved  abortive.  Sherman's  unsuc 
cessful  assault  on  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1862,  had  only 
resulted  in  rendering  its  defences  more  formidable,  and  its  garrison  larger, 
while  it  rendered  it  certain  that  the  north  line  of  the  Rebel  works  around 
that  city  could  only  be  carried  by  a  very  heavy  sacrifice  of  life,  if  at  all. 

General  Grant  had  been  engaged  in  operations  having  in  view  the 
command  of  the  Mississippi  Central,  otherwise  known  as  the  New 
Orleans,  Jackson  and  Great  Northern  Railroad,  as  far  south  as  Jackson, 
and  he  had  hoped  to  be  able  to  move  on  Vicksburg  in  rear,  by  this  route, 
making  Memphis  his  base.  That  hope  had  been  dispelled  by  the  cutting 
off  of  his  communications  by  the  Rebel  cavalry  in  December,  1862. 

Early  in  January  he  took  command  of  the  army  designed  to  reduce 
Yicksburg,  in  person,  and  made  his  headquarters  at  first  at  Milliken's 
Bend,  twenty-five  miles  above  Yicksburg,  and  subsequently  at  Young's 
Point,  nearly  opposite  that  city.  General  Thomas  Williams,  who  had 
been  in  command  at  Baton  Rouge,  and  was  killed  there  on  the  5th  of 
August,  1862,  had,  in  the  early  summer  of  that  year,  made  a  survey  of 
the  vicinage  of  the  stronghold,  and  had  projected  a  canal  across  the  neck 
of  land  opposite  Yicksburg,  with  a  view  of  turning  the  channel  of  the 
Mississippi  into  the  new  route,  and  leaving  Yicksburg  an  inland  town,  or 
at  most,  with  a  deep  and  sluggish  bayou  in  front  of  it.  To  make  it  plain 
to  our  readers  how  this  could  be  done,  it  may  be  necessary  to  state  that 
the  Mississippi,  moving,  as  it  does,  in  much  of  the  lower  part  of  its  course, 


THE   CANAL  PROJECT  BEFORE   VICKSBURG.  567 

through  an  alluvial  soil,  is  very  tortuous,  forming  a  succession  of  bends 
for  nearly  twelve  hundred  miles.  Occasionally,  where  the  peninsula  in 
closed  by  one  of  these  bends  has  a  narrow  neck,  the  river,  in  time  of  flood, 
breaks  through,  thus  shortening  its  course,  and  forming  what  is  called  a 
cut-off,  while  its  older  and  more  circuitous  channel,  retains  a  small  volume 
of  water,  but  ceases  to  be  the  channel  of  the  main  river.  There  are  a 
number  of  these  cut-offs  and  passes,  by  which  the  river  communicates, 
through  the  marshy  and  easily  riven  soil  of  Arkansas,  Mississippi,  and 
Louisiana,  with  interior  streams,  and  a  part  of  its  waters  either  find  their 
way  to  the  gulf  through  these  waters,  or  into  other  streams  which  reenter 
the  great  river  at  points  below. 

It  is  a  little  below  the  centre  of  the  concave  front  of  one  of  these  bends 
that  Vicksburg  is  situated ;  and  it  was  General  Williams'  belief,  that  by 
making  an  artificial  cut-off,  she  could  be  so  far  isolated,  that  her  power 
to  obstruct  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  would  at  least  be  de 
stroyed.  This  canal  had,  however,  been  improperly  located,  its  upper 
terminus  being  in  an  eddy,  which  would  render  the  entrance  to  it  difficult, 
while  its  lower  terminus  was  within  the  range  of  some  of  the  enemy's 
guns.  When  General  Grant  took  command  in  person,  he  found  that  this 
canal  had  been  abandoned,  temporarily,  after  General  Williams'  death, 
although  a  large  amount  of  labor  had  been  bestowed  upon  it.  Believing 
that  notwithstanding  its  objectionable  location  it  could  be  so  far  made 
available,  as  to  furnish  a  route  for  sending  transports  below  the  strong 
hold,  he  prosecuted  the  work  on  it  diligently,  though  much  delayed  by 
the  succession  of  heavy  rains.  Finally,  on  the  8th  of  March,  the  rapid 
rise  of  the  water  in  the  river,  and  the  consequent  great  pressure  upon  the 
dam  across  the  canal  near  the  upper  end,  at  the  main  Mississippi  levee, 
caused  it  to  give  way,  and  let  through  the  low  lands,  back  of  the  camps, 
a  torrent  of  water  that  separated  the  north  and  south  shores  of  the  pen 
insula  as  effectually  as  if  the  Mississippi  rolled  between  them.  This 
occurred  when  the  canal  was  so  near  completion  as  to  promise  success 
within  a  short  time,  but  it  so  completely  destroyed  it  that  there  remained 
no  hope  of  passing  through  with  transports  by  that  route. 

General  Grant  did  not  confine  himself  to  this  measure  for  the  reduction 
of  the  beleaguered  city.  Resolving  to  make  thorough  work  of  the  explo 
ration  of  the  side,  or  indirect  passages,  by  which  the  Mississippi  might  be 
descended  without  passing  by  Vicksburg,  he  directed  the  opening  of  a 
route  from  Milliken's  Bend  through  Roundaway  bayou,  into  the  Tensas 
river,  which  would  communicate  with  the  Mississippi  at  New  Carthage, 
and  sent  a  small  steamer  and  a  number  of  barges  through  this  route,  but 
the  water  commencing,  about  the  middle  of  April,  to  fall  rapidly,  and  the 
roads  becoming  passable  between  Milliken's  Bend  and  New  Carthage,  it 
was  found  impracticable  and  unnecessary  to  open  permanent  water  com 
munication  between  these  two  points.  He  had  also  caused  a  channel  to 


568  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

be  cut  from  the  Mississippi  river  into  Lake  Providence,  which  connected 
through  Bayou  Baxter,  Bayou  Macon,  and  the  Tensas,  Washita,  and  Red 
rivers,  with  the  Mississippi  below.  This  was  done  for  the  purpose  of 
communicating  more  readily  with  General  Banks  at  Port  Hudson.  He 
also  opened  a  channel  from  the  Mississippi  into  Coldwater  river,  by  way 
of  Yazoo  pass.  His  first  intention  was  only  to  pass  by  this  route  through 
the  Coldwater  and  Tallahatchie  into  the  Yazoo,  and  there  destroy  the  Rebel 
gunboats  and  transports  known  to  be  concealed  in  that  river;  but  his 
success  in  the  early  stage  of  the  work  led  him,  at  one  time,  to  hope  that 
he  might  be  able  through  this  route  to  obtain  a  foot-hold  on  the  high 
lands  along  the  Yazoo  above  Haines'  Bluff,  and  by  the  reduction  of  that 
formidable  outwork,  make  some  progress  toward  the  capture  of  the  strong 
hold  itself.  But,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  a  sufficiency  of  small 
steamers  in  season,  the  movement  was  delayed  till  the  Rebels  had  time  to 
fortify  a  strong  fort  at  Greenwood,  the  point  where  the  Tallahatchie  and 
Tallobusha  unite  to  form  the  Yazoo.  The  land  around  this  fort  is  low, 
and  was  at  this  time  overflowed  with  water,  so  that  no  troops  could  be 
put  on  shore  to  make  an  attack  by  land,  while  the  gunboats  bombarded 
the  fort.  Only  the  smallest  and  lightest  draft  gunboats  had  been  able  to 
enter  the  Coldwater  river,  and  these  did  not  carry  sufficiently  heavy  can 
non  to  reduce  the  fort  alone.  After  an  engagement  of  several  hours' 
duration  they  withdrew,  being  unable  to  silence  the  batteries  of  the  fort, 
but  still  remained  in  the  Tallahatchie  river. 

While  the  force  thus  detached  was  at  a  dead-lock  at  Greenwood,  unable 
to  go  forward  and  unwilling  to  go  back,  Admiral  D.  D.  Porter,  command 
ing  the  Mississippi  squadron,  informed  General  Grant  that  he  had  made  a 
reconnoissance  up  Steele's  bayou,  one  of  the  numerous  water  courses 
which  furrow  the  district  of  alluvial  soil  lying  between  the  Mississippi 
and  Yazoo,  and  that  through  this  bayou,  Black  bayou,  Deer  creek,  Roll 
ing  fork  and  the  Sunflower  river,  there  was  a  practicable  passage  into  the 
Yazoo,  a  considerable  distance  below  Greenwood,  and  at  a  point  where 
the  vessels  of  the  Rebels  could  be  entrapped  between  the  two  squadrons. 
This  route  was  also  tried  on  the  25th  of  March,  but  failed  in  its  main  .ob 
ject,  rather,  as  General  Grant  states,  "from  a  want  of  knowledge  as  to 
what  would  be  required  to  open  this  route,  than  from  any  impractica 
bility  in  the  navigation  of  the  streams  and  bayous  through  which  it  was 
proposed  to  pass."  Incidentally  it  proved  of  considerable  advantage  in 
the  destruction  of  stores  for  the  Rebel  army  at  Yicksburg,  and  in  furnish 
ing  some  supplies  to  the  Union  forces. 

Foiled  in  these  repeated  efforts  to  cut  off  the  Rebel  stronghold  from  its 
commanding  position  on  the  Mississippi,  or  to  assail  its  strongest  out 
works  in  the  rear,  and  destroy  the  great  bulk  of  its  supplies,  General 
Grant  was  not  the  man  to  yield  to  discouragement  or  despondency. 
There  remained  the  plan  of  assailing  it  from  below  and  from  the  rear,  by 


GRANT'S  MARCH   TO   HARD  TIMES,  LOUISIANA.  509 

making  a  point  some  distance  below  and  on  the  Louisiana  side,  his  base 
of  operations,  and  tbence,  by  rapid  marches,  without  heavy  trains,  fight 
ing,  if  need  be,  as  he  went,  to  gain  and  occupy  the  hills,  which  looked 
out  upon  its  lofty  bluffs.  The  attempt  to  capture  so  strong  a  post  by 
such  a  movement  was  one  of  great  daring,  and  beset  by  obstacles  which 
many,  perhaps  most,  commanders  would  have  deemed  insuperable.  The 
eastern  or  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi  was  lined  with  formidable  batteries 
for  most  of  the  distance  between  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson;  and  from 
Young's  Point  to  some  distance  below  Warrenton,  the  batteries  were  con 
tinuous,  and  more  formidable  perhaps  than  had  ever  been  passed  by  armed 
vessels.  It  would  be  necessary  for  a  considerable  number  of  Admiral  Por 
ter's  best  gunboats,  and  a  small  fleet  of  transports  and  coal  barges  to  run 
the  gauntlet  of  these  batteries,  as  they  would  be  needed  for  the  reduction 
of  some  of  the  fortified  points  below.  It  was  also  necessary  to  march  his 
whole  army,  which  had  been  considerably  reinforced,  and  consisted  of 
three  army  corps  (the  nineteenth,  fifteenth,  and  seventeenth),  down  the 
right  or  west  bank  of  the  river,  to  some  point  below,  where  they  could 
safely  cross  the  river.  The  wet,  marshy  soil,  recently  overflowed  by  the 
Mississippi  floods,  was  ill-fitted  to  bear  the  heavy  trains  which  must  ac 
company  the  army,  and  the  roads  were  intolerable.  General  Grant  had 
intended  to  make  New  Carthage  his  base,  but  the  want  of  transports,  an  i 
the  formidable  character  of  the  defences  to  be  encountered,  compelled  him 
to  extend  the  march  of  his  troops  to  Hard  Times,  Louisiana,  seventy  miles 
from  Milliken's  Bend,  their  point  of  departure.  Crossing  the  river  at  this 
point,  there  was  still  a  march  of  more  than  a  hundred  miles  through  the 
enemy's  country,  and  exposed  at  every  step  to  attacks  from  a  large  hos 
tile  force  known  to  be  in  the  field  and  determined  to  obstruct  his  pro 
gress,  before  the  rear  of  the  fortified  city  was  reached ;  and  when  reached 
its  defences  were  such  that  it  was  nearly  as  well  adapted  to  resist  an  at 
tack  in  rear  as  in  front. 

The  Union  commander,  however,  having  satisfied  himself  that  this  was 
the  most  feasible  plan  of  attack,  was  not  appalled  by  any  dangers  or  diffi 
culties,  whether  real  or  apparent,  from  pressing  forward  to  its  accom 
plishment.  As  a  precautionary  step,  to  cripple  as  far  as  possible  the 
power  of  the  enemy,  and  cut  off  his  communications  and  supplies,  he  sent 
Colonel  B.  H.  Grierson  on  that  expedition,  whose  successful  progress  we 
have  recorded  in  a  previous  chapter. 

On  the  29th  of  March,  he  directed  the  thirteenth  army  corps,  under  the 
command  of  Major-General  McClernand,  to  take  up  their  line  of  march 
from  Milliken's  Bend  for  Hard  Times,  and  ordered  the  fifteenth  and 
seventeenth  corps  to  follow,  moving  no  faster  than  supplies  and  ammuni 
tion  could  be  transported  to  them.  The  fifteenth  corps  (Major-General 
W.  T.  Sherman)  was  to  remain  to  the  last,  and  by  making  a  feint  of 


1 


570  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

attack  on  Haines1  Bluff,  with  as  much  show  as  possible,  attract  the  atten 
tion  of  the  enemy  from  the  real  movement  going  on  below. 

While  the  army  was  thus  making  its  slow  and  toilsome  progress  south 
ward,  through  the  marshes,  the  gunboats  and  transports  were  preparing 
to  run  past  the  batteries.  The  attempt  was  hazardous  in  the  extreme; 
Admiral  Farragut  had  tried  it  at  Port  Hudson,  and  lost  the  noble  frigate 
Mississippi;  and  of  the  five  gunboats  and  rams  that  had  entered  upon  the 
fiery  ordeal  at  Yicksburg,  the  Lancaster  had  been  destroyed,  the  Essex 
terribly  riddled,  and  the  Queen  of  the  West  and  Indianola  barely  escaped 
destruction,  only  to  fall  soon  after  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  In  this 
case  the  danger  would  be  aggravated  by  the  large  number  of  vessels 
which  would  attempt  the  perilous  passage  at  once.  Yet  great  as  might 
be  the  peril,  there  was  no  reluctance  on  the  part  of  the  brave  seamen  on 
the  gunboats,  or  the  volunteers  from  the  army,  who  manned  most  of  the 
transports,  to  incur  the  dangers  of  the  passage.  Even  the  pilots,  whose 
position  was  more  exposed  than  any  others,  volunteered  in  larger  num 
bers  than  were  required.  t  ',>!) 

It  was  determined  to  send  at  first  eight  gunboats,  three  transports — 
large  river  steamers,  their  boilers  protected  against  the  shot  from  the 
batteries  by  cotton  bales — and  the  transports  themselves,  laden  with  com 
missary  stores,  and  a  number  of  barges,  flat-boats,  etc.,  with  forage  and 
coal  on  board.  The  night  of  the  16th  of  April  was  fixed  upon  for  their 
departure;  and  instead  of  starting  just  before  dawn,  as  the  Switzerland 
and  Lancaster  had  done,  they  were  to  leave  the  rendezvous  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Yazoo  at  eleven  P.  M.  Long  before  that  hour,  all  the  other 
steamboats  in  the  vicinity  were  crowded  with  anxious  spectators,  assem 
bled  to  watch  the  passage  of  the  vessels  through  the  ordeal  of  fire.  At 
last  one  approached,  and  floated  down  silently  near  the  Louisiana  shore, 
its  dark  sides  hardly  to  be  distinguished  from  the  foliage  lining  the  bank, 
and,  just  below  the  rendezvous,  crossed  obliquely  to  the  Mississippi  side, 
where,  as  it  crept  slowly  along  in  the  gloom,  all  its  lights  hidden  and  its 
fires  concealed,  it  would  require  keen  watchfulness  to  distinguish  it  from 
the  trees  which  overhung  the  river  bank.  Another  followed,  and  another, 
till  the  whole  eight  gunboats  and  the  three  transports  had  started  on  the 
perilous  voyage.  The  spectators,  awed  with  emotion  and  anxiety,  main 
tained  a  breathless  silence,  and  listened  painfully  for  the  intimation  that 
the  enemy  had  discovered  them.  The  upper  batteries  had  been  passed  in 
safety,  and,  from  the  time  which  had  elapsed,  it  was  evident  that  they  had 
reached  a  point  opposite  the  beleaguered  town.  Some  were  sanguine 
enough  to  hope  that  they  might  escape  past  the  whole  without  discovery, 
when  suddenly  a  flame  leaped  into  the  air,  and  was  followed  almost  in 
stantly  by  another  and  another,  and  soon  the  heavy  booming  of  the  can 
non  succeeded  the  flashes.  The  boats  had  evidently  been  seen,  and  the 
fire  of  ten  miles  of  batteries  was  opening  upon  them.  The  wind  was 


RUNNING  THE  BATTERIES  BEFORE  VICKSBURG.  571 

blowing  down  the  river,  and  the  reverberation  of  the  cannon — thud,  thud, 
thud — fell  with  a  dull  sound  upon  the  ear.  As  time  passed,  the  batteries 
lower  and  lower  down  came  into  action,  indicating  to  the  anxious  listeners 
that  some,  at  least,  of  the  gunboats  have  yet  escaped  destruction,  and  are 
passing  on  toward  the  lower  batteries.  "While  watching  their  progress  as 
thus  chronicled  by  the  reports  of  the  enemy's  cannon,  the  spectators  were 
horrified  by  observing  that  the  Rebels  had  lighted  an  immense  beacon- 
fire  on  the  loftiest  bluff  of  the  city,  which  threw  a  clear  and  brilliant  light 
on  each  arm  of  the  bend  of  the  river,  which  brought  into  bold  and  distinct 
relief  every  object  passing  on  its  surface.  Guided  by  this  light,  the  gun 
ners  at  the  Rebel  batteries  now  redoubled  their  fire,  and  along  the  whole 
line  there  belched  a  constant  sheet  of  flame.  The  light,  however,  had  also 
revealed  to  the  gunboats  the  exact  position  of  the  Rebel  batteries,  and 
soon  the  fierce  screech  of  the  Parrott  shells  from  the  armament  of  the 
gunboats,  mingled  with  the  din,  and  more  than  once  carried  destruction 
into  the  batteries  on  the  shore. 

The  upper  batteries  have  at  last  slackened  their  fire,  and  it  began  to  be 
evident  that  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  squadron  have  passed  the  most  dan 
gerous  part  of  their  perilous  journey,  both  from  the  spiteful  fire  of  the 
lower  batteries  and  the  heavy  thunders  of  the  answering  guns  of  the  fleet, 
when  suddenly  a  new  light  creeps  up  athwart  the  sky,  about  midway  be 
tween  the  now  nearly-extinct  beacon  and  the  fire  of  the  lower  batteries  at 
Warrcnton.  It  was  soon  apparent  that  this  light  was  moving,  and  the 
dense  white  smoke  which  rose  from  it  showed  that  cotton  furnished  a  part 
of  the  fuel  for  the  flame.  The  inference  was  inevitable — one  of  the  trans 
ports  was  on  fire.  The  sight  of  the  burning  vessel  seemed  to  rouse  the 
Rebels  to  new  exertions,  for  the  firing  increased  in  intensity  for  some 
time,  as  the  fiery  wreck  floated  down  past  their  batteries.  In  the  morn 
ing  it  was  ascertained  that  the  whole  of  the  gunboats  had  passed  this 
terrible  ordeal  without  material  damage,  one  man  only  being  killed  and 
two  wounded  on  the  flag-ship  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell.  The  transport 
which  was  burned  was  the  Henry  Clay,  which  was  set  on  fire  by  a  shell 
exploding  among  the  cotton  with  which  her  engines  were  protected.  Her 
cargo  was  all  destroyed,  but  the  crew  escaped  to  the  Louisiana  shore  in 
safety. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  six  more  transports,  and  twelve  barges,  ran  past 
the  batteries,  and  with  similar  success.  One  of  the  transports,  the  Ti 
gress,  was  sunk  by  a  shot  in  her  hull,  but  the  rest  escaped,  though  in  a 
somewhat  damaged  condition.  They  were,  however,  speedily  repaired, 
and  having  discharged  their  cargo  at  the  depot  below,  were  used  for 
transporting  the  troops  across  the  river  on  the  29th  of  April.  They 
moved  in  front  of  Grand  Gulf  on  that  day,  and  the  gunboats  Louisville, 
Carondelet,  Mound  City,  Pittsburgh,  Benton,  Tuscumbia,  and  Lafayette, 
attacked  the  batteries  at  Grand  Gulf;  but  after  a  severe  naval  action  of 


r 

572  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

five  hours  and  a  half  and  sustaining  a  loss  of  twenty-six  killed  and  fifty- 
four  wounded,  they  were  unable  to  silence  the  batteries  completely,  and 
General  Grant  landed  his  troops  again  at  Hard  Times,  and  directed  them 
to  march  across  the  neck  of  the  peninsula  made  by  a  bend  in  the  Missis 
sippi,  and  running  past  the  Grand  Gulf  batteries  with  gunboats  and  trans 
ports,  to  a  point  ten  miles  below  Hard  Times,  crossed  his  troops  the  next 
morning  to  Bruinsburg,  Mississippi.  Here,  after  furnishing  the  thirteenth 
army  corps  with  three  days  rations,  in  their  haversacks,  he  ordered  them 
to  march  immediately  for  Port  Gibson.  The  seventeenth  corps  (McPher 
son's)  followed  as  rapidly  as  it  could  be  put  across  the  river.  At  a  little 
after  midnight  on  the  morning  of  the  first  of  May,  the  army  moved  for 
ward,  and  at  two  o'clock  A.  M.  the  advance  met  the  Rebel  skirmishers 
eight  miles  from  Bruinsburg,  and  five  west  of  Port  Gibson.  The  Rebels 
fell  back,  but  were  not  pursued  far  till  daylight.  As  soon  as  it  was  light, 
McClernand's  (thirteenth)  corps  followed  the  enemy  rapidly,  and  came 
up  with  them  four  miles  from  Port  Gibson,  at  a  point  where  the  road 
branches  in  opposite  directions,  though  both  eventually  lead  to  Port  Gib 
son.  These  roads,  like  most  of  those  in  this  section,  ran  along  the  summit 
of  narrow,  elevated  ridges,  while  on  either  side  there  were  deep  and  im 
penetrable  ravines  and  marshes.  The  enemy's  force  did  not  probably 
exceed  twelve  thousand  to  fifteen  thousand,  and  in  the  attempt  to  occupy 
both  these  roads,  with  a  view  to  divide  the  Union  troops,  he  committed 
the  fatal  error  of  dividing  his  own  inferior  force  still  more  widely,  and 
exposing  the  severed  portions  to  be  beaten  or  captured  in  detail.  Three 
divisions  of  McClernand's  corps,  Hovey's,  Carr's,  and  Smith's,  pursued  the 
Rebels  on  the  right-hand  road,  and  Osterhaus'  division  followed  them  on 
the  left.  The  Union  force  on  the  right  drove  the  enemy  steadily  before 
them  to  Port  Gibson,  though  not  without  stubborn  and  desperate  resis 
tance,  but  Osterhaus  encountered  such  vigorous  opposition  that  he  sent 
back  for  assistance,  and  a  brigade  of  Logan's  division,  of  McPherson's 
corps,  was  sent  to  him ;  but  before  it  came  up  he  had  driven  the  enemy. 

The  struggle  at  this  point,  which,  for  the  sake  of  distinction,  is  called 
the  battle  of  Shaifer's  plantation,  ceased  about  noon,  though  the  enemy 
kept  up  a  slow  and  occasional  fire,  even  while  retreating,  and  attempted 
to  repel  pursuit  with  their  skirmishers.  At  about  three  P.  M.,  they  took 
another  position,  on  a  plateau  known  as  Clear  Hills,  within  little  more 
than  a  mile  of  Port  Gibson,  and  opened  upon  the  advancing  Union  troops 
with  artillery ;  but  after  a  sharp  struggle,  in  which  the  Rebels  suffered 
heavily  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  they  fled  in  disorder,  and  burned 
the  bridge  over  the  Bayou  Pierre,  on  the  Grand  Gulf  road,  behind  them. 
The  Union  troops  slept  on  their  arms  that  night,  and  in  the  morning, 
while  a  brigade  of  Logan's  division  was  sent  forward  to  occupy  the  atten 
tion  of  the  enemy,  on  the  road  on  which  they  jad  retreated,  a  pontoon 
bridge  was  laid  across  the  Bayou  Pierre,  directly  at  Port  Gibson,  and  the 


PROGRESS   OF   GRANT'S   ARMY.  573 

advance  of  the  army  commenced  crossing  upon  it  at  five  A.  M.  on  the  3d 
of  May.  During  the  day  the  enemy  were  pursued  as  far  as  Hawkinson's 
ferry,  with  continued  skirmishing  and  a  large  number  of  prisoners  cap 
tured.  The  losses  of  Grant's  army  in  the  engagements  in  the  vicinity  of 
Port  Gibson,  were  one  hundred  and  thirty  killed,  seven  hundred  and 
eighteen  wounded,  and  five  missing.  On  arriving  at  Hawkinson's  ferry, 
General  Grant  learned  from  his  scouts  that  Grand  Gulf  had  been  evacuated 
by  the  enemy,  who,  by  his  capture  of  Port  Gibson,  were  effectually  flanked, 
and  as  it  was  desirable  to  make  that  point  his  base,  and  as  he  deemed  it 
unnecessary  to  send  back  any  considerable  number  of  his  troops,  who 
were  now  fifteen  miles  on  their  way  toward  Jackson,  he  rode  to  Grand 
Gulf,  with  an  escort  of  fifteen  or  twenty  cavalry  troopers,  and  made  his 
arrangements  for  a  change  of  base  from  Bruinsburg,  and  awaited  the  ar 
rival  of  supplies,  wagons,  and  Sherman's  (fifteenth)  army  corps,  at  thai 
point,  for  four  days.  These  having  arrived,  he  ordered  an  advance  from 
Hawkinson's  ferry  on  the  7th  of  May;  McPherson's  corps,  forming  his 
left  wing,  to  keep  the  road  nearest  to  the  Black  river;  McClernand's 
corps  to  follow  the  ridge  road  from  "Willow  Springs  (see  map);  and  Sher 
man  to  divide  his  corps  between  the  two  roads.  All  the  ferries  were 
closely  guarded  until  the  troops  were  well  advanced.  It  was  General 
Grant's  purpose  to  keep  McClernand's  and  Sherman's  corps  as  near  as 
possible  to  the  Black  river,  while  McPherson  was  to  move  farther  east, 
through  Utica  to  Raymond,  and  thence  into  Jackson,  destroy  the  railroad, 
telegraph,  the  supplies  of  the  enemy,  etc.,  and  then  push  westward  to  re 
join  the  main  force.  Accordingly,  Sherman  was  ordered  to  cross  Four 
teen  Mile  creek  at  Dillon's  plantation,  and  McClernand  to  move  across 
the  same  creek  farther  west,  sending  one  division  to  hold  and  guard  the 
ferry  at  Baldwin.  Both  corps  skirmished  for  a  considerable  time  with 
the  enemy  at  Fourteen  Mile  creek,  before  obtaining  possession  of  the 
crossing.  General  McPherson  met  the  enemy  in  considerable  force  (two 
brigades)  at  Raymond,  and  after  several  hours'  hard  fighting,  drove  him 
toward  Jackson,  with  heavy  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  Many 
of  the  Rebel  soldiers  threw  down  their  arms  and  deserted  to  the  Union 
lines.  General  Grant  had  ordered  McClernand's  corps  to  march  toward 
the  Jackson  and  Vicksburg  railroad  at  Edwards'  station,  and  Sherman's 
at  a  point  between  that  and  Bolton  (see  map),  but  having  ascertained  that 
the  Rebels  were  receiving,  daily,  large  reinforcements  at  Jackson,  and 
that  General  Joseph  Johnston  was  hourly  expected  there  to  take  command 
of  the  Rebel  forces,  he  countermanded  the  order,  and  directed  both  these 
corps  to  move  toward  Raymond. 

On  the  13th,  General  McPherson  moved  to  Clinton  (see  map),  destroyed 
the  railroad  and  telegraph,  and  captured  some  important  despatches  from 
General  Pemberton  (the  Rebel  commander  at  Yicksburg)  to  General 
Gregg,  who  had  been  in  command  in  the  battle  at  Raymond  the  day  be- 


574  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

fore.  General  Sherman  took  a  position  at  Mississippi  Springs,  on  the 
Raymond  and  Jackson  road,  and  General  McClernand  moved  to  a  point 
near  Raymond.  On  the  14th,  Generals  Sherman  and  McPherson  moved 
their  troops  toward  Jackson,  marching  fourteen  miles  in  a  heavy  rain, 
and  about  noon  engaged  the  enemy  near  Jackson.  McClernand's  corps 
had  been  brought  up  within  supporting  distance.  The  enemy  marched 
out  their  principal  force  on  the  road  to  Clinton,  two  and  a  half  miles  from 
Jackson,  and  there  gave  battle  to  McPherson's  corps,  while  a  small  body 
of  artillery  and  infantry  took  a  strong  position  in  front  of  Sherman's  corps 
but,  by  a  resolute  advance  of  his  troops,  were  soon  driven  within  their 
rifle-pits,  just  outside  city.  While  McPherson  was  engaged  in  a  fierce 
fight  with  the  Rebel  force,  which  probably  equalled,  if  it  did  not  exceed 
his  own  in  numbers,  General  Sherman,  by  a  reconnoissance,  discovered 
the  weakness  of  the  force  in  front  of  him,  and  ordering  a  general  ad 
vance,  soon  drove  them  into  and  through  the  city,  when  he  learned  that 
after  a  battle  of  about  two  hours  with  General  McPherson,  the  Rebels  had 
retreated  northward,  badly  beaten,  and  had  been  pursued  till  night,  but 
without  any  serious  result.  Papers  captured  in  Jackson  showed  that 
General  Johnston,  as  soon  as  he  became  satisfied  that  Jackson  was  to  be 
attacked,  had  sent  peremptory  orders  to  General  Pemberton  to  march  out 
from  Vicksburg  and  attack  General  Grant  in  the  rear.  On  learning  this, 
the  Union  commander  directed  General  McPherson  to  retrace  his  steps  on 
the  Clinton  road  the  next  morning,  and  General  McClernand,  with  Blair's 
division  of  Sherman's  corps,  which  was  in  the  rear  with  McClernand,  to 
face  about  and  march  toward  Edwards'  station,  on  different  roads,  which 
converged  near  Bolton.  (See  map.)  General  Grant  himself  proceeded 
westward  as  far  as  Clinton,  leaving  General  Sherman  at  Jackson  to  de 
stroy  the  railroads,  bridges,  factories,  workshops,  arsenals,  and  every  thing 
valuable  for  the  support  of  the  enemy,  and  then  move  forward  to  rejoin 
the  other  two  corps.  This  work  was  performed  in  the  most  thorough 
manner.  McClernand's  corps  was  sent  forward  on  the  morning  of  the 
16th,  toward  Edwards'  station,  with  orders  to  feel  the  enemy  if  he  encoun 
tered  him,  but  not  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement  unless  he  was  confi 
dent  of  his  ability  to  defeat  him.  There  were  then  McPherson's  and 
McClernand's  corps,  and  Blair's  division  of  Sherman's  corps,  all  concen 
trating  by  different  roads  from  an  arc  of  about  ninety  degrees  upon 
Edwards'  station,  and  the  line  of  railroad  a  little  east  of  it.  The  region 
traversed  by  the  Union  troops  was  very  hilly  and  broken,  with  heavy 
timber  and  deep  ravines,  and  occasionally  open  and  cultivated  tracts. 

At  five  o'clock  A.  M.  of  the  16th  two  men,  employees  on  the  Jackson 
and  Vicksburg  railroad,  who  had  passed  through  Pemberton's  army  the 
night  before,  were  brought  to  General  Grant's  headquarters.  From  these 
it  was  ascertained  that  the  Rebel  army  consisted  of  about  eighty  regi 
ments,  with  ten  batteries  of  artillery,  and  that  it  numbered  about  twenty 


BATTLE  OF  CHAMPION   RILL.  575 

five  thousand  men.  They  also  informed  him  of  the  positions  occupied  by 
the  enemy,  and  of  their  intention  of  attacking  the  rear  of  the  Union  army. 
General  Grant  had  previously  intended  to  leave  one  of  Sherman's  divis 
ions  for  a  day  longer  in  Jackson,  but  on  learning  these  facts  he  decided 
to  send  orders  to  General  Sherman  to  move  his  whole  force  forward  with 
all  possible  speed  till  he  should  come  up  with  the  main  army  near  Bolton. 
McClernand's  corps  was  also  ordered  to  push  forward  rapidly,  and  Blair's 
division  to  establish  communication  with  Osterhaus'  division,  and  if  the 
latter  became  engaged,  to  move  promptly  to  its  support.  General  Grant 
also  furnished  to  General  McClernand  the  information  he  had  received, 
and  himself  left  for  the  advance  at  an  early  hour. 

General  A.  P.  Hovey's  division  formed  the  right  of  McClernand's  corps, 
and  occupied  the  main  road  from  Jackson  to  Vicksburg,  near  the  railroad, 
while  the  remainder  of  that  corps  was  coming  up  on  other  roads  nearly 
parallel,  but  from  three  to  five  miles  south.  McPherson's  corps  were 
north  of  this  road,  and  Logan's  division  of  that  corps  occupied  the  left, 
next  to  Hovey.  The  skirmishers  of  Hovey's  division  found  the  enemy, 
before  nine  o'clock  A.  M.,  at  Champion  Hill,  on  the  Champion  plantation, 
about  eight  miles  east  of  Edwards'  station,  and,  by  General  Grant's  orders, 
skirmishing  was  maintained  as  long  as  possible  before  bringing  on  a  bat 
tle,  as  he  did  not  desire  to  enter  upon  a  general  engagement  until  McCler 
nand's  other  divisions  were  sufficiently  near  to  come  directly  to  the  support 
of  the  troops  who  were  engaged. 

The  enemy's  position  was  a  very  strong  one,  on  a  narrow  ridge  covered 
with  a  heavy  forest  and  almost  impenetrable  undergrowth,  and  his  left 
resting  on  a  precipitous  height,  where  the  Vicksburg  road  made  a  sharp 
turn  to  the  left.  In  front,  beyond  the  timber,  which  extended  for  a  short 
distance  beyond  the  hill,  was  a  succession  of  gentle  slopes,  mostly  under 
cultivation,  and  swept  by  the  enemy's  cannon.  By  eleven  o'clock  A.  M., 
it  became  evident,  from  the  great  rapidity  and  intensity  of  the  firing,  that 
the  skirmishing  was  fast  assuming  the  proportions  of  a  battle.  McCler 
nand  was,  at  this  time,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  distant;  and,  sending 
several  successive  messengers  to  him  to  hasten  forward,  General  Grant 
suffered  the  battle  to  go  on.  General  Hovey  attacked  the  enemy  in  front, 
and  Logan's  division  assisted  him  in  flank.  The  Rebel  force  actually  en 
gaged  was  two  or  three  times  the  number  of  the  Union  troops  then  on 
the  ground,  and  they  made  a  stubborn  and  determined  resistance  to  the 
Union  attack.  General  Hovey's  charge  was  a  gallant  and  brilliant  one, 
but  he  was  for  a  short  time  forced  back  by  the  overwhelming  weight  of 
numbers,  but  being  reinforced  by  a  part  of  Quimby's  division,  regained 
his  position,  and  Logan,  having  flanked  the  enemy  and  operating  on  his 
rear,  was  in  a  situation  to  have  captured  nearly  the  entire  hostile  force,  could 
the  attack  in  front  have  been  made  in  greater  force.  Owing  in  part  to  the 
nature  of  the  ground,  and  the  density  of  the  timber,  the  divisions  under 


576  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

McClernand's  immediate  command  did  not  arrive  upon  the  field  till  four 
o'clock,  when  the  Eebels  were  in  full  and  rapid  retreat.  Carr's  and  Os- 
terhaus'  divisions  of  this  corps  were  ordered  forward  immediately  in 
pursuit,  and  captured  a  train  of  cars  laden  with  commissary  and  ordnance 
stores.  The  battle  of  Champion  Hill  was  by  far  the  severest  battle  which 
General  Grant's  forces  had  yet  fought,  and  though  but  three  divisions, 
Hovey's,  Logan's,  and  Quimby's,  were  actually  engaged  in  it,  the  losses 
on  the  Union  side  were,  in  killed  and  wounded  and  missing,  nearly  two 
thousand  five  hundred.  The  Kebel  loss  was  nearly  three  thousand  in 
killed  and  wounded,  almost  two  thousand  prisoners,  thirty-two  cannon, 
and  an  unusual  quantity  of  small  arms  and  equipments.  A  large  propor 
tion  of  the  prisoners  gave  themselves  up  voluntarily. 

The  Eebels  had  retreated  to  the  Big  Black  river,  eight  miles  west,  and 
there,  in  a  position  of  extraordinary  strength,  they  resolved  to  make  one 
more  stand.  On  the  east  side  of  the  Big  Black  (which  at  this  point  was 
crossed  by  the  railroad  on  a  fine  trestle-work  bridge),  a  bayou  filled  with 
stagnant  water  about  three  feet  deep,  and  from  ten  to  twenty  feet  wide, 
extends  in  a  semi-lunar  form,  both  ends  uniting  with  the  river,  and  in 
closing  a  cultivated  bottom  land  nearly  a  mile  in  width.  On  the  inner 
side  of  this  bayou  the  Rebels  had  constructed  their  rifle-pits,  and  planted 
what  cannon  they  had  left.  They  were  protected  on  either  flank  by  heavy 
timber,  while,  for  a  distance  of  nearly  three  hundred  yards  in  front,  the 
approach  was  unobstructed  by  timber,  and  was  swept  by  the  Rebel  can 
non  and  musketry.  On  the  morning  of  the  3  7th,  after  a  heavy  artillery 
duel,  the  Union  troops  approached  to  the  edge  of  the  timber,  fronting  the 
Rebel  position,  and  by  a  careful  reconnoissance  it  was  ascertained  that 
opposite  the  extreme  right  of  the  Union  troops,  where  the  rifle-pits  joined 
the  timber,  there  was  an  opening  through  which  the  Rebel  works  might 
be  entered  at  the  end,  by  charging  across  the  ploughed  field,  three  hun 
dred  yards  in  width.  Four  regiments,  the  twenty-third  Iowa,  the  twenty- 
first  and  eleventh  Wisconsin,  and  the  twenty-second  Iowa,  all  of  Lawler's 
brigade  and  Carr's  division,  formed  the  forlorn  hope  for  this  perilous 
charge.  The  troops  moved  forward  with  fixed  bayonets,  but  their  mus 
kets  loaded,  at  a  double-quick  step,  with  heads  bowed  and  faces  averted, 
like  men  encountering  a  storm  of  hail,  and  though  with  a  loss  of  more 
than  one  tenth  of  their  number,  gained  the  desired  point,  and  rushed 
through  the  creek,  through  the  abatis,  and  over  the  rifle-pits,  into  the 
enemy's  works,  and  poured  in  a  terrible  volley,  cheering  meanwhile  most 
lustily.  Thus  carried  by  assault,  the  Rebel  position  was  surrendered  at 
once ;  eleven  hundred  of  their  men  were  taken  prisoners,  and  eighteen 
cannon  and  several  stand  of  colors  were  captured.  The  remainder  of  the 
Rebel  forces  fled  most  precipitately  across  the  Big  Black,  burning  the 
bridge,  and  thus  preventing  the  escape  of  any  portion  of  their  troops  who 
were  still  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river.  General  Sherman  and  his  corps 


THE   SUCCESSFUL  INVESTMENT  OF  YICKSBURG.  577 

had  been  ordered  to  Bridgeport,  a  point  farther  up  on  the  Big  Black,  and 
a  pontoon  bridge  sent  him,  on  which  he  crossed  on  the  morning  of  the 
18th,  and  marched  directly  for  Walnut  hills  and  the  Yazoo  river,  at  the 
northwest  of  Yicksburg,  and  occupied  that  important  position  on  the  even 
ing  of  the  same  day.  McClernand  and  McPherson  built  floating  bridges, 
and  crossed  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  and  McPherson  occupied  the 
hills  east  of  the  city,  while  McClernand  took  possession  of  those  to  the 
southeast.  The  city  was  thus  completely  invested,  for  the  river  front, 
above  and  below,  was  held  by  Admiral  Porter's  gunboats. 

In  this  campaign  of  eighteen  days,  General  Grant  had  fought  five  se 
vere  battles,  in  all  of  which  he  had  been  victorious ;  had  skirmished 
nearly  the  entire  distance  (somewhat  more  than  one  hundred  miles);  had 
taken  more  than  five  thousand  prisoners,  sixty-five  field  pieces,  and  nine 
heavy  siege-guns,  and  an  immense  quantity  of  small  arms,  equipments, 
etc.,  and  had  destroyed  a  vast  amount  of  the  property  of  the  enemy,  in 
flicting  upon  them  irreparable  losses.  The  wisdom  and  forethought  which 
prompted  the  expedition  of  Colonel  Grierson,  had  been  signally  manifest 
in  this  entire  campaign.  Had  not  the  railroads  been  so  extensively  cut, 
and  such  large  supplies  of  ammunition  and  of  railroad  cars  and  locomo 
tives  been  destroyed,  Johnston  would  have  found  little  difficulty  in  col 
lecting  at  Jackson  a  force  sufficiently  large  to  have  effectually  checked 
General  Grant's  progress  toward  Yicksburg,  and  rendered  his  enterprise, 
if  not  wholly  a  failure,  an  undertaking  in  which  the  losses  would  have 
very  nearly  counterbalanced  the  gains.  Great,  however,  as  had  been  the 
advantages  derived  from  this  expedition,  General  Grant  was  fully  aware 
that  they  could  not  in  all  probability  be  of  long  continuance.  The  rail 
roads  would  in  a  few  weeks,  perhaps  in  a  few  days,  be  repaired ;  and 
though  the  locomotives  and  cars  which  had  been  destroyed  could  not  be 
so  readily  rebuilt,  yet  their  places  could  be  supplied  by  those  drawn  from 
other  roads,  and  the  troops  which  Johnston  was  straining  every  nerve  to 
gather  at  Canton,  would  probably  be  accumulated  in  sufficient  numbers 
to  resume  the  offensive,  and  attack  Grant  in  the  rear  while  he  was  be 
sieging  Yicksburg.  General  Grant's  force/ though  sufficient  to  cope  with 
the  Yicksburg  garrison,  was  not  as  yet  large  enough  to  repel  also  an 
attack  from  a  considerable  force  who  might  attempt  to  raise  the  siege. 

Taking  this  view  of  the  position,  of  affairs,  General  Grant  resolved  to 
lose  no  time  in  attempting  the  reduction  of  the  Kebel  stronghold  by  as 
sault.  For  success  in  this  he  relied  very  much  upon  the  enthusiasm  of 
his  troops,  and  the  demoralization  of  the  Kebels  consequent  upon  their 
repeated  defeats.  His  first  assault  was  made  at  two  o'clock  P.  M.  on  the 
19th,  the  day  upon  which  he  arrived  before  Yicksburg.  The  fifteenth 
army  corps  (Sherman's)  having  already  attained  a  good  position,  made  a 
vigorous  assault,  and  gained  a  situation  within  the  enemy's  outworks. 
The  thirteenth  and  seventeenth  army  corps  (McClernand's  and  McPher- 
37 


578  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

son's)  were  less  successful,  but  obtained  advanced  positions  covered  from 
the  fire  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  22d  of  May,  a  second  assault  was  ordered  to  commence  at  ten 
o'clock  A.  M.,  and  the  gunboats  of  Admiral  Porter's  squadron  made  an 
attack  on  the  front  of  the  city,  and  bombarded  it  continually  from  se\en  to 
11.30  A.  M.  The  assault  on  the  rear  of  the  city  by  the  land  forces  was  not 
simultaneous,  and  the  "forlorn  hopes"  which  made  the  attempts  to  storm 
the  enemy's  forts  were  not  well  supported,  owing  in  part  to  the  difficul 
ties  of  the  ground.  On  the  left,  in  McClernand's  corps,  Lawler's  brigade 
headed  the  assault,  and  gained  a  part  of  one  of  the  forts,  but  found  that  it 
was  divided  by  a  partition  breastwork,  and  commanded  by  rifle-pits  in 
the  rear,  and  the  troops  were  slaughtered  in  their  efforts  to  hold  their  po 
sition.  Benton's  brigade,  followed  by  Burbridge's,  attacked  another  fort 
to  the  right  of  this,  and  succeeded  in  planting  their  flag*  upon  the  parapet, 
but  were  driven  back  by  the  Kebels,  who  hurled  shells  with  lighted  fuses 
down  upon  them.  The  struggle  was  maintained  for  five  or  six  hours  in 
both  these  forts,  but  resulted  only  in  very  heavy  losses.  General  McCler- 
nand  asked  repeatedly  for  reinforcements  from  the  other  corps,  but  as 
they  were  engaged  in  assaulting  the  works  in  front  of  their  respective 
positions,  and  as  McClernand's  own  corps  was  not  fully  engaged,  General 
Grant  could  only  direct  him  to  use  the  remainder  of  his  own  troops,  and 
make  a  diversion  in  his  favor  by  a  more  earnest  and  heavy  attack  on  the 
part  of  the  other  corps.  He  had  also  become  satisfied  that  General  McCler 
nand's  attempts  to  capture  these  forts  were  not  likely  to  be  successful, 
and  that  a  persistence  in  the  assault  would  only  be  attended  with  great 
loss  of  life  without  advantage.  He  did,  however,  finally,  at  McClernand's 
repeated  and  urgent  demands,  send  Me  Arthur's,  and  subsequently  Quim- 
by's  division  from  McPherson's  corps,  to  his  assistance,  but  without  other 
result  than  a  large  increase  of  the  killed  and  wounded.*  The  assault  had 
proved  a  failure,  and  had  caused  severe  losses  to  the  Union  army,  but  it 
had  not  in  any  way  impaired  its  confidence  or  energy,  or  its  hopes  of 
success. 

It  was  necessary,  however  to  resort  to  the  slower  method  of  advancing 
by  regular  approaches,  and  maintaining  so  close  a  siege  that  the  belea 
guered  army  in  the  city  could  receive  no  supplies  or  reinforcements. 
Information  received  at  this  time  of  the  difficulty  which  Johnston  expe 
rienced  in  raising  a  sufficiency  of  Rebel  troops  to  attack  him,  and  tho 


*  In  a  congratulatory  order  addressed  by  General  McClernand  to  the  thirteenth 
army  corps  on  the  30th  of  May,  he  claimed  for  himself  and  his  corps  all  the  success 
of  the  campaign  thus  far,  and  animadverted  so  offensively  upon  General  Grant's  man. 
agement  of  the  assault,  that  that  general,  having  read  the  order,  and  given  opportu 
nity  for  explanation  or  apology,  felt  compelled  to  remove  him  from  the  command  of 
the  thirteenth  army  corps. 


SURRENDER  OF  THE   GARRISON  AT  VICKSBURU.  579 

arrival  of  very  considerable  reinforcements  from  Memphis,  Helena,  and 
Louisville,  rendered  his  position  safe,  and  enabled  him  to  invest  the  city 
more  closely,  and  to  make  his  approaches  rapidly  and  successfully.  At 
first  there  was  a  scarcity  of  engineer  officers  for  conducting  the  siege,  but 
under  the  skilful  superintendence  of  Captains  Prince  and  Comstock,  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Wilson  of  General  Grant's  staff)  the  volunteer  officers 
rapidly  gained  a  practical  experience  in  military  engineering,  which  made 
them  capable  and  efficient  engineers  before  the  close  of  the  siege. 

By  the  3d  of  July  his  saps  were  so  far  advanced  as  to  render  his  success 
certain,  and  he  had  made  all  preparations  for  a  final  assault  on  the  6th,  to 
be  followed  immediately  by  a  vigorous  pursuit  of  Johnston's  forces,  which, 
though  approaching  as  near  as  the  Big  Black  river,  had  never  ventured 
to  attack  him. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  General  Pemberton,  who  was  in  command  of  the 
Rebel  forces  in  Yicksburg,  sent  a  letter  to  General  Grant,  proposing  an 
armistice,  and  the  appointment  of  commissioners  to  arrange  terms  for  the 
capitulation  of  the  place.  The  correspondence  resulted  in  the  surrender 
of  the  city  and  garrison  of  Vicksburg,  at  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  July  4th,  1863", 
on  the  following  terms :  The  entire  garrison,  officers  and  men,  were  to  be 
paroled,  not  to  take  up  arms  against  the  United  States  until  exchanged 
by  the  proper  authorities  ;  officers  and  men  each  to  be  furnished  with  a 
parole,  signed  by  himself;  officers  to  be  allowed  their  side-arms  and  pri 
vate  baggage,  and  the  field,  staff,  and  cavalry  officers,  one  horse  each ;  the 
rank  and  file  to  be  allowed  all  their  clothing,  but  no  other  property ;  ra 
tions  from  their  own  stores  sufficient  to  last  them  beyond  our  lines  ;*  the 
necessary  cooking-utensils  for  preparing  their  food,  and  thirty  (fifty  were 
finally  allowed)  wagons  to  transport  such  articles  as  could  not  well  be 
carried. 

These  terms,  liberal  as  they  were,  were,  after  all,  more  advantageous 
to  the  United  States  Government  than  an  unconditional  surrender.  They 
saved  the  necessity  of  transporting  thirty-one  thousand  prisoners  to  the 
North,  which,  from  the  limited  amount  of  transportation  on  hand,  would 
have  been  a  matter  of  great  difficulty,  and  saved  also  the  expense  of  sub 
sisting  them,  while  it  left  Grant's  army  free  to  operate  against  Johnston, 
and  gave  him  the  command  of  his  river  transportation,  to  be  used  for  any 
purpose  which  the  exigencies  of  the  service  might  require.  A  large  num 
ber  of  the  prisoners  deserted  at  once,  and  would  not  again  serve  in  the 
Eebel  army.  But  for  the  violation  of  good  faith  by  the  Rebel  leaders, 
who  forced  many  of  these  paroled  prisoners  into  their  armies  again  with 
out  exchange,  the  arrangement  thus  made  would  have  been  an  eminently 
humane  and  satisfactory  one. 

The  results  of  this  campaign  were,  in  the  modest  language  of  General 

*  It  was  found  after  the  surrender  that  they  had  not  sufficient  rations  to  do  this, 
and  five  days'  rations  were  furnished  them  from  General  Grant's  stores. 


580  THE  CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

Grant,  "The  defeat  of  the  enemy  in  five  battles  outside  of  Vicksburg ; 
the  occupation  of  Jackson,  the  capital  of  Mississippi,  and  the  capture  of 
Vicksburg  and  its  garrison  and  munitions  of  war  ;  a  loss  to  the  enemy  of 
thirty -seven  thousand  prisoners,  among  whom  were  fifteen  general  officers ; 
at  least  ten  thousand  killed  and  wounded,  and  among  the  killed,  Generals 
Tracy,  Tilghman,  and  Green  ;  and  hundreds,  and  perhaps  thousands  of 
stragglers,  who  can  never  be  collected  and  reorganized.  Arms  and  mu 
nitions  of  war  for  an  army  of  sixty  thousand  men  have  fallen  into  our 
hands  (there  were  two  hundred  and  twenty  cannon,  of  which  forty-two 
were  guns  of  heavy  calibre  and  of  the  very  best  make,  and  seventy-one 
thousand  stand  of  small  arms,  of  which  fifty  thousand  were  Enfield  rifles 
in  the  original  English  packages),  besides  a  large  amount  of  other  public 
property,  consisting  of  railroads,  locomotives,  cars,  steamboats,  cotton,  etc., 
and  much  was  destroyed  to  prevent  our  capturing  it.  General  Grant 
says  nothing  in  his  report  of  the  greatest  result  of  this  campaign,  and  the 
surrender  of  Port  Hudson,  which  followed  a  few  days  later;  the  opening 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  the  division  of  the  Rebel  Confederacy  into  two  sec 
tions,  without  the  means  of  communicating  with  each  other,  except  by 
stealth ;  and  the  terrible  blow  thus  inflicted  upon  the  Eebel  Government, 
which  thenceforth  began  to  be  distrusted  at  home  and  abroad,  and  though 
making  desperate  efforts  to  retrieve  its  failing  fortunes,  found  this  disaster 
constantly  brought  forward  against  it,  as  evidence  of  its  inability  to  main 
tain  its  position. 

The  surrender  was  made  partly  from  the  consciousness  of  the  inability 
of  the  garrison  to  resist  the  assault  which  was  soon  expected,  and  partly 
from  the  exhaustion  of  their  supplies,  as  they  had  only  a  sufficiency  for 
three  days' longer,  and  had,  for  two  or  three  weeks,  subsisted  mainly  on 
mule  meat.  The  Union  losses  in  this  series  of  battles  were  as  follows  : 

Battles.  Killed.      Wounded.  Missing. 

Port  Gibson,  or  Shaifer's  plantation,  etc 130  718  5 

Fourteen  Mile  creek  (skirmish) 4  24 

Kaymond 69  341  32 

Jackson 40  240  6 

Champion's  Hill 426  1,842  189 

Big  Black  river  railroad  bridge 29  242  2 

Vicksburg  (mostly  in  two  assaults) 545  3,6$8  303 

1,243        7,095        537 

or  a  grand  total  of  eight  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-five  casual 
ties.  Of  the  wounded  many  were  but  slightly  injured  and  continued  on 
duty  ;  many  more  required  but  a  few  days  or  weeks  for  their  recovery. 
Not  more  than  one  half  of  the  wounded  were  permanently  disabled. 

The  general-in-chief  of  the  army  of  the  United  States,  General  TIalleck, 
whose  praise  is  ever  bestowed  sparingly,  well  says  of  this  campaign :  ll  No 
more  brilliant  exploit  can  be  found  in  military  history.  When  we  con- 
eider  the  character  of  the  country  in  which  the  army  operated,  the 


EVENTS  SUBSEQUENT  TO  THE   FALL  OF  VICKSBUKG.         581 

formidable  obstacles  to  be  overcome,  the  number  of  the  forces,  and  the 
strength  of  the  enemy's  works,  we  cannot  fail  to  admire  the  courage  and 
endurance  of  the  troops,  and  the  skill  and  daring  of  their  commander." 

But  the  grand  catalogue  of  victories  and  triumphs  of  the  Union  arms, 
in  connection  with  the  army  of  Tennessee,  did  not  close  with  the  fall  of 
Vicksburg.  On  the  5th  of  July,  General  Sherman,  by  direction  of  Gen 
eral"  Grant,  started  with  three  army  corps  in  pursuit  of  Johnston,  who 
retreated  from  the  Black  river,  where  he  had  intrenched  himself,  toward 
Jackson,  which  place  Sherman  invested  on  the  14th  and  captured  on  the 
18th,  with  a  loss  in  this  and  a  previous  attack  on  the  13th  on  the  part  of 
the  Union  forces  of  about  one  thousand  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 
He  captured  seven  hundred  and  sixty-four  prisoners,  two  rifled  guns,  and 
a  large  amount  of  ammunition,  and  destroyed  over  forty  locomotives,  and 
a  large  number  of  cars,  being  almost  the  entire  equipments  of  the  New 
Orleans  and  Northern,  and  the  Jackson,  Meridian,  and  Yicksburg  rail 
roads.  This  loss  was  a  very  severe  one  for  the  Eebels,  and  was  wholly 
irreparable.  General  Ransom,  with  a  force  of  one  thousand  two  hundred 
men,  was  sent  to  Natchez,  on  the  6th  of  July,  to  stop  the  crossing  of  cattle 
from  Texas  for  Johnston's  army.  He  took  a  considerable  number  of  pris 
oners,  among  whom  were  five  Rebel  officers,  crossed  the  river,  captured  a 
battery  of  nine  guns,  four  of  them  ten  pounder  Parrotts,  marched  nine 
miles  back  into  the  country,  and  seized  two  hundred  and  forty -seven 
boxes  of  ammunition  and  a  number  of  teams  for  its  transportation,  and 
nine  more  guns,  the  Rebels  in  charge  of  the  battery  flying  in  consternation. 
Returning  to  Natchez  he  captured  five  thousand  head  of  Texas  cattle  (two 
thousand  of  which  were  sent  to  General  Banks,  and  the  remainder  brought 
to  Vicksburg),  and  four  thousand  hogsheads  of  sugar. 

Having  learned  that  Johnston  was  fortifying  Yazoo  city,  which,  with 
the  steamers  and  gunboats  on  the  Yazoo  river,  had  been  captured  and 
destroyed  by  the  gunboats  early  in  May,  General  Grant  sent  General  F. 
J.  Herron  with  his  division  to  co-operate  with  gunboats  from  Admiral 
Porter's  squadron  to  destroy  the  Rebel  works.  After  a  short  but  severe 
action  the  Rebels  fled,  leaving  a  large  amount  of  stores  and  ammunition, 
six  heavy  guns,  and  one  vessel,  formerly  a  gunboat,  in  the  hands  of  the 
Union  troops,  and  destroying  four  of  their  finest  steamers.  General 
Herron  pursued  them  and  took  about  three  hundred  prisoners.  The 
Baron  De  Kalb,  one  of  Admiral  Porter's  gunboats,  ran  foul  of  a  torpedo, 
which  exploded  and  sunk  her.  No  lives  were  lost. 

In  addition  to  these  substantial  results  of  the  enterprise  of  the  Union 
commander  in  following  up  his  victories,  was  the  surrender  of  Port  Hud 
son,  which  took  place  on  the  9th,  and  of  which  a  full  account  will  be 
given  elsewhere.  The  Mississippi  squadron  penetrated  into  the  interior, 
on  both  sides  of  the  Mississippi,  by  way  of  its  numerous  affluents,  and 
destroyed  the  transports  and  gunboats  which  the  Rebels  were  preparing  on 
the  smaller  rivers.  The  Louisville  and  the  Elmira,  the  former  the  finest 


582  THE   CIVIL  AVAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

steamer  on  the  Western  waters,  were  among  the  captures,  and  two  other 
large  steamers  were  burned,  and  a  large  amount  of  Rebel  stores  seized. 

While  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  was  progressing,  General  Johnston 
thwarted  in  all  his  efforts  to  open  communication  with  General  Pember- 
ton  through  General  Grant's  lines,  attempted  to  effect  it  from  the  west  side 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  sent  a  force  of  three  brigades,  under  the  command 
of  General  Walker,  to  attack  Milliken's  Bend,  on  the  6th  of  June.  The 
greater  part  of  the  Union  force  stationed  there  was  composed  of  negro 
troops,  portions  of  four  regiments  which  were  forming  for  the  service,  but 
had  never  been  under  fire.  The  whole  force,  including  three  hundred  or 
four  hundred  white  troops,  did  not  exceed  fourteen  hundred  men.  The 
Rebel  force  numbered  not  far  from  four  thousand  five  hundred.  The 
Rebels  were  discovered  by  a  reconnoitering  force  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
6th  of  July,  and  making  an  attack,  were  repulsed  by  the  colored  troops; 
and  on  being  reinforced,  and  assailing  the  intrenchments  to  which  the 
Union  troops  had  fallen  back,  were  met  with  such  determined  resistance, 
that  they  in  turn  fell  back.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th  the  Rebels  again 
made  an  attack  upon  the  Union  intrenchments  at  five  A.  M.  The  battle 
lasted  till  late  in  the  afternoon ;  and  though,  by  the  use  of  his  cavalry, 
the  enemy  succeeded,  after  a  desperate  resistance,  in  turning  the  flank  of 
the  Union  troops,  and,  by  an  enfilading  fire,  driving  them  to  the  river's 
brink,  the  gunboat  Choctaw,  coming  up  opportunely,  and  obtaining  the 
range  of  the  Rebels,  compelled  them  to  fly  from  the  field.  The  loss  on 
both  sides  was  large  for  the  number  engaged.  The  Rebels  left  sixty  dead 
on  the  field,  but  carried  away  all  their  wounded  and  some  of  the  killed. 
The  Union  loss  was  one  hundred  and  one  killed,  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
five  wounded,  and  two  hundred  and  sixty -six  missing,  nearly  forty-seven 
per  cent,  of  the  whole  number  engaged.  Of  these  nearly  six  hundred 
were  from  the  colored  regiments.  The  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  missing, 
who  were  mostly  prisoners,  were  nearly  all  colored,  and  there  was  too 
much  reason  to  believe  that  they  were  all  murdered  after  their  capture  by 
the  Rebel  forces.  None  of  them  have  since  been  heard  from,  and  the  avowal 
in  a  semi-official  way,  of  the  intention  of  the  Rebel  Government  to  deal  in 
this  manner  with  any  freedmen  who  became  soldiers  in  the  Union  armies, 
coupled  with  the  persistent  refusal  of  the  Rebel  authorities  to  give  any 
account  of  them,  justifies  the  painful  presumption  that  they  were  thus 
slaughtered.  Their  bravery  in  this,  their  first  battle-field,  completely 
refuted  the  insinuations  which  had  been  so  often  made,  of  their  want  of 
the  courage  necessary  for  the  profession  of  arms. . 

On  the  10th  of  June  a  Rebel  force  attacked  the  Union  garrison  at  Lake 
Providence  ;  but  there,  as  at  Millikeu's  Bend,  they  were  repulsed  and  fled. 
The  attack  on  Helena,  Arkansas,  on  the  4th  of  July,  of  which  we  shall 
give  some  account  in  another  chapter,  does  not  seem  to  have  been  made 
by  any  portion  of  Johnston's  troops,  but  by  a  detachment  from  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  army. 


THE  INVESTMENT  OF  PORT  HUDSON. 


CHAPTER   XLIX. 

THE  INVESTMENT  OF  PORT  HUDSON  —  BATTLE  FOUGHT  BY  GENERAL  ACGUR  —  THE  ARRIVAL  OF 
ADDITIONAL  FORCES  -  THE  ASSAULT  OF  THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH  OF  MAY  -  THE  BRILLIANT 
ATTACK  OF  GENERAL  WEITZEL's  DIVISION  —  PARTIAL  SUCCESS  OF  THE  ASSAULT  —  THB 
ASSAULT  OF  THE  FOURTEENTH  OF  JUNE  -  ITS  FAILURE  —  THE  CLOSENESS  OF  THE  SIEGE  — 
SUFFERINGS  OF  THE  GARRISON  -  THEIR  SURRENDER  -  THE  REBEL  ATTACKS  ON  BRASHEAR 
CITY  AND  TERREBONNE  —  INHUMAN  MASSACRE  OF  INFIRM  CONTRABANDS  AND  WOMEN  AND 
CHILDREN  -  THE  MURDER  OF  NEGROES  AT  ST.  MARTINSVILLE  —  THE  ATTACK  OF  THE  REBELS 
ON  HELENA,  ARKANSAS  -  THEIR  SIGNAL  DEFEAT  —  REVIEW  OF  THE  PROGRESS  OF  THE  WAR 
DURING  THE  LAST  ELEVEN  MONTHS  —  THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  END. 


left  General  Banks,  the  commander  of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf} 
(Chapter  XLIIL,  p.  501,)  at  Alexandria,  Louisiana,  which  place  he  had  enter 
ed  with  his  troops  on  the  8th  of  May.  He  remained  at  this  point  for  about 
ten  days,  having  sent  General  Augur,  meantime,  to  commence  operations 
against  Port  Hudson  from  Baton  Eouge,  and  despatched  two  expeditions  of 
cavalry  to  break  up  the  enemy's  camps  and  destroy  their  communications 
at  Camp  Moore,  Ponchatoula,  and  on  the  Clinton  and  Port  Hudson  rail 
road.  Admiral  Farragut  had  also  bombarded  the  batteries  on  the  night 
of  the  8th  of  May  for  several  hours.  General  Augur  encountered  a  con 
siderable  Rebel  force  on  Port  Hudson  plains,  about  four  miles  east  of  the 
town,  on  the  22d  of  May,  and  fought  them  for  nearly  nine  hours,  and 
finally  compelled  them  to  retreat  with  heavy  loss  toward  Clinton.  The 
Union  loss  was  nineteen  killed  and  eighty  wounded.  General  Banks 
moved  forward  from  Alexandria  with  his  troops  as  rapidly  as  possible, 
and  crossing  his  army  over  the  Mississippi  at  Bayou  Sara,  which  he 
reached  on  the  21st  of  May,  effected  a  junction  with  General  Augur  on 
the  23d.  The  town  was  closely  invested  the  next  day. 

Port  Hudson  is  about  twenty-five  miles  above  Baton  Rduge,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Mississippi.  Like  Yicksburg,  it  is  situated  on  a  bend  of 
the  river,  but  unlike  that  city  it  is  at  the  angle  of  the  bend,  which  in  this 
case  is  nearly  a  right  angle.  On  the  north,  for  a  distance  of  eight  miles, 
it  is  protected  by  an  impassable  swamp,  which  is  bounded  on  the  side 
nearest  Port  Hudson  by  Thompson's  creek,  the  hither  bank  of  which  is  a 
precipitous  bluff,  crowned  by  an  intrenched  abatis.  This  abatis  extends 
from  the  Mississippi  river  eastward,  till  it  joins  a  series  of  intrenchments, 
nine  or  ten  miles  in  extent,  sweeping  to  the  south  in  a  semicircle  till  they 
rest  upon  the  river  on  the  crest  of  a  range  of  high  hills.  The  country  in 
the  rear  is  rolling,  and  much  of  it  heavily  timbered.  Between  Baton 
Rouge  and  Port  Hudson  is  a  long  stretch  of  territory,  difficult  of  access 
at  all  times,  being  covered  by  dense  woods  and  undergrowth,  and  abound 
ing  in  bayous  and  marshes.  The  Port  Hudson  plains,  lying  about  four 


584  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

e 

miles  east  of  the  town,  on  which  General  Augur's  battle  was  fought,  were 
two  open  tracts  of  level  country,  one  about  a  mile  square,  the  other  half 
a  mile  in  length  by  a  fourth  of  a  mile  in  breadth.  Both  are  surrounded 
by  dense  forests. 

The  defences  of  Port  Hudson  were  nearly  as  formidable  and  extensive 
as  those  of  Vicksburg.  On  the  water  front  were  eight  batteries,  one  of 
them  stationed  on  a  bluff  eighty  feet  high.  These  batteries  mounted  about, 
twenty-five  guns,  two  of  them  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounders,  and 
the  remainder  twenty-four,  thirty-two,  and  forty-two  pounders.  On  the 
land  side,  the  defences  occupied  four  distinct  lines  of  fortifications,  each 
commanded  by  the  one  in  its  rear.  In  front  of  all  a  formidable  abatis 
extended  for  many  rods.  There  were  two  large  and  strong  forts,  four 
redoubts,  and  three  extended  bastions,  connected  with  each  other  by  earth 
works,  and  strengthened  by  lines  of  rifle-pits  in  front  and  rear.  On  these 
fortifications  were  mounted  between  thirty  and  forty  guns,  some  of  them 
of  heavy  calibre,  and  besides  these  there  were  four  movable  field-batteries. 
The  garrison  consisted  of  about  seven  thousand  men,  under  the  command 
of  General  Franklin  Gardner,  an  able  and  skilful  officer. 

On  the  25th  of  May,  General  Banks  had  compelled  the  enemy  to  aban 
don  his  first  line  of  works.  The  Union  forces,  having  been  joined  on  the 
26th  by  General  "Weitzel's  brigade,  which  had  distinguished  itself  so 
greatly  in  the  campaign  on  the  Teche,  General  Banks  ordered  an  assault 
on  the  Kebel  defences  for  the  next  day.  The  artillery  commenced  firing 
between  five  and  six  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  the  squadron  of  Admiral  Farragut 
opened  fire  upon  the  water  batteries  above  and  below,  about  the  same 
time,  and  continued  their  bombardment  most  of  the  day. 

At  ten  o'clock,  General  Weitzel,  with  his  own  brigade  and  portions  of 
Grover's  and  Emory's  divisions,  and  two  regiments  of  colored  troops,  un 
der  the  command  of  Colonel  Paine---the  whole  being  about  five  brigades 
— attacked  the  right  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  after  a  desperate  and  pro 
tracted  contest,  lasting  till  after  four  p.  M.,  succeeded  in  forcing  the  enemy's 
lines,  crossing  Big  Sandy  creek,  and  taking  possession  of  a  redoubt, 
mounting  six  guns  of  large  calibre,  near  Foster's  creek.  In  this  achieve 
ment  every  foot  of  ground  had  been  contested  with  the  most  determined 
resolution,  and  the  slaughter  on  both  sides  had  been  fearful.  The  colored 
troops,  especially,  fought  with  such  courage  and  daring  as  to  call  forth  the 
highest  encomiums  from  the  commanding  general.  Nearly  one  half  of 
the  casualties  of  the  day  were  from  their  ranks.  The  captured  battery, 
which  had  been  the  one  which  inflicted  its  death  wounds  on  the  frigate 
Mississippi,  was  speedily  turned  upon  the  enemy,  and  with  great  effect 
The  positions  gained  in  this  terrible  struggle  were  firmly  held. 

On  the  left  and  centre,  the  assault  led  by  Generals  T.  W.  Sherman  and 
Augur,  was-  equally  resolute  and  determined,  though  commenced  later, 
and  not  crowned  with  the  same  measure  of  success.  General  Sherman 


SURRENDER  OF  PORT  HUDSON.  585 

was  severely  wounded,  losing  a  leg,  and  barely  escaping  with  his  life. 
The  bastions  were  approached  but  not  captured,  and  after  dark  the  troops 
were  compelled,  in  order  to  avoid  a  flanking  fire,  to  fall  back  a  short  dis 
tance.  The  success  of  the  day  had  been  sufficient,  incomplete  as  it  was, 
tg>  excite  the  highest  hopes  of  the  speedy  reduction  of  the  stronghold. 
The  losses  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  were  nearly  one  thousand. 
There  was  reason  to  fear  that  those  of  the  colored  troops  who  were  taken 
prisoners  were  put  to  death  by  their  captors. 

The  siege  was  now  pushed  with  great  energy,  and  the  Rebel  garrison 
was  soon  reduced  to  great  straits  for  food.  On  the  14th  of  June,  General 
Banks  ordered  a  second  assault.  It  was  intended  that  the  attack  should  be 
made  simultaneously  by  three  divisions,  Weitzel's,  G rover's,  and  Paine's, 
before  daybreak,  and  that  General  Augur's  division  should  make  a  feint  to 
divert  the  attention  of  the  enemy.  But  the  obstructions  to  be  overcome 
were  so  many  that  the  three- divisions  could  not  act  together;  General 
"Weitzel's  division  was  the  first  to  come  up,  and  drove  the  Rebels  out  of 
their  rifle-pits  into  their  breastworks,  but  after  an  hour's  strenuous  assault 
of  these,  were  compelled  to  fall  back  under  cover.  Paine's  division 
assaulted  that  portion  of  the  fortifications  in  front  of  their  camp,  but^ 
early  in  the  attack,  their  gallant  commander  was  severely  wounded,  and 
fell  very  near  the  breastworks,  where  he  lay  for  twelve  hours  before  he 
could  be  brought  off.  The  losses  in  this  division  were  very  heavy,  as 
they  were  also  in  Grover's  division.  The  assault  was  unsuccessful,  and 
the  loss  in  f killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners  was  nearly  one  .thousand.  A 
charge  made  on  the  17th  by  the  fourth  Wisconsin  and  the  sixth  Michigan 
was  also  repulsed,  and  the  Union  army  lost  heavily  in  prisoners.  The  com 
manding  general  now  proceeded  to  invest  the  city  still  more  closely,  and 
to  press  the  siege  with  greater  ardor.  The  Rebel  garrison  were  speedily 
reduced  to  great  straits  for  food,  and  their  mules  were  killed  and  eaten, 
the  cattle  being  entirely  exhausted.  They  had  no  breadstuffs  except  a 
considerable  quantity  of  beans,  of  very  indifferent  quality.  They  held 
out  stubbornly,  however,  till  the  7th  of  July,  when  the  news  of  the  sur 
render  of  Yicksburg  having  been  received  by  the  Union  army,  and 
occasioning  great  rejoicing,  the  Rebel  officers  began  to  inquire  the  cause 
of  the  uproar,  and  though  at  first  unwilling  to  believe  the  intelligence,  yet 
General  Gardner,  the  Rebel  commander,  on  ascertaining  its  truth,  at  once 
made  overtures  for  a  surrender,  and  finally  gave  up  the  town,  on  the  8th 
of  July,  though  it  was  not  entered  by  the  Union  forces  till  the  9th. 

By  this  surrender  six  thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  prisoners 
fell  into  General  Banks'  hands,  together  with  fifty-one  pieces  of  artillery, 
two  steamers,  four  thousand  eight  hundred  pounds  of  cannon  powder,  five 
thousand  small  arms,  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  rounds  of  ammuni 
tion,  and  some  stores  and  equipments.  It  also  opened  the  navigation_of 
the  Mississippi,  as  Port  Hudson  was  the  last  of  the  Rebel  fortresses  which 


5?G  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

had  commanded  the  river,  Columbus,  Island  Number  Ten,  Fort  Wright, 
Fort  Pillow,  Memphis,  and  Vicksburg,  having  all  been  captured  or  aban 
doned  during  the  previous  sixteen  months. 

General  Banks  now  returned  to  New  Orleans,  and  Port  Hudson  was 
garrisoned  by  colored  troops,  and  made  the  camp  of  instruction  for  tho* 
colored  regiments,  which  were  forming  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf, 
under  the  direction  of  General  Ullman. 

The  necessity  of  supplying  a  large  force  in  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson, 
and  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  service  of  a  portion  of  the  nine  months 
men,  compelled  the  temporary  abandonment  by  General  Banks  of  the 
Teche  country,  which  he  had  so  recently  rescued  from  the  Kebels,  as  he 
had  not  a  sufficient  army  to  occupy  it  while  conducting  the  siege.  The 
enemy  were  not  slow  in  availing  themselves  of  the  opportunity  of  repos 
sessing  a  portion  of  it.  About  the  19th  of  June  they  appeared  with  a 
force  of  about  seven  thousand,  mostly  Texans,  at  Terreborme,  tore  up  the 
track  of  the  Opelousas  railroad,  and  attacked  the  small  Union  force  at 
Lafourche,  but  were  repulsed  with  considerable  loss.  Their  next  poiijt 
of  attack  was  Brashear  City,  which  had  been  made  a  depot  of  stores  and 
the  location  of  a  large  hospital  and  convalescent  camp.  The  Union  garri. 
son  at  that  place  was  about  one  thousand  men,  chiefly  of  the  one  hundred 
and  seventy-sixth  New  York  and  the  twenty-third  Connecticut,  though 
there  were  a  few  squadrons  of  the  second  Rhode  Island  cavalry  with  them. 
Two  companies  of  the  one  hundred  and  seventy-sixth  New  York  were 
absent  on  detached  duty  near  New  Orleans.  The  Union  forces  were  badly 
handled,  and  being  attacked  in  front  and  rear  soon  surrendered.  Three 
were  killed  and  seven  wounded  of  the  New  York  regiment.  The  whole 
number  of  prisoners  taken,  including  the  large  number  of  convalescents) 
and  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the  hospital,  was  three  thousand  five  hun 
dred  and  thirteen.  Most  of  the  privates  were  paroled.  The  amount  of 
stores  lost  was  estimated  at  one  million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars) 
and  included  thirty  pieces  of  artillery.  There  was  a  large  camp  of  freed  - 
men,  mostly  the  infirm  and  old  men  and  women  and  children,  near  Bra- 
shear,  the  able  bodied  freedmen  having  joined  the  colored  regiments. 
After  the  capture  of  the  town  the  Rebel  troops  rushed  upon  this  camp, 
and  slaughtered  all  indiscriminately,  except  the  few  who  were  able  to  con 
ceal  themselves  and  escape.  It  was  estimated  that  more  than  two  thousand 
helpless  prisoners  were  thus  inhumanly  murdered.  This  atrocious  act  of 
barbarity,  unhappily,  does  not  stand  alone  in  the  history  of  that  depart 
ment.  About  a  month  previous,  a  body  of  about  five  hundred  negroes, 
from  the  abandoned  plantations  of  the  Attakapas  country,  had  determined 
to  come  to  the  Union  camp  and  enlist  as  soldiers.  Arming  themselves 
with  such  weapons  as  they  could  find,  old  shot-guns,  pitchforks,  etc.,  they 
made  their  way  toward  the  camp  peaceably,  molesting  no  one.  Arriving 
near  St.  Martinsville,  through  which  they  must  pass,  they  resolved  to  de- 


REBEL   ATTACK   ON  HELENA,  ARKANSAS.  537 

marid  the  surrender  of  the  place,  their  leader,  an  intelligent  Creole,  think 
ing  this  would  be  the  best  plan  to  avoid  a  collision  with  the  people.  A 
number  of  the  citizens  of  St.  Martinsville,  together  with  some  professed 
Unionists  then  in  the  place,  went  out  to  them  with  the  Union  flag,  and 
professing  to  be  friends,  told  them  to  lay  down  their  weapons  and  march 
into  the  town.  As  they  did  so  they  were  seized  by  the  inhabitants,  and 
every  one  hung  on  the  spot,  and  Rebel  officers  who  participated  in  the 
horrible  massacre  afterward  boasted  of  the  number  they  helped  to  kill. 
It  speaks  volumes  for  the  humanity  and  forgiving  nature  of  the  negro 
troops  that,  in  the  opportunities  which  have  since  offered,  they  have  not 
taken  signal  vengeance  on  those  who  had  so  brutally  murdered  their  kins 
men  and  their  families. 

With  the  capture  of  Port  Hudson,  the  triumph  of  the  Rebels  in  the 
rt  Attakapas  country  "  terminated,  and  they  speedily  escaped  to  western 
Louisiana. 

The  necessity  of  assembling  as  large  a  force  as  possible  for  the  siege  of 
Yicksburg  had  led  to  the  reduction  of  the  corps  of  the  other  armies  of  the 
"West  to  as  small  numbers  as  would  be  at  all  sufficient  to  hold  their 
respective  districts.  The  corps  assigned  for  the  defence  of  northeastern 
Arkansas,  under  the  command  of  Major-General  Prentiss,  having  its  head 
quarters  at  Helena,  had,  among  others,  been  much  reduced  for  this  pur 
pose,  and  the  Rebel  Generals  Holmes,  Price,  and  Marmaduke,  having 
ascertained  this,  acted  promptly  on  their  information.  Prentiss's  army 
numbered,  including  several  regiments  of  raw  troops,  and  two  or  three 
colored  regiments  who  had  not  been  under  fire,  a  little  more  than 
four  thousand  men.  The  gunboat  Tyler  was  also  in  port,  and  able  and 
willing  to  render  assistance.  The  oombined  Rebel  force  under  Holmes, 
Price,  and  Marmaduke,  amounted  to  thirty-seven  regiments,  or  about 
fifteen  thousand  men,  and  they  were  all  seasoned  troops,  though  some  of 
those  under  Marmaduke's  command  had  done  more  retreating  than 
fighting.  Confident  of  success,  the  Rebels  made  their  attack  about  day 
light,  and  though  losing  terribly  by  the  fire  of  the  Union  sharpshooters 
in  the  rifle-pits,  and  the  continuous  fire  from  the  batteries,  they  succeeded, 
after  a  desperate  struggle  of  nearly  two  hours,  in  taking  a  small  fort 
mounting  four  guns,  one  of  the  outworks  of  the  Union  position.  Greatly 
elated  at  this  measure  of  success,  they  were  pressing  forward  in  the  hope 
of  capturing  the  more  important  forts  near  the  town,  when  the  gunboat 
Tyler,  having  obtained  their  range,  commenced  dropping  the  huge  shells 
from  her  Parrott  guns  into  their  ranks,  and  drove  them  back  with  terrific 
slaughter.  Falling  back  out  of  range,  they  attempted  to  approach  the 
town  from  the  north,  but  Colonel  Clayton,  with  the  fifth  Kansas  and  the 
first  Indiana  cavalry,  charged  upon  them  and  routed  them  completely^ 
They  then  attempted  to  approach  from  the  south,  but  here  the  gunboat 
rained  its  shells  upon  them.  They  endeavored  to  plant  batteries  to  bom- 


588  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

bard  the  town,  but  General  Prentiss  charged  upon  them  repeatedlj  and 
rendered  their  efforts  ineffectual.  At  length,  completely  foiled  at  every 
point,  having  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  over  one  thousand,  and  in  pris 
oners  a  little  more  than  eleven  hundred,  they  abandoned  the  effort  to  cap 
ture  the  town,  and  in  their  rage  burned  the  contraband  camp,  as  they 
retreated.  The  Union  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  was  two 
hundred  and  thirty.  The  Rebel  forces  remained  in  the  vicinity  for  a  day 
or  two,  but  finding  that  the  Union  troops  were  reinforced,  and  that  five 
gunboats  were  stationed  there,  they  made  the  best  of  their  way  toward 
Little  Rock,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

With  this  defeat  of  the  Rebels  in  their  final  attack  in  any  considerable 
force  upon  the  posts  of  the  Union  army  upon  the  Mississippi  river,  we 
close  our  narrative  of  the  events  of  the  war  to  the  present  time.  It 
has  reached  one  of  the  periods  of  comparative  inaction,  though  uot  of 
complete  cessation  of  hostilities,  which,  on  several  previous  occasions,  have 
followed  great  battles.  It  remains  for  us  to  pass  in  rapid  review  the  pro 
gress  which  had  been  made-  during  tlie  eleven  months  whose  history  we 
have  been  attempting  to  detail. 

Some  of  the  preceding  chapters  have  been  devoted  to  the  record 
of  disasters  to  the  Union  army,  or,  at  least,  but  half-successes.  The 
utter  failure  of  the  peninsular  campaign,  terminating  in  the  igno 
minious  retreat  to  the  James  river,  and  the  subsequent  transference 
of  the  remains  of  that  noble  army  to  Alexandria  and  Fredericksburg, 
were  followed  by  the  sad  and  painful  scenes  of  the  battles  before 
Washington,  where  the  gallant  but  unfortunate  General  Pope  strug 
gling  for  three  weeks  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac 
from  the  Peninsula,  found  himself  constantly  confronted  by  a  supe 
rior  force,  and  pushed  back  by  the  irresistible  weight  of  numbers, 
yet  fighting  with  a  resolute  determination  at  every  step.  At  last,  by  the 
insubordination  and  covert  hostility  of  some  of  the  generals  of  the  army 
of  the  Potomac,  the  reinforcements  promised  to  him  delayed,  or,  if  brought 
forward,  retained  in  idleness  on  some  plea  or  another,  forage  and  supplies 
withheld,  his  men  worn  out  with  fatigue,  hunger,  and  want  of  sleep,  he  is 
compelled  to  fall  back  upon  the  defences  around  Washington,  and  the 
sound  of  the  enemy's  cannon  was  heard  thundering  at  the  gates  of  the 
capital. 

Emboldened  by  his  success,  the  Rebel  commander  regarded  the  capture 
of  Washington  and  Baltimore  as  merely  a  question  of  time,  and  pressed 
rapidly  northward  to  commence  a  war  of  invasion  upon  the  Northern 
States.  The  Union  army,  dispirited  and  demoralized,  he  argued,  could 
afford  no  serious  opposition  to  his  victorious  legions,  and  Maryland,  which 
the  Rebels  had  always  claimed  as  their  own,  would  not  only  afford  ample 
supplies,  but  her  sons  would  gladly  embrace  the  opportunity  of  enlisting 
in  the  Confederate  army.  These  rose-colored  visions  were  doomed  to  d's- 


REVIEW  OF  THE  PROGRESS   OF   THE  WAR.  589 

appointment.  Maryland  had  awakened  from  her  early  dream  of  secession. 
With  the  gaunt,  woe-worn  and  filthy  Rebel  soldier  before  them,  the  dainty 
secessionists  of  Maryland  felt  little  inclination  to  share  its  hardships,  and 
though  Lee  had  strictly  prohibited  all  plunder  ic  Maryland,  still  the  wel 
come  he  had  expected  was  wanting,  aDcl  the  State  remained  unflinchingly 
Union. 

The  opinion  he  had  formed  in  regard  to  the  condition  of  the  Union 
forces  proved  equally  in  error.  At  the  blust  oi  the  trumpet,  calling  them 
to  a  new  conflict  to  beat  back  the  invader,  who  new,  tor  the  first  time, 
was  penetrating  to  the  homes  and  hearths  of  the  loyal  States,  the  grini 
soldier  again  shouldered  his  musket,  and  rushed  to  the  £eld,  forgetful  of 
his  weariness  and  hardships.  The  troops  which,  on  Wednesday,  haggard, 
dispirited,  and  hungry,  dragged,  with  weary  steps,  their  way  into  the  de 
fences  of  Arlington  Heights,  on  Friday  of  tno  same  week  were  marching 
promptly,  and  elate  with  hope,  northward  to  encounter  the  enemy  on  new 
battle-fields.  Then  came  the  hard-fought  batUo  of  South  Mountain,  a 
Union  victory,  the  disgraceful  surrender  of  Harpsr'*  Ferry,  and  the  bloody 
but  indecisive  battle  of  Antietam,  where  thousands  of  brave  hearts  shed 
their  life  blood  for  a  nation's  redemption.  The  retreat  of  the  discomfited 
Rebel  chieftain,  thankful  that  his  punishment  was  no  more  severe,  the 
leisurely  and  inefficient  pursuit,  and  the  final  removal  from  command  of 
the  general,  whose  magnificent  promises  had  come  so  far  short  of  perform 
ance,  were  the  events  of  the  autumn  months  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 

At  the  West,  matters  were  not  in  a  much  better  state.  General  Buell, 
who,  though  possessing  some  of  the  qualifications  of  an  able  commander, 
was  a  martinet  in  discipline,  and  never  acquired  the  love  or  attachment  of 
his  troops,  had  marched  his  men,  in  September,  across  Tennessee  and  Ken 
tucky  in  that  wearisome  chase  after  General  Bragg,  never  overtaking  him, 
and  always  just  too  late  to  prevent  some  heavy  loss  which  the  Rebel 
General  had  inflicted.  Early  in  October,  when  Bragg  deemed  it  desirable 
to  return  by  the  way  he  came,  sending  before  him  his  trains  laden  with 
the  rich  plunder  of  the  Blue  Grass  region,  Buell  again  pursued  him  leis 
urely,  and  finally  suffered  one  of  his  army  corps  to  be  attacked  arid  fight 
an  indecisive  action  at  Perryville,  in  which  the  Union  forces  were  re 
pulsed,  if  not  defeated,  and  Bragg  reaped  sill  the  advantages  of  a  victory, 
preventing  and  delaying  effective  pursuit,  tailing  back  again  to  Louis 
ville,  Buell  was  removed  from  command,  and  the  brave  and  able  ROKC- 
crans,  who  had  so  recently  distinguished  himselt  at  Corinth,  put  in  his 
place.  There  was,  however,  much  to  be  done  before  the  "Army  of  the 
Cumberland,"  as  it  was  now  called,  was  ready  to  take  ihe  field.  It  was  in 
need  of  almost  every  thing.  The  long  and  severe  marches  of  the  pre 
vious  two  months  had  worn  out  the  clothing  and  shoes  of  the  old  troops; 
the  raw  recruits,  who  formed  about  half  the  army,  were  badly  equipped, 
undisciplined,  and  in  many  instances  commanded  by  inefficient  officers. 


590  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

The  cavalry  arm  of  the  service  could  hardly  be  said  to  exist ;  it  must  be 
reorganized  and  almost   created  anew.     The  communications  with  Nash 
ville,  the  proper  headquarters  of  the  army,  were  so  completely  destroyed, 
that  some  weeks  were  required  to  restore  the  single  line  of  railroad,  over 
which,  in  default  of  a  high  stage  of  water  in  the  river,  supplies  must  be 
brought.     Everywhere  the  master's  hand  was  needed,  and  everywhere  it 
was  felt.     In  these  works  of  preparation  the  months  of  November  and 
December  were   spent,  and  it  was  in  the  closing  week  of  the  year  that 
General  Rosecrans  felt  that  he  was  ready  to  move  forward.     Then  came 
the  three  days  at  Stone  river ;  the  first,  with  its  disastrous  rout  of  the 
Union  troops  on  the  right  wing  ;  the  second  and  third,  with  their  retrieyal 
of  the  disaster,  and  their  terrible  slaughter  of  Breckinridge's  (Eebel)  corps  ; 
the  evacuation  of  Murfreesboro  followed,  and   on  the  third  day  of  the 
new  year  the  song  and  shout  of  victory  went  up  from  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland.     In  the  other  military  departments,  the  Union  armies  had 
but  held  their  own.     North  Carolina,  as  well  as  the  Department  of  the 
South,  had  been  depleted  of  so  large  a  portion  of  her  forces,  to  reinforce 
the  army  of  the  Potomac,  that  any  considerable  aggressive  movement  was 
impossible  ;  and  though  small  expeditions  were  occasionally  sent  to  break 
up   Eebel  depots  of  supplies,  or  cut  railroad  communications,  nothing 
further  could  be  attempted,  without  too  great  risk.     In  the  Department  of 
the  Gulf,  the  stern  but  patriotic  rule  of  General  Butler  had  awed  and  sub 
dued  the  secessionists  for  the  time,  and  had  kept  the  small  portion  of 
Louisiana  which  was  included  within  the  Union  lines,  quiet.     More  than 
once,  however,  the  enemy  had  made  threatening  demonstrations  upon  the 
outposts  of  the  department.     At  Baton  Eouge,  on  the  5th  of  August^ 
they  had  attacked  the  Union  troops,  and  only  been  repulsed  after  a  hard 
fought  battle,  and  as  yet  the  country  of  the  Attakapas  was  wholly  in  their 
possession,  with  its  labyrinths  of  bayous  and  its  connections  with  the 
Mississippi  river.     Farther  north,  but  little  progress  was  made  during  the 
autumn.     The  enemy  were   indeed   defeated  at  luka,  and   routed,  after 
terrible  slaughter  at  Corinth  and  the  Hatchie,  but  Vicksburg  yet  frowned 
haughtily  on  its  assailants,  and  barred  the  passage  of  commerce  down  the 
Mississippi.     Helena  was  held  by  a  Union  garrison,  but  the  interior  of 
Arkansas  was  firmly  grasped  by  the  Eebels.     In  the  west  of  that  State, 
the  brave  army  of  the  frontier,  inured  to  the  hardships  of  war  by  their 
previous  experience   in  the  border  ruffian  contests,  defeated  the  Eebels 
over  and  over  again,  but,  like  the  heaving  of  the  stone  of  Sisyphus,  the 
toilsome  labor  was  but  accomplished  when  it  was  necessary  to  do  it  anew. 
Missouri  was  still  harassed  by  guerrilla  bands,  villanous  outlaws,  whose 
only  vocation  was  to  murder  and  rob.     The  fair  young  State  of  Minnesota 
made  the  heavens  vocal  with  her  cries  of  distress  and  anguish,  for  the 
eight  hundred  of  her  sons  and  daughters  massacred  by  the  ferocity  of  the 
Indian  tribes,  who  had  seized  the  opportunity  of  war  to  attempt  the  ex- 


EEYIEW   OF  THE  PROGRESS  OF  THE   WAR.  591 

pulsion  of  the  white  population  from  Western  Minnesota.  The  fearful 
conflict  was  but  short,  and  the  Indians  were  many  of  them  slain  or  brought 
to  justice;  but  fair  villages  had  been  destroyed,  and  prairie  homes  made 
desolate  in  great  numbers,  and  the  mothers  everywhere  in  the  State  pressed 
their  babes  more  closely  to  their  breasts  as  they  thought  of  the  peril, 
perhaps  not  yet  wholly  overpast,  of  the  visitation  of  the  murderous  and 
blood-thirsty  savage. 

The  principal  cities  of  the  States  bordering  on  the  Ohio,  Cincinnati, 
•  Louisville,  and  New  Albany,  had  been  threatened  by  the  Eebel  armies, 
and  the  arms-bearing  population  of  Ohio  and  Indiana  had  been  called  out 
to  repel  the  apprehended  invasion  ;  and  though  this  danger  had  for  the 
time  been  averted,  there  was  as  yet  no  certainty  that  it  would  not 
return. 

As  the  winter  approached,  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  under  its  new 
commander,  prepared  for  another  trial  of  strength  with  the  enemy,  and  on 
the  13th  of  December,  the  fearfully -disastrous  battle  of  Fredericksburg 
was  fought.  The  Union  forces  were  repulsed  with  very  heavy  losses,  and 
though  not  routed  or  demoralized,  they  were  for  the  time  defeated.  In 
Arkansas,  in  the  latter  part  of  November  and  early  in  December,  the 
battles  of  Cane  Hill  and  Prairie  Grove,  in  which  the  Union  arms  were  de 
cidedly  successful,  alleviated  to  some  extent  the  gloom  which  was  settling 
upon  the  minds  of  the  people  at  the  misfortunes  of  our  armies.  But  ex 
cept  these  successes,  and  that  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  at  Stone 
river,  the  advent  of  the  new  year  brought  little  to  cheer  or  encour age- 
General  Sherman  had  assailed  Yicksburg,  and  been  repulsed  with  severe 
loss ;  the  garrison  and  fleet  at  Galveston  had  been  attacked,  the  Harriet 
Lane  captured,  and  the  Westfield  destroyed,  while  the  gallant  Renshaw, 
Wainwrigtit,  and  Lea,  had  given  their  lives  to  the  cause  of  their  country. 

There  was  one  ground  of  hope  and  encouragement,  however,  which 
made  the  loyal  and  true  hearted  look  forward,  with  more  confidence,  to 
the  year  that  was  to  come.  The  new  year  brought  the  promised  procla 
mation  of  emancipation !  Hitherto  the  armies  of  the  Union  had  been 
fighting  not  only  the  entire  Rebel  force,  but  that  force  strengthened  by 
the  labor  of  the  slave,  who,  though  really  the  friend  of  the  Union,  was 
thus  made  the  powerful  ally  of  the  Rebel  Government.  The  Rebels  could, 
with  the  slaves  to  till  their  soil,  provide  for  the  support  of  their  families, 
and  perform  the  severer  labors  of  the  camp  and  fortification,  bring  a  pro- 
portionably  larger  force  into  the  field  than  the  North,  without  seriously 
perilling  their  future.  To  cut  of  this  resource,  and  thus  more  nearly 
equalize  the  relative  position  of  the  two  contestants,  was  a  military  neces 
sity,  and  apart  from  any  humane  or  moral  considerations,  its  adoption  was 
indispensable  to  the  success  of  the  Union  cause.  In  this  instance,  too,  hu 
manity,  morality,  and  religion  were  all  on  the  side  of  the  movement. 
Slavery  had  been  the  spring  and  cause  of  the  Rebellion  ;  the  determine- 


THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

tion  of  the  southern  leaders  to  extend  its  area  and  increase  its  power,  had 
been  their  governing  motive  in  plunging  into  the  war.  The  intelligent 
people  of  the  North  believed  slavery  an  evil  and  curse,  before  they  had 
seen  this  manifestation  of  its  wicked  designs,  and  as  they  saw  more  and 
more  of  its  atrocities  during  the  progress  of  the  war,  its  inhumanity  to 
the  slave,  its  violation  of  all  the  principles  of  morality,  virtue,  and  honor^ 
and  its  degrading  influence  upon  the  white  population,  both  the  slave- 
holding  and  nori-slaveholding,  they  were  ready  to  hail  with  joy  a  procla 
mation  which  brought  freedom  to  the  slave. 

Growing  out  of  this  proclamation,  as  a  necessary  corollary,  was  the  de 
termination  to  arm  as  large  a  portion  of  these  new  freedmen  as  possible, 
to  defend  the  liberty  they  had  received.  This  measure,  though  exciting 
some  opposition  at  first,  soon  became  generally  popular,  and  the  freedmen 
did  much  to  render  it  so,  by  their  bravery  and  good  conduct  in  several 
battles  in  which  they  were  engaged.  Before  midsummer  of  1863,  more 
than  thirty  thousand  troops  of  African  descent  had  been  enrolled  in  the 
Union  army. 

Thus  it  happened,  that  with  the  opening  of  the  new  year,  a  more  cheer 
ful  feeling  prevailed  throughout  the  loyal  States ;  and  though  some 
disasters  occurred  to  the  Union  arms,  these  were  far  more  than  counter 
balanced  by  the  great  and  extraordinary  successes  which  crowned  the 
effort  of  the  armies  to  overthrow  the  Rebellion.  The  Department  of  the 
Gulf  was  among  the  first  to  feel  the  impulse  of  the  rising  wave  of  Union 
triumphs.  General  Banks,  who  had  succeeded  General  Butler  in  the 
command  of  the  department,  sent  an  expedition  in  January  into  the 
Attakapas  country,  and  destroyed  a  huge  Rebel  gunboat,  and  drove  the 
Rebels  from  Berwick  and  Brashear  City,  and  two  months  later  cleared  the 
whole  region  of  the  Bayou  Teche,  as  far  as  Opelousas  and  Alexandria,  of 
their  presence,  destroying  their  fortresses,  capturing  their  transports,  and 
burning  their  gunboats  and  iron-clads.  In  Arkansas,  Generals  Blunt  and 
Herron  held  the  northwestern  counties  against  the  raiders,  guerrillas,  and 
bushwackers,  who  had  so  often  sought  to  bring  them  into  subjection.  In 
Western  Missouri,  the  fleet-footed  Marmaduke,  who  sought  the  destruction 
of  the  stores  deposited  at  Springfield,  Missouri,  for  the  supply  of  the  army 
of  the  frontier,  found  his  plans  thwarted,  and  was  compelled  to  make  one 
of  those  masterly  retreats  for  which  he  had  already  become  famous,  down 
the  White  river  to  Batesville.  An  expedition,  under  command  of  Gen 
eral  McClernand,  accompanied  by  gunboats,  captured  Arkansas  Post, 
Arkansas,  on  the  10th  of  January,  and  ascending  the  White  river,  took 
possession  of  other  important  points.  Those  sturdy  sea-kings,  Admirals 
Farragut  and  Porter,  if  they  had  not  yet  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi, 
yet  managed  between  them  to  patrol  the  lower  portions  of  it  very  thor 
oughly,  now  raining  their  iron  hail  upon  the  batteries  which  frowned 
upon  its  banks,  and  anon  sending  some  swift  gunboat  or  ram  past  the  de- 


REVIEW   OF  THE  PROGRESS   OF  THE   WAR.  593 

fences  of  Yicksburg,  Warrenton,  or  Port  Hudson,  or  as  in  the  case  of 
Admiral  Farragut  at  Port  Hudson,  and  later  of  Admiral  Porter  at  Vicks- 
burg,  running  by  with  a  whole  squadron.  That  this  was  not  done  with 
out  some  damage  and  loss  the  shattered  wrecks  of  the  frigate  Mississippi 
and  the  gunboat  Lancaster  gave  sad  evidence ;  but  notwithsanding  these 
losses  and  others  of  less  importance,  their  objects  were  gained — the  afflu 
ents  of  the  Mississippi  explored,  every  Rebel  gunboat  or  transport  in  their 
waters  destroyed,  and  all  the  depots  of  supplies  for  the  Rebel  armies 
seized  or  burned.  In  the  Department  of  the  South  there  was  activity  and 
zeal,  though  no  remarkable  successes.  Fort  McAllister,  near  Savannah, 
was  assaulted,  but  not  captured — the  Nashville,  a  Rebel  iron-clad,  de 
stroyed,  and  Charleston,  the  birthplace  of  the  Rebellion,  besieged,  and 
Fort  Surnter  bombarded  by  the  monitors  and  the  other  iron-clads.  The 
fort  was  not  captured  or  silenced,  but  the  substantial  impregnability  of 
the  monitors  was  demonstrated,  and  the  problem  settled  that  the  Rebel 
defences  there  could  be  successfully  assailed.  In  the  Department  of  North 
Carolina,  the  Rebels,  in  their  efforts  to  capture  Washington,  North  Caro 
lina,  were  thwarted,  and  their  forces,  which  had  laid  siege  to  Suffolk, 
Virginia,  were  defeated. 

The  army  of  the  Potomac,  which  in  January  had  again  changed  gener 
als,  and  was  now  commanded  by  General  Hooker,  who  had  exerted  him 
self  to  the  utmost  to  perfect  its  discipline,  to  increase  its  mobility,  and  to 
make  it  in  every  respect  the  finest  army  the  world  had  ever  seen,  was 
destined  to  another  reverse,  not  so  overwhelming  and  terrible  as  that  of 
Fredericksburg,  still  one  which,  for  a  time,  cast  a  gloom  over  the  country. 
General  Hooker  attempted  to  turn  Lee's  flank,  by  a  movement  on  the 
right,  crossing  the  Rappahannock  at  a  considerable  distance  above  Fred 
ericksburg,  with  the  greater  part  of  his  force,  while  making  a  feint  of 
crossing  below — and  actually  sending  one  corps  to  cross  and  attack  the 
heights  where  Burnside  had  been  repulsed,  while  the  remainder  of  his 
army  were  assailing  Lee's  left  wing  in  the  vicinity  of  Chancellorsville. 
The  plan  was  well  devised,  but  the  failure  of  the  eleventh  corps  (General 
Howard's)  to  stand  their  ground  when  attacked,  and  the  necessary  change 
of  lines  which,  followed,  so  deranged  his  plans  as  to  give  his  adroit  and 
able  adversary  an  advantage  which  he  was  not  slow  to  improve.  Fred 
ericksburg  was  taken,  but  lost  again  within  twenty-four  hours,  and  the 
Union  commander  was  forced  to  recross  the  Rappahannock  to  avoid  being 
cut  off  from  his  supplies.  The  loss  by  the  Rebels  of  their  best  general, 
"  Stonewall "  Jackson,  made  the  victory  a  dear  one  to  them,  and  their  killed 
and  wounded  in  the  the  three  days'  fighting  considerably  outnumbered 
Hooker's  losses.  The  skilfully  conducted  cavalry  expeditions  of  Generals 
Stoneman  and  Kilpatrick,  in  connection  with  this  battle,  were  important, 
not  only  as  showing  that  the  Union  cavalry  had  become  superior  to  that 
of  the  Rebels  in  this  kind  of  expeditions,  but  in  crippling  the  natural  re- 
38 


594  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

sources  of  Lee's  army,  and  rendering  it  a   matter  of  necessity  for  that 
commander  to  move  northward  to  obtain  supplies. 

The  remainder  of  May  was  occupied  with  cavalry  movements,  some  of 
them  of  considerable  importance,  and  when,  early  in  June,  Lee  commenced 
moving  his  army  northward,  Hooker,  keeping  the  nearer  circle,  drove 
him  beyond  the  Bull  Hun  mountains,  harassed  him  with  his  cavalry,  de 
layed  his  movements,  and  repelled  him  from  any  near  approach  to  either 
Washington  or  Baltimore.  Thus  thwarted  iii  his  main  object,  Lee  moved 
forward  into  Pennsylvania,  in  the  hope,  doubtless,  of  reaching  its  com 
mercial  metropolis,  but  his  movement  had  been  too  long  delayed,  and  he 
found  himself  compelled  to  fight  at  Gettysburg,  near  the  southern  border 
of  the  State.  Here,  on  the  1st,  2d,  and  3d  of  July,  the  most  sangui 
nary  battle  of  the  war,  and  one  of  the  most  sanguinary  of  modern  times, 
was  fought.  General  Meade,  who  had  succeeded  General  Hooker  in  the 
command  of  the  Union  army,  only  two  days  before  the  battle,  manifested 
rare  skill  and  ability  in  the  handling  of  his  troops,  and  the  battle,  which,  on 
the  first  day,  resulted  in  a  partial  success  of  the  Kebels,  was  at  its  close  a 
most  triumphant  victory  for  the  Union  army.  The  Rebels  were  pursued 
as  far  as  Williamsport,  but  by  a  serious  error  of  judgment  were  suffered 
to  escape  and  cross  the  Potomac  without  fighting  seriously. 

At  the  West,  General  Grant,  who  was  in  command  of  the  army  of  the 
Tennessee,  after  attempting  in  a  variety  of  ways  to  turn  the  flank  of  the 
enemy  at  Vicksburg  and  compel  the  evacuation  of  that  Rebel  stronghold, 
finding  his  plans  partially  or  entirely  unsuccessful,  formed  the  bold  project 
of  marching  his  troops  down  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  sending  the 
gunboats  and  transports  past  the  ten  miles  of  continuous  batteries  around 
the  bend  at  Yicksburg,  and,  landing  at  some  point  below,  marching  upon 
the  city  from  the  rear,  and  investing  it.  He  found  himself  compelled  to  run 
not  only  the  Vicksburg  and  Warrenton  batteries,  but  those  of  Grand, 
Gulf  also,  after  a  five  hours'  bombardment  of  them,  and  landing  at  Bruins- 
burg,  marched  northeast,  fighting  a  battle  at  Port  Gibson,  compelling  the 
evacuation  of  Grand  Gulf,  which  he  made  his  base,  fighting  again  at  Ray 
mond,  at  Jackson,  the  capital  of  Mississippi,  which  he  captured  and  nearly 
destroyed,  at  Champion  Hill,  and  at  Black  river  railroad  bridge,  and 
finally  sat  down  before  Vicksburg,  eighteen  days  after  his  landing  at 
Bruinsburg.  He  made  two  attempts  to  carry  the  city  by  assault,  but  be 
ing  repulsed,  commenced  its  siege,  which  terminated  in  its  surrender  on 
the  4th  of  July,  its  entire  garrison  of  over  thirty-one  thousand  marching 
out  as  prisoners  of 'war.  No  grander  or  more  successful  military  achieve 
ment  is  recorded  on  the  pages  of  history.  .The  boldness,  energy,  skill, 
and  perseverance  of  General  Grant,  in  this  great  enterprise,  entiile  him 
to  rank  among  the  first  military  commanders  of  the  century. 

The  siege  of  Port  Hudson,  conducted  by  General  Banks,  simultaneously 
with  that  of  Vicksburg,  and  its  successful  issue  on  the  9th  of  July  also 


REVIEW   OF  THE   PROGRESS   OF  THE  WAR.  595 

deserves  to  be  reckoned  among  the  remarkable  achievements  of  the 
present  war.  Though  defended  by  a  smaller  garrison,  and  in  itself  a 
town  of  much  less  size  than  Vicksburg,  its  defences  were  even  more  for 
midable  than  those  of  that  stronghold.  It  was  twice  assaulted  by 
General  Banks'  army,  and  each  time  with  the  utmost  vigor  and  determi 
nation,  but  without  effect.  When  it  finally  surrendered,  the  waters  of 
the  Father  of  Rivers,  which  since  1861  had  been  closed  to  peaceful  com 
merce,  once  more  floated  argosies  laden  with  the  products  of  the  prairie 
States  to  the  great  southern  metropolis,  New  Orleans. 

The  loss  of  these  two  fortresses  and  the  consequent  opening  of  the 
Mississippi  to  the  Union,  was  the  severest  blow  which  had  thus  far  been 
inflicted  upon  the  Rebellion.  The  trans-Mississippi  region,  which  had, 
up  to  that  time,  furnished  it  with  cattle,  and  to  some  extent  with  grain 
also,  was  thenceforth  cut  off,  and  the  Confederacy  practically  sundered. 
The  State  of  Mississippi,  the  home  of  the  Rebel  President,  and,  next  to 
South  Carolina,  the  foremost  of  all  the  States  of  the  South  in  the  Rebel 
lion,  lay,  by  these  victories,  prostrate  in  the  victor's  hands ;  organized 
resistance  in  that  State  was  henceforth  fruitless ;  and  it  is  but  justice  to 
the  citizens  of  Mississippi  to  say  that  but  few  of  them  were  disposed  to 
attempt  farther  resistance.  Louisiana  and  Arkansas,  it  was  evident, 
must  soon  follow,  and  Tennessee  was  almost  wholly  in  Union  hands 
already.  Mr.  Jefferson  Davis  had  seen  the  inevitable  consequences  of  the 
loss  of  these  strongholds  so  clearly  that  he  had  strained  every  nerve  to 
collect  a  sufficient  force,  under  the  command  of  General  Johnston,  to 
raise  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  visiting  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  East 
Tennessee  in  person,  and  appealing  to  the  people  of  these  States  to  rally 
for  the  purpose.  His  efforts  proved  futile,  and  his  chagrin  at  his  failure 
was  not  disguised.  From  that  hour  the  conscription  was  pressed  with  a 
severity  far  beyond  any  former  precedent,  and  the  supplies  required  for 
his  armies  seized  without  regard  to  the  circumstances  in  which  those  from 
whom  they  were  taken  were  left.  Sterner  and  sterner  grew  the  discipline 
of  the  army,  and  more  deadly  the  vengeance  on  deserters,  whose  numbers, 
nevertheless,  increased  with  ea^h  day.  The  depreciation  of  the  Confed 
erate  treasury  notes  (the  currency  of  the  seceded  States)  which  followed 
these  Union  victories  was  very  great,  the  exchange  for  gold  being  fifteen 
or  sixteen  dollars  for  one,  and  for  the  United  States  legal  tender  notes 
eleven  or  twelve  for  one. 

Without  rehearsing  the  less  important  skirmishes  or  battles,  whose 
influence  on  the  great  questions  at  issue  was  only  indirect,  it  cannot  but 
be  evident  to  the  reader  that  during  the  eleven  months  ending  July  15th, 
1863,  there  had  been  great  progress  made  in  putting  down  the  Rebellion. 
There  had  been  no  step  backward  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  Gov 
ernment.  Even  the  apparently  disastrous  battles  resulted  in  no  perma 
nent  loss  of  territory  or  prestige.  At  least  two  hundred  thousand  square 


596  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

miles,  which,  in  August,  1862,  were  under  Confederate  sway,  were,  in 
July,  1863,  redeemed  for  the  stars  and  stripes.  The  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi  was  no  longer  obstructed  by  hostile  fortresses  and  gaping 
cannon.  The  blockade  had  grown  fearfully  close,  and  the  Rebel 
promises  to  pay  were  little  better  than  waste  paper.  Well  might  the 
President  of  the  United  States  proclaim  a  day  of  national  thanksgiving 
to  Him  who  had  so  signally  blessed  the  nation  in  its  struggle  for  the 
preservation  of  the  freedom  bequeathed  to  them  by  their  fathers,  for  the 
victories  which  his  hand  had  wrought. 

The  war  was  not  ended,  indeed,  nor  the  power  of  the  Rebels  fully 
broken :  the  desperation  of  their  leaders  and  the  bravery  of  the  defenders 
of  the  Union  were  yet  to  be  attested  on  other  bloody  battle-fields,  but 
everywhere  were  seen  the  evidences  that  their  cause  was  failing,  and 
those  who  in  other  countries  had  hitherto  been  their  strenuous  and  per 
sistent  advocates  were  forced  to  admit  that  their  fortunes  seemed  to  be  on 
the  wane,  and  that  their  ultimate  success  was  doubtful.  The  oppressed 
Unionists  of  the  South,  and  the  slaves,  who  had  begun  to  comprehend 
that  the  war  concerned  their  future  condition,  breathed  more  freely,  aa 
they  sent  up  in  secret,  their  thanksgiving  to  God  that  the  end  drew  nigh. 


OVERTHROW   OF  THE   REBEL   POWER  IN   ARKANSAS.       597 


CHAPTER   L. 

THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC  AT  REST — THE  OVERTHROW  OF  THE  REBEL  POWER  IN    ARKANSAS 

THE    GUERRILLAS    AND    BUSHWHACKERS    OF    ARKANSAS    AND    THE    INDIAN     TERRITORY — 

QUANTREL    AND    HIS    BAND THE    SACKING  OF  LAWRENCE ATTEMPT  TO  MURDER  GENERAL 

BLUNT CABELL,  MARMADUKE,  SHELBY,  AND    COFFEY,  MAKE    A    RAID    INTO    MISSOURI,  AND 

ARE  DEFEATED  AND  ROUTED — MORGAN'S  RAID    INTO    KENTUCKY,  INDIANA,  AND  OHIO HIS 

CAPTURE  AND  IMPRISONMENT HIS  ESCAPE SKETCH  OF  HIS  LIFE HIS  DEATH THE  RIOTS 

OF   THE  SUMMER  OF  1863 — THE  GREAT    RIOT    IN    NEW    YORK — ITS    CAUSES    AND    OBJECTS — 
THE    REIGN   OF    TERROR — THE   MOB    8UBDUKD THE    LOSS    OF    LIFE   AND    PROPERTY    BY    IT. 

AFTER  the  Rebel  army  had  crossed  the  Potomac,  and  made  its  way  to 
its  old  quarters  on  the  Rappahannock,  followed  as  far  as  the  northern 
bank  of  the  Rapidan  by  the  Union  army,  there  ensued  a  season  of  quiet, 
while  the  two  armies  were  recruiting  in  numbers,  and  being  reorganized 
for  another  and  more  desperate  conflict.  The  quiet  was  not  wholly  un 
broken,  though  there  were  no  engagements,  except  some  slight  cavalry 
skirmishes,  until  about  the  middle  of  October.  The  battles  of  the  later 
autumn  we  shall  describe  further  on.  Meantime,  we  will  turn  our  eyes 
westward,  and  observe  what  progress  the  war  is  making  there. 

After  the  surrender  of  Yicksburg,  the  Government  deemed  it  desirable 
to  drive  the  Rebels  out  of  Arkansas,  and  assist  the  Union  inhabitants  to 
recover  the  control  of  the  State,  which  had  been  snatched  from  them  by 
a  fraudulent  vote.  For  this  purpose  General  Steele  was  ordered  to  move 
from  Helena  with  a  considerable  force  toward  Duvall's  Bluff  on  the 
"White  river,  where  he  was  to  be  joined  by  General  Davidson,  who  was 
moving  south  from  Missouri  by  way  of  Crowley's  Ridge,  west  of  the 
St.  Francis  river.  The  juncture  of  the  two  columns  was  effected,  and 
having  established  a  hospital  and  depot  of  supplies  at  Duvall's  Bluff, 
General  Steele  moved  forward  from  that  point  on  the  1st  of  August,  1863, 
against  the  Rebel  army,  which  was  then  lying  near  the  line  of  the  Bayou 
Metoe,  and  pushed  it  back  to  Little  Rock,  pursuing  it  closely,  skirmishing 
frequently  and  successfully.  Having  reached  the  Arkansas  river,  he 
crossed  it  below  Little  Rock,  and  with  a  part  of  his  force  marched  upon 
Arkadelphia,  the  base  and  depot  of  supplies  of  the  Rebel  army.  General 
Holmes,  who  commanded  the  Rebel  forces  in  Arkansas,  sent  Marmaduke 
with  his  cavalry  to  drive  back  the  Union  column;  but  the  Union  troops 
facing  about  and  assaulting  him,  Marmaduke,  as  usual,  fled  with  all  his 
men,  and  Holmes,  fearing  the  effect  of  Steele's  flanking  movement,  de 
stroyed  what  property  he  could  at  Little  Rock,  and  after  a  slight  resistance 
retreated  toward  Arkadelphia,  in  great  haste.  General  Steele  entered 
Little  Rock  on  the  10th  of  September,  having  captured  over  one  thousand 


598  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IX  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

prisoners,  and  large  quantities  of  stores,  which  Holmes  in  his  haste  had 
been  unable  to  destroy.  His  own  loss  was  less  than  one  hundred.  His 
cavalry  and  an  infantry  column  continued  to  push  the  Eebel  army,  and 
harass  them  as  they  retreated  southwestward.  Marmaduke,  with  three 
thousand  troops,  separated  from  the  main  Rebel  army,  and  attacked  the 
U  nion  garrison  at  Pine  Bluff,  on  the  Lower  Arkansas.  The  garrison 
consisted  of  only  five  hundred  and  fifty  men,  but  they  were  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Clayton,  who  had  more  than  once  defeated  Marma 
duke,  even  at  larger  odds  than  this.  The  battle  continued  for  five  hours, 
Marmaduke  showing  more  than  usual  pluck,  but  finally  flying,  with  a 
loss  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  his  men.  On  the  same  day,  October 
25th,  the  Union  army  entered  Arkadelphia,  the  broken  remnants  of  the 
Rebel  army  retreating  across  Red  river.  The  whole  of  the  State,  except 
two  small  districts,  one  in  the  southwest,  the  other  in  the  northwest  of  the 
State,  was  now  restored  to  the  Federal  authority. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  war  the  northwestern  portion  of  Arkansas, 
and  the  Indian  Territory  adjacent,  had  been  the  haunt  of  an  irregular 
Rebel  force  of  outlaws,  bushwhackers,  guerrillas,  horse  thieves,  and  mur 
derers,  the  associates  and  successors  of  the  border  ruffians  of  the  old 
Kansas  days.  These  villains  were  best  suited  when  they  could  make 
forays  into  the  peaceful  villages  or  farm-houses  of  the  border,  and  rob, 
murder,  and  ravish  defenceless  citizens.  Sometimes,  they  would  join  the 
Rebel  armies,  and  fight  under  the  Rebel  generals  of  the  region  for  a  few 
days,  but  they  soon  tired  of  this,  and  returned  anew  to  the  work  of 
plunder  and  bloodshed.  To  the  disgrace  of  the  Rebel  authorities,  it  must 
be  said  that  most  of  the  villains  bore  commissions  from  the  Rebel  War 
Department. 

One  of  the  most  daring  and  villainous  outrages  of  which  these  outlaws 
were  guilty  was  the  attack  upon  the  city  of  Lawrence,  Kansas,  on  the 
21st  of  August,  1863.  One  of  the  guerrilla  leaders,  a  noted  thief  and  an 
escaped  convict,  who  had  assumed  the  name  of  Quantrel,  with  about  eight 
hundred  of  his  men,  entered  Lawrence  in  the  early  morning,  murdered 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  of  its  citizens  in  cold  blood,  plundered  its 
dwellings  and  stables,  and  burned  the  greater  part  of  the  business  portion 
of  the  city,  destroying  property  valued  at  upwards  of  two  millions  of  dol 
lars.  General  James  H.  Lane,  at  the  head  of  the  few  mounted  troops 
which  could  be  raised,  (Quantrel  having  stolen  all  the  more  valuable 
horses,)  pursued  and  overtook  the  rear-guard  of  his  troops,  and  succeeded 
in  killing  nearly  one  hundred  of  his  men,  but  the  remainder  escaped. 
^,  General  James  G.  Blunt,  of  Kansas,  who  had  been  for  nearly  two  years 
in  command  of  the  army  of  the  frontier,  was  a  terror  to  these  bands  of 
marauders,  whom  he  never  failed  to  visit  with  severe  punishment,  when 
ever  he  could  reach  them,  and  they  had  sworn  to  be  revenged  on  him 
personally,  if  possible.  In  July  he  had  attacked  Cooper  and  Stand- 


REBEL  FORAY  INTO  MISSOURI.  599 

watie,  the  Rebel  and  Indian  commanders  of  these  outlaws  in  the  Indian 
Territory,  and  as  usual,  had  defeated  and  routed  a  force  much  larger  than 
his  own.  Quantrel  had  been  in  this  battle,  and  had  resolved  to  capture 
and  murder  Blunt.  On  the  5th  of  October,  he  ascertained  that  the  General 
was  on  his  way  from  Fort  Smith  to  Fort  Scott,  in  Kansas,  with  an  escort 
of  only  one  hundred  men,  and  accordingly  dressing  three  hundred  of  his 
ruffians  in  Union  uniforms,  which  he  had  stolen,  he  approached  General 
Blunt  and  his  escort  when  they  were  but  a  few  miles  from  Fort  Scott. 
Having  come  within  pistol  range  of  the  escort,  the  disguised  guerrillas 
commenced  firing,  and  the  escort,  surprised,  broke,  and  seventy-eight  of 
them,  including  Major  Curtis,  a  son  of  General  Curtis,  were  captured  and 
murdered  after  surrendering.  General  Blunt,  collecting  fifteen  of  his 
men,  charged  upon  the  guerrillas,  and  they,  filled  with  their  old  terror, 
retreated  until  he  found  an  opportunity  of  moving  southward,  to  a  point  a 
mile  or  two  distant,  where  Lieutenant-Colonel  Pond's  regiment  were  sta 
tioned.  Quantrel  himself  supposed  he  had  killed  General  Blunt,  and 
there  was  great  rejoicing  in  the  Rebel  States  over  his  death. 

The  Rebel  commanders  of  these  bands  of  outlaws,  Cabell,  Marmaduke, 
Shelby,  and  Coffey,  having  been  thus  driven  by  the  Union  armies  to  the 
very  borders  of  Arkansas,  and  being  satisfied  of  their  inability  to  regain 
possession  of  the  State  again,  resolved  to  collect  their  forces  and  make  a 
grand  foray  into  Missouri,  where,  they  believed,  they  could  plunder  and 
murder  unarmed  citizens  with  greater  impunity  than  in  Arkansas. 

They  accordingly  gathered  six  or  seven  thousand  guerrillas,  Indians, 
bushwackers  and  the  like,  and  Cabell  and  Marmaduke  started  from  the 
Choctaw  settlements  in  the  Indian  Territory,  about  the  first  of  October, 
crossed  the  Arkansas  river  east  of  Fort  Smith,  and  Marmaduke  remaining 
at  Fayetteville,  Arkansas,  with  a  part  of  the  force  as  a  reserve,  Cabell  and 
Shelby  went  on  with  the  remainder  to  Crooked  Prairie,  Missouri,  were 
they  were  joined  by  General  Coffey  with  a  considerable  additional  force  of 
similar  materials,  and  moved  thence  toward  the  interior  of  the  State, 
plundering  and  murdering,  unchecked.  They  reached  Booneville,  on  the 
Missouri  river,  but  being  closely  pursued,  attempted  to  double  on  their 
trail,  but  on  reaching  Merrill's  crossing  of  Salt  Fork  found  themselves 
confronted  by  the  Missouri  State  militia,  under  General  E.  B.  Brown, 
who  fought  them  for  several  hours,  on  the  evening  of  the  12th  of  Oc 
tober  and  having  routed  them,  dispatched  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lazear, 
with  nine  nundred  men,  to  intercept  them  at  Marshall,  while  he  followed 
them  with  the  remainder  of  his  command.  General  Brown's  and  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Lazear's  forces  together  did  not  number  over  sixteen  hundred, 
but  they  were  more  than  a  match  for  twice  their  numbers  of  the  cowardly 
ruffians  whom  they  fought,  and  hemming  them  in  between  them  they 
punished  them  without  mercy,  killing  or  severely  wounding  one  hundred 
and  fifty,  taking  several  hundred  prisoners,  capturing  two  guns,  and 


600  THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

nearly  the  whole  of  their  train ;  and  when  the  remnant  left — disorderly 
dirty,  and  nearly  starved — reached  Fa'yetteville,  not  even  Marmaduke 
could  rally  or  reorganize  them. 

The  Eebel  guerrilla  chief  John  Morgan,  who  had,  by  his  daring  raid 
into  Kentucky,  gained  a  remarkable  notoriety  as  a  partisan  fighter,  or 
rather  plunderer,  for  he  always  avoided  fighting  where  he  could,  remained 
quiet  during  the  winter  and  spring  of  1863  ;  but  early  in  the  summer, 
under  orders  it  is  said  from  Kichmond,  and  with  the  design  of  creating  a 
diversion  to  prevent  the  northwestern  States  from  sending  troops  to  Penn 
sylvania  to  thwart  Lee's  operations,  he  made  preparations  for  an  extensive 
raid  into  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and  Ohio.  General  Kosecrans  ascertained 
his  purposes  through  his  scouts,  and  notified  General  Burnside,  who  then 
commanded  the  Department  of  the  Ohio,  of  his  intentions.  He  moved 
on  the  24th  of  June,  with  somewhat  more  than  thirty-five  hundred 
mounted  men,  and  a  battery  of  artillery.  His  men  were  carefully  selected 
from  Bragg's  cavalry  and  his  own  brigade.  He  assembled  his  force  first 
on  the  banks  of  the  Cumberland  near  Jamestown,  and,  after  resting  for 
several  days,  made  a  feint  of  attacking  Tompkinsville,  on  the  opposite  shore 
of  the  Cumberland  in  Kentucky,  and  this  drew  the  Union  forces,  which 
were  watching  him,  to  that  point.  He  then  set  his  men  to  constructing 
flat-boats  secretly,  and  moving  with  great  rapidity,  crossed  the  river  at 
Burksville,  nearly  thirty  miles  higher  up  the  Cumberland,  on  the  night  of 
the,  1st  of  July,  and  by  noon  of  the  2d  was  on  his  way  toward  Columbia, 
Kentucky.  Owing  to  the  heavy  condition  of  the  roads  he  did  not  reach 
there  till  noon  of  the  3d;  and  had  a  rencounter  with  a  small  body  of  Union 
troops  near  the  town,  whom  he  speedily  repulsed.  The  Union  troops 
from  Jamestown  who  had  followed  him,  on  ascertaining  the  number  of 
his  troops,  fell  back  and  notified  Colonel  Wolford,  who  commanded  their 
brigade,  who  sent  a  courier  to  General  Carter,  the  commanding  officer  at 
Somerset,  who  ordered  three  brigades  to  be  sent  in  pursuit.  By  this  delay, 
Morgan  gained  two  days  on  his  pursuers.  Moving  to  Green  river  on  the 
3d  of  July,  Morgan  attempted  to  cross  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  but 
found  a  tete-de-pont  on  the  opposite  end  of  the  bridge,  together  with  other 
earthworks,  defended  by  two  hundred  men  of  the  twenty-fifth  Michigan 
volunteers,  commanded  by  Colonel  Moore.  Morgan  sent  out  a  flag  of 
truce  demanding  an  instant  surrender.  Colonel  Moore  immediately 
replied,  "  If  it  was  any  other  day,  I  might  consider  the  summons,  but  the 
4th  of  July  is  a  bad  day  to  talk  about  surrender,  and  I  must,  therefore, 
decline."  Morgan  thereupon  sent  two  regiments  to  storm  the  works,  but 
after  charging  upon  it  repeatedly,  they  found  the  fire  of  its  defenders  too 
galling  to  be  endured,  and  withdrew,  with  a  loss  of  thirty  killed,  many 
wounded,  and  one  hundred  prisoners.  Finding  himself  foiled,  Morgan 
now  withdrew,  and  crossing  at  a  ford  farther  up,  reached  New  Market  the 
same  evening,  and  moved  the  next  morning  on  Lebanon.  Here  was 


RAID   OF  MORGAN  INTO  INDIANA.  601 

a  garrison  of  four  hundred  men,  without  fortifications.  Morgan  sum 
moned  them  to  surrender,  but  their  commander,  Colonel  Hanson,  re 
fused,  and  sheltering  his  men  in  the  depot  and  adjacent  buildings,  defended 
the  town  for  seven  hours,  when  Morgan,  in  a  rage,  burned  the  town,  and 
the  buildings  in  which  Colonel  Hanson  and  his  men  were  stationed  having 
caught  fire,  they  at  last  surrendered.  Morgan  drove  them  on  foot  before 
his  cavalry,  to  Springfield,  passing  over  the  ten  miles  in  an  hour  and  a 
half,  and  shooting  those  who  were  too  much  exhausted  to  keep  up  the  pace. 
Having  paroled  the  prisoners,  he  kept  on  with  his  force  to  Bardstown,  and 
there  was  resisted,  for  several  hours,  by  a  company  of  twenty  of  the 
fourth  United  States  cavalry,  who,  occupying  a  strong  stable,  fought  him, 
and  held  him  at  bay.  He  now  found  his  pursuers  gaining  on  him,  and 
moved  rapidly  on  Shepherdsville,  on  Salt  river,  and  thence  to  Lawrence- 
ville  and  Brandenburg,  forty  miles  below  Louisville,  and  seized  the 
steamer  McCombe,  and  by  hoisting  signals  of  distress,  attracted  the  steamer 
Alice  Dean  to  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  captured  her  also.  After 
plundering  these  boats,  he  used  them  to  cross  the  river  with  his  troops. 
The  ferrying  over  his  troops  occupied  him  for  two  days,  and  on  the  8th, 
two  of  the  Ohio  river  gunboats  came  down  the  river  and  opened  upon 
him,  but  as  he  replied  briskly  with  his  rifled  pieces,  and  they,  unfortu 
nately,  it  was  said,  had  not  ammunition  suited  to  their  guns,  they  soon 
withdrew.  Having  crossed  with  his  troops,  Morgan  burned  the  Alice 
Dean,  but  after  much  solicitation  consented  to  spare  the  McCombe. 

General  Hobson,  who  commanded  the  Union  force  in  pursuit,  pressed 
on  with  great  speed,  though  his  horses  were  much  jaded,  but  only  reached 
Brandensburg  in  time  to  see  the  Alice  Dean  in  flames,  and  Morgan's 
troops  trotting  up  the  bluffs  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  He  pro 
cured  other  steamers,  however,  promptly,  and  by  three  A.  M.  of  the  10th 
had  his  troops  all  landed  on  the  Indiana  side  of  the  river.  A  party  of 
General  Judah's  division  of  cavalry,  which  had  hitherto  been  stationed  in 
southern  Kentucky,  joined  in  the  pursuit,  coming  to  Louisville  by  railroad} 
and  embarking  there  for  some  point  above  on  the  Ohio,  where  they  might 
confront  Morgan  if  he  attempted  a  raid  into  Ohio. 

Morgan,  meantime,  marched  immediately  upon  Corydon,  where  he  met 
with  some  resistance  from  a  body  of  about  two  hundred  home  guards,  but 
soon  overcame  them,  and  killed  a  number,  plundered  the  town,  burned 
some  of  the  houses,  and  compelled  the  owners  of  factories  to  ransom  them 
by  the  payment  of  a  heavy  sum  of  money.  On  the  morning  of  the  10th, 
he  reached  and  pillaged  Salem,  Indiana,  and  thence  proceeded  to  Vienna, 
on  the  Jeffersonville  railroad,  where  he  burned  a  railroad  bridge,  and 
bivouacked  for  the  night.  On  the  evening  of  the  llth,  he  reached  Vernon, 
where  Colonel  Lowe  was  stationed  with  twelve  hundred  militia.  Morgan 
summoned  him  to  surrender,  but  he  replied,  "  Come  and  take  me."  Mor 
gan  then  ordered  him  to  remove  the  women  and  children,  as  he  intended 


602  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES.' 

to  bombard  the  town;  they  were  removed,  but  under  cover  of  night 
Morgan  and  his  troopers  left,  after  injuring  the  railroad  as  much  as  pos 
sible.  From  Yernon,  he  proceeded  to  Dupont's  station,  and  to  Versailles, 
burning  and  plundering  all  along  his  route.  He  then  moved  to  Harrison 
on  the  Ohio  State  line,  plundering  stores,  houses,  and  stables,  all  along 
his  route,  stealing  clothing,  jewelry,  horses,  carriages,  &c.  &c.,  and  burning 
barns,  and  stacks  of  grain  and  hay.  He  nearly  remounted  his  force  in 
this  part  of  his  route,  and  thus  made  it  very  difficult  for  his  pursuers,  on 
their  jaded  horses,  to  overtake  him.  The  Ohio  and  Indiana  militia  had 
been. called  out,  but  the  raiders  spent  but  four  days  in  Indiana,  and  were 
out  of  the  State  before  the  militia  could  arrive  in  the  vicinity.  Cincin 
nati  was  thought  to  be  the  object  of  Morgan  in  Ohio,  and  the  State 
militia  hastened  thither  for  its  defence,  but  Morgan  was  too  shrewd  to  run 
the  risk  of  a  battle  with  a  largely  superior  force,  and  though  he  passed  in 
the  course  of  his  raid  within  three  miles  of  the  city,  he  made  no  attempt 
to  enter  it.  On  the  13th  of  July  the  Rebels  left  Harrison,  burning  the 
bridge  over  the  Whitewater  river,  and  crossed  the  Great  Miami  by  the 
Miamitown,  New  Baltimore,  and  Coleraine  bridges,  each  of  which  they 
burned,  and  encamped  at  night  ten  miles  northeast  of  Cincinnati.  The 
next  morning  they  passed  through  Glendale  and  Springfield,  crossed  the 
Cincinnati,  Hamilton,  and  Dayton  railroad,  without  doing  it  much  injury, 
plundered  all  the  houses  and  stables  on  their  route,  threatened  Camps 
Dcnnison  and  Shady,  but  were  driven  off  by  the  convalescents  who  were 
stationed  in  the  rifle-pits  for  the  protection  of  the  camps,  burned  fifty  army 
wagons  near  camp  Shady,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Miamiville,  obstructed 
the  track  of  the  Little  Miami  railway,  threw  a  train  off,  burned  the  cars, 
captured  and  paroled  two  hundred  recruits,  and  passing  through  Batavia 
reached  Williamsburg  at  three  P.  M.  on  the  14th. 

After  resting  for  an  hour  or  two,  they  went  on  to  Sardinia,  burning  two 
bridges  behind  them,  and  encamped  there. 

General  Hobson,  in  command  of  the  pursuing  force,  had  pushed  forward 
as  rapidly  as  possible,  but  his  horses  were  jaded,  and  at  Sardinia  he  was 
twelve  miles  behind  the  Rebels.  The  military  authorities  at  Cincinnati 
had  sent  General  Judah's  cavalry  up  the  river  in  steamboats,  with  orders 
to  land  at  such  a  point  as  would  enable  them  to  prevent  Morgan  from 
moving  southward,  and  bodies  of  militia  were  directed  to  move  down 
upon  him  from  the  north,  while  the  military  committees  in  the  counties 
in  his  route  were  ordered  to  obstruct  the  roads,  and  thus  delay  his  progress, 
that  his  pursuers  might  more  readily  come  up  with  him.  The  gunboats 
were  also  directed  to  patrol  the  river,  and  foil  all  his  efforts  to  cross. 

Morgan  now  began  to  find  that  his  farther  progress  in  Ohio  would  be 
difficult,  and  looked  anxiously  about  him  for  some  way  of  escape  across 
the  river  into  Kentucky,  where  he  might  plunder  without  much  fear 
of  defeat  or  capture.  He  had,  on  the  14th,  sent  his  brother,  Colonel  Dick 


QGAINESBORO 
NASHVILLE          MONTGOMERY^ 
T         E 

MURFREESRORO 

SPARTA 


0    R   T   H 


CAROLINA 

SCALE  OF  MILES 


0     10   20    30    40    50 


OPERATIONS  OF  MORGAN'S   RAIDERS.  603 

Morgan,  from  Williamsburg  toward  the  Ohio  river,  to  discover  a  route 
by  which  he  might  safely  reach  the  Kentucky  shore,  but  the  colonel  had 
found  bodies  of  militia  guarding  every  ford,  and  the  gunboats  patrolling 
the  river,  and  had  rejoined  the  main  body  of  the  Rebels,  near  Jackson 
ville,  Adams  county,  with  the  report  that  escape  in  that  vicinity  was  im 
practicable. 

Meantime,  Morgan  pushed  on,  as  the  only  thing  he  could  do,  passing 
through,  and  plundering  Winchester,  Jackson,  Wheatridge,  and  Jack 
sonville,  and  moved  toward  Jasper,  on  the  Scioto.  Six  miles  west  of  this 
town  the  road  had  been  obstructed,  and  the  axemen  were  still  at  work  east 
of  this  point,  and  would  have  entirely  arrested  his  progress,  had  he  not 
caused  a  telegraph  operator  in  his  band  to  send,  by  means  of  a  pocket 
instrument,  despatches  to  Chillicothe,  and  the  other  towns  along  the  route, 
to  the  effect  that  Morgan  was  approaching  the  Marietta  and  Cincinnati 
railroad.  By  the  ruse  the  axemen  were  called  off  to  obstruct  the  road 
above. 

He  did  not  enter  Jasper  till  the  16th,  where,  after  two  or  three  hours  of 
plundering  and  burning,  he  moved  on  toward  Piketon,  where  he  pillaged 
stores  and  dwellings,  murdered  several  citizens,  and  insulted  the  women 
of  the  place.  Finding  that  General  Hobson  was  close  upon  him,  he  left 
Piketon  in  the  evening,  burned  the  bridges  over  the  Scioto,  and  pressed  on 
to  Jackson,  Jackson  county,  which  he  reached  about  eleven  P.  M.  Here  he 
destroyed  the  office,  types,  and  presses  of  the  Jackson  Standard,  a  Republi 
can  paper,  at  the  instance,  it  was  said,  of  some  traitorous  citizens  of  the 
place.  General  Hobson,  who  came  up  the  next  morning,  retaliated  for  this, 
by  destroying,  in  turn,  the  office  and  presses  of  the  Jackson  Express, 
the  paper  of  the  peace  Democrats,  who  had  aided  and  encouraged  Morgan. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  17th,  Morgan  left  Jackson,  and  learning 
that  there  were  twelve  hundred  government  horses  at  Berlin,  six  miles 
northeast  of  Jackson,  guarded  only  by  militia,  he  turned  his  course  thither^ 
and  after  plundering  for  a  time,  moved  up  to  attack  the  militia,  who  were 
about  twenty-five  hundred  in  number,  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Runkle.  That  officer  had  selected  a  good  position,  and  though  his  troops 
were  raw,  and  he  had  no  artillery,  he  had  resolved  to  fight  Morgan  till 
General  Hobson  could  come  up.  Morgan  attacked  them,  but  was  repulsed 
with  a  loss  of  about  a  dozen  killed  and  wounded,  and  withdrew,  moving 
toward  Pomeroy  in  two  colums,  one  going  by  way  of  "Wilkesville,  the 
other  through  Vinton.  The  Rebels  here  found  their  progress  obstructed 
for  two  hours  by  barricades  near  the  little  town  of  Lindsville,  and  when 
at  last  they  had  passed  there  and  approached  Pomeroy,  all  the  roads  were 
blocked  up,  and  defended  by  home  guards.  The  lines  were  indeed  fast 
closing  around  them,  as  the  Union  troops  were  approaching  from  all  points 
of  the  compass,  and  the  gunboats  on  the  Ohio  rendered  it  almost  impossi 
ble  to  cross  that  river.  The  river  was,  however,  their  only  hope,  and 


604  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

turning  away  from  Pomeroy  they  reached  Chester  with  great  difficulty,  in 
consequence  of  the  frequent  barricades,  and  pushed  on  to  Buffington  ford, 
eight  miles  above  Pomeroy,  and  opposite  Buffington  island,  which  point 
their  advance  reached  about  three  A.  M.  on  the  19th  of  July,  and  immediately 
began  to  make  preparations  for  crossing,  while  the  main  body  came  up 
and  bivouacked  in  some  corn-fields  on  the  river  bottom.  At  four  A.  M. 
they  commenced  crossing,  aided  by  a  dense  fog,  and  about  fifty  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  Kentucky  shore,  although  they  were  fired  upon  and  a 
number  wounded  by  the  Kentucky  home  guard. 

Meanwhile,  General  Judah  had  come  on  from  Pomeroy,  and  rode  down 
the  bluff  with  a  small  body  of  troops  into  the  river  bottom,  the  fog  ob 
scuring  the  Kebels  from  view.  They  discovered  his  approach  first  and 
fired,  throwing  the  Union  advance  into  some  disorder.  They  soon  rallied, 
however,  and  the  fog  rising,  their  artillery  was  brought  up,  and  opened 
upon  the  enemy,  while  the  cavalry  charged  upon  the  Kebels,  and  drove 
them  back.  General  Hobson's  advance  came  up  at  the  same  moment,  and 
attacked  the  Eebels  in  rear  with  great  fury,  and  a  body  of  infantry  which 
had  been  landed  below,  moved  up  along  the  bottom  lands,  and  the  gun 
boat  Moose  and  the  transport  Alleghany  had  reached  Buffington  island, 
and  were  directing  their  guns  upon  the  Rebel  force.  Morgan  had  now 
only  the  alternative  of  surrender  or  flight  along  the  river  bank.  About 
eight  hundred  of  the  Rebels,  including  Dick  Morgan's,  Basil  Duke's,  and 
Smith's,  commands,  surrendered.  Morgan,  with  the  remainder  of  his  band, 
fled  in  confusion  up  the  river,  leaving  behind  them  all  their  plunder,  con 
sisting  of  carriages,  horses,  mules,  dry  goods  in  very  large  quantities, 
jewelry,  hats,  boots,  shoes,  women's  and  children's  dresses,  kid  gloves 
laces,  carbines,  shot-guns,  rifles,  pistols,  sabres,  &c.  &c.  Most  of  these 
articles  were  carried  off  by  the  militia  and  citizens,  and  very  little  was 
recovered  by  its  original  owners. 

Morgan  having  with  him  about  two  thousand  men,  reached  Belleville 
ford,  fourteen  miles  above  Buffington  island,  about  dark,  and  attempted  at 
once  to  cross,  but  the  river  was  too  deep,  and  over  fifty  of  his  men  and 
their  horses  were  drowned.  Nearly  three  hundred  finally  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  Virginia  shore,  and  with  great  suffering,  reached,  after  some 
days,  the  Rebel  lines  in  southwestern  Virginia.  But  while  these  were 
struggling  in  the  water,  the  gunboats  came  up,  and  opening  upon  those 
still  on  the  bank,  drove  them  back;  and  Morgan,  with  the  remainder, 
reduced  by  these  losses,  and  by  capture  and  desertion,  struck  westward  to 
Harrison ville,  and  thence  southward  toward  the  river  again.  Near 
Cheshire,  some  miles  below  Pomeroy,  on  Monday  afternoon,  July  20th, 
General  Shackleford,  who  commanded  one  brigade  of  Ilobson's  division, 
brought  them  to  a  stand,  and  after  fighting  for  a  short  time,  Morgan  sent 
a  flag  of  truce  offering  an  unconditional  surrender,  but  while  the  parley 
was  in  progress,  the  wily  guerrilla  slipped  off  with  about  eight  hundred 


PURSUIT  AND   CAPTURE  OF  MOllGAN.  605 

of  his  men,  leaving  Colonel  Coleman  with   about  four  hundred  to  sur 
render.    About  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  were  picked  up  during  the 
day  in  Meigs  and  Vinton  counties.     At  daybreak  on  the  21st,  Shackleford 
started  again,  with  six  hundred  picked  men,  in  pursuit.     Arrangements 
had  also  been  made   by  sending   troops  by  railroad,  and   by  light   draft 
steamers  up  the  river,  to  guard  all  the  fords  of  the  river,  and  to  head 
them  off  from  the  north.     Retreating  at  full  speed  from  Cheshire,  Morgan 
reached  Ervington,  in  Gallia  county,  twenty  miles  west  of  Gallipolis,  on 
the  morning  of  the  21st,  and  halting  to  feed,  saw  a  force  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  militia  under  Major  Sonntag  approaching.     He  immediately  sent 
five  men  with  a  flag  of  truce,  demanding  that  the  Major  should  surrender, 
assuring  him  that  he  had  several  thousand  men  with  him.     The  Major 
immediately  complied,  and  Morgan  thus  obtained  a  supply  of  arms  and 
seventeen  rounds  of  ammunition.     Paroling  the  militia,  he  moved  forward 
toward  Berlin,  and  came  upon  another  body  of  militia  of  about  the  same 
number,  whose  commander,  a  Major  Slain,  also  surrendered  upon  his  de 
mand,     lie  tlien  passed  through  Zaliska,  near  McArthurstown,  and  Nel- 
sonville,  and  reached  Deaverstown  in  the  evening.     On  the  morning  of 
the  23d,  he  was  again   early  in   the    saddle,  crossed   the   Muskiugum  at 
Eagleport,  skirmished  with  a  militia  regiment,  but  soon  escaped  from 
them,  passed  around  another  body  of  militia  near  Cumberland,  and  though 
sixty  of  his  men  deserted,  he  kept  on  to  Senecaville.     At  five  A.  M.  of 
the  24th,  he   crossed   the  Ohio  Central   railroad   at  Campbell's   station, 
burned  the  railroad  bridge  and  station  buildings,  robbed  the  safe  of  tea 
thousand  dollars,  and  kept  on  to  Washington  on  the  national  road,  where, 
having  burned  three  bridges  behind  him,  he  determined  to  rest,  but  Gen 
eral  Shackleford  entered  the  town  within  three  hours,  and  he  escaped  with 
difficulty,  passing   through  Winchester,  Antrim,  Londonderry,  Smyrna, 
and  Moorefield,  burning  the  bridges  behind  him.    Thence  he  moved  toward 
New  Athens,  but  finding  a  considerable  force  there,  turned  and  made  for 
Cadiz,  in  Harrison  county,  where  he  arrived  at  eight  A.  M.  on  the  25th- 
From  this  point,  he  again  attempted  to  cross  the  Ohio  near  Warrenton* 
but  it  was  not  fordable.     Turning  northward  again,  he  passed  through 
Alexandria  and  Centre ville,  where   he  encountered  another  considerable 
force,  which,  after  firing  a  few  shots,  he  managed  to  elude,  and  proceeded 
north  to  Richmond,  twelve  miles  distant,  where  he  hoped  to  be  able  to  rest 
for  a  few  hours,  but  finding  Major  Way  was  pushing  him  closely  with  his 
cavalry,  he  moved  on  toward  New  Lisbon,  in  the  hope  of  reaching  Smith's 
ferry,  nearly  opposite  Wellsville.     Major  Way  hung  upon  his   rear,  and 
skirmished  with  him  nearly  all  night,  and  at  last,  at  eight  o'clock  A.  M. 
on  the  26th,  succeeded  in  forcing  him  into"  a  fight,  and  after  a  sharp  action 
of  an  hour,  routed  his  forces  completely,  with  a  loss  of  two  hundred  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.     Having  secured  his  captives,  Major  Way 
kept  on  with   the   pursuit,  the   Rebels   straining  every   nerve   to  reach 


606  THE   CIVIL  \VAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Smith's  ferry.  Meanwhile  Major  JRae,  who  commanded  the  other  battalion 
of  cavalry  sent  from  Columbus,  had  pushed  forward  with  all  haste  toward 
Smith's  ferry,  to  prevent  their  escape.  By  dint  of  hard  riding,  and  use  of 
cross-roads,  he  reached  there  a  few  minutes  first,  and  drew  up  his  force 
for  action.  Morgan  soon  came  up,  and  with  most  consummate  impudence, 
demanded  that  Major  Eae  should  instantly  surrender.  Major  Kae  replied 
that  he  would  immediately  charge  upon  them  unless  they  threw  down 
their  arms  and  surrendered  unconditionally.  Morgan  tried  to  secure 
better  terms,  but  failing  to  do  so,  surrendered,  though  claiming  that  he 
was  entitled  to  a  parole,  on  the  ground  that  he  had  before  meeting  with 
Major  Rae,  surrendered  to  a  militia  captain,  but  the  claim  was  too  prepos 
terous  to  be  allowed,  and  Morgan  being  brought  before  General  Burnside^ 
was  by  him  consigned  to  the  Ohio  State  Penitentiary,  until  the  Rebel 
Government  should  treat  Colonel  Streight  and  his  officers  as  prisoners  of 
war.  On  the  27th  of  November,  1863,  Morgan,  with  six  of  his  staff*  suc 
ceeded  in  digging  their  way  out,  and  making  their  escape  from  the  Peni 
tentiary  through  a  sewer.  Some  of  the  number  were  retaken,  but  the 
guerrilla  chief  made  the  best  of  his  way  to  Tennessee,  and  soon  raised 
another  band  of  guerrillas, 

Major-General  John  H.  Morgan,  the  Rebel  leader  of  this  daring  though 
unsuccessful  raid,  was  born  near  Lexington,  Ky,  in  1827.  Ilis  family 
were  not  wealthy,  though  belonging  to  a  respectable  class,  lie  was  the 
eldest  of  six  brothers,  five  of  whom  were,  in  one  capacity  or  another, 
connected  with  the  Rebel  army.  John  served  in  the  Mexican  war,  at 
first  as  a  private,  but  was  promoted  from  the  ranks  to  a  second  lieuten- 
antcy.  On  his  return  he  engaged  in  manufacturing  jeans,  linseys  and 
bagging  for  the  southern  market.  A  dashing,  free-and-easy  man  in  his 
manners,  he  was  somewhat  popular,  but  had  the  reputation  of  being  a 
libertine,  and  a  man  of  intrigue.  Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the 
war  he  resolved  to  take  up  arms  on  the  side  of  the  South,  and  raised  a 
company  in  the  autumn  of  1861,  and  marched  to  Bowling  Green,  where 
he  asked  to  be  allowed  to  serve  as  a  partisan  ranger.  As  this  request 
was  not  formally  granted,  he  withdrew  with  his  men  a  short  distance 
from  the  Rebel  camp,  and  engaged  in  forays  and  raids  on  his  own 
account.  His  men  having  increased  to  a  full  regiment,  he  was  com 
missioned  colonel,  but  followed  the  same  course  as  before,  though  oper 
ating  to  some  extent  under  the  direction  of  the  Rebel  army  commanders. 
The  destruction  of  railroads  and  bridges,  plundering  cars,  houses,  and  vil 
lages,  with  occasional  acts  of  murder  and  outrage,  were  the  style  of  his 
pei formances.  Occasionally,  his  natural  good  nature  and  friendship  for 
old  acquaintances  led  him  to  do  a  humane  or  romantic  act,  for  he  affected 
the  Robin  Hood  style  of  plundering ;  but  generally,  he  showed  no  mercy. 
He  was  several  times  in  imminent  danger  of  capture,  but  the  fleetness  of 
his  horse,  or  his  own  agility  and  muscular  power  saved  him.  In  1862 


THE   RIOTS   OF  THE  SUMMER  OF  1863.  607 

he  made  repeated  forays  into  Kentucky,  plundering  the  principal  towns 
of  the  Blue  Grass  region,  and  though  seldom  risking  a  battle  when  he  found 
a  force  nearly  the  size  of  his  own,  he  managed  to  have  matters  very  much 
to  his  liking,  and  carried  off  his  plunder  with  impunity.  He  also  made 
extensive  raids  within  the  Union  lines  in  Tennessee,  cutting  BuelFs  com 
munications  with  Louisville,  obstructing  the  railroads,  burning  bridges, 
&c.  In  June  1863,  as  we  have  seen,  he  started  upon  the  disastrous  raid 
we  have  described,  in  which,  though  he  destroyed  a  vast  amount  of 
property,  and  killed  many  unoffending  citizens,  the  only  results  to  the 
Eebels  were  the  annihilation  of  nearly  thirty-five  hundred  of  Bragg's 
best  cavalry,  picked  men,  and  the  imprisonment  of  himself  and  his  officers 
in  the  Penitentiary.  After'  his  escape  he  again  entered  upon  a  partisan 
career,  visiting  and  plundering  Central  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  On 
the  3d  of  September,  1864:,  he  advanced  with  a  small  force  upon  Green 
ville,  East  Tennessee,  and  halted  for  the  night  at  the  residence  of  a  Mrs. 
Williams.  The  daughter-in-law  of  this  lady,  in  the  evening,  rode  to  the 
Union  General  Gillem's  camp,  sixteen  miles  distant,  and  informed  him  of 
Morgan's  whereabouts,  and  troops  were  at  once  sent  to  surround  and 
capture  him.  In  the  attempt  to  make  his  escape,  Morgan  was  shot  dead 
by  a  private  soldier. 

The  northern  sympathizers  with  the  Eebellion,  demagogues  who 
believed  that  they  could  attain  notoriety,  place  and  fame  by  their  oppo 
sition  to  the  Government,  had  been,  during  the  months  of  May  and  June, 
endeavoring  to  stir  up  the  lowest  classes  of  the  population  of  the  large 
cities  to  an  armed  and  bloody  rebellion  against  the  constituted  authorities, 
While  this  had  been  attempted  unsuccessfully  in  Philadelphia,  Boston, 
Troy,  and  other  cities,  the  emissaries  of  the  Kebels  had  been  specially 
active  in  New  York  city,  as  having  the  largest  number  of  low,  vicious, 
and  ignorant  inhabitants,  fit  material  for  demagogues  to  work  upon,  in 
its  limits.  The  motives  urged  for  an  outbreak  were  two ;  first,  the  draft, 
which,  by  its  commutation  provision  of  three  hundred  dollars,  it  was  falsely 
alleged  discriminated  against  the  poor;  and  second,  a  pretended  influx 
of  the  negroes  in  consequence  of  the  emancipation  proclamation,  and  the 
consequent  appeal  to  the  Irish  to  rally  and  prevent  the  negroes  from  de 
priving  them  of  work.  Neither  of  these  was  the  real  motive  of  the 
leaders  and  promoters  of  the  riot.  The  commutation  feature  of  the  con 
scription  act  was  an  advantage  to  the  poor  man,  as  was  afterward  apparent, 
when,  on  its  repeal,  the  price  of  substitutes  rose  from  three  hundred  to 
one  thousand  or  twelve  hundred  dollars.  There  had  been  no  influx  oi 
negroes  since  the  proclamation  of  emancipation ;  indeed  there  were 
probably  fewer  colored  people  in  the  city  of  New  York  in  July,  1863, 
than  in  July,  1860.  The  real  motive  of  the  riots  was  to  create  a  diversion 
in  Lee's  favor,  and  by  the  destruction  of  property  and  life  in  New 
York  city  and  elsewhere,  to  compel  the  Government  to  call  off  its  troops 


608  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

from  making  war  upon  the  Rebel  chiefs,  to  protect  the  property  and 
homes  of  citizens  of  New  York.  It  had  been  the  intention  of  the  movers 
in  the  matter,  to  bring  on  the  riot  earlier ;  the  1st,  and  afterward  the 
4th  of  July,  had  been  named,  and  letters  written  in  Europe  at  that 
time  referred  to  it  as  probably  then  in  progress.  The  Secessionists  in 
Paris  and  London  were  jubilant  at  the  thought  that  the  great  commercial 
metropolis  was  being  given  up  to  pillage,  arson,  plunder,  and  rapine.  On 
the  4th  of  July,  prominent  disloyalists  addressed  large  bodies  of  men 
in  New  York  city,  and  sought  to  rouse  their  passions  to  evil  deeds. 
But  the  news  of  the  great  victory  over  Lee  at  Gettysburg  was  coming  in, 
and  it  roused  such  a  burst  of  patriotic  feeling,  that  the  leaders  felt  that 
they  must  delay.  They  could  not  delay  long,  however.  With  an  alacrity 
which  at  the  time  surprised  many  of  the  Union  citizens,  but  which  was 
afterward  remembered  as  evidently  a  part  of  the  nefarious  plot,  the 
chief  magistrate  of  the  State,  and  others  in  his  counsel,  had  sent  from 
New  York  and  Brooklyn  every  fully  organized  regiment  of  militia,  under 
the  plea  of  rendering  prompt  aid  to  Pennsylvania  in  her  hour  of  need. 
These  would  soon  return,  and  the  riot  must  be  hastened,  in  order  to  avoid 
a  collision  with  them.  Accordingly,  the  commencement  of  the  draft  was 
fixed  upon  as  the  time  for  rising ;  and  the  general  features  of  the  plot,  the 
property  to  be  destroyed,  &c.,  were  communicated  by  the  leaders  to  their 
subordinate  leaders  in  the  mob,  and  by  them  to  the  masses.  On  Friday 
night,  July  10th,  Governor  Seymour  sent  his  adjutant-general  to  Wash 
ington,  to  urge  upon  the  President  the  suspension  of  the  pending  draft, 
on  the  alleged  ground  that  its  enforcement  would  inevitably  produce 
a  riot.  Having  done  this,  the  governor  took  no  measures  to  guard 
against  the  outbreak  which  he  had  pronounced  inevitable,  but  left  the 
State,  and  did  not  return  till  Tuesday.  The  draft  commenced  on  Saturday, 
and  during  that  day,  July  llth,  and  the  next,  there  were  no  demonstra 
tions  of  mob  violence,  but  on  Monday  morning,  the  attempt  to  complete 
the  draft  in  the  ninth  Congressional  district,  where  it  had  been  com 
menced  on  Saturday,  was  made  the  occasion  of  the  outbreak.  Meetings  of 
the  prominent  rioters  had  been  held  on  Sunday ;  and,  at  an  early  hour 
on  Monday  morning,  organized  parties  of  men,  mainly,  though  not  ex 
clusively,  of  Irish  birth,  went  from  yard  to  yard,  and  from  one  workshop 
and  manufactory  to  another,  to  compel  the  workmen  to  desist  from  their 
labor,  and  join  the  processions  which  were  moving  toward  the  enrollment 
offices.  One  of  the  deputy  marshals  in  the  ninth  district  was  beaten  and 
left  for  dead,  and  the  furniture  of  the  room  destroyed.  The  building  in 
which  the  enrollment  office  was  situated,  as  well  as  the  whole  block,  was 
burned,  and  the  Superintendent  of  Police  set  upon  by  the  mob,  and  nearly 
killed.  Other  buildings  in  which  there  were  enrollment  offices,  or  which 
were  known  or  supposed  to  be  the  residences  of  prominent  Republicans, 
were  fired,  and  their  inhabitants  robbed,  beaten,  or  cruelly  maltreated.  The 


THE   GREAT   RIOT  IN  NEW  YORK.  609 

mob  went  in  this  way  from  street  to  street,  shouting  their  huzznhs  for 
Jefferson  Davis,  the  Southern -Confederacy,  General  Lee,  Fernando  Wood, 
and  others  whom  they  supposed  to  be  hostile  to  the  United  States  Gov 
ernment.  The  authorities  were  at  first  panic-stricken.  Only  the  police  1iad 
manifested  at  first  much  presence  of  mind  or  resolution  in  endeavoring 
to  put  down  the  mob,  and  their  superintendent  and  several  other  officers, 
had  been  nearly  killed.  The  mayor  was  naturally  timid,  and  though 
well  disposed,  had  neither  the  courage  nor  the  power  to  resist  and  subdue 
such  a  formidable  riot.  He  could  not  call  out  a  posse  comitatus  large 
enough  for  its  suppression,  and  he  contented  himself  with  half  measures  ; 
The  major-general  of  the  militia  had  but  very  few  troops  at  call,  and 
those  but  such  as  had  seen  no  service;  and  he  was  like  the  mayor, 
nervous,  hesitating,  and  alarmed;  the  commander  of  the  United  States 
Military  Department  of  the  East,  Major-General  Wool,  was  in  feeble 
health,  and  mentally  unfit  for  such  a  responsibility,  and  had  at,  his  com 
mand  but  a  mere  handful  of  troops.  For  a  time,  then,  it  seemed  that 
the  mob  would  have  its  own  way,  and  would  inaugurate  a  reign  of  terror. 
They  went  to  work  with  a  system  which  showed  that  their  rising  was  no 
momentary  impulse,  but  a  carefully  planned  plot.  The  railroad  tracks 
were  torn  up,  the  telegraph  wires  cut,  and  they  moved  from  one  piece 
of  mischief  to  another,  at  the  direction  of  their  leaders,  with  deliberation. 
The  New  York  Tribune  and  the  New  York  Times  were  both  obnoxious  to 
them,  and  the  attempt  was  made  to  destroy  both  offices,  and  it  would 
have  been  successful  in  the  case  of  the  former,  but  for  the  interposition 
of  a  small  body  of  police.  But  while  prominent  Union  men  and  their 
dwellings  and  offices  w^re  marked  for  destruction,  the  hapless  negroes 
were  the  objects  of  their  special  malignity.  If  a  negro  man  or  woman 
was  seen  upon  the  street,  they  were  instantly  hunted  down,  beaten, 
stamped  upon,  hung  to  the  lamp-post,  or  thrown  into  the  river ;  their 
dwellings  plundered,  torn  down,  or  burned,  and  helpless  women  and 
children  beaten  and  murdered.  The  colored  orphan  asylum,  a  large  and 
fine  structure  on  Fifth  Avenue,  occupied  by  seven  or  eight  hundred 
colored  children,  was,  in  accordance  with  their  previously  avowed  deter 
mination,  plundered  and  burned  to  the  ground,  and  but  brief  time 
allowed  to  the  teachers  and  children  for  escape.  On  Tuesday  the  reign 
of  terror  continued ;  a  hotel,  a  block  of  buildings  on  Broadway,  and 
numerous  private  residences,  were  burned,  and  thirty  or  forty  persons 
murdered.  The  poor  negroes  were  still  pursued  with  the  most  relentless 
hostility,  and  men  and  women,  mainly  Irish  and  of  the  lowest  classes,  vented 
all  the  malignity  of  their  natures  upon  that  helpless,  quiet,  and  unoffending 
race,  who,  as  a  class,  had  been  for  yeass  the  most  peaceful  and  orderly  in 
habitants  of  the  city.  In  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday,  the  Governor  of  the 
State  came  into  the  city,  and  made  a  speech  to  the  rioters,  appealing  to 
them  as  "  his  friends,"  to  be  quiet,  and  do  no  more  mischief.  This  prov 
39 


610  THE   CIVII     WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

ing  in  vain,  he  soon  after  issued  a  proclamation,  declaring  that  the  riot 
must  be  stopped,  and  promising  if  they  would  disperse,  to  have  vtvi  con 
stitutionality  of  the  conscription  act  tested  in  the  courts.  This  produced 
as  Ijttle  effect  as  his  speech,  the  mob  having  got  beyond  his  control.  He 
finally  issued  a  second  proclamation,  declaring  the  city  in  a  state  of  insur 
rection,  and  warning  the  citizens  against  resisting  the  officers  of  the  law. 
General  Harvey  Brown,  who  had  command  of  the  forts  in  the  harbor  under 
General  Wool,  marched  a  small  force  of  regular  troops  into  the  city  during 
the  day,  and  they  had  two  or  three  collisions  with  the  mob,  and  dispersed 
them  from  several  points.  The  ostensible  leader  of  the  mob,  a  Virginian, 
and  an  openly  avowed  Rebel,  meantime  led  them  on  from  one  crime  to 
another.  On  Wednesday  morning,  several  of  the  militia  regiments,  and 
among  them  the  favorite  Seventh,  returned,  and  immediately  undertook  the 
work  of  effectually  putting  down  the  mob.  The  ringleaders  were  arrested, 
and  in  the  several  collisions  which  occurred  several  hundred  of  the 
rioters  were  killed  or  severely  wounded,  and  the  remainder  began  to 
seek  concealment  or  flight.  During  the  day,  however,  they  murdered, 
under  circumstances  of  peculiar  atrocity,  Colonel  O'Brien,  an  Irish  officer 
who  had  volunteered  to  aid  in  putting  down  the  riot.  On  Thursday, 
Archbishop  Hughes  caused  a  placard  to  be  posted  throughout  the  city, 
addressed  u  to  the  men  of  New  York,  who  are  now  called  in  many  of 
the  papers,  rioters,"  inviting  them  to  his  house,  where  he  would  address 
them.  Very  few  of  the  rioters  came,  but  a  considerable  crowd  assembled, 
whom  the  Archbishop,  in  a  shrewd  speech,  advised  against  resistance  to 
the  authorities.  But  the  mob  was  now  effectually  subdued.  Over  one 
thousand  had  been  killed  or  severely  wounded  by  the  military  and 
police,  and  many  others  arrested,  and  the  remainder  made  their  escape 
to  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  and  the  eastern  cities  and  towns,  where  they 
either  volunteered,  or  offered  themselves  as  substitutes  for  those  who 
were  drafted,  and  became  the  opprobrium  and  disgrace  of  the  army  for 
the  next  year.  About  twenty-five  of  the  police  were  killed,  and  perhaps 
one  hundred  wounded,  and  about  thjrty  negroes  were  murdered,  and 
sixty  or  seventy  injured.  Property  to  the  amount  of  nearly  two  millions 
of  dollar  was  destroyed. 


CAPTURE   OF   THE   REBEL  IRON-CLAD   ATLANTA.  611 


CHAPTER  LI. 

DEPARTMENT  OP  THE  SOUTH — CAPTURE  OP  THE  ATLANTA — GENERAL  OILLMORE  SUCCEEDS 
HUNTER,  AND  DAHLGREN,  DU  PONT GILLMORE'S  STRATEGIC  PLAN — REASONS  FOR  BELIEV 
ING  IT  AN  ERROR FOLLY  ISLAND GILLMORE'S  BATTERIES  THERE CAPTURE  OP  THE 

SOUTHERN  PORTION  OF  MORRIS  ISLAND FEINTS  IN  OTHER  DIRECTIONS THE  FIRST  AS 
SAULT  ON  WAGNER REPULSE ERECTION  OF  BATTERIES BOMBARDMENT  AND  SECOND 

ASSAULT A  COSTLY  FAILURE — THE  SIEGE  PRESSED OTHER  BATTERIES  ERECTED THE 

"  SWAMP  ANGEL"  LOCATED — BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  SUMTER — ITS  SUBSTANTIAL  REDUCTION 

GILLMORE  DEMANDS  THE  SURRENDER  OF  FORT  SUMTER  AND  THE  FORTS  ON  MORRIS  ISLAND, 

AND  THREATENS  TO  BOMBARD  CHARLESTON  IN  CASE  OF  REFUSAL BEAURKGARD   REPLIES 

HAUGHTILY  AND  INSOLENTLY — GILLMORE'S  REJOINDER THE  APPROACHES  TO  FORT  WAGNER 

COMPLETED — THE  GARRISONS  OF  FORT  WAGNER  AND  BATTERY  GREGG  EVACUATE  THOSE 
WORKS — GILLMORE'S  DESPATCH  ANNOUNCING  THE  CAPTURE — OTHER  EVENTS  IN  THE  DE 
PARTMENT SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  GILLMORE SKETCH  OF  ADMIRAL  DAHLGREN. 

THE  Department  of  the  South  again  demands  our  attention.  Though 
the  army  stationed  there  was  not  large,  yet  it  made  for  itself,  in  the  sum 
mer  of  1863,  a  lasting  record  for  patience,  endurance  under  the  most  try 
ing  circumstances,  and  that  unflinching  courage  which  is  not  appalled  by 
the  imminent  perils  of  the  deadly  breach,  or  the  terrors  of  the  assault. 
No  army  of  the  Republic  has  a  nobler  or  more  gallant  history,  and  none, 
through  greater  perils,  has  won  more  brilliant  victories,  or  sustained  with 
equal  honor  and  firmness,  inevitable  repulses.  The  sudden  death  of  Rear- 
Admiral  Foote,  while  preparing  to  take  command  of  the  South  Atlantic 
blockading  squadron,  led  to  the  appointment  of  Rear- Admiral  John  A. 
Dahlgren  to  the  command  of  the  squadron;  while  General  Hunter  was 
superseded  by  Brigadier-General  Q.  A.  Gillmore,  who  had  distinguished 
himself  by  the  reduction  of  Fort  Pulaski,  the  preceding  winter. 

Before  these  changes  took  place,  or  rather  while  they  were  pending,  a 
naval  conflict  took  place  within  the  limits  of  the  department,  which  re 
sulted  in  the  surrender  to  the  Union  commander  of  a  Rebel  armored 
vessel  of  great  power,  and  from  whose  strength  and  fleetness  they  had  ex 
pected  extraordinary  results.  The  Fingal,  an  iron  merchant  steamer, 
built  in  Glasgow,  had  run  the  blockade  in  December  1861,  and  entered 
the  port  of  Savannah.  The  vigilant  watchfulness  of  the  blockading  squad 
ron  had  prevented  her  escape,  and  she  had  been  finally  sold  to  the  Rebel 
Government  at  a  low  figure,  and  fitted  up  as  an  armored  ship,  the  contri 
butions  of  the  Rebel  women  of  Savannah,  it  was  said,  furnishing  the 
means  for  the  conversion.  The  work  of  covering  her  with  armor,  and 
effecting  such  changes  as  were  necessary  in  her  build,  armament,  and  ap 
pliances,  progressed  slowly  in  a  city  like  Savannah,  but  poorly  supplied 
either  with  skilled  machinists  or  the  necessary  material  for  the  work,  but 


612  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

in  the  spring  of  1863  every  thing  was  completed,  and  the  Rebels  vaunted 
loudly  of  what  they  would  accomplish  with  this  wonderful  iron-clael  skip. 
The  blockading  squadron  were  to  be  driven  from  the  waters  of  the  Geox 
gin.  coast,  the  iron-dads  captured  and  sent  back  to  Savannah  to  amuse  the 
women  and  children,  and  then,  the  Atlanta  (for  that  was  the  new  name  be 
stowed  upon  the  armored  ship)  would  visit  the  great  cities  of  the  North, 
and  either  bombard  them,  or  exact  a  prince's  ransom  for  its  forbearance. 
It  encountered  difficulties,  however,  from  the  very  day  of  its  launch.  Its 
draught  was  too  great  for  the  shallow  river,  and  after  long  digging  and 
improving  the  navigation,  it  was  found  necessary  to  unload  its  cannon  and 
stores,  and  send  it  down  to  Warsaw  Sound  light,  putting  in  its  cargo 
again  when  it  had  reached  deeper  water.  At  length  all  was  ready ;  stores, 
instruments,  &c.,  for  a  voyage  of  several  months  had  been  put  on  board, 
and  accompanied  by  steamers  crowded  with  male  and  female  spectators, 
who  were  to  witness  her  prowess,  the  Atlanta  came  down  the  sound. 
Admiral  Du  Pont  had  sent  the  Weehawken  and  the  Nahant,  two  monitors^ 
to  Warsaw  Sound  to  await  her  coming,  and  Captain  John  Rodgers,  of  the 
Weehawken,  having  descried  her  approach  near  the  mouth  of  Wilming 
ton  river,  ordered  his  ship  to  be  cleared  for  action,  and  commenced  steam 
ing  toward  her,  the  Nahant  following,  as  soon  as  she  discovered  her 
approach.  The  Atlanta  commenced  firing  at  the  Nahant,  then  a  mile 
and  a  half  distant,  but  did  not  reach  her;  while  the  Weehawken  reserved 
her  fire  till  she  was  within  three  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy,  when,  at 
5.15  A.  M.,  she  discharged  her  first  shot.  She  fired  but  five  times  (the 
Atlanta  having  grounded  at  the  very  commencement  of  the  action),  but 
four  out  of  the  five  told  ;  the  first,  a  fifteen  inch  shot,  breaking  through 
the  Atlanta's  armor,  prostrating  about  forty  men  by  the  concussion,  and 
wounding  a  number  by  the  splinters;  the  second  breaking  her  plates; 
the  third  knocking  oft'  the  top  of  the  pilot-house,  wounding  two  pilots, 
and  stunning  the  men  at  the  wheel,  and  the  fourth  striking  and  breaking 
a  port-shutter,  and  scattering  the  fragments  among  the  men.  In  fifteen 
minutes  after  the  commencement  of  the  action,  the  Atlanta  hauled  down 
her  colors  and  hoisted  the  white  flag,  and  the  steamboats  which  had  ac 
companied  her,  made  all  speed  back  to  Savannah,  bearing  very  different 
intelligence  from  that  which  they  had  expected  to  carry  to  the  citizens 
of  that  city.  The  vessel  proved  a  valuable  prize,  and  after  some  repairs, 
and  such  changes  as  were  necessary  to  improve  her  ventilation,  she  was 
put  upon  the  North  Atlantic  blockading  squadron,  where  she  did  good 
service,  though  less  efficient  for  the  work  required  of  an  iron -clad  than 
the  monitors,  her  armament  being  six  and  four  tenths  and  seven  inch 
guns,  instead  of  eleven  and  fifteen  inch. 

The  assumption  of  the  command  of  the  department  by  General  Gill- 
more,  and  of  the  South  Atlantic  blockading  squadron  by  Rear- Admiral 
Dahlgren,  was  the  signal  for  new  efforts  for  the  reduction  of  Fort  Sumter 


GJLLM ORE'S   PLAN   FOR   Till;   CAl'TUUK    OF   CHARLESTON.    613 

and  Charleston.  Attempts  had  previously  been  made  by  land  from  James 
island,  and  from  the  railroad  below  Charleston,  but  these  had  proved  un 
successful  ;  as  had  the  attempts  to  force  a  passage  up  the  harbor  with  the 
iron-clads. 

General  Gillmore,  examining  the  situation  with  the  eye  of  a  skilful 
military  engineer,  believed  that  the  most  feasible  point  of  approach  was 
by  way  of  Morris  island,  and  that  by  erecting  batteries  on  that  island  he 
could  not  only  destroy  Fort  Sumter,  but  with  his  long  ranged  rifled  can 
non  reach  Charleston  itself. 

With  the  knowledge  we  now  have  of  the  actual  position  and  strength 
of  the  Kebel  forces  at  that  time  guarding  Charleston,  there  is  strong 
ground  for  the  presumption  that  this  decision  of  the  Union  general  was 
wrong,  and  that  his  true  method  of  approach  would  have  been  by  way  of 
James  island.  The  garrison  of  Charleston,  and  its  forts  at  this  time,  con 
sisted  of  only  about  five  thousand  men.  It  was  under  the  command  of 
General  G.  T.  Beauregard,  a  Rebel  officer  of  decided  ability,  fully  Gill- 
more's  equal  as  an  engineer,  but  regarded  with  hostility  and  suspicion  by 
Jefferson  Davis,  with  whom  he  had  often  differed  in  opinion.  He  had 
repeatedly  asked  for  reinforcements,  but  had  been  as  often  refused,  Mr. 
Davis  believing  that  Charleston  was  in  no  danger  from  the  assaults  of  the 
northern  troops,  and  declining  to  send  more  troops  there,  to  be  detained 
from  other,  and  as  he  deemed,  more  important  points.  Compelled  thus  to 
make  the  most  of  the  mere  handful  of  troops  at  his  command,  General 
Beauregard  had  assigned  twelve  hundred  of  them  to  the  defence  of  the 
islands,  and  of  these,  less  than  six  hundred  were  on  James  island.  The 
number  might  have  been  increased  on  the  emergency  of  an  attack  to  fif 
teen  hundred  or  two  thousand,  but  General  Gillmore  had  at  this  time 
from  eight  thousand  to  ten  thousand  soldiers  at  his  command,  and  the 
Rebel  works  on  James  island  were  the  weakest  of  those  around  Charles 
ton  ;  while  by  a  little  effort,  the  channel  of  Stono  river  could  have  been 
cleared  sufficiently  for  the  lighter  draught  iron-clads  and  gunboats  to  have 
ascended  and  aided  in  the  attack.  The  Rebel  works  on  James  island 
once  captured,  Charleston  was  at  the  mercy  of  the  Union  commander,  and 
could  not  have  been  held  for  a  day ;  and  the  forts  in  the  harbor,  the  city 
once  captured,  could  not  have  held  out  ten  days,  and  thus  Sumter  might 
have  been  saved,  and  the  two  assaults  on  Wagner  prevented.  It  is  not, 
however,  the  office  of  the  historian  to  decide  what  might  have  been,  but 
rather,  to  narrate  what  actually  did  occur.  Had  General  Gillmore  known 
the  exact  condition  of  affairs  in  Charleston,  it  would,  no  doubt,  have 
modified  his  plans ;  but  without  that  knowledge,  his  plan  had  the  merit 
of  ingenuity  and  engineering  ability,  and,  except  the  route  by  James 
island,  was  the  only  one  offering  much  chance  of  success.  The  map 
gives  a  good  idea  of  the  position  of  this  and  the  adjacent  islands,  and 
their  relations  to  Charleston  and  its  harbor  defences.  The  Union  troops 


614  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

had,  in  April,  taken  possession  of  Folly  island,  a  long,  narrow  sand-spit, 
forming  the  outer  barrier  to  the  southeast  of  the  group  of  low  marshy 
islands  lying  south  and  southwest  of  the  harbor.  This  island  .was  di 
vided  from  James  island  by  a  wide  marsh  and  a  crooked  bayou,  called 
Folly  river,  and  from  Morris  island,  by  Lighthouse  inlet.  On  this  island 
a  lookout,  one  hundred  and  forty-five  feet  in  height,  had  been  erected, 
from  which,  with  a  good  glass,  a  view  of  all  the  defences  of  Charleston 
could  be  had,  and  their  strength  estimated.  We  have  already  (pp.  483-4) 
described  these  defences  as  they  existed  in  April.  There  had  been  added 
to  these,  since  that  time,  some  temporary  works  of  no  great  strength,  on 
the  south  end  of  Morris  island,  while  Fort  Wagner  and  the  Cummings 
Point  battery  (better  known  as  Fort  Gregg)  had  been  greatly  strength 
ened.  The  new  general,  after  a  careful  and  thorough  examination  of  the 
position  and  comparative  strength  of  the  fortifications  of  the  Rebel  harbor 
and  stronghold,  decided  upon  these  four  points,  viz.:  1st.  To  effect  a  lodg 
ment  on  the  southern  portion  of  Morris  island.  2d.  To  carry  Wagner  by 
assault,  if  possibte  ;  if  not  to  besiege  and  reduce  it,  and  thus  obtain  pos 
session  of  all  the  Rebel  works  on  Morris  island.  3d.  From  the  positions 
thus  gained,  to  reduce  Fort  Sumter.  4th.  This  accomplished,  the  war 
vessels  in  the  harbor  were  to  remove  the  obstructions,  and  running  by 
the  fort  and  batteries  on  Sullivan's  island,  approach  and  bombard  the 
city.  In  the  end,  this  programme  was  somewhat  modified  by  circum 
stances,  but  its  general  features  were  carried  out,  so  far  as  they  depended 
upon  the  army  and  its  general. 

To  effect  a  lodgment  on  Morris  island  without  heavy  loss,  secrecy  was 
essential,  and  it  was  most  carefully  maintained.  Horses,  wagons,  shovels, 
gabions,  and  fascines,  were  sent  up  from  Hilton  Head ;  and  having  fixed 
upon  the  locality  for  the  erection  of  two  lines  of  siege  batteries,  whose 
existence  should  be  concealed  from  the  enemy  by  woods  until  they  were 
ready  to  open  upon  the  Rebel  batteries  on  the  south  end  of  Morris  island, 
General  Gillmore  directed  a  road,  entirely  covered  from  view  in  its  whole 
extent  by  the  dense  forest,  to  be  cut,  and  brushwood  laid  upon  it  for  a 
depth  of  two  feet,  and  this  covered  with  earth,  to  prevent  the  noise  of 
cart-wheels  and  cannon-trucks  as  they  passed  over  it.  The  wheels  of  the 
wagons  were  greased,  and  provided  with  leather  washers,  to  prevent  their 
creaking  ;  the  horses  of  the  loaded  teams  were  led,  and  the  teams  unloaded 
with  the  greatest  care.  Five  hundred  men  worked  diligently  at  the 
batteries  by  night,  and  one  hundred  more  plied  the  spade  by  day.  The 
Rebels  were  aware  that  something  was  being  done  on  Folly  island,  but 
what,  they  could  not  make  out,  and  on  the  9th  of  July,  General  Ripley, 
who  commanded  the  works  on  Morris  island,  after  carefully  examining 
the  island  from  his  lookout,  announced  to  his  aids  that  the  Yankees  had 
no  batteries  on  Folly  island,  and  that  the  next  day  he  should  send  a  force 
of  three  hundred  men  to  cross  the  inlet  and  drive  their  pickets  from  the 


THE  ATTACK  UPON   MORRIS  ISLAND.  615 

island.  On  the  ninth  of  July,  just  seventeen  days  from  the  time  of  com 
mencement,  the  two  lines  of  siege  batteries,  one  twelve  hundred  yards, 
and  the  other  twenty-two  hundred  yards  from  the  Kebel  batteries,  were 
completed.  They  mounted  forty-seven  guns  and  mortars,  and  formed  an 
angle  of  thirty  degrees  with  the  Rebel  line  of  fire. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  July,  General  Gillmore  was  ready  to 
open  fire  from  these  batteries;  but  he  had  previously  arranged  with 
Admiral  Dahlgren  the  details  for  a  combined  attack  on  the  Rebel  worki 
on  the  south  end  of  Morris  island,  which  he  supposed  to  be  much 
stronger  than  they  really  were.  His  batteries  were  to  open  upon  the  Rebel 
works,  and  fire  as  rapidly  as  possible,  the  iron-clad  fleet  meantime  to  take 
position  in  the  main  ship  channel  off  Morris  island,  and  enfilade  the 
Rebel  batteries,  and  General  Strong's  brigade  to  go  up  Folly  river  in 
launches,  and  secreting  themselves  behind  the  woods  which  skirt  Light 
house  inlet  on  the  left,  await  the  opportunity  to  land  on  Morris  island, 
and  carry  the  works  by  assault.  In  order  to  make  assurance  doubly 
sure,  General  Terry,  with  his  division,  was  ordered  to  proceed  in  trans 
ports  up  Stono  river,  which  separates  James  from  John  island,  and  land 
ing  on  James  island,  threaten  a  vigorous  attack  upon  Charleston. 

Every  part  of  the  programme  was  successfully  carried  out,  and  had  the 
gallant  Terry  known  how  panic-stricken  the  inhabitants  of  Charleston 
were  at  his  approach,  he  might  have  gone  beyond  his  orders  and  captured 
the  city  at  once,  in  place  of  merely  demonstrating  against  it.  The 
astonishment  of  the  Rebels  on  Morris  island,  as,  under  the  vigorous  blows 
of  two  hundred  axemen,  the  trees  in  front  of  the  Folly  island  batteries 
fell  and  exposed  to  view  the  two  lines  of  formidable  batteries  within  easy 
range  of  their  works,  may  be  imagined,  but  not  described  ;  and  when  these 
batteries  opened  upon  them,  they  soon  began  to  fly  in  terror  toward  Wagner 
and  Gregg,  on  the  northern  end  of  the  island,  even  before  Strong,  landing 
his  troops,  came  charging  down  upon  their  batteries.  Before  noon,  three 
fourths  of  the  island,  including  all  that  portion  which  was  more  than 
eight  hundred  yards  from  Fort  "Wagner,  was  in  possession  of  the  Union 
troops.  By  the  erection  of  some  temporary  defensive  works,  General 
Gillrnore  secured  the  ground  already  gained,  and,  after  consultation 
with  Admiral  Dahlgren,  ordered  a  combined  assault  on  Fort  Wagner  at 
daybreak  the  next  morning.  The  assault  was  led  by  General  George  C. 
Strong,  a  young  officer  of  great  merit  and  bravery,  who  was  mortally 
wounded  in  the  second  assault  with  his  brigade,  while  the  Nahant  (iron-clad 
monitor)  was  endeavoring  to  silence  the  fire  of  the  fort.  The  storming 
party,  with  great  energy  and  resolution,  dashed  through  the  terrible  fire 
of  the  fort  at  a  double-quickstep,  and  one  regiment  reached  the  fort,  and 
mounting  the  parapet,  battled  with  the  garrison  desperately ;  but  the 
supports  could  not  come  up,  and  they  were  compelled  to  fall  back  and 
abandon  the  assault.  The  number  of  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  in 


616  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

this  action  and  that  of  the  preceding  day,  did  not  exceed  one  hundred  and 

fifty. 

General  Gillmore  having  satisfied  himself  that  Wagner  was  a  stronger 
work  than  had  been  supposed,  now  determined  tD  bombard  it  until  its 
guns  were  silenced,  and  then  assault  again,  with  an  overwhelming  force, 
lie  accordingly  commenced  the  erection  of  siege  butteries,  at  distances  of 
from  eight  to  twelve  hundred  yards  from  Fort  Wagner.  The  work  was 
mostly  done  at  night;  but  Fort  Johnson,  on  James  island,  Fort  Gregg,  at 
Curnmings  Point,  and  Fort  Sumter,  opened  upon  the  lines  where  the 
battery  was  erecting  with  a  slow  fire,  which  was  very  annoying,  and  Fort 
Wagner  would  have  joined  in,  had  not  General  Gillmore  stationed  his 
sharpshooters  where  they  could  pick  off  every  gunner  who  dared  to  show 
himself  at  the  guns,  which  were  pointed  inland.  After  seven  days,  or 
rather  nights,  of  severe  toil,  the  batteries  were  completed  and  the  maga 
zines  filled,  ready  for  the  bombardment.  The  fleet,  including  the  New 
Ironsides,  the  great  iron-clad  which  had  previously  been  unable  to  pass 
the  bar,  was  now  inside,  and  ready  to  join  with  the  monitors  in  the  action. 
Orders  were  issued  to  commence  the  bombardment  on  the  morning  of  the 
18th  of  July,  and  after  a  concentrated  fire  of  twelve  hours  by  the  gun 
boats  and  iron-clads  on  the  sea  front,  and  the  powerful  batteries  on  the 
land  side,  to  assault  the  fort  at  eventide. 

Mr.  Robert  S.  Davis,  an  eye-witness  of  the  whole  conflict,  thus  graphi 
cally  describes  the  scenes  which  followed  : 

"At  half-past  seven  o'clock,  Sumter  opens  with  her  morning  salute,  and 
throws  a  shell,  which  explodes  near  our  batteries;  and  Wagner,  seeing 
our  gunboats  take  their  position  in  the  channel,  sends  forth  a  welcome,  to 
which  the  gunboats  immediately  reply,  delivering  their  fire  in  succession 
as  they  move  around  in  a  circle.  This  is  the  beginning  of  the  bombard 
ment;  and  the  gunboats,  having  from  their  previous  practice  acquired  the 
accurate  range,  threw  their  shells  at  Wagner  with  effect,  bursting  many 
over  the  fort,  on  the  parapet  and  sides,  and  in  the  moat.  Soon  our  land- 
batteries  open  on  Wagner,  and  disclose  their  whereabouts  and  calibre. 
Sumter,  Wagner  and  Gregg  now  reply  vigorously,  and  the  cannonading 
becomes  fearful.  The  report  of  Sumter's  guns  is  very  heavy,  confirming 
the  rumor  that  the  Rebels  are  using  in  that  fort  fine  English  powder,  and 
double  charges  at  that.  At  noon,  the  gunboats  withdraw,  and  the  iron 
clads  move  up  the  channel,  and  take  position  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  Wagner.  With  battle-flags  flying,  they  redouble  in  thundering 
tones  the  sound  of  the  cnnnonade.  The  New  Ironsides  is  enveloped  in 
the  smoke  of  her  terrific  broadsides ;  the  monitors  belch  forth  fire  and 
smoke  from  their  turrets  like  small  volcanoes,  and  the  land  batteries 
keep  up  an  incessant  fire. 

'Our  fleet  and  batteries  fire  with  wonderful  precision  and  effect;  and 
such  a  continuous  and  heavy  fire  is  poured  into  Wagner,  that  it  seems 


THE  ASSAULT  UPON   FORT  WAGNER.  61T 

impossible  for  any  garrison  to  withstand  it.  Shells  and  solid  shot  fall 
thick  and  fast,  in  front-lire  from  the  batteries  and  cross-fire  from  the  fleet, 
the  whole  day  long.  Large  holes  are  -made  in  the  parapet,  and  there  is 
hardly  a  spot,  either  within  or  around  that  fort,  that  has  not  been  hit.  The 
bursting  shells  send  cart  loads  of  sand  high  into  the  air,  the  parapet  is 
ragged  and  torn  by  the  iron  hail,  and  the  smoke  of  the  bombardment 
rests  on  it  like  a  pall.  Yet  Wagner  withstands  it  all,  and  her  gunners 
fire  with  singular  regularity  at  the  fleet.  Their  flag  is  three  times  shot 
away,  and  as  often  some  daring  Rebel  leaps  upon  the  parapet  and  again 
unfurls  it  to  the  breeze. 

"  All  day  long  is  Wagner  thus  bombarded,  and  in  the  evening  our 
troops  are  formed  upon  the  beach  for  the  grand  assault.  They  are 
arranged  in  two  columns,  the  supports  and  reserves  commanded  respect 
ively  by  Colonel  Putnam  and  General  Stevenson.  The  storming  column, 
under  General  Strong,  has  already  formed  behind  our  battery  line,  and 
awaits  the  coming  of  its  companions — the  supports  and  reserves.  With 
colors  flying  and  brave  hearts  beating,  the  regiments  await  in  column  by 
company  the  order  'forward.'  Now  the  cannonade  redoubles  its  fury; 
our  iron-clads  and  batteries  roar  with  lurid  flames,  and  the  enemy,  as  if 
penetrating  our  designs,  more  stubbornly  replies.  As  the  twilight 
deepens,  the  flash  of  the  guns  becomes  more  vivid,  and  the  shells  of  the 
Rebel  forts  describe,  with  their  fuses,  fiery  circles,  traversing  the  heavens 
in  all  directions;  our  batteries  are  one  line  of  fire,  the  monitors  floating 
volcanoes,  and  the  Ironsides  gleams  with  continual  broadsides ;  Wagner 
is  enveloped  in  a  sheet  of  fire  and  smoke;  yet  steadily  she  fires  her  guns 
which  point  seaward,  and  when  we  think  her  silenced,  the  fiery  volume 
rushes  from  her  embrasure,  and  a  solid  shot  ricocheting  by  the  fleet,  tells 
us  of  men  whom  our  fire  can  neither  terrify  nor  silence.  Sumter, 
Johnson,  and  Gregg  gleam  from  their  distant  parapets ;  their  shells  burst 
over  our  batteries,  but  from  them  God  protects  the  brave  men  who  faith 
fully  work  our  guns. 

"  It  is  now  seven  o'clock.  The  troops  move  slowly  up  the  beach,  and 
are  soon  lost  to  view  in  the  gathering  darkness.  They  are  now  beyond 
the  battery  line,  and  have  joined  the  assaulting  column  under  Strong. 
Seymour  is  with  them,  having  a  general  command  overall,  while  Gillmore 
and  his  staff  choose  a  position  for  observation,  which,  while  it  gives  a 
good  view  of  operations,  is  by  no  means  the  safest  locality  on  the  island. 
The  Rebels  have  seen  the  preparations  for  the  assault,  and  know  that  our 
troops  are  approaching  the  fort.  Their  forts  are  silent,  our  batteries  and 
fleet  have  ceased  firing,  and  a  strange  stillness  succeeds  the  fearful  roar 
of  the  day's  action.  What  a  moment  of  suspense  is  this,  as  we  await  the 
gleam  of  musketry,  the  whistling  grape  and  canister  which,  will  soon 
greet  our  daring  columns  !  «. 

"Hark!  the  storming  column  is  already  charging  along  a  narrow  strip 


618  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

of  land  which  leads  up  to  the  ditch  of  the  fort.  Sumter,  Gregg,  and 
Johnson,  break  their  ominous  silence,  and  pour  a  hurricane  of  shells 
among  the  dense  columns.  Now,  Wagner,  reinforced,  flashes  with  mus 
ketry,  and  from  her  embrasures  and  parapet,  hiss  the  death-dealing  grape 
and  canister.  But  our  men  are  undaunted.  In  the  dark,  and  before  a 
fort  of  which  they  know  nothing,  they  press  on,  and  shout  a  fierce  de 
fiance.  In  the  midst  of  this  whirlwind  of  death,  they  cross  the  ditch 
rush  up  the  parapet,  and  strive  like  heroes  to  gain  the  interior  of  the  fort. 
Who  fight  more  valiantly  than  the  fifty-fourth  Massachusetts — colored — 
as  they  struggle  in  the  midst  of  this  darkness  and  death  to  vindicate  their 
race?  They  lead  the  advance,  and  follow,  without  faltering,  the  brave 
Shaw,  as  he  ascends  the  wall  of  the  fort.  The  parapet  is  reached,  and 
their  lines  melt  away  before  the  terrible  fire  of  the  enemy;  but  they  fight 
on,  though  the  voice  of  their  colonel  is  heard  no  more,  and  their  officers 
have  fallen  in  the  death-struggle.  Their  color  sergeant  is  severely 
wounded  in  the  thigh,  but  falling  upon  his  knees,  he  plants  the  flag  upon 
the  parapet,  and  lying  down,  holds  the  staff  firmly  in  his  hands.  Noble 
Carney  !  A  half  an  hour  the  conflict  has  been  raging,  yet  the  storming 
column  has  been  unable  to  capture  the  fort.  The  supporting  column 
comes  up,  and  the  battle  rages  more  fiercely.  What  a  work  of  death  is 
here  !  The  eastern  angle  of  the  fort  is  gained,  and  held  by  three  hundred 
brave  souls  against  the  onsets  of  a  superior  enemy  for  over  two  hours. 
Who  shall  tell  the  history  of  these  hours,  with  their  deeds  of  valor,  more 
heroic  than  the  thought  of  man  can  compass  ?  It  will  never  be  written  ; 
for  the  brave  and  good  perished  unseen,  and  the  gathering  darkness  of 
death  and  night  covered  the  wounds  of  heroes.  Only  three  hundred  men 
gain  the  interior  of  the  fort !  Where  is  the  remainder  of  the  Union 
troops  whom  but  a  few  moments  ago  we  saw  marching  up  the  beach  so 
proudly  ?  Many  of  them  are  lying  dead  and  dying  on  the  parapet  and  in 
the  ditch.  See  in  the  light  of  the  hostile  cannon,  the  mass  of  the  wounded 
and  slain  strewed  a  hundred  yards  around ;  and  in  yon  darkness,  sneak 
to  the  rear  the  cowards  who  have  deserted  their  flag  and  comrades. 

"But  the  fight  goes  on;  and  against  fate,  men  struggle  for  victory. 
Alas  that  such  valor  should  come  to  naught !  Officers  and  men  alike  are 
swept  down  in  the  merciless  fire  of  the  enemy's  cannon;  or,  pierced  by 
the  unseen  bullet,  they  call  in  wild  agony  upon  God,  and  are  no  more, 
Strong  and  Seymour  are  wounded ;  the  gallant  Shaw  is  dead  ;  Putnam 
has  fallen,  sword  in  hand,  among  the  slain ;  and  other  officers,  without 
number,  fall  in  and  around  the  fort,  while  striving  to  animate  their  com 
rades  to  follow  them.  But  the  Kebels  have  made  too  fierce  a  resistance. 
As  our  columns  were  moving  up  to  assault,  Wagner  was  reinforced  from 
Cummings  Point ;  the  garrison,  which  we  thought  had  been  killed  by  the 
day's  bombardment,  came  forth  uninjured  from  their  massive  bomb-proof, 
and  poured  a  destructive  fire  of  musketry  and  cannon  upon  our  men,  so 


FAILURE   OF   THE   ATTACK   UPON   FORT   WAGNER. 


sure  of  victory.  Again,  our  troops 
had  to  charge  a  distance  of  fifteen 
hundred  yards,  before  they  reached 
the  fort,  and  that  too,  under  the 
concentrated  fire  of  the  enemy's 
fortifications.  Death  and  terror 
have  decimated  our  ranks,  and  fate 
has  decreed  that  the  valiant  men 
who  have  fallen,  are .  sacrificed  in 
vain.  The  reserves  are  not  ordered 
up ;  it  would  be  folly  tp  longer  con 
tinue  the  struggle.  The  assault  is 
repulsed.  The  small  band  of  heroes 
who  have  fought  so  long  and  so 
earnestly  to  drive  the  Kebels  from 
the  fort,  retire  from  Wagner,  and 
pass  out  of  range  over  the  heaps  of 
their  dead  comrades.  Three  long 
hours  have  they  fought,  and  fought 
in  vain ;  Wagner  cannot  be  taken 
by  assault. 

"As  our  forces  retire,  Sergeant 
Carney,  who  had  kept  the  colors  of 
his  regiment  flying  upon  the  para 
pet  of  Wagner  during  the  entire 
conflict,  is  seen  creeping  along  on 
one  knee,  still  holding  up  the  flag, 
and  only  yielding  his  sacred  trust 
upon  finding  an  officer  of  his  regi 
ment.  As  he  enters  the  field- 
hospital,  where  his  wounded  com 
rades  are  being  brought  in,  they 
cheer  him  and  the  colors.  Though 
nearly  exhausted  with  the  loss  of 
blood,  he  says,  'Boys,  the  old  flag 
never  touched  the  ground.'  " 

The  losses  on  the  Union  side  in 
this  sanguinary  assault,  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing,  were  fifteen 
hundred  and  thirty. 

But  though  foiled  in  his  expectation  of  carrying  this  immensely  strong 
earthwork  by  assault,  General  Gillmore  was  not  discouraged.  He  ordered 
immediately  the  line  of  the  batteries  to  be  advanced,  and  new  ones  con 
structed,  mounting  in  all  thirty-seven  guns  of  the  largest  calibre,  all  or 


s- 


NAVAL  BATTtRY. 
4-  BREACHING  Gll^i ' 

SCALE  OF  FEET 


250 


620  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN   THE    UNITED   STATES. 

nearly  all  rifled,  including  one,  two,  and  three  hundred  pound  Parrotts, 
and  two  very  large  W  bit  worth  guns.  These  batteries,  which  were  only 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  Fort  Wagner,  were  defended  by  a 
chevaux-de-frise,  an  abatis,  and  a  breastwork  or  entanglement  of  strong 
wire,  crossed  in  all  directions,  was  stretched  across  the  narrow  beach  from 
the  sea  shore  to  the  edge  of  the  marsh,  a  distance  varying  in  width  from 
twenty-five  to  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  yards,  to  prevent  the  Reboi 
garrison  from  charging  upon  their  batteries.  To  the  left  of  these  batteries  a 
firm  corduroy  road,  two  and  a  half  miles  in  length,  was  constructed  through 
the  deep  marsh,  and  by  means  of  timber,  piles,  and  ten  thousand  bags  of 
sand,  a  mound  erected,  on  which  it  planted  a  battery  Amounting  the  two  hun 
dred  pound  Parrott,  subsequently  known  as  the  "Swarnp  Angel,"  and  a 
sufficient  magazine.  Meantime,  the  siege  of  Wagner  is  vigorously  prose 
cuted,  and  parallel  after  parallel  opened,  till  the  fifth  was  but  two  hundred 
yards  from  the  parapet  of  Fort  Wagner,  and  thence  along  the  narrow 
beach  zig-zags  were  constructed,  till  the  counterscarp  of  the  fort  was 
mined  on  the  sea  point. 

Twenty-nine  days  and  nights  of  the  severest  trial  were  consumed  in  the 
erection  of  the  formidable  batteries  to  which  we  have  alluded,  which  had 
for  their  object  the  reduction  of  Fort  Sumter  rather  than  Fort  Wagner, 
and  fifteen  more  in  the  completion  of  the  approaches  to  Fort  Wagner. 

The  distance  of  the  batteries  on  the  first  and  second  parallels  from  Fort 
Sumter,  was  two  and  two  and  a  half  miles ;  and  though  the  Rebel  officers  sus 
pected  that  General  Gillmore  was  constructing  them  to  bombard  Fort  Sum 
ter,  and  made  a  desperate  resistance  to  those  who  were  building  them,  they 
did  not  believe  it  possible  that  its  walls  could  be  breached  at  that  distance. 
Still,  in  order  to  be  perfectly  prepared  against  any  possible  danger,  they 
proceeded  to  strengthen  the  rear  or  gorge  wall  of  the  fortress,  which  was 
about  six  feet  thick,  of  solid  hard-burned  brick,  by  piling  a  wall  of  sand 
bags,  fifteen  feet  thick  and  forty-five  feet  high,  upon  its  exterior  face,  and 
a  similar  one  upon  its  interior  face. 

Having  his  batteries  all  ready,  General  Gillmore,  on  the  evening  of  the 
16th  of  August,  ordered  seven  shots  fired,  by  way  of  experiment,  against 
Fort  Sumter.  The  first  three  fell  short,  but  the  remaining  four  struck 
either  the  wall  or  the  parapet,  and  did  some  damage.  On  the  morning 
of  the  17th,  the  garrison  of  the  fortress  defiantly  flung  to  the  breeze  extra 
flags  (the  stars  and  bars)  and  formed  temporary  casemates  of  cotton-bales 
to  protect  the  artillerists  who  were  to  handle  the  barbette  guns.  The 
New  Ironsides  and  four  of  the  monitors  commenced  a  vigorous  bombard 
ment  of  Fort  Wagner,  and  soon  drove  its  garrison  into  their  bomb-proofs 
for  safety  ;  and  the  batteries  and  two  monitors  commenced  their  bombard 
ment  of  Fort  Sumter,  the  batteries  giving  their  undivided  attention  to 
the  rear  wall.  Fort  Sumter  replied  to  the  batteries,  and  Forts  Moultiie 
and  Gregg  to  the  iron-clads.  The  shot  and  shell  from  the  batteries  and 


GILLMORE'S   DEMAND. ON    GENERAL   BEAUREGARD.  621 

Fort  Su inter  necessarily  passed  over  Fort  Wagner,  and  added  greatly  to 
the  discomfort  of  its  garrison.  The  bom  hard  niQnt  of  the  fort  was  main 
tained  through  the  day,  and  produced  a  marked  effect  upon  FortSurnter, 
the  sand-bags  were  cleared  from  the  wall  for  a  considerable  space,  and  the 
brick  wall  exposed.  During  the  night  a  slow  fire  was  kept  up,  and  in  the 
morning  the  bombardment  was  renewed  with  the  same  severity  as  on  the 
previous  day,  and  before  nightfall  the  wall  was  breached.  The  bombard 
ment  was  steadily  maintained  for  seven  days,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time 
the  fort  was  in  ruins,  the  lower  casemates  entirely  blocked  up  with  debris, 
the  barbette  guns  toppled  down,  and  either  sunk  in  the  water  or  buried 
in  the  ruins,  only  two  or  three  guns  left  in  the  casemates  on  the  further 
side,  and  its  whole  outline  completely  broken  up;  presenting  the  appear 
ance  indicated  in  the  accompanying  sketch,  copied  from  that  made  by 
Colonel  Turner,  chief  of  General  Gillmore's  artillery. 


On  the  21st  of  August,  General  Gillmore  addressed  the  following  note 
to  General  Beauregard,  the  Rebel  commander  in  Charleston : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH,  MORRIS  ISLAND,  S.  C., 

"August  2lst,  1863. 

"To  GENERAL  G.  T.  BEAUREGARD, 

"Commanding  Confederate  Forces,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

"  GENERAL  : — I  have  the  honor  to  demand  of  you  the  immediate  evacua 
tion  of  Morris  island  and  Fort  Sumter  by  the  Confederate  forces.  The 
present  condition  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  rapid  and  progressive  destruc 
tion  which  it  is  undergoing  from  my  batteries,  seem  to  render  its  complete 
demolition,  within  a  few  hours,  a  matter  of  certainty.  All  my  heaviest 
guns  have  not  yet  opened.  Should  you  refuse  compliance  with  this  demand, 
or  should  I  receive  no  reply  thereto  within  four  hours  after  it  is  delivered 
into  the  hands  of  your  subordinate,  at  Fort  Wagner,  for  transmission,  I 
shall  open  fire  on  the  city  of  Charleston  from  batteries  already  established 
within  easy  and  effective  range  of  the  heart  of  the  city. 

"  I  am,  general,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 

"Q.  A.  GILLMORE,  Brigadier- General  Commanding.11 


G22  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

By  an  oversight;  tins  note  was  at  first  transmitted  without  the  signa 
ture  of  the  commanding  general ;  and  before  an  answer  was  received, 
twelve  shells  from  the  "  Swamp  Angel"  battery  had  been  thrown  into 
Charleston,  a  distance  of  four  and  a  half  miles,  greatly  to  the  astonish 
ment  of  the  Rebel  commander,  and  the  citizens  generally,  none  of  whom 
had  believed  it  possible  that  a  shot  from  one  of  his  batteries  could  reach 
the  city.  The  next  day  General  Beauregard  replied  as  follows : 

"HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA,  GEORGIA,  AND  FLORIDA, 

"  Charleston,  S.  C.,  August  22d,  1863. 

"SiR: — Last  night,  at  fifteen  minutes  before  eleven  o'clock,  during  my 
absence  on  a  reconnoissance  of  my  fortifications,  a  communication  was 
received  at  these  headquarters,  dated  '  Headquarters  Department  of  the 
South,  Morris  island,  S.  C.,  August  21st,  1863,'  demanding  'the  imme 
diate  evacuation  of  Morris  island  and  Fort  Sumter  by  the  Confederate 
forces,'  on  the  alleged  grounds  c  that  the  present  condition  of  Fort  Sum 
ter,  and  the  rapid  and  progressive  destruction  which  it  is  undergoing  from 
my  batteries,  seem  to  render  its  demolition,  within  a  few  hours,  a  matter 
of  certainty ;'  and  that  if  this  demand  were  '  not  complied  with,  or  no 
reply  thereto  received  within  four  hours  after  it  is  delivered  into  the  hands 
of  your  (my)  subordinate  commander  at  Fort  Wagner,  for  transmission,' 
a  fire  would  be  opened  '  on  the  city  of  Charleston  from  batteries  already 
established  within  easy  and  effective  range  of  the  heart  of  the  city.' 
This  communication  to  my  address,  was  without  signature,  and  was,  of 
course,  returned. 

"About  half-past  one  o'clock,  one  of  your  batteries  did  actually  open 
fire,  and  threw  a  number  of  heavy  shells  into  the  city,  the  inhabitants  of 
which  were,  of  course,  asleep  and  unwarned. 

"About  nine  o'clock  this  morning,  the  communication  alluded  to  above 
was  returned  to  these  headquarters,  bearing  your  recognized  official 
signature,  and  it  can  now  be  noticed  as  your  deliberate,  official  act. 

''Among  nations  not  barbarous,  the  usages  of  war  prescribe,  that  when 
a  city  is  about  to  be  attacked,  timely  notice  shall  be  given  by  the  attack 
ing  commander,  in  order  that  non-combatants  may  have  an  opportunity 
for  withdrawing  beyond  its  limits.  Generally  the  time  allowed  is  from 
one  to  three  days ;  this  is  time  for  the  withdrawal,  in  good  faith,  of  at 
least  the  women  and  children.  You,  sir,  give  only  four  hours,  knowing 
that  your  notice,  under  existing  circumstances,  could  not  reach  me  in  less 
than  two  hours,  and  that  not  less  than  the  same  time  would  be  required 
for  an  answer  to  be  conveyed  from  this  city  to  Battery  Wagner.  With 
this  knowledge,  you  threaten  to  open  fire  on  the  city,  not  to  oblige  its 
surrender,  but  to  force  me  to  evacuate  these  works,  which  you,  assisted 
by  a  great  naval  force,  have  been  attacking  in  vain  for  more  than  forty 
days.  Batteries  Wagner  and  Gregg,  and  Fort  Sumter,  are  nearly  due 
north  from  your  batteries  on  Morris  island,  and  in  distance  therefrom 


BEAUREGARD'S   REPLY  TO  GENERAL   GILLMORE.  623 

varying  from  half  a  mile  to  two  and  a  quarter  miles.  The  city,  on  the 
other  hand,  is  to  the  northwest,  and  quite  five  miles  distant  from  the  bat 
tery  opened  against  it  this  morning. 

"  It  would  appear,  sir,  that  despairing  of  reducing  these  works,  you  now 
resort  to  the  novel  measure  of  turning  your  guns  against  the  old  men,  the 
women  and  children,  and  the  hospitals  of  a  sleeping  city,  an  act  of  inex 
cusable  'barbarity  from  your  own  confessed  point  of  sight,  inasmuch  as 
you  allege  that  the  complete  demolition  of  Fort  Sumter,  within  a  few 
hours,  by  your  guns,  seems  to  you  '  a  matter  of  certainty.7 

"  Your  omission  to  attach  your  signature  to  such  a  grave  paper  must 
show  the  recklessness  of  the  course  upon  which  you  have  adventured ; 
while  the  facts  that  you  knowingly  fixed  a  limit  for  receiving  an  answer 
to  your  demand,  which  made  it  almost  beyond  the  possibility  of  receiving 
any  reply  within  that  time,  and  that  you  actually  did  open  fire,  and  threw 
a  number  of  the  most  destructive  missiles  ever  used  in  war,  into  the  midst 
of  a  city,  to  them  unawares,  and  filled  with  sleeping  women  and  children, 
will  give  you  a  '  bad  eminence'  in  history,  even  in  the  history  of  this  war. 

"  I  am  only  surprised,  sir,  at  the  limits  you  have  set  to  your  demands. 
If,  in  order  to  attain  the  abandonment  of  Morris  island  and  Fort  Sumter, 
you  feel  authorized  to  fire  on  this  city,  why  did  you  not  also  include  the 
works  on  Sullivan's  and  James  islands ;  nay,  even  the  city  of  Charleston, 
in  the  same  demand? 

"  Since  you  have  felt  warranted  in  inaugurating  this  method  of  reducing 
batteries  in  your  immediate  front,  which  were  found  otherwise  impregna 
ble,  and  a  mode  of  warfare  which  I  confidently  declare  to  be  atrocious, 
and  unworthy  of  any  soldier,  I  now  solemnly  warn  you,  that  if  you  fire 
again  on  the  city  from  your  Morris  island  batteries,  without  giving  a 
somewhat  more  reasonable  time  to  remove  non-combatants,  I  shall  feel 
impelled  to  employ  such  stringent  means  of  retaliation  as  may  be  available 
during  the  continuance  of  this  attack. 

u  Finally,  I  reply,  that  neither  the  works  on  Morris  island  nor  Fort 
Sumter  will  be  evacuated  on  the  demand  you  have  been  pleased  to  make. 
Already,  however,  I  am  taking  measures  to  remove  all  non-combatants, 
who  are  now  fully  aware  of,  and  alive  to,  what  they  may  expect  at  your 
hands. 

"  Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

" G.  T.  BEAUREGARD,  General  Commanding" 

To  this  General  Gillmore  made  the  following  rejoinder: 

"  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH,  HEADQUARTERS  IN  THE  FIELD, 

"  MORRIS  ISLAND,  S.  C.,  9  P.  M.,  August  22d,  1863. 

"G.  T.  BEAUREGARD,  Commanding  Confederate  States  forces,  Charleston,  S.  & 
"SiR: — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  communica 
tion  of  this  date,  complaining  that  one  of  my  batteries  had  opened  upon 


624  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

the  city  of  Charleston,  and  thrown  a  number  of  heavy  rifled  shells  into 
the  city,  the  inhabitants  of  which,  of  course,  were  asleep  and  unarmed. 

"My  letter  to  you  demanding  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter  and  Morris 
island,  and  threatening,  in  default  thereof,  to  open  fire  upon  Charleston, 
was  delivered  near  Fort  Wagner  at  11.15  o'clock  A.  M.,  of  the  21st  inst., 
and  should  have  arrived  at  your  headquarters  in  time  to  have  permitted 
your  answer  to  reach  me  within  the  limit  assigned,  namely,  four  hours. 

"The  fact  that  you  were  absent  from  your  headquarters  at  the  time  of 
its  arrival,  may  be  regarded  as  an  unfortunate  circumstance  for  the  city 
of  Charleston,  but  it  is  one  for  which  I  clearly  am  not  responsible.  This 
letter  bore  date  at  my  headquarters,  and  was  officially  delivered  by  an 
officer  of  my  staff.  The  inadvertent  omission  of  my  signature,  doubtless 
affords  grounds  for  special  pleading;  but  it  is  not  the  argument  of  a  com 
mander  solicitous  only  for  the  safety  of  sleeping  women  and  children  and 
unarmed  men.  Your  threats  of  retaliation  for  acts  of  mine,  which  you  do 
not  allege  to  be  in  violation  of  the  usages  of  civilized  warfare,  except  as 
regards  the  length  of  time  allowed  as  notice  of  my  intention,  are  passed 
by  without  comment.  I  will,  however,  call  your  attention  to  the  well- 
established  principle,  that  the  commander  of  a  place  attacked,  but  not  in 
vested,  having  its  avenues  of  escape  open  and  practicable,  has  no  right  to 
a  notice  of  an  intention  of  bombardment,  other  than  that  which  is  given 
by  the  threatening  attitude  of  his  adversary.  Even  had  not  this  letter 
been  written,  the  city  of  Charleston  has  had,  according  to  your  own  com 
putation,  forty  days'  notice  of  her  danger.  During  that  time  my  attack 
upon  her  defences  has  steadily  progressed. 

"The  ultimate  object  of  that  attack  has  at  no  time  been  doubtful.  If, 
under  the  circumstances,  the  life  of  a  single  non-combatant  is  exposed  to 
peril  by  the  bombardment  of  the  city,  the  responsibility  rests  with  those 
who  have  first  failed  to  remove  the  non-combatants,  or  to  secure  the 
safety  of  the  city,  after  having  held  control  of  all  its  approaches  for  a 
period  of  nearly  two  years  and  a  half,  in  the  presence  of  a  threatening 
force,  and  who  afterward  refused  to  accept  the  terms  upon  which  the 
bombardment  might  have  been  postponed.  From  various  sources,  official 
and  otherwise,  I  am  led  to  believe  that  most  of  the  women  and  children  of 
Charleston  were  long  since  removed  from  that  city.  But  upon  your  assur 
ance  that  the  city  is  still  full  of  them,  I  shall  suspend  the  bombardment 
until  eleven  o'clock  P.  M.  to-morrow,  thus  giving  you  two  days  from  the 
time  you  acknowledge  to  have  received  my  communication  of  the  21st  inst. 
"Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

" Q.  A.  GlLLMORE,  Brigadier- General  Commanding" 

The  delay  thus  granted  was  conceded,  not  to  General  Beauregard's 
haughty  and  insolent  demand,  but  to  the  courteous  request  of  the  Spanish 
and  British  consuls,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  the  bombardment  was 
resumed  in  a  leisurely  manner,  but  with  decided  effect,  on  the  lower 


GILLMOIIKS   DKsi'A'iVH   TO   GENERAL  HALLECK.  625 

portion  of  the  city.  Meantime,  though  Beauregard  had  refused  to  sur 
render  the  forts  on  Morris  island,  General  Gillmore  was  determined  to 
compel  their  surrender.  The  approaches  were  pushed  forward  with  all 
diligence ;  and  though  for  the  last  eleven  days  the  losses  to  the  sappers  and 
miners  were  very  heavy,  and  they  became  at  times  dejected  and  dis 
couraged,  the  commanding  general  did  not  for  an  instant  give  way  to 
discouragement,  but  renewed  his  efforts  to  hasten  the  completion  of  the 
great  work,  and  at  the  same  time  to  protect  his  men.  He  moved  all  his 
light  mortars  to  the  front,  and  kept  them  playing  upon  the  fort,  enlarged 
the  positions  of  his  sharpshooters,  obtained  the  co-operation  of  the  New 
Ironsides,  by  day,  used  powerful  calcium  lights  to  blind  the  enemy  by 
night,  opened  fire  with  as  many  of  the  heavy  guns  in  his  rear  as  he  could 
without  danger  to  his  men  in  the  trenches,  and  thus  kept  the  garrison  for 
the  most  part  in  their  bomb-proofs,  which  he  sought  to  breach  through  a 
breach  in  the  walls  of  the  fort.  Very  early  in  the  morning  of  the  5th  of 
September,  he  commenced  a  severe  bombardment  of  the  fort,  which  he 
maintained  steadily  for  forty-two  hours,  in  order  to  enable  his  men  to  com 
plete  their  work. 

On  the  night  of  the  6th  of  September  the  work  was  completed,  and 
every  thing  was  ready  for  an  assault  at  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning, 
which  would  havd  inevitably  carried  the  fort,  and  captured  the  garrison, 
when  Colonel  Keitt,  who  commanded  the  fort,  seeing  the  hopelessness  of 
his  position,  evacuated  both  Fort  Wagner  and  Battery  Gregg  on  the 
night  of  the  6th,  and  seventy-five  of  the  garrison  were  captured  in  endeav 
oring  to  escape.  General  Gillmore  announced  this  gratifying  success  to 
the  general-in-chief  in  the  following  despatch: 

"  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  SOUTH,  HEADQUARTERS  ix  THE  FIELD, 

"  September  1th,  1863 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  H.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-  Chief. 

"  GENERAL  : — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  Fort  Wagner  and  Battery 
Gregg  are  ours.  Last  night  our  sappers  mined  the  counterscarp  of  Fort 
Wagner,  on  the  sea-point,  unmasking  all  its  guns,- and  an  order  was  issued 
to  carry  the  place  by  assault,  at  nine  o'clock  this  morning,  that  being  the 
hour  of  low  tide. 

"About  ten  o'clock  last  night,  the  enemy  commenced  evacuating  the 
island,  and  all  but  seventy -five  of  them  made  their  escape  from  Cumminga 
Point,  in  small  boats. 

"  Captured  despatches  show  that  Fort  Wagner  was  commanded  by  Colo 
nel  Keitt,  of  South  Carolina,  and  garrisoned  by  one  thousand  four  hundred 
effective  men,  and  Battery  Gregg  by  between  one  hundred  and  two  hun 
dred  men.  Fort  Wagner  is  a  work  of  the  most  formidable  kind.  Its 
bomb-proof  shelter,  capable  of  containing  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
men,  remains  intact,  after  the  most  terrific  bombardment  to  which  any 
work  was  ever  subjected.  We  have  captured  nineteen  pieces  of  artillery, 
40 


626  THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

and  a  large  supply  of  excellent  ammunition.  The  city  and  harbor  of 
Charleston  are  now  completely  covered  by  my  guns.  I  have  the  honor  to 
be,  General,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

" Q.  A.  GILLMORE,  Brigadier- General  Commanding" 

General  Quincy  Adams  Gillmore,  the  energetic  officer  who  had  thus 
reduced  three  of  the  most  formidable  forts  in  the  possession  of  the  Rebels 
on  the  coast,  was  born  at  Black  River,  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  in  1825.  He 
graduated  at  West  Point,  first  in  his  class,  in  1849,  and  was  assigned  to 
the  corps  of  engineers,  becoming  first  lieutenant  in  1856,  and  captain  in 
1861.  From  1849  to  1852  he  was  employed  on  the  fortifications  of 
Hampton  Roads,  Virginia,  and  was  then,  for  four  years,  assistant  instructor 
of  practical  engineering  at  West  Point,  during  the  last  year  of  which  period 
he  was  also  quartermaster  and  treasurer  of  the  Military  Academy.  From 
1856  to  1861  he  was  employed  in -New  York  city  in  purchasing  and  for 
warding  supplies  for  fortifications.  In  October,  1861,  he  was  appointed 
chief  engineer  of  the  expedition  against  the  southern  coast  under  General 
Thomas  W.  Sherman.  He  euperintended  the  construction  of  the  fortifica 
tions  at  Hilton  Head,  and  planned  and  carried  out  the  operations  for  the 
capture  of  Fort  Pulaski,  an  account  of  which  he  published  in  1863.  He 
was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  April  28th,  1862,  and 
after  serving  for  a  little  time  in  South  Carolina,  was  assigned  in  Septem 
ber,  1862,  to  the  command  of  the  district  of  Western  Virginia,  in  the 
army  of  the  Ohio,  and  subsequently,  to  a  division  in  the  army  of  Ken 
tucky.  On  the  30th  of  March,  1863,  he  defeated  Pegram,  near  Somerset, 
Kentucky.  On  the  12th  of  June,  1863,  he  was  appointed  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  Department  of  the  South,  and  accomplished  the  results 
which  we  have  described  above.  His  siege  of  Charleston  he  has  described 
m  a  very  elaborate  work,  published  in  January,  1865.  In  May,  1864, 
he  was  ordered  with  the  tenth  corps  to  the  army  of  the  James,  and  made 
one  or  two  attacks  upon  Petersburg,  which  proved  unsuccessful,  and  was 
engaged  in  other  operations  in  that  vicinity.  Sent  again  to  the  Depart 
ment  of  the  South,  in  February,  1865,  he  was  in  command  there  at  the 
evacuation  of  Charleston,  and  occupied  it  at  once  with  his  troops.  He  13 
now,  September,  1865,  commander  of  the  Department  of  South  Carolina. 
The  forts  on  Morris  island  being  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Union 
forces,  and  Fort  Sumter  so  thoroughly  reduced  that  it  could  offer  no 
effectual  resistance  to  the  passage  of  a  naval  force,  the  fourth  item  in 
General  Gillmore's  plan  was  apparently  ready  for  execution,  viz.,  the 
passage  of  Admiral  Dahlgren's  squadron  up  the  harbor  to  bombard  the 
city.  It  was  found,  however,  that  the  batteries,  redoubts,  and  forts,  were 
so  formidable,  and  the  obstructions  by  piles,  wire  entanglements,  and  torpe 
does,  so  dangerous,  that  the  admiral  was  unwilling,  and  perhaps  wisely 
»o,  to  risk  his  valuable  ships  where  the  peril  was  so  greatly  dispropor- 


SKETCH   OF  ADMIRAL  DAIILGREN.  627  ' 

tioned  to  the  result  to  be  attained.  General  Gillmore  was  therefore  obliged 
to  content  himself  with  a  bombardment  of  the  city,  and  rendered  the  lower 
portion  of  it  nearly  untenable.  On  the  7th  of  September,  an  expedition 
was  fitted  out  from  the  fleet,  consisting  of  about  four  hundred  men,  Bailors 
and  marines,  to  make  a  night  assault  on  Fort  Sumter,  and  if  possible 
capture  its  garrison.  It  proved  a  failure,  three  of  the  boats  being  sunk, 
a  considerable  number  of  the  men  killed  or  wounded,  and  one  hundred 
and  thirty  taken  prisoners.  On  the  5th  of  October,  the  Rebels  made  an 
attempt  to  explode  a  torpedo  under  the  New  Ironsid^,  but  failed,  and  the 
commander  and  inventor  of  the  torpedo  boat  was  picked  up  by  the  crew 
of  the  Ironsides.  The  "Weehawken  (monitor)  which  had  captured  the 
Atlanta,  was  sunk  in  Charleston  harbor  on  the  6th  of  December,  in  a 
storjn  of  some  severity,  by  the  leaving  open  of  her  hatches,  and  perhaps 
the  improper  stowing  of  her  ammunition. 

Rear- Admiral  John  A.  Dahlgren,  who  was  in  command  of  the  South 
Atlantic  blockading  squadron  from  July  6th,  1863,  to  March,  1865,  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  about  the  year  1810,  and  entered  the  United 
States  naval  service  as  midshipman  on  the  1st  of  February,  1826 ;  was 
promoted  to  be  a  lieutenant  in  March,  1837,  a  commander  in  Septem 
tember,  1855,  a  captain  in  1861,  and  a  rear-admiral,  February  7th,  1863, 
He  was  detached  in  1846,  for  special  service  in  the  ordnance  department, 
having  given  for  years  special  attention  to  this  subject,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  subsequent  to  1847,  he  was  engaged  in  important  experiments  in 
relation  to  the  form,  size,  and  materials  of  guns  and  projectiles.  He  is  the 
inventor  of  a  shell  gun  of  high  reputation,  which  bears  his  name,  of  a 
very  efficient  armament  for  boats,  (bronze  howitzers,)  and  light  field  car 
riages  of  iron  for  these  howitzers.  He  has  published  several  works  on 
ordnance,  between  1850  and  1856.  Although  but  eight  and  and  a  half 
years  of  his  thirty-eight  years  of  service  in  the  navy  had  been  spent  afloat, 
yet  on  his  desire  for  active  service,  the  Government  made  him  commander 
of  the  South  Atlantic  blockading  squadron,  believing  that  his  skill  in 
ordnance  matters,  and  his  strong  faith  in  the  monitor  iron-clads,  would 
lead  him  to  undertake  the  work  they  desired,  of  capturing  Charleston  by 
means  of  armed  ships.  This  hope  was  destined  to  disappoinment,  though, 
perhaps,  from  no  fault  or  timidity  on  the  part  of  Admiral  Dahlgren.  The 
Rebel  officers  stationed  at  Charleston  acknowledge  that  they  desired  the 
navy  to  make  the  attempt,  as  they  were  confident  that  with  the  appliances 
they  had  at  command,  they  could  have  destroyed  the  entire  fleet  before 
they  had  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  city. 

Charleston,  though  destined  eventually  to  fall  before  the  military  skill 

%f  the  Union  commanders,  was  not  yet  ready  for  its  downfall,  and  both 

General  Gillmore  and  Admiral  Dahlgren,  after  much  gallant  fighting,  and 

a  record  of  the  highest  honor,  were  compelled  to  acknowledge  that  the 

capture  of  the  Rebel  city  was  not  within  their  power. 


628  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER    LIL 

THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    THE    CUMBERLAND — ARMY    OF    THE     CUMBERLAND     IN    MOTION — THE 
STRENGTH  AND    POSITION  OF  THE  TWO  ARMIES — TOPOGRAPHY  OF  THE  COUNTRY  OF  MIDDLE 

TENNESSEE GENERAL  ROSECRANS*  TACTICS THE  MOVEMENT   BY  THE  LEFT  FLANK ITS 

COMPLETE  SUCCESS MANCHESTER,  DECHKRD,   COWAN,   SHELBYVILLE,  AND  TULLAHOMA 

TAKEN — BRAGG'S  ARMY  DRIVEN  EASTWARD  TO  UNIVERSITY,  AND  SWEDEN'S  COVE,  AND 

THENCE  TO  CHATTANOOGA — THE  RAILROADS  PUT    IN  ORDER TOPOGRAPHY  OF  THE    REGION 

AROUND   CHATTANOOGA — THE   MOVEMENT    OF   THE    UNION    ARMY    TOWARD    CHATTANOOGA 

ROSECRANS    DETERMINES    TO     OUTFLANK     BRAGG'S     POSITION — ROUTE     OF    THE    SEVERAL 

CORPS PERIL    OF    MCCOOK'S    CORPS THE     CONCENTRATION     OF    TROOPS     AT    MCLAMORE's 

COVE PREPARATIONS    FOR    BATTLE— THE     FIRST    DAY    OF    THE    BATTLE    OF    CHICKAMAUGA 

— THE  SECOND  DAY — THE  LINE  BROKEN  AND  SEVEN  BRIGADES  CUT  OFF — GENERAL  BOSK- 
CRANS  AT  CHATTANOOGA — GENERAL  THOMAS  FIGHTS  TILL  SUNSET  AND  REPULSES  THE  EA'EMY 
— SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS — RESULTS  OF  THE  BATTLE — MCCOOK  AND  CRITTENDEN  RE 
LIEVED  AND  THEIR  CORPS  CONSOLIDATED GENERAL  THOMAS  SUCCEEDS  GENERAL  ROSE 
CRANS — PERILOUS  CONDITION  OF  THE  ARMY — GENERAL  GRANT  PUT  IN  COMMAND  OF  THE 
GRAND  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI REINFORCEMENTS  ORDERED  UP. 

AFTER  the  battle  of  Stone  river,  both  the  Union  and  the  Rebel  armies 
were  left  in  a  condition  of  exhaustion,  from  which,  under  the  circum 
stances,  it  required  several  months  for  them  to  recover.  The  attention  of 
the  great  military  leaders  was  attracted  in  other  directions :  to  the  east, 
where  the  bloody  fields  of  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg  were  fought, 
and  to  the  Mississippi,  where  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson  were  undergoing 
a  siege  which  would  eventuate  in  the  grandest  success  of  the  war  thus  far. 
No  reinforcements  could  be  spared  by  either  side  to  the  armies  lying  near 
Murfreesboro,  and  their  operations  were  confined  to  raids  and  expeditions, 
of  some  of  which  we  have  already  given  an  account.  The  loss  of  Streight's 
cavalry  weakened  considerably  General  Rosecrans'  cavalry  force,  and  it 
required  some  months  to  bring  this  indispensable  arm  of  the  service  up 
to  the  commander's  necessities.  The  general-in-chief,  and  the  Secretary 
of  War,  not  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  very  difficult  topographical 
character  of  the  country  between  Murfreesboro  and  Chattanooga  and  the 
necessity  of  a  very  strong  cavalry  force  to  a  successful  advance,  became 
impatient  at  General  Rosecrans'  delay,  and  their  urgency,  and  the  irritable 
tone  of  their  letters,  provoked  a  corresponding  irritation  on  the  part  of 
General  Rosecrans,  who  was  fully  informed  both  of  the  character  of  the 
country,  and  the  position  and  strength  of  his  adversary. 

Having  at  last,  by  commendable  diligence  and  energy,  succeeded  in  bring 
ing  his  army  up  to  the  best  possible  condition,  General  Rosecrans  ordered 
a  general  advance  on  the  24th  of  June,  and  so  arranged  his  movements  as 
to  compel  Bragg  to  come  out  of  his  strong  defences  and  give  battle,  or 
evacuate  them  and  retreat  upon  Chattanooga.  That  city,  a  great  railroad 


POSITION   OF  THE  TWO   ARMIES  IN  TENNESSEE.  629 

centre,  and  commanding  the  passes  of  Lookout  mountain  and  Mission 
Ridge,  and  being  the  gateway  also  to  East  Tennessee  from  the  south,  was 
Rosecrans'  ultimate  objective,  and  he  had  not  ordered  an  advance  until  he 
saw  the  way  clear  to  its  capture  and  occupation ;  not  indeed,  without 
some  hard  fighting,  but  as  the  result  of  a  severe  and  protracted  struggle. 

The  two  armies  at  this  time  varied  but  little  in  numbers,  Rosecrans 
having  probably  a  small  superiority  in  infantry,  and  Bragg  in  cavalry. 
The  region  of  Middle  Tennessee,  south  of  Murfreesboro,  is  broken  and 
hilly,  the  land  rising  into  high  and  infertile  plateaus,  which  have  a  spongy 
soil,  that  under  the  influence  of  heavy  rains  becomes  almost  like  quick 
sand.  These  plateaus  or  barrens  are  approached  by  a  few  narrow,  diffi 
cult,  rocky  passes,  which  afford  strong  natural  fortifications  to  the  army 
holding  possession  of  them.  Two  affluents  of  the  Tennessee,  Duck  and  Elk 
rivers,  cross  these  rocky  barrens  from  east  to  west,  in  nearly  parallel 
lines,  about  twenty-five  miles  apart,  and  both  flow  through  deep  channels, 
with  high,  rocky,  and  precipitous  banks. 

The  Union  army  lay  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Murfreesboro,  with 
its  reserves  toward  Nashville ;  the  Rebel  army  occupied  a  strong  position 
north  of  Duck  river,  the  infantry  extending  from  Shelby ville  to  War- 
trace,  while  their  cavalry  covered  both  the  right  and  left  wings,  extending 
from  Wartrace  to  McMinnsville,  and  on  the  left  from'  Shelby  ville  to 
Columbia  and  Spring  Hill.  Their  immediate  base  was  Tullahoma,  situated 
about  midway  between  Duck  and  Elk  rivers,  a  strongly  fortified  position, 
where  Bragg  had  his  headquarters.  Liberty  and  Hoover's  gaps,  two  of  the 
passes  through  the  mountains  to  which  we  have  already  alluded,  were 
held  by  them  with  strong  detachments.  Through  these  two  gaps  passed 
the  only  macadamized  roads  leading  southward  from  Murfreesboro,  and 
the  only  other  roads  having  a  southerly  direction,  were  rough  dirt  roads, 
difficult  of  passage,  and  after  heavy  rains,  nearly  or  quite  impassable  by 
heavy  wagons  or  artillery  trains.  The  Rebels  also  held  possession  of  the 
railroad  from  Tullahoma  to  Murfreesboro  and  McMinnsville.  General 
Rosecrans1  design  was  to  compel  his  adversary  to  evacuate  these  positions 
by  a  movement  on  the  left  flank,  while  he  demonstrated  at  the  same  time 
on  the  right.  The  movement  was  wisely  planned,  and  was  completely 
successful.  Granger's  small  corps,  and  Sheridan's  division  of  McCook's, 
moved  to  Salem  and  Middleton,  and  thus  threatened  Shelbyville  directly, 
while  Johnson's  and  Davis's  divisions  of  the  same  corps,  passed  down  the 
Wartrace  road  to  Liberty  gap,  which,  after  a  brief  action,  they  captured 
and  held.  Meanwhile,  Thomas's  and  Crittenden's  corps  were  moving  down 
on  the  left,  having  Manchester,  Decherd,  and  Cowan,  for  their  objectives. 
Thomas's  corps  moved  on  the  Manchester  road,  directly  to  Hoover's  gap, 
a  strongly  fortified  pass,  and  .having  beyond  it  a  formidable  defile  two 
miles  in  length,  known  as  Mott's  Hollow,  and  after  a  gallant  struggle,  suc 
ceeded  in  driving  the  enemy  out  of  both,  and  on  the  27th  of  June  pushed 


C30  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IX  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

on  to  Manchester.  Most  of  Crittenden's  corps,  and  part  of  McCook's, 
arrived  at  Manchester  on  the  28th  and  29th  of  June,  while  General  Rose 
crans  had  sent  forward  a  cavalry  and  an  infantry  brigade  to  destroy  the 
railroad  bridge  over  the  Elk  river  at  Estill  Spring,  and  tear  up  the  rail 
road  from  Decherd  to  Cowan,  to  check  and  embarrass  their  retreat.  They 
did  not  succeed  in  destroying  the  bridge,  but  broke  up  the  railroad  for  a 
little  distance. 

The  Union  cavalry  on  the  right,  supported  by  Granger's  corps,  had  not 
only  demonstrated  against  Shelby  ville,  but  finding  the  opposition  weaker 
than  they  expected,  after  a  brief  action,  drove  the  enemy  to  and  through 
that  place,  and  captured  a  large  supply  of  stores  and  ammunition,  and 
several  guns. 

On  the  30th  of  June,  General  Rosecrans  had  completed  his  arrange 
ments  for  attacking  Tullahoma  in  front  and  rear,  and  issued  orders  to  as 
sault  itr  the  next  morning,  but  during  the  night  Bragg  evacuated  it  with 
his  army.  Occupying  the  place  at  once,  Negley's  and  Rousseau's  divisions 
of  Thomas's  corps  were  sent  forward  to  harass  the  enemy,  and  engage 
them  at  Bethpage  bridge.  After  a  short  Skirmish,  the  Rebels  withdrew 
behind  their  intrenchments,  south  of  Elk  river.  The  Union  troops  were 
constantly  in  motion  for  the  next  two  days,  and  gave  the  enemy  no  op 
portunity  to  d'estroy  the  railroad,  or  to  burn  the  bridges  thoroughly. 
The/  at  last  succeeded  in  driving  them  from  the  railroad  completely,  and 
as  they  took  to  the  broken  country  eastward  toward  University  and 
Sweden's  cove,  where  further  pursuit  was  exceedingly  difficult,  they  re 
luctantly  abandoned  it.  During  this  whole  period  of  nine  days,  the  rain 
had  been  constant  and  drenching,  and  it  continued  for  eight  days 
longer.  The  effect  on  these  barrens  was  to  turn  the  roads  into  quick 
sands,  and  for  several  days  the  supply  and  ammunition  trains  were  com 
pletely  stalled  in  the  mud.  Bragg  made  his  way,  as  best  he  could,  with 
his  defeated  and  dispirited  troops,  to  Chattanooga,  burning  the  bridges 
behind  him,  and  commenced  fortifying  his  position,  and  throwing  up  de 
fensive  works  along  the  Tennessee,  at  every  ford  above  and  below  Chat 
tanooga,  for  fifty  or  sixty  miles.  The  losses  of  the  army  of  the  Cumber 
land  in  this  flanking  movement,  were  eighty-five  killed  and  wounded,  and 
thirteen  missing.  The  Rebel  losses  in  killed  and  wounded  have  never 
been  published,  but  the  Union  troops  captured  sixteen  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  prisoners,  eight  cannon,  many  hundred  small  arms,  and  large  quan 
tities  of  quartermasters'  and  commissary  stores. 

General  Rosecrans  deemed  it  necessary,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  bring 
ing  forward  his  supplies,  and  move  his  troops  with  rapidity,  to  repair 
thoroughly  the  railroad  from  Nashville  and  Murfreesboro  to  Stevenson, 
Alabama,  the  point  of  junction  of  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  with 
the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad,  a  place  which,  for  the  time,  he 
could  use  to  advantage  as  a  secondary  base.  This  point  was  thirty-seven 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  THE  REGION  AROUND   CHATTANOOGA.     C31 

miles  W.  SW.  of  Chattanooga.  He  also  caused  the  Memphis  and  Charles 
ton  railroad  to  be  repaired  as  far  as  Bridgeport,  where  it  crosses  the  Ten 
nessee  river,  and  the  Tracy  city  branch,  by  which  he  conveyed  supplies 
to  Crittenden's  corps. 

Before  proceeding  farther  with  our  narrative  of  the  march  of  the  army 
of  the  Cumberland  toward  Chattanooga,  let  us  glance  at  the  topographical 
character  of  the  region  upon  which  they  had  entered ;  a  region  whose 
alternations  of  hill  and  valley  were  so  peculiar,  that  without  a  description, 
the  movements  of  the  Union  and  Eebel  forces  would  be  absolutely  in 
comprehensible. 

The  Appalachian  mountain  system,  of  which  the  White  mountains  in 
New  England,  and  the  Alleghanies  in  the  middle  States,  form  portions, 
extends  through  East  Tennessee  into  Alabama  and  Georgia,  its  western 
chain  taking  the  general  name  of  the  Cumberland  mountains^  while  the 
eastern,  which  bears  in  Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  and  North  and  South 
Carolina,  the  name  of  the  Blue  Eidge,  or  the  Smoky  mountains,  spreads 
in  Georgia,  into  six  or  eight  parallel  ranges  of  varying  height,  but  mostly 
with  precipitous  ascent. 

The  Cumberland  mountains  consist  of  two  ridges:  the  Cumberland 
mountains  proper,  and  "Walden  Eidge.  The  former,  sloping  gradually, 
though  in  broken  bluffs,  westward  toward  Middle  Tennessee,  presents  on 
its  southeastern  face,  a  rapid  and  precipitous  descent  to  the  narrow  Valley 
of  the  Sequatchie.  This  stream,  for  more  than  sixty  miles,  has  riven  a  pas 
sage  through  the  longitudinal  axis  of  the  mountain.  "Walden  Kidge,  which 
stretches  between  the  Sequatchie  and  the  Tennessee,  is  a  bold  and  high 
ridge,  descending  by  lofty  and  precipitous  banks  to  either  river.  It  has  in 
its  whole  extent  of  more  than  sixty  miles,  but  two  gaps  through  which  a 
w'agon-road  can  be  made,  viz:  Dunlap's  pass,  extending  to  Poe's  Tavern, 
and  Thurman's  pass,  to  a  point  opposite  Chattanooga.  Below  the  mouth 
of  the  Sequatchie,  the  hills  and  bluffs  on  the  northern  side  of  the  Tennes 
see  do  not  approach  nearer  than  within  two  or  three  miles  of  the  river ; 
but  on  the  southern  side,  the  ranges,  which,  as  we  have  said,  seem  to 
belong  rather  to  the  Blue  Eidge  or  Smoky  mountain  chain,  abut,  with 
their  towering  bluffs,  directly  on  the  river,  leaving  no  space  for  the  pas 
sage  of  road  or  railroad,  except  by  cutting  into  the  side  of  the  bluff.  The 
Sand  mountain  range,  the  westernmost  of  these,  whose  northern  spur 
bears  the  name  of  Eaccoon  mountain,  hugs  closely  this  left,  or  southern 
bank  of  the  Tennessee,  for  a  hundred  miles.  Separated  from  it  by  the 
valley  of  Lookout  creek,  the  lofty  Lookout  mountain  rears  its  head  far 
above  its  fellows,  and,  in  a  clear  day,  the  vista  which  spreads  for  a  hun 
dred  miles  in  all  directions  from  this  king  of  the  Georgian  mountains, 
is  by  turns  sublime  and  beautiful.  Its  height  is  over  three  thousand  feet, 
and  a  spur  from  its  bold  bluff  drives  the  Tennessee  northward  for  several 
miles,  and  compresses  its  waters  into  a  narrow  channel  against  the  hills 


632  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

on  the  northern  shore ;  while  the  main  bluff  .meet's  the  returning  curve  of 
the  stream,  and  frowns  with  its  dark  shadows  upon  its  rapid  current.  The 
Nashville  and  Chattanooga  railroad  has  cut  its  way  along  the  side  of  the 
steep  bluffj  through  the  hard  rock,  where,  with  difficulty,  it  has  secured  a 
roadway  along  the  precipitous  slope  of  the  giant  mountain.  Eastward  of 
Lookout,  comes  Mission  Ridge,  separated  from  it  by  the  beautiful  valley 
of  Chattanooga  creek.  Less  lofty  than  Lookout,  its  sides  are  also  less  pre 
cipitous,  though  at  some  points  steep  and  frowning.  Beyond,  the  West 
Chickamauga  creek,  or  river,  makes  a  somewhat  wider  valley,  shut  in  at 
its  southern  extremity  by  mountains,  and  known  to  the  inhabitants  as 
McLamore's  cove ;  a  complete  cul-de-sac,  accessible  from  the  south,  east, 
or  west,  only  by  mountain  passes.  The'  eastern  wall  of  the  cove  is  formed 
by  Pigeon  mountain,  higher,  and  with  more  precipitous  sides,  than  Mis 
sion  Ridge.  The  Chattooga  river,  an  affluent  of  the  Coosa,  and  its  valley, 
divides  this  from  Taylor's  Ridge,  a  rough,  rocky  range,  with  a  single 
practicable  gap,  through  which  passes  the  turnpike  from  Lafayette  to 
Rome.  East  of  this,  are  a  confused  group  of  mountain  spurs,  known  as 
Sand  mountain,  John's  mountain,  Pocket  mountain,  and  Chattoogata,  or 
Rocky -Faced  Ridge ;  the  latter  forming  the  western  bank  c>f  the  Oostan- 
aula  river.  The  Nashville  and  Chattanooga,  the  Chattanooga  and  Knox- 
ville,  or  East  Tennessee,  and  the  Chattanooga  and  Atlanta  railroads,  curve 
in  and  out  around  the  bluffs  from  these  ridges,  keeping  as  near  as  possible 
to  the  banks  of  the  Tennessee,  till  the  last  but  one  has  been  passed,  and 
then,  suddenly  striking  southward,  the  Chattanooga  and  Atlanta  road 
forces  its  way  through  the  Chattoogata,  or  Rocky-Faced  Ridge,  by  a  diffi 
cult  mountain  pass,  known  as  Buzzard  Roost  gap.  "We  have  been  thus 
minute  in  our  description  of  the  topography  of  this  region,  because  the 
want  of  a  thorough  knowledge  of  it  led  to  the  undeserved  censure  of  one 
of  our  best  generals,  and  because,  in  all  the  movements  which  followed 
for  a  year,  the  features  of  the  country  greatly  modified  the  action  of  both 
armies. 

With  the  fords  and  ferries  of  the  Tennessee  river  guarded  by  Bragg's 
troops,  and  the  mountain  passes,  which  gave  access  to  the  valleys  by 
which  it  was  approached,  all  watched  from  the  summit  of  Lookout,  and 
firmly  held,  if  there  were  indications  that  they  were  threatened,  it  was 
evident  that  the  capture  of  Chattanooga  by  the  Union  troops,  upon  which 
Rosecrans  had  set  his  heart,  would  be  a  work  of  great  difficulty ;  yet 
without  its  possession,  East  Tennessee,  which  Burnside  was  now  moving 
to  secure,  could  not  be  held,  and  the  patient  and  long-suftering  loyalists 
of  KnoxviWe,  and  the  mountains  and  valleys  of  East  Tennessee,  must 
still  submit  to  the  cruelties  and  murders  of  the  dominant  Rebels.  Chat 
tanooga,  too,  was  the  key  to  the  possession  of  northern  Alabama  and 
Georgia,  and  through  it  lay  the  route  to  the  further  division  of  the  Rebel 
Confederacy,  already  sundered  by  the  opening  of  the  Mississippi. 


MCTEMEXT  OF  THE  ARMY  TOWARD  CHATTANOOGA.   633 

Yet  it  was  evident  to  the  clear  intellect  of  General  Rosecrans,  that  a 
direct  attack  upon  the  stronghold  would  only  result  in  a  terrible  slaugh 
ter  of  his  troops,  while  the  chance  of  success  would  be  very  problematical. 
He  resolved  to  attempt  to  compel  its  evacuation,  by  a  movement  by  the 
right  flank,  which  should  put  Bragg's  communications  in  peril.  Such  a 
movement  was  hardly  less  perilous  than  the  direct  attack,  and  success, 
» while  it  would  stamp  its  projector  as  one  of  the  ablest  generals  of  the 
time,  was  rather  to  be  hoped  for  than  expected.  To  accomplish  his  pur 
pose  of  seriously  endangering  Bragg's  communications,  it  was  necessary 
to  cross  the  lofty  Lookout  mountain  range,  and  there  were  but  three 
passes,  in  a  distance  of  sixty  miles,  where  wagon  trains  and  cannon  could 
cross,  and  neither  of  these  passes  was  in  supporting  distance  of  the  other. 
It  was  desirable,  too,  to  demonstrate  directly  against  Chattanooga  from 
the  north  bank  of  the  Tennessee,  and  to  make  a  feint  of  crossing  the  river 
at  points  above  the  city,  in  order  to  distract  the  attention  of  the  enemy 
from  the  movements  below.  If  he  should  succeed  by  this  bold  movement 
in  compelling  the  evacuation  of  Chattanooga,  it  was  not  to  be  expected 
that  Bragg  would  suffer  the  Union  troops  to  enjoy,  without  a  struggle, 
their  possession  of  the  stronghold ;  and  he  might,  especially  if  largely 
reinforced  (as  there  were  reports  that  he  was  .to  be),  fall  upon  one  or 
another  of  the  separated  corps,  and  defeating  them  in  detail,  regain  his 
coveted  possession,  after  inflicting  upon  Rosec^ans  the  loss  of  his  army. 
These  were  important  considerations,  and  they  were  carefully  weighed  by 
the  Union  general,  who,  however,  did  not  relinquish  his  determination  to 
encounter  the  great  risk,  for  the  sake  of  the  prize  to  be  won. 

All  necessary  preparations  having  been  made,  Crittenden's  corps  was 
ordered  to  move  in  three  columns ;  Van  Cleve's  division  to  Pikeville, 
Palmer's  to  Dunlap,  and  Wood's  to  Thurman's,  and  uniting  in  the  Se 
quatchie  valley,  to  descend  to  Jasper,  and  thence  to  cross  the  river  at  the 
mouth  of  Battle  creek  and  Shellmount.  Three  brigades  of  cavalry  and 
one  of  infantry,  were  sent  up  the  east  side  of  the  Sequatchie  valley,  to 
oross  Walden  Ridge  to  Poe's  Tavern,  and  from  Anderson,  (opposite  Thur 
man's,)  to  the  Tennessee  river  opposite  Chattanooga,  and  reconnoitre  the 
northern  bank  of  the  Tennessee  from'Igo's  ferry  to  Chattanooga. 

General  Thomas's  corps  moved  in  two  columns — Reynolds's  and  Bran- 
nan's  divisions,  from  University,  by  way  of  Battle  creek,  to  take  up  a 
concealed  position  near  its  mouth  ;  while  Negley  and  Baird,  marching  from 
Tantellon,  near  the  Tunnel,  took  position  along  the  railroad  from  Ander 
son  to  Stevenson. 

McCook's  corps  moved  in  three  columns — Johnson's  division  by  Salem 
and  Larkin's  fort  to  Bellefont ;  Davis's  division  by  Mount  Top  to  Crow 
creek,  to  halt  near  Stevenson ;  and  Sheridan's  farther  west  to  Maysville, 
and  thence  by  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad  to  Bellefont,  to  join 
Johnson.  On  the  20th  of  August,  all  these  movements  had  been  com- 


634  THE   CIVll  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

pleted;  and  on  the  21st,  Wagner's  and  Wilder's  cavalry  brigades  of 
Crittenden's  corps  made  a  reconnoissance  along  the  north  bank  of  the 
Tennessee  opposite  Chattanooga,  and  shelled  the  city,  to  the  great  con 
sternation  of  the  inhabitants  and  of  Bragg's  troops. 

The  Union  army  having  been  brought  safely  to  the  Tennessee,  General 
Eosecrans  made  preparations  to  cross — a  matter  of  considerable  difficulty 
and  hazard,  as  from  their  signal  position  on  the  top  of  Lookout  mountain, 
the  Kebels  could  observe  all  his  movements,  and  keep  their  garrisons  at 
the  fords  and  ferries  on  the  alert.  The  movement  of  the  cavalry  brigades 
at  Chattanooga  and  above,  had,  however,  so  far  deceived  the  enemy  that 
they  watched  closely  the  upper  Tenneseee,  but  paid  no  attention  to  what 
was  passing  below.  General  Eosecrans  crossed  his  army  at  four  points — 
by  a  pontoon  bridge  at  Caperton's  ferry  near  Stevenson,  by  a  pontoon  and 
trestlework  bridge  at  Bridgeport,  by  boats  and  rafts  at  Shellmount,  and 
at  Alley's  ferry,  at  the  mouth  of  Battle  creek.  The  whole  army  was 
across  by  the  3d  or  4th  of  September ;  and  having  gained  the  southern 
side,  Crittenden's  corps  marched  to  Wauhatchie,  and  their  advance-guard 
passed  over  the  point  of  Lookout  mountain  and  threatened  Chattanooga, 
while  the  main  body  kept  up  their  communication  temporarily  with 
General  Thomas's  corps,  which  had  at  first  taken  up  a  position  at  Trenton, 
and  sent  an  advance  to  secure  Frick's,  Cooper's,  and  Stevens's  gaps  in 
Lookout  mountain,  the  only  practicable  passes  into  McLamore's  cove. 
His  corps  soon  after  passed  by  these  gaps  into  the  cove,  and  occupied  the 
head  or  southern  portion  of  it.  McCook's  corps  had  moved  down  to 
Valley  Head,  except  Sheridan's  division,  which  was  still  at  Trenton,  but 
was  under  orders  to  follow  the  remainder  of  the  corps  to  Valley  Head  or 
Alpine ;  and  on  his  arrival  General  McCook  had  directions  to  send  a  re- 
connoitering  force  to  Broomtown  and  Summerville,  in  the  Broomtown 
valley,  between  Pigeon  mountain  and  Taylor's  ridge.  By  this  movement 
he  would  not  only  threaten  Eome,  but  be  able  to  ascertain  where  the 
Rebel  force  was  concentrated,  and  what  reinforcements  were  approaching 
it.  The  reconnoissance  ordered,  demonstrated  that  General  Bragg  had 
not  retreated  upon  Eome  (he  had  evacuated  Chattanooga  and  gone  south 
ward  on  the  8th  of  September),  but  was  concentrating  his  forces  upon 
Pigeon  mountain,  above  Lafayette,  where  Johnson  and  probably  Buckner 
had  already  joined  him,  and  that  Longstreet's  corps,  from  the  army  of 
Virginia,  had  reached  Atlanta  about  the  1st  of  September,  and  were  march 
ing  forward  with  all  haste  to  reinforce  him  still  further.  These  reinforce 
ments  would  make  Bragg's  force  about  double  that  of  Eosecrans,  and  he 
was  now  between  McCook's  corps  and  the  other  three  corps  of  the  Union 
army,  though,  being  on  the  other  side  of  Pigeon  mountain,  he  could  not 
yet  take  advantage  of  his  position.  Crittenden's  advance  had,  meantime, 
entered  Chattanooga  on  the  evening  of  the.  9th  of  September,  and  the 
remainder  of  the  corps,  with  its  trains,  passed  around  the  nose  of  Lookout 


'V  yy  ry 

$Jv       DUNLAP®%)* 

•  NJJELPHI  //  smo\  p. 


4   ^\|U,\^JASPER, 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  IMPENDING  BATTLE.  635 

mountain  on  the  10th,  and  camped  for  the  night  at  Rossville.  General 
Thomas  had  crossed  Lookout  mountain  with  his  corps,  and  taken  position 
in  McLamore's  cove,  and  was  busily  engaged  in  reconnoitering  Bragg's 
position.  Crittenden,  leaving  but  one  brigade  in  Chattanooga,  was  ordered 
to  push  on  vigorously  to  Einggold  and  Dalton,  and  send  a  reconnoissance 
to  Gordon's  mills  and  open  communication  with  General  Thomas.  Two 
of  Thomas's  divisions,  Negley's  and  Baird's,  had  passed  through  Frick's 
gap  to  Pond  Spring,  and  beyond,  on  the  Lafayette  road,  and  there  found 
the  enemy  in  large  force.  After  a  short  skirmish  they  fell  back  into  and 
through  Frick's  gap,  to  protect  their  trains.  General  Halleck  had  tele 
graphed  General  Rosecrans  that  Bragg  was  to  be  reinforced  by  Buckner, 
Johnson,  and  Longstreet,  and  it  now  appeared  that  they  were  all  near  at 
hand,  or  had  already  formed  a  junction  with  him,  and  that  his  with 
drawal  from  Chattanooga  had  only  been  made  with  the  intent  to  secure  a 
better  position  for  fighting  the  battle  which  should  again  give  him  pos 
session  of  that  stronghold.  General  Rosecrans  found  that  the  most  prompt 
action  was  necessary  to  bring  his  army  together  in  season  to  confront  his 
enemy,  whose  force  under  the  best  circumstances  would  be  double  his 
own.  His  energy  was  equal  to  the  emergency.  Crittenden  was  ordered 
up  to  form  a  closer  connection  with  Thomas,  and  McCook  was  directed 
to  make  a  forced  march  by  the  shortest  practicable  route  to  McLamore's 
cove,  lest  Bragg's  forces  should  be  thrust  between  him  and  the  remainder 
of  the  Union  army.  McCook  was  fifty-seven  miles  south  of  Thomas's 
camp,  by  the  nearest  road  practicable  for  wagons — that  from  Alpine 
through  Doherty's  gap  into  McLamore's  cove — but  of  the  existence  or 
good  condition  of  this  road  he  was  not  informed ;  and  having  sent  his 
'train  under  sufficient  escort  into  Lookout  valley,  he  marched  back  through 
Valley  Head  on  the  night  of  the  13th  of  September,  and  thence  up  Look 
out  valley  to  Stevens's  gap,  which  he  crossed  into  McLamore's  cove, 
arriving  on  the  17th,  and  taking  position  on  the  right  of  General  Thomas. 
The  delay  of  nearly  two  days  consequent  upon  this  mistake  in  regard  to 
the  roads,  had  afforded  opportunity  for  Longstreet  to  come  up 'within 
supporting  distance  of  Bragg's  army,  Aid  had  so  far  hindered  General 
Rosecrans'  arrangements  for  the  battle  that  he  was  unable  to  secure  the 
best  position  for  a  defensive  conflict,  such  as  under  the  circumstances  he 
must  fight.  On  \e  night  of  th'e  18th,  and  the  early  morning  of  the  19th 
of  September,  tne  final  preparations  for  the  impending  battle  were  made. 
The  small  corps  of  Gordon  Granger  were  stationed  as  reserves  at  the 
extreme  left,  near  Rossville,  with  orders  to  guard  the  two  roads  leading 
to  Chattanooga,  which  it  was  the  evident  aim  of  the  Rebels  to  seize. 
About  three  miles  further  south  commenced  the  actual  line  of  battle, 
Brannan's  division  of  Thomas's  corps  occupying  the  exlreme  left ;  next 
in  order  was  Baird's  division  of  the  same  corps ;  then  Johnson's  division 
of  McCook's  corps,  which  had  been  sent  to  support  this  part  of  Thomas's 


636  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

line  ;  next  to  Johnson,  came  Palmer's  division  of  Crittenden's  corps;  and 
joining  Palmer,  Yan  Cleve's  division  of  the  same  corps ;  then  came  Rey 
nolds'  division  of  Thomas's  corps,  and  Wood's  division  of  Crittenden's 
corps,  which  covered  the  Gordon's  mills  ford ;  while  Wilder's  cavalry 
brigade  guarded  the  right  wing.  Four  miles  below,  at  Crawfish  springs, 
Negley's  division  of  Thomas's  corps  was  engaged  in  observing  Owen's 
ford,  over  the  Chickamauga,  while  a  Rebel  division  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  Chickamauga  was  endeavoring  to  cross,  to  get  at  the  right  flank  of 
the  Union  arrny.  In  reserve,  west  of  Gordon's  mills,  were  Davis's  and 
Sheridan's  divisions  of  McCook's  corps;  and  immediately  behind  them, 
at  the  widow  Glenn's  house,  were  General  Rosecrans's  headquarters. 

The  battle  commenced  about  ten  A.M.  of  the  19th,  two  brigades  of 
Braunan's  division,  on  the  extreme  left,  reconnoitering  and  attacking  the 
Rebel  force  which  was  endeavoring  to  force  a  passage  by  way  of  the 
Lafayette  road  toward  Chattanooga.  These  two  brigades  attacked  so 
vigorously  as  to  drive  the  Rebels  back  nearly  half  a  mile,  when  a  very 
strong  column  advanced  to  their  support.  '  This  column,  which  General 
Rosecrans  believed  to  have  been  composed  of  part  of  Longstreet's  corps, 
fell  in  heavy  mass  upon  the  Union  left,  and  forced  back  the  remainder 
of  Brannan's  division,  and  threw  Baird's  division,  which  came  up  to  its 
support,  into  disorder.  Johnson's  fine  division  of  McCook's  corps  now 
came  up,  and  striking  the  Rebel  column  in  flank  with  great  fury,  drove 
it  back  more  than  half  a  mile,  until  the  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy 
enabled  them  to  overlap  his  right,  which  was  in  danger  of  being  turned, 
when  Palmer,  coming  in  on  his  right,  which  was,  in  the  ardor  of  pursuit, 
considerably  advanced  beyond  the  main  army,  threw  his  division  with 
such  force  against  the  Rebels  as  again  to  drive  back  their  advancing 
columns.  But  the  immense  numbers  of  the  Rebels  which  now  swarmed 
up,  showed  their  great  superiority  in  troops  to  the  Union  army ;  con 
stantly  extending  toward  the  right,  they  overlapped  Palmer's  flank,  and 
when  Van  Cleve's  division  came  up,  overlapped  that  also,  and  forced  it 
back,  as  they  did  Reynolds,  who  came  to  his  assistance.  Davis's  division 
now  advanced  most  opportunely  and  drove  the  enemy  back,  but  under 
the  immense  pressure  of  fresh  Rebel  troops,  he  too  was  gradually  being 
pressed  back,  when  Wood's  division  came  up,  and  again  turned  the  tide 
of  battle  the  other  way.  At  three  P.M.,  General  Rosecrans  finding  his 
line  hardly  pressed,  ordered  up  Sheridan's  division,  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  army,  and  which  till  then  had  been  in  reserve,  to  support  Wood  and 
Davis.  It  came  up  on  the  double-quick,  and  drove  the  Rebels  back  with 
such  slaughter  that  they  did  not  again  attempt  to  advance  on  the  right. 

Meanwhile,  the  centre  (Van  Cleve's  and  Reynolds'  divisions)  was  being 
driven,  and  the  battle  was  approaching  General  Rosecrans'  headquarters. 
Anticipating  this,  the  general  had  ordered  General  Negley's  division  to 
move  up  from  Crawford  Springs  toward  the  headquarters,  and  at  half- 


^^••o0!   /<£>  / 

l  7  -  * 

-^*    -rM*"    /     C.V^A    \* 


THE  SECOND  DAY'S  BATTLE  AT  CHATTANOOGA.  C37 

past  four  he  reported  with  his  division,  and  was  sent  to  support  Yan 
Cleve,  whom  the  Rebels  had  succeeded  in  dislodging  from  his  position, 
and  attacking  the  enemy  with  great  vigor,  he  forced  them  steadily  back, 
till  nightfall.  General  Bran  nan  had  also  been  sent  by  General  Thomas, 
at  General  Rosecrans'  request,  to  support  General  Reynolds. 

The  result  of  the  day's  fighting  was  indecisive ;  both  sides  had  taken 
prisoners;  each  in  turn  had  driven  the  other  and  been  driven  themselves; 
the  Union  forces  had  found  themselves  at  all  points  confronted  by  greatly 
superior  numbers,  and  these  not  raw  recruits,  but  veteran  warriors  ;  but 
the  preponderance  of  success,  if  there  was  any,  was  in  their  favor ;  the 
enemy  had  been  forced  back  from  all  the  ground  they  had  gained,  and  in 
the  evening  were  farther  east  than  in  the  morning.  Every  brigade  but 
two,  aside  from  Granger's  reserves,  had  been  in  the  fight,  and  all  had 
acted  well.  The  morrow,  however,  it  was  foreseen,  must  bring  still  severer 
fighting,  and  a  more  desperate  struggle  for  the  possession  of  the  prize  for 
which  both  were  contending.  A  council  was  held  in  the  evening,  and  a 
new  'order  of  battle  decided  upon  for  the  following  day,  which  was 
announced  to  the  division  and  brigade  commanders  at  one  o'clock  in  the 
morning. 

General  Rosecrans,  by  this  new  disposition  of  his  troops,  had  shortened 
his  line  more  than  a  mile.  His  troops,  instead  of  being  posted,  as  they  were 
the  day  before,  on  the  line  of  the  Lafayette  road,  were  stationed 'on  a  road 
leading  in  a  southwest  direction  from  the  Lafayette  to  the  Rossville  road, 
the  left  wing  overlapping  the  Lafayette  road,  the  extremity  of  the  right 
wing  refused,  and  covering  the  position  at  widow  Glenn's  house,  and  resting 
in  a  strong  position  on  Mission  Ridge,  the  gap  in  which  was  covered  by  the 
army.  Davis's  and  Yan  Cleve's  divisions  were  wholly,  and  Brannan's  par 
tially,  in  reserve.  General  Rosecrans'  headquarters  were  on  the  Rossville 
road,  in  an  elevated  position,  near  the  gap.  He  had  abandoned  the  position 
at  Gordon's  mills,  but  the  pass  through  Mission  Ridge,  and  the  road  from 
Lafayette  to  Chattanooga,  were  all- important,  and  must  be  held  at  all 
hazards,  and  while  his  numbers  were  so  much  inferior  to  those  of  the 
enemy,  the  effectual  holding  of  these  would  occupy  his  entire  force. 

The  new  position  was  thus  much  stronger  than  the  one  of  the  previous 
day,  and  but  for  the  misfortune  which  subsequently  occurred,  the  enemy, 
in  spite  of  their  superior  numbers,  would  undoubtedly  have  been  badly 
defeated. 

The  battle  of  the  20th  commenced  at  half-past  eight  A.  M.,  the  effort 
of  the  enemy  being,  as  on  the  previous  day,  to  turn  the  left  flank  of  the 
Union  army,  and  then  gain  access  to  the  Lafayette  and  Chattanooga  road. 
Thomas,  who  was  in  command  at  the  left,  was  hard  pressed  from  the  start, 
and  General  Rosecrans  directed  him  to  hold  on,  assuring  him  that  he 
should  be  reinforced  if  necessary,  by  the  entire  army.  One  of  Negley's 
brigades,  which  was  on  the  right,  was  first  ordered  up  to  join  the  other 


638  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

brigades  of  his  division  at  the  left,  but  for  some  cause,  there  was  delay 
and  hesitation  in  obeying  the  order,  which  produced  some  trouble.  The 
two  reserve  divisions,  Van  Cleve's  and  Davis's,  were  next  sent  to  Thomas's 
support,  and  took  position  near  Wood's  division.  Still,  though  fighting 
with  great  desperation,  the  Kebels  invariably  attacking,  and  being  as  in 
variably  repulsed,  the  battle  went  on  without  any  serious  advantage  to 
either  side,  till  about  one  o'clock  P.  M.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  had,  up  to 
this  time,  been  greatly  heavier  than  that  of  the  Union  troops,  the  latter 
being  at  some  points  protected  by  slight  breastworks,  and  at  others,  lying 
down  and  loading,  and  only  rising  to  deliver  their  fire  when  the  Kebels 
came  up.  Brannan's  division,  which  at  first  had  been  in  reserve,  had 
been  brought  into  action,  and  its  commander  had  formed  it  en  echelon,  to 
enable  it  the  better  to  resist  the  Eebel  attacks.  To  a  superficial  observer, 
riding  along  the  lines,  this  formation  gave  the  division  the  appearance  of 
being  partly  out  of  line,  and  one  of  General  Thomas's  aids  so  reported  it 
to  General  Rosecrans.  Supposing  this  to  be  the  fact,  General  Kosecrans 
ordered  Wood  to  close  up  on  Keynolds,  and  Davis  on  Wood,  while  the 
remainder  of  McCook's  corps  were  held  in  readiness  to  go  to  the  support 
of  the  left.  Unfortunately,  though  naturally  enough,  General  Wood  un 
derstood  this  order  to  mean  that  he  should  march  past  Brannan's  division, 
to  close  up  on  Keynolds,  and  in  the  attempt  to  do  this,  he  left  a  gap  in  the 
line  of  battle,  into  which  the  Kebels  instantly  worked,  striking  Davis  in 
flank  and  rear,  as  well  as  in  front,  and  throwing  his  whole  division  into 
disorder".  -The  same  attack  shattered  the  right  brigade  of  Wood's  division, 
before  it  had  passed  beyond  the  surging  tide.  The  right  of  Brannan's 
division  was  thrown  back,  and  two  of  his  batteries,  then  moving  toward  a 
new  position,  were  taken  in  flank,  and  driven  through'  two  brigades  of 
Yan  Cleve's  division,  which  was  at  the  time  moving  toward  the  left,  and 
that  division  was  thrown  into  complete  confusion,  from  which  it  never 
recovered  till  it  reached  Kossville.  While  the  enemy  poured  in  through 
this  breach,  a  long  line  of  Kebels,  stretching  beyond  Sheridan's  right,  was 
advancing ;  Laibold's  brigade  (of  Sheridan's  division)  shared  the  fate  of 
Davis.  The  other  two  brigades  of  that  division,  at  that  time  moving 
toward  the  left,  under  orders  to  support  General  Thomas,  made,  under 
their  gallant  leader,  a  fierce  charge  against  the  enemy's  advancing  column 
but  were  thrown  into  disorder,  by  the  attack  of  his  line  upon  their  flank^ 
and  were  compelled  to  fall  back.  They  rallied  again  on  the  Dry  valley 
road,  and  repulsed  the  enemy,  but  were  again  compelled  to  yield  to  over 
powering  numbers,  and  retired  westward  of  the  Dry  valley,  and  by  a 
circuitous  route  reached  Kossville,  from  whence  they  advanced  by  the 
Lafayette  road  to  support  the  left,  reaching  General  Thomas's  lines  about 
midnight.  Seven  brigades,  or  about  one  fourth  of  the  entire  Union  force, 
were  thus  swept  away  by  this  misfortune,  and  though  the  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded  was  not  very  heavy,  and  that  in  prisoners  less  so  than 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  BATTLE  AT  CHATTANOOGA.      639 

would  have  been  expected,  they  were  effectually  cut  off  from  rendering 
any  further  aid  to  the  remainder  of  the  troops  during  that  day.  Among 
those  thus  swept  away,  were,  without  fault  of  their  own,  and  greatly  to 
their  chagrin,  Major- Generals  Rosecrans,  McCook,  and  Crittenden.  Each 
made,  decided  and  repeated  efforts  to  rejoin  the  main  body  but  in  vain,  and 
at  last  fell  back  toward  Rossville,  whence  General  Rosecrans  sent  his 
chief  of  staff,  General  Garfield,  to  ascertain  how  General  Thomas  was 
succeeding  in  holding  at  bay  the  greatly  superior  force  of  the*  enemy, 
and  himself,  with  Generals  McCook  and  Crittenden,  went  on  to  Chatta 
nooga,  to  secure  the  trains  and  put  the  city  in  a  state  of  defence,  if,  as 
lie  feared,  the  army  should  be  driven  to  retreat  thither. 

The  Rebels,  after  pursuing  the  seven  routed  brigades  for  a  mile  or 
more  into  Dry  valley,  returned  to  drive  General  Thomas  from  the  main 
road,  of  which  they  must  avail  themselves  if  they  would  recapture  Chatta 
nooga.  Thomas's  position  was  still  a  strong  one,  and  the  rough  and 
temporary  breastworks  thrown  up  in  front  of  Reynolds'  and  Palmer's 
divisions,  greatly  increased  its  strength.  From  these  breastworks,  as  the 
Rebels  returned  to  the  charge,  they  were  swept  down  in  great  numbers 
by  the  grape  and  canister  poured  upon  them  incessantly  by  the  Union 
batteries.  Through  the  efforts  and  bravery  of  Yandeveer's  brigade,  of 
Brannan's  division,  they  were  driven  back,  and  Baird  and  Johnson,  with 
one  brigade  of  Palmer's  division,  restored  the  line.  From  two  o'clock  till 
sunset;  a  fierce  battle  raged  along  the  Union  lines.  General  Thomas, 
though  confronted  by  a  force  numbering  at  least  five  to  his  two,  stood 
grim  and  defiant,  resisting  the  repeated  assaults  upon  his  lines  with  a 
vigilance  and  persistency  never  surpassed.  The  enemy  at  last  pressed  so 
strongly  on  his  whole  line  ,  that  he  fell  back  further  into  the  jaws  of  the 
gap,  and  setting  his  back  against  the  mountains,  the  "Rock  of  Chicka- 
mauga,"  as  he  has  been  appropriately  named,  held  the  foe  at  bay  for 
hours.  At  length,  near  sunset,  an  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy  suc 
ceeded  in  passing  around  the  left,  through  a  low  gap  in  the  ridge,  and 
would  in  a  few  minutes  more  have  reached  the  flank  of  Brannan's  position, 
and  turning  it,  perhaps  have  routed  the  greatly  wearied  Union  troops. 
At  this  critical  moment,  two  brigades  of  Steedman's  division,  from 
Granger's  reserves,  led  by  General  Steed  man  in  person,  rushed  upon  the 
advancing  column  of  the  enemy  in  a  headlong  charge.  The  shook  was 
terrible ;  and  for  a  time,  as  the  conflicting  foes  met  in  hand-to-hand  fight, 
success  swayed  from  side  to  side ;  a  few  minutes  more,  and  the  enemy 
rolled  back,  repulsed  with  such  slaughter  that  they  dared  not  make  the 
attempt  again.  A  thousand  of  Steedman's  brave  troops  fell,  killed  or 
wounded,  in  that  brief  half  hour's  struggle ;  but  the  Union  troops  held  the 
gap.  Again,  however,  did  Longstreet's  corps  assay  to  force  a  passage 
through  the  main  gap,  by  breaking  the  lines  of  Thomas's  force  in  the 
centre.  Two  large  divisions  from  that  corps,  determined  npon  capturing 


640  THE   CIVIL  "VTAR  IX  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

it  came  up  to  the  assault,  and  charged  to  within  a  few  yards  of  the  Union 
battery  of  six  pieces,  which  had  been  planted  in  the  very  throat  of  the 
gorge.  They  came  too  far  to  return.  The  grape  and  canister  of  the 
battery,  delivered  at  such  short  range,  •  mowed  them  down  like  grain 
before  the  reaper's  sickle.  The  survivors  fell  back,  but  after  sunset 
rushed  forward  once  more,  when  the  Union  troops,  having  exhausted 
their  ammunition,  rushed  on  them  with  the  bayonet,  and  after  a  contest 
of  extraordinary  severity,  in  which  more  bayonet  wounds  were  given  and 
received  than  in  any  battle  of  modern  times,  they  gave  way,  and  did  not 
again  return.  In  a  final  movement  of  a  similar  character  on  the  right, 
the  Union  troops  captured  over  five  hundred  Kebel  prisoners.  The 
enemy  now  fell  back,  leaving  the  field  of  battle  in  the  possession  of 
General  Thomas ;  but  finding  that  the  ammunition,  food,  and  water  neces 
sary  for  his  men  were  exhausted,  the  general  withdrew  with  his  troops 
about  midnight  to  Rpssville,  where  they  arrived  in  good  order,  and  took 
post  toward  morning,  and  offered  the  enemy  battle  during  the  whole  of 
the  next  day,  repulsing  his  reconnoissance.  On  the  night  of  the  21st,  he 
withdrew  from  Rossville  to  Chattanooga,  which  was  now  in  such  a  state 
of  defence  as  not  to  fear  the  assaults  of  the  enemy. 

Major-General  George  H.  Thomas,  whose  resolution  and  unflinching 
tenacity  of  purpose  thus  saved  the  Union  army  from  defeat,  and  saved 
the  day  when  all  seemed  lost,  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  July  31,  1816, 
in  Southampton  county,  of  wealthy  and  respectable  parents,  of  "Welsh  and 
Huguenot  stock.  He  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but  at  the  ige  of 
twenty,  through  the  influence  of  family  friends,  received  an  appointment 
as  cadet  in  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  where  he  graduated  in 
1840,  twelfth  in  a  class  of  forty-five,  and  was  appointed  second  lieutenant 
in  the  third  artillery.  After  serving  eighteen  months  in  the  Florida  war, 
he  was  ordered'  to  the  New  Orleans  barracks,  in  January,  1842,  and  in 
June  of  the  same  year,  to  Fort  Moultrie,  Charleston  harbor.  In  Decem. 
ber  1843,  he  was  transferred  to  Fort  McHehry,  Baltimore,  and  May  17th, 
1843,  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenantcy.  In  the  spring  of  1844,  he  was 
again  ordered  to  Fort  Moultrie.  He  was  ordered  to  Corpus  Christ i,  Texas, 
in  July,  1845,  and  was  one  of  the  garrison  of  Fort  Brown  when  it  was 
besieged  by  the  Mexicans.  He  subsequently  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Monterey,  and  for  his  gallantry  there,  was  breveted  captain ;  aud  in  the 
battle  of  Buena  Yista,  for  which  he  received  the  brevet  of  major.  In 
August,  1848,  he  returned  to  Texas,  and  was,  for  six  months,  in  charge 
of  a  commissary  depot  at  Brazos  Santiago.  In  June,  1849,  he  rejoined 
his  company  at  Fort  Adams,  Newport,  E.  I.,  and  in  July  was  put  in  com 
mand  of  company  C,  and  sent  to  Florida.  There  he  remained  till  Decem 
ber,  1850,  and  for  the  next  few  months  was  in  command  at  Fort  Indepen 
dence,  Boston  harbor,  whence  he  was  assigned  to  duty  in  March,  1851,  at 
West  Point,  as  instructor  of  artillery  and  cavalry.  In  December,  1853, 


SKETCH   OF  MAJOR-GENERAL  THOMAS.  641 

he  was  promoted  to  a  full  captaincy.  In  1854  be  was  assigned  to  duty 
at  Fort  Yuma,  California,  and  in  1855,  was  appointed  junior  major  of  the 
second  cavalry.  After  a  residence  of  about  six  months  at  Jefterson  bar 
racks,  Mo.,  Major  Thomas  was  ordered  to  Texas,  where  he  was  on  duty 
from  May,  1856,  to  November,  I860,  and  three  years  of  the  time,  in  com 
mand  of  his  regiment.  He  made  extensive  explorations  of  the  country 
on  the  headwaters  of  the  Canadian  and  Red  rivers,  and  had  several  sharp 
brushes  with  the  Indians.  After  a  short  leave  of  absence,  the  second  in 
more  than  twenty  years,  he  was  ordered,  in  April  1861,  to  Carlisle  bar 
racks,  Pa.,  to  remount  his  regiment,  the  second  cavalry,  which  had  been 
dismounted  and  ordered  out  of  Texas  by  the  traitor  Twiggs.  On  the 
25th  of  April,  he  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenant-colonelcy,  and  on  the  5tb 
of  May,  appointed  colonel  of  the  fifth  U.  S.  cavalry.  In  the  same  month, 
he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  a  brigade  in  General  Patterson's  army, 
and  after  that  general  was  mustered  out,  served  in  the  same  capacity 
under  General  Banks.  On  the  17th  of  August,  1861,  he  was  appointed  a 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  on  the  26th  of  the  same  month,  or 
dered  to  report  to  Brigadier-General  Robert  Anderson,  commanding  the 
Department  of  the  Cumberland.  On  his  arrival  at  Louisville,  September 
6th,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  camp  Dick  Robinson,  in  southern 
Kentucky,  and  at  once  commenced  organizing  his  troops,  and  soon  estab 
lished  camp  Wild  Cat,  thirty  miles  SE.,  where,  on  the  26th  of  October, 
the  battle  of  Wild  Cat  was  fought  by  General  Schcepf.  He  then  made 
preparations  to  advance  into  East  Tennessee,  but  General  Buell,  who  was 
now  in  command,  ordered  him  to  Lebanon,  Ky.,  to  prepare  for  an  active 
campaign.  Early  in  January,  he  fought  the  battle  of  Mill  Spring,  in  which 
the  Rebels  were  defeated,  and  Zollicofier  killed.  This  was  the  first  of  a 
series  of  successes  in  that  region,  which  greatly  encouraged  the  Unionists. 
After  this  battle,  he  again  prepared  to  enter  East  Tennessee,  but  was  again 
recalled  to  Lebanon,  Ky.,  by  General  Buell,  and  ordered  to  inarch  thence 
with  all  speed  to  Munfordsville,  where  Buell  was  then  concentrating  his 
forces  for  an  attack  on  Bowling  Green.  Before  he  could  reach  there, 
however,  he  was  met  by  another  order  to  go  on  to  Louisville,  and  take 
steamers  to  move  his  division  to  Nashville,  which,  after  the  fall  of  Fort 
Donelson,  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Union  army.  On  his  arrival 
at  Nashville,  his  division  was  constituted,  by  General  Buell,  the  reserve 
of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  did  not  reach  Pittsburg  Landing  until 
three  days  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  On  the  25th  of  April,  1862,  he  was 
appointed  and  confirmed  major-general  of  volunteers,  and  on  the  first  of 
May,  his  division  was  transferred,  by  General  Halleck,  to  the  army  of  the 
Tennessee ;  but,  forty  days  later,  he  was  retransferred  to  the  army  of  the 
Ohio,  and  ordered  to  concentrate  his  command  at  Decherd,  Tenn.  He 
took  part  in  the  campaign  which  followed  in  the  pursuit  of  Bragg,  and 
was  second  in  command  in  the  army  of  the  Ohio,  both  before  and  after  the 
41 


642  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

battle  of  Perryville.  He  was  offered  the  command  of  the  army  of  the 
Ohio,  by  the  Government,  when  Buell  reached  Louisville,  but  declined. 
When  General  Kosecrans  took  command  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland, 
(the  new  name  given  to  the  army  of  the  Ohio)  General  Thomas  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  centre,  (the  fourteenth  army  corps,)  consisting 
then  of  five  divisions.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Stone  river,  and  it 
was  his  corps  which  stopped  the  victorious  progress  of  Bragg's  army, 
which  had  crushed  and  driven  back  Kosecrans'  right  wing;  and  his 
troops  also,  which  visited  with  such  terrible  punishment,  Breckinridge's 
audacious  assault  upon  the  left  wing.  We  have  seen  how,  against  fearful 
odds,  he  maintained  his  position  at  Chickamauga,  and  we  shall  have  occa 
sion  to  see  hereafter  how,  in  command  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  his 
troops  scaled  the  heights  of  Mission  Ridge,  and  drove  Bragg,  utterly  dis 
comfited,  over  its  farther  slope,  and  across  the  mountains  beyond  ;  how,  at 
Dalton  and  Resaca,  at  Kingston  and  New  Hope  church,  at  Kenesaw 
mountain,  at  Peach  Tree  creek  and  Decatur,  and  at  Jonesboro,  he  was 
the  sheet-anchor  of  Sherman's  army;  and  above  all  how,  at  Nashville,  he 
crushed  and  crumpled  Hood's  army,  and  finally  drove  it,  a  demoralized 
mob,  in  a  flight  of  thirteen  weary  days  of  midwinter,  across  the  Tennes 
see.  General  Thomas  did  not  command  in  person  in  any  action  subsequent 
to  the  16th  of  December,  1864;  but  his  fine  and  admirably  disciplined 
and  equipped  army  was  sent,  at  the  call  of  the  Government,  to  Wilming 
ton,  to  Salisbury,  and  to  central  Alabama  and  Georgia,  until  the  war  was 
ended.  Since  the  close  of  the  war,  he  has  commanded  the  military  divi 
sion  of  the  Tennessee,  embracing  the  Departments  of  the  Tennessee,  Ken 
tucky,  Georgia,  and  Alabama,  with  his  headquarters  at  Nashville.  After 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  he  was  promoted,  October  27th,  1863,  to  the 
command  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  at  the  same  time  made  a 
brigadier-general  in  the  regular  army ;  and  in  December,  1864,  after  the 
battle  of  Nashville,  he  was  promoted  to  be  a  major-general  in  the  regular 
army. 

The  losses  of  the  Union  army  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  were, 
killed,  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty-four ;  wounded,  nine  thousand 
two  hundred  and  sixty-two ;  missing,  four  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
forty-five;  and  in  addition  to  this,  a  loss  in  the  cavalry  of  about  one  thou 
sand,  making  in  all  sixteen  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-one.  They 
also  lost  thirty-six  guns,  twenty  caissons,  eight  thousand  four  hundred  and 
fifty  small  arms  and  five  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty -four  infantry 
accoutrements.  The  Rebel  loss,  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  stated  by 
General  Bragg,  as  killed,  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  ninety-nine; 
wounded,  fifteen  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty  ;  making  an  aggregate 
of  seventeen  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy-nine;  including  four 
general  officers  killed,  four  severely  and  four  slightly  wounded.  Besides 


PERILOUS  CONDITION    OF  THE  FEDERAL  ARMY.  C43 

these,  they  lost  two  thousand  and  three  prisoners,  taken  by  the  Union 
army. 

After  the  battle,  Generals  McCook  and  Crittenden,  the  corps  comman 
ders  who  came  into  Chattanooga,  were  relieved  of  their  commands,  and 
their  respective  corps,  the  twentieth  and  twenty- first,  consolidated  into 
the  fourth,  and  put  under  the  command  of  General  Gordon  Granger.  The 
conduct  of  these  two  generals  was  subsequently  examined  before  a  court 
of  inquiry  at  Cincinnati,  and  they  were  acquitted  of  any  intentional  mis 
conduct.  General  Crittenden  subsequently  resigned;  General  McCook 
was  ordered  to  duty  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  department,  but  neither 
general  participated  in  any  subsequent  important  action. 

Chattanooga  was  too  strong  to  be  captured  by  General  Bragg  by  as 
sault,  but  for  three  months  after  the  battle,  there  was  a  lack  of  supplies. 
In  order  to  secure  the  Union  position  in  the  city  itself,  General  Rose- 
crans  considered  it  necessary  to  relinquish  theoutpgstof  Wauhatchie,  near 
the  point  where  the  Nashville  railroad  passes  the  brow  of  Lookout  moun 
tain,  and  the  enemy  at  once  occupying  this  point,  cut  off  communication 
both  by  river  and  railroad  between  General  Rosecrans'  army  and  its  base, 
and  compelled  him  to  bring  all  his  supplies  by  wagon  trains,  across  the 
mountain,  and  down  the  Sequatchie  valley,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles,  over 
the  worst  roads  to  be  found.  The  Rebels  had  captured  also  a  part  of  one 
of  the  trains  belonging  to  the  army,  and  thus  still  further  reduced  their 
supplies.  In  October  it  was  found  necessary  to  put  the  men  upon  half 
rations,  and  one  third  rations  were  talked  of,  while  the  animals  were  dying 
daily  by  scores,  from  the  insufficiency  of  forage.  On  the  27th  of  October, 
General  Rosecrans  was  relieved  of  his  command,  and  General  Thomas 
succeeded  him,  while  General  Grant  was  appointed  commander  of  the 
grand  military  division  of  the  Mississippi,  and  made  his  headquarters  at 
Chattanooga,  to  which  point  were  now  rapidly  concentrating  troops  from 
all  quarters,  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  from  Vicksburg,  under  General 
Sherman,  .two  corps  from  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  under  General  Hooker, 
and  such  other  troops  from  other  parts  of  the  west  as  could  be  spared. 
General  Burnside  had,  as  we  have  said,  captured  Cumberland  gap,  and 
occupied  Knoxville,  and  East  Tennessee  was  again  under  the  Union  flag, 
and  its  long  tried  inhabitants  peaceful  and  happy. 


644  TIIE  CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 


CHAPTER   MIL 

SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  GRANT — HE  IS  APPOINTED  TO  TIIE  COMMAND  OF  TIIE  MILITARY  DIVISION 

OF  TIIE  MISSISSIPPI,  AND  ARRIVES  AT  CHATTANOOGA THE  CAPTURE  OF  BrtOWN's  FERRY 

MOVEMENTS  OF  HOOKER'S  COMMAND — BATTLE  OF  WAUHATCHIE — TIIE  RESULTS  GAINED 

ATTEMPTS  OF  THE  REBELS  TO  BREAK  GRANT'S  COMMUNICATIONS — BRAGG  SENDS  LONG- 
BTPEKT'S  CORPS  TO  BESIEGE  KNOXVILLE — GENERAL  GRANT'S  INSTRUCTIONS  TO  GENERAL 
BURNSIDE — FIGHTING  AND  RETREATING — LONOSTREET  ARRIVES  BEFORE  KNOXVILLE  AND 
INVESTS  IT — TOPOGRAPHY  OF  THE  CHATTANOOGA  VALLEY  AND  ITS  SURROUNDINGS — BRAGO'fl 
MESSAGE — GRANT'S  PLAN  FOR  THE  DEFEAT  OF  HIS  ARMY — THE  CAPTURE  OF  THE  REBEL 

BATTERIES  ON  BALD  KNOBS — SHERMAN'S  MOVEMENTS THE  PONTOON  BRIDGES — THE  BASTION 

TAKEN — HOOKER'S  ATTACK  ON  THE  REBEL  LEFT  WING  ON  LOOKOUT  MOUNTAIN — THE  SUR 
PRISE THE  "  BATTLE  ABOVE  THE  CLOUDS*' THE  FIGHTING  ON  THE  EAST  SIDE  OF  LOOKOUT 

EVACUATION  OF  THEIR  POSITIONS  BY  THE  REBELS — HOOKER  FOLLOWS  THEM  TO  MISSION 

RIDGE — SHERMAN'S  PERSISTENT  AND  REPEATED  ATTACKS  UPON  FORT  BUCKNER — REPULSE 

OF    HIS    ATTACKING    COLUMNS THEIR    OBJECT    GAINED,    IN    DRAWING    THE     REBEL    TROOPS 

FROM    FORT    BRAGG THE  ASSAULT  ON  TIIE  CENTRE  BY  TIIE    FOURTH    CORPS — DIFFICULTIES 

OF  THE  ATTACK CAPTURE  OF  THE  CREST  AND  FORT  BRAGG — FLIGHT  OF  TIIE  ENEMY — PUR 
SUIT  TO  RINGGOLD — FIGHT  AT  RINGGOLD  GAP SHERMAN  MARCHES  TO  KNOXVILLE  AND 

RAISES  THE  SIEGE BATTLE  OF  BEAN'S  STATION RESULTS  OF  THE  CHATTANOOGA  CAMPAIGN 

— GENERAL    GRANT'S    CONGRATULATORY    ORDER GENERAL    UALLECK's    ESTIMATE    OF    TUB 

CAMPAIGN. 

IN  one  of  the  earlier  chapters  of  the  present  work,  we  have  given  some 
account  of  the  western  general  who,  from  this  time  forward,  was  to  attract 
the  attention  of  the  nation,  and  of  intelligent  observers  of  other  nations, 
as  the  master  mind  of  the  Republic  in  its  great  struggle  against  slavery 
and  despotism ;  but  as  that  sketch  brought  him  no  farther  than  to  the 
demand  of  an  "unconditional  surrender"  at  Fort  Donelson,  it  may  be 
well  to  trace  his  subsequent  career  during  the  war.  We  havl  spoken  of 
him  as  the  master  mind  of  the  Republic,  not  for  the  brilliancy  of  his 
genius,  the  profundity  of  his  learning,  or  the  rapidity  of  his  action,  but 
because  no  character  of  our  national  history,  with  the  possible  exception 
of  Washington,  has  ever  manifested  more  thoroughly  than  he  that  thorough 
equipoise  of  the  mental  and  moral  faculties,  which  is  the  finest  attribute 
of  a  truly  great  soul.  In  some  particulars,  others  surpass  him  ;  but  none 
equal  him  in  that  admirable  balance,  never  disturbed,  never  requiring 
adjustment.  To  none  other  of  our  officers  can  be  attributed  that  patient 
persistence  which  never  gives  up  its  object;  and  though  a  dozen  or,  a 
hundred  efforts  for  its  accomplishment  have  proved  unavailing,  is  ready 
at  once  with  another,  and  if  need  be  others  still,  till  the  desired  end  is 
attained.  He  knows  no  such  word  as  fail  The  rare  unselfishness  and 
reticence  of  his  disposition  are  also  important  and  excellent  traits  in  his 
character,  and  add  to  its  attractiveness.  The  campaign  which  began  with 
Forts  Henry  and  Donelson,  had  its  culmination  at  Shiloh.  Nashville 


SKETCH  OF  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  GRANT.  645 

captured,  the  Tennessee  ascended,  Johnston  driven  from  Middle  Tennessee 
into  Mississippi,  there  were  but  few  of  the  generals  of  that  period  who 
would  not  have  regarded  the  period  as  an  auspicious  one  to  rest  awhile 
upon  the  laurels  already  gathered.  Not  so  Grant.  As  rapidly  as  possible 
were  the  regiments  organized  or  disciplined,  and  sent  to  the  new  camp, 
far  up  the  Tennessee,  within  twenty  miles  of  the  formidable  position  held 
by  Johnston.  They  were  new  recruits,  many  of  them  never  under  fire ; 
nay,  hardly  knowing  the  use  of  the  musket ;  but  there  was  the  material 
for  making  good  troops  in  them.  We  will  not  go  over  that  two  days' 
struggle  at  Shiloh,  the  attack,  the  capture  of  a  portion  of  the  Union  troops, 
and  the  forcing  back  of  others,  the  apparent  defeat,  the  sudden  rallying 
and  return  to  the  battle,  the  hard  fighting  and  decisive  victory  of  the  second 
day ;  but  this  much  we  may  say,  that  while  Ulysses  S.  Grant  was  ably 
seconded  by  some  of  his  lieutenants,  and  notably  by  General  Sherman, 
the  repulse  of  the  enemy  on  the  evening  of  the  first  day,  and  that  stern 
fighting,  which  on  the  second  day  would  have  cauL3ed  the  defeat  of  the 
enemy,  even  without  Buell's  reinforcements,  was  due  to  General  Grant 
alone.  Persistent  then  as  ever,  he  would  not  accept  defeat,  but  struggled 
on  resolutely,  till  he  had  plucked  victory  out  of  seeming  repulse.  After 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  in  October,  1862,  his  persistency  led  again  to  a 
pursuit  of  the  enemy  so  unrelenting  and  successful  that  it  formed  a  new 
epoch  in  the  history  of  the  war.  In  that  long  campaign  before  Vicksburg, 
when  one  plan  after  another  failed  of  success,  and  one  resource  after 
another  proved  futile,  he  exhibited  the  versatility  of  his  genius  and  his 
fertility  in  resources,  in  being  ready  with  one  plan  so  soon  as  another  had 
failed,  and  at  last  in  the  route  he  took  for  accomplishing  his  purpose,  in 
the  daring  which  prompted  him  to  cut  loose  from  his  base,  and  plunging 
into  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country  with  the  knowledge  that  two  hostile 
armies,  fighting  oil  their  own  soil,  were  ready  to  meet  him,  and  believed 
themselves  able  to  destroy  his  army,  and  the  consummate  skill  and  general 
ship  with  which  he  thwarted  all  their  plans,  and  defeated  their  forces,  he 
gave  the  most  decisive  proof  of  his  abilities  as  a  military  chief.  The 
siege  of  the  city,  the  various  devices  for  rendering  it  untenable,  the  self- 
possession  and  generosity  manifested  at  its  surrender,  and  the  swift  pur 
suit  of  Johnston  and  the  other  Eebel  leaders  in  the  vicinity,  fully 
warranted  the  high  encomiums  of  the  general-in -chief.  After  the  fall  of 
Vicksburg,  while  on  a  visit  to  New  Orleans,  he  was  severely  injured,  but 
on  his  recovery  was  promoted  by  the  Government,  as  we  have  seen,  to  the 
command  of  the  grand  military  division  of  the  Mississippi,  embracing  all 
the  armies  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  except  the  departments  west  of  the 
great  river.  The  appointment  was  wisely  and  worthily  conferred,  as  we 
shall  see  in  the  present  chapter.  With  great  strategic  skill,  he  managed 
to  wrest  from  Bragg's  hands  the  territory  and  the  power  for  which  he 
had  been  fighting  so  desperately  fcr  two  and  a  half  years,  planted  himself 


646  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

firmly  at  Chattanooga,  and  redeemed  Tennessee  once  for  all  from,  the 
domination  of  the  Rebels.  Called  to  a  still  higher  command,  that  of  the 
entire  armies  of  the  nation,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-general,  we  shall 
endeavor  to  show  how  resolutely,  grandly,  and  persistently  he  undertook 
the  work  of  finishing  the  Rebellion ;  how,  while  his  lieutenants  in  far 
distant  fields  were  under  his  orders  winning  fame  and  achieving  victories, 
he  had  set  to  himself  the  hardest  task  of  all,  and  adhering  to  it  with  a 
tenacity  which  has  no  parallel  in  history,  finally  exhausted  his  adversary, 
and  by  compelling  the  overthrow  of  his  citadels  and  the  capitulation  of 
his  army,  dealt  its  death-blow  to  a  war  which,  in  the  vastness  of  its  armies 
and  its  expenditure,  the  fierceness  of  the  fighting,  and  the  resolution  and 
persistence  of  its  combatants,  has  not  been  equalled  in  the  history  of  the 
race. 

On  reaching  Chattanooga,  on  the  23d  of  October,  General  Grant  found 
matters  assuming  a  gloomy  aspect.  It  was  simply  impossible  to  procure 
adequate  supplies  for  a  large  army  by  hauling  them  sixty  miles  over«the 
horrible  roads  across  the  Cumberland  and  Walden  ridges — roads  in  which 
six  miles  a  day  was  a  greater  distance  than  could  be  accomplished  by  a 
six-mule  team,  and  that  with  a  load  of  not  over  five  hundred  pounds. 
This  state  of  things  must  be  remedied  at  once.  The  plan  adopted  for 
this  purpose  by  General  Grant  evinced  alike  his  ability  and  his  practical 
good  sense.  The  Tennessee,  like  most  of  the  western  rivers,  is  very 
crooked ;  just  below  Chattanooga  it  makes  two  bends,  one  eight  miles  in 
circuit,  and  only  one  and  a  half  miles  across;  the  other,  thirty  miles  in 
circuit,  and  but  four  or  five  miles  across.  If  he  could  obtain  possession 
of  these  two  peninsulas,  the  wagon  transportation  could  be  reduced  to  ten 
miles,  supplies  being  transmitted  by  railroad  and  river  to  Shellmount  and 
Kelly's  ferry.  To  accomplish  this,  he  issued  orders,  on  the  26th  of 
October,  to  Hooker's  command  (eleventh  and  twelfth  army  corps),  which 
had  already  reached  Bridgeport,  to  move  forward  from  that  place  through 
Shellmount  to  Lookout  valley,  and  thence  to  Brown's  ferry ;  and  while 
they  were  obeying  this  order,  a  force  of  fourteen  hundred  men  from  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland,  under  the  command  of  General  Hazen,  were 
detailed  to  descend  the  river,  in  fifty-six  pontoon  boats,  to  Brown's  ferry, 
six  miles  below  the  peninsula,  carrying  with  them  the  materials  for  build 
ing  a  bridge  across  the  Tennessee.  The  movement  was  successfully 
accomplished,  though  for  three  miles  of  the  distance  the  river  was  guarded 
by  Rebel  pickets,  yet  the  night  being  dark,  they  succeeded  in  passing 
them  without  alarm,  and  on  their  arrival  at  Brown's  ferry,  were  rein 
forced  by  other  troops,  who  had  come  by  land  from  Chattanooga,  and  by 
noon  of  the  next  day  they  had  a  strong  and  substantial  bridge  erected 
and  protected  by  a  tete-du-pont.  From  this  ferry  a  good  road  extended  to 
Kelly's  ferry,  five  or  six  miles  distant,  and  loaded  wagons  could  come 
from  that  point  to  Chattanooga  in  half  a  day,  if  the  wagon-road  could  be 


THE  BATTLE  OF  WAUHATCHIE.  647 

protected  from  the  enemy.  To  effect  this  was  the  purpose  of  the  move 
ment  of  Hooker's  troops.  They  had  marched  promptly  on  receiving  the 
order  from  General  Grant,  reached  Shellmount  the  same  evening,  and 
advanced  to  Lookout  valley  the  next  morning,  encountering  some  oppo 
sition  during  the  day  from  the  enemy,  who  shelled  them  from  Lookout 
mountain, -but  without  much  effect.  On  the  night  of  the  27th,  they  en 
camped  in  Lookout  valley,  and  Geary's  division,  of  the  twelfth  corps, 
which  had  pitched  their  camp  at  a  distance  of  about  one  and  a  half 
miles  from  the  remainder  of  the  force,  on  the  road  to  Wauhatchie,  was 
attacked  about  two  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  by  Longstreet, 
who  hoped  to  surprise  them  and  capture  their  train.  General  Geary, 
however,  held  his  ground  firmly,  and  other  divisions  coming  to  his 
assistance,  Longstreet's  forces  were  defeated  with  severe  loss.  Meanwhile, 
the  eleventh  corps  captured  and  held  the  Rebel  works  on  Moccasin  Point, 
a  spur  of  Raccoon  mountain,  which  extends  across  the  broader  portion  of 
the  larger  of  the  two  peninsulas  formed  by  the  bends  of  the  Tennessee. 
This  position  not  only  commanded  the  Kelly's  ferry  road,  but  the  passage 
from  Lookout  valley  around  the  northern  slope  or  brow  of  Lookout 
mountain,  through  which  the  railroad  passes,  and  which  was  the  only 
route  by  which  the  Rebel  troops,  stationed  in  the  Lookout  valley,  or  on 
the  western  slope  of  the  mountain,  could  communicate  with  the  remainder 
of  Bragg's  army,  except  by  the  long  and  difficult  road  by  way  of 
Trenton  and  Frick's  gap,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles  or  more.  By  this 
movement,  then,  Bragg's  left  wing  was  cut  off  from  his  main  army,  and 
the  Union  army  secured  free  communication  with  their  secondary  basis, 
Stevenson  and  Bridgeport.  Steamers  commenced  plying  immediately 
between  these  points  and  Kelly's  ferry,  occasionally  extending  their  trips 
to  Chattanooga.  General  Grant  availed  himself  of  this  reopening  of  his 
communications,  to  urge  forward,  with  all  possible  despatch,  supplies  from 
Nashville  and  Louisville,  and  guarded  the  long  line  from  Louisville  to 
Chattanooga  with  great  care.  On  the  7th  of  October,  Wheeler,  the  Rebel 
cavalry  general,  who  had  attempted  to  cut  the  railroad  line  between 
Nashville  and  Stevenson,  had  been  terribly  punished  by  General  Crook, 
losing  nearly  two  thousand  of  his  men ;  and  on  the  3d  of  November,  a 
small  guerrilla  force,  under  Cooper,  which  had  attempted  a  similar  feat, 
had  been  defeated  with  very  severe  loss  by  Major  Fitzgibbon,  at  Law- 
renceburg. 

General  Sherman,  in  command  of  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  had 
essayed  to  come  by  way  of  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad,  rebuild 
ing  it  as  he  moved,  but  finding  that  he  would  be  subjected  to  constant 
delays,  he  crossed  the  Tennessee,  and  marched  by  the  north  bank  to 
Stevenson,  and  about  the  middle  of  November  the  head  of  his  column 
reached  Chattanoog'a,  though  the  entire  army  did  not  arrive  there  till 
about  the  22d  of  the  month. 


048  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

During  the  next  three  or  four  weeks,  the  two  opposing  commander? 
watched  each  other  narrowly ;  Grant  was  not  disposed  to  move  till  his 
old  command,  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  then  on  its  way,  should  arrive, 
and  he  could  accumulate  supplies  sufficient  to  make  a  campaign  prudent; 
and  Bragg,  though  having  a  sufficient  force,  shrunk  from  attempting  to 
assault  Chattanooga,  knowing  that  its  great  strength  would  render  an 
assault  perilous  and  probably  unsucceseful. 

About  the  12th  of  November,  General  Bragg  made  the  egregious  blun 
der  of  sending  Longstreet  with  twenty  thousand  men,  more  than  one 
fourth  of  his  entire  effective  force,  to  attempt  the  recapture  of  East 
Tennessee.  General  Grant  was  immediately  informed  of  this,  and  saw  in 
it  an  opportunity  to  defeat  both  Bragg  and  Longstreet.  He  therefore 
instructed  General  Burnside,  who  was  then  in  command  in  East  Tennes 
see,  to  lure  Longstreet  on,  fighting  moderately  at  each  successive  outpost, 
resisting  with  just  sufficient  strenuousness  to  secure  Longstreet's  advance, 
though  delaying  that  advance  as  far  as  he  could,  and  at  last,  falling  back 
on  Knoxville,  to  hold  the  Kebel  general  there  for  a  protracted  siege, 
when  the  army  at  Chattanooga  would  break  his  communications  with 
Bragg,  defeat  that  general,  and  then  send  a  force  to  Knoxville  sufficient 
to  compel  Longstreet  to  raise  the  siege.  General  Burnside  performed  his 
part  of  the  plan  with  admirable  skill,  paying  no  heed  to  the  denunciations 
of  the  newspapers,  at  what  they  called  his  ignominious  retreat.  On  the 
14th  of  November,  when  Longstreet  attempted  to  cross  the  Little  Tennes 
see,  Burnside  resisted  him,  and  drove  back  his  advance  about  a  mile.  He 
then  retreated  to  Marysville,  and  the  Kebels  followed.  After  a  slight 
skirmish,  Burnside  again  fell  back  to  Lenoir  station,  where  he  made  a 
stand,  as  if  intending  to  hold  the  place,  and  repulsed  three  attacks  of  the 
Kebels  on  the  15th  of  November.  The  next  morning,  he  withdrew  to 
Campbell's  station,  and  there  fought  them  from  noon  until  evening,  push 
ing  his  trains  meanwhile  into  Knoxville,  and  ordering  all  hands  to  labor 
on  the  defences  of  the  city.  After  the  battle  at  Campbell's  station,  Burn- 
side  again  fell  back,  and  after  one  more  battle,  retired  in  good  order 
within  the  fortifications  of  Knoxville,  which  had  by  this  time  made 
considerable  progress.  On  the  18th  of  November,  Longstreet  commenced 
the  investment  of  the  city,  and  Burnside  immediately  advised  General 
Grant  of  the  fact,  who  thereupon  proceeded  to  execute  his  own  portion  of 
the  programme. 

To  understand  fully  what  this  was,  we  must  describe,  in  a  few  words, 
the  topography  of  the  region  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Chattanooga. 
In  front  of  the  town,  looking  southward,  stretches  a  considerable  plain 
known  as  the  Chattanooga  valley,  broken,  however  by  two  bluffs  or  hills, 
called  the  Bald  Knobs,  or  collectively  as  Orchard  Knob.  On  the  right, 
the  steep  and  frowning  cliffs,  half  palisade,  of  Lookout  mountain,  towered 
up  above  the  clouds,  with  Rebel  batteries  high  up  on  the  western  slope, 


FYNENRS 

'*>\\ 

CHICKAMAUGA1- 


I 

BRAGG'S   MESSAGE  TO   GENERAL  GRANT.  649 

and  barricades  and  rifle-pits  at  Summertown,  while  on  the  summit,  in  a 
clear  day,  two  sixty-four  pounders  could  be  discerned.  On  Bald  Knobs, 
were  stationed  two  batteries  of  considerable  strength,  connected  with 
Lookout  mountain  on  the  west  and  Mission  Ridge  on  the  east  by  a  line 
of  rifle-pits.  Just  east  of  Chattanooga  the  Tennessee  river,  which,  at  the 
city,  flows  from  east  to  west,  turns  northward,  and  leaves  a  considerable 
open  valley,  beyond  the  northern  termination  of  Mission  Kidge,  through 
which  -the  railroads  to  Knoxville  and  Atlanta  pass.  The  ridge  proper 
terminates  at  Tunnel  hill,  but  an  isolated  knob,  or  hill,  separated  by  a 
deep  valley  from  Tunnel  hill,  forms  a  continuation  of  it  toward  the  mouth 
of  the  West  Chickamauga  river.  Over  this  isolated  hill,  the  Rebels  had 
erected  a  bastion  of  no  great  strength ;  but  on  the  brow  of  Tunnel  hill, 
was  Fort  Buckner,  a  very  strong  earth  and  timber  work  ;  and  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  below,  still  on  the  summit  of  the  ridge,  WAS..  Fort  Bragg, 
nearly  or  quite  as  strong  ;  while  still- farther  south,  and  but  a  short  distance 
above  the  old  Chickamauga  battle-ground,  was  a  third  formidable  earth 
work,  Fojt  Breckenridge.  Fort  Bragg  was  connected  with  the  batteries 
on  Orchard  Knob  by  a  line  of  rifle  pits,  and  the  three  forts,  Buckner, 
Bragg,  and  Breckinridge,  were  protected  from  approach  by  two  lines  of 
rifle-pits,  running  parallel  with  the  axis  of  the  ridge,  one  near  its  base,  the 
other  about  half-way  up  the  western  slope.  The  whole  position  was  one 
of  extraordinary  strength,  the  only  weak  point  being  the  separation  of 
the  Rebel  left  wing  from  the  remainder  of  their  force  on  Lookout  moun 
tain.  Bragg  had  probably  about  sixty-five  thousand  effective  troops  at 
this  time,  and  he  felt  so  confident  of  his  ability  to  defeat  Grant,  notwith 
standing  he  had  sent  so  large  a  contingent  to  East  Tennessee,  that  on  the 
21st  of  November,  he  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  Chattanooga  with  the  follow 
ing  message : 

"  Humanity  would  suggest  the  removal  of  all  non-combataiits  from  the 
city,  as  I  am  about  to  bombard  it. 

"BRAXTON  BRAGG,  Lieutenant- General" 

General  Grant  made  no  reply,  either  verbal  or  written,  to  this  message ; 
yet  within  four  days,  the  Rebel  general  had  received  an  answer,  which 
though  hardly  satisfactory,  was  certainly  intelligible.  Grant's  plan  con 
templated  four  distinct  movements,  yet  each  in  some  sense  depending  upon 
the  others ;  they  were,  first,  the  capture  of  the  Rebel  works  on  Orchard 
Knob,  as  the  central  point  from  which  he  could  move  in  either  direction ; 
second,  the  driving  of  the  Rebel  left  wing  from  Lookout  mountain,  cap 
turing  their  artillery  and  rifle-pits,  and  the  use  of  the  same  force  to  attack 
Fort  Breckinridge  in  rear ;  third,  a  persistent  and  resolute  demonstration 
from  the  north,  on  the  bastion  and  Fort  Buckner,  such  as  should  draw 
the  Rebel  troops  on  the  crest,  around  Fort  Bragg,  to  the  assistance  and 
support  of  the  garrison  of  Buckner;  and  lastly,  when,  by  this  demonstra- 


C50  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

tion,  Fort  Bragg  was  essentially  weakened,  then  to  hurl  upon  it  a  corps 
of  picked  troops,  and  drive  the  .Rebels  over  the  eastern  slope  of  the  moun 
tain.  The  strategical  ability  manifested  in  this  plan  was  of  the  highest 
order,  and  its  successful  accomplishment  added  new  laurels  to  the  rising 
fame  of  the  able  commander  of  the  division  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  preparations  had  been  made  for  crossing  the  Tennessee  and  West 
Chickamauga  river,  near  its  mouth,  by  pontoons,  in  order  to  attack  the 
bastion  already  mentioned  and  Fort  Buckner,  on  the  22d  and  the  morn 
ing  of  the  23d,  and  Sherman's  two  corps,  (army  of  the  Tennessee,)  except 
one  division,  were  designated  for  the  work,  but  rinding  that  the  Rebel 
army  was  in  motion,  General  Grant  deemed  it  best  to  make  his  attack, 
or  rather  a  reconnoissance  in  force;  upon  the  enemy's  centre,  first.  On 
Monday,  November  23d,  Fort  Wood,  the  only  Union  work  south  of 
Chattanooga,  opened  with  its  heavy  guns  upon  the  Rebel  line,  and 
General  Wood's  division  marched  at  a  quickstep  upon  the  enemy's  posi 
tion,  and  after  a  brief  but  severe  action,  charged  upon  their  rifle-pits, 
carried  them  with  a  rush,  taking  two  thousand  prisoners,  and  capturing 
the  two  batteries  on  Bald  Knobs.  While  Wood  was  fortifying  and 
strengthening  the  position  thus  suddenly  wrested  from  the  enemy,  Sheri 
dan's  division  was  sent  to  his  support,  and  the  eleventh  corps  captured  the 
rifle-pits  on  Citico  creek,  thus  giving  to  the  Union  army  the  command  of 
almost  the  entire  upper  Chattanooga  valley,  and  enabling  them  to  pour 
an  enfilading,  fire  into  the  Rebel  rifle-pits  and  forts  on  Mission  Ridge. 

Let  us  turn  now  for  a  moment  to  Sherman's  movements.  The  North 
Chickamauga  creek,  a  small  but  partially  navigable  stream,  flows  into 
the  Tennessee  river  about  seven  miles  above  Chattanooga;  into  this 
stream  one  hundred  and  sixteen  pontoon  boats  were  launched,  having 
been  brought  thither  by  a  concealed  road  from  Chattanooga.  Three 
miles  down  the  Tennessee,  and  just  below  the  mouth  of  the  West  Chick 
amauga  river,  which  enters  the  Tennessee  from  the  south,  a  site  had  been 
chosen  fora  pontoon  bridge,  and  an  isolated  hill  there  furnished  a  position 
for  a  formidable  tele  depont,  while  the  bend  of  the  river,  and  the  proximity 
of  the  hills  to  the  north  shore,  at  this  point,  permitted  the  planting  of 
batteries,  which  could  sweep  both  sides  of  the  river,  if  the  intended  cross 
ing  was  discovered.  At  one  A.  M.  of  the  24th  of  November,  General 
Sherman's  force  of  picked  men,  about  three  thousand  in  number,  entered 
their  pontoon  boats  and  moved  swiftly  down,  hugging  closely  the  right 
bank  of  the  Tennessee  for  three  miles;  then  crossed,  and  landed  a  small 
force  above  the  West  Chickamauga,  and  the  remainder  just  below  it. 
Having  discharged  their  living  freight,  the  boats  were  rowed  to  the  other 
shore,  whither  the  main  body  of  Sherman's  army  had  marched,  and  where 
the  bridge  material  had  been  concealed.  Two  divisions,  with  artillery, 
were  at  once  ferried  over  by  the  boats,  and  the  steamer  Dunbar,  which 
had  been  sent  up  from  Chattanooga  for  that  purpose,  and  by  noon,  a  pon- 


HOOKER'S  ATTACK  ON  LOOKOUT  MOUNTAIN.       651 

toon  bridge  across  the  Tennessee,  fourteen  hundred  feet  long,  and  another 
across  the  West  Chickamauga,  two  hundred  feet  long,  were  completed, 
and  strong  tetes  de  pont  were  erected,  covering  both  bridges.  The  main 
body  then  proceeded  to  attack  the  Rebel  position  in  the  bastion  on  the 
isolated  hill,  of  which  we  have  already  spoken.  This  was  carried  without 
much  difficulty,  the  Rebels  retreating  to  Fort  Buckaer,  on  Tunnel  hill. 
The  same  afternoon,  General  Sherman,  by  direction  of  General  Grant, 
despatched  a  strong  cavalry  force  across  the  pontoon  bridge  over  the 
West  Chickamauga  to  Cleveland,  to  destroy  the  railroad,  and  the  Rebel 
government  stores,  and  manufactories  there.  They  were  successful  in 
this  expedition,  and  thus  prevented  Bragg  and  Longstreet  from  communi 
cating  with  each  other.  The  bastion  on  the  isolated  hill,  (or  rather  hills, 
for  there  were  three,  connected  by  slight  depressions,  and  forming  almost  a 
semicircle  around  Tunnel  hill),  having  been  occupied,  and  fortified,  Sher 
man's  work  for  the  day  was  done. 

Let  us  now  see  what  Hooker  had  been  doing  during  the  day.  General 
Grant  had  assigned  to  him  the  difficult  task  of  dislodging  the  Rebel  left 
wing  from  Lookout  mountain.  The  position  on  that  mountain  was  of 
great  value  to  the  Union  army,  and  must  be  captured  at  all  hazards,  but 
it  was,  also,  as  valuable  to  the  Rebels,  and  would  undoubtedly  be  defended 
with  great  obstinacy. 

The  Rebels  occupied  the  west  side,  or  slope  of  Lookout  mountain  in 
very  strong  force,  and  also  the  front  or  spur  of  the  mountain.  As  we 
have  elsewhere  intimated,  the  descent  of  Lookout  mountain  is  not  a  reg 
ular  slope  from  its  summit  to  its  base.  The  upper  portion  of  the  moun 
tain,  after  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet  of  descent,  is  a  perpendicular  wall  of 
basalt,  like  the  palisades  on  the  Hudson,  for  some  hundreds  of  feet;  below 
this  wall,  the  descent  is  sloping,  but  rough  and  rocky.  There  are  but 
three  passes  by  which  this  wall  of  palisades  can  be  crossed,  one  near  the 
front  or  spur  of  the  mountain,  known  as. the  Summertown  road,  which 
winds  in  zig-zags  up  the  east  side  of  the  mountain,  ascending  the  palisades 
by  a  steep  declivity,  and  a  narrow,  tortuous,  and  rocky  road ;  a  second 
by  a  gap,  twenty  miles  south,  near  Trenton,  which  was  held  with  strong 
works  by  the  Rebels ;  the  third,  nearly  sixty  miles  from  the  river,  at 
Valley  Head.  General  Hooker's  intention  was  to  seize  the  Summertown 
road,  and  by  so  doing,  gain  possession  of  the  mountain. 

By  eight  o'clock,  General  Hooker's  column,  consisting  of  one  division 
of  Slocum's  corps,  one  of  Sherman's  (fourteenth  corps),  and  two  brigades 
from  the  fourth  corps,  was  moving  up  Lookout  valley,  and  to  the  sur 
prise  of  the  enemy  on  the  point  of  the  mountain,  it  disappeared  in  the 
forest  south  of  Wauhatchie,  but  supposing  he  was  intending  to  attempt  the 
ascent  of  the  mountain  by  the  pass  twenty  miles  below,  which  they  knew 
to  be  well  fortified,  they  gave  themselves  no  uneasiness  in  regard  to  his 
movements.  Soon  after  entering  the  forest,  the  Union  commander  filed 


652  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

his  troops  to  the  left,  and  commenced  the  difficult  task  of  ascending  the 
mountain.  Meeting  with  no  opposition,  except  that  of  inanimate  nature, 
he  was  able  to  reach  the  palisades  in  a  short  time.  Here  he  faced  the 
head  of  his  column  northward,  forming  them  in  line  of  battle,  with  their 
right  resting  against  the  palisades,  and  their  left  extending  down  the  slope. 
A  second  line  was  formed  from  the  two  brigades  of  the  fourth  corps,  and 
a  third,  which  was  held  in  reserve,  from  the  division  from  the  fourteenth 
corps.  Thus  arranged,  the  troops  were  ordered  forward,  with  a  heavy 
line  of  skirmishers  thrown  out,  and  marching  along  the  slope  of  the 
mountain,  soon  came  upon  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  who,  entirely  unprepared 
for  such  a  movement,  were  taken  completely  by  surprise.  Before  those 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill  could  comprehend  the  situation  of  affairs,  the  Union 
skirmishers  had  penetrated  far  toward  the  point  of  the  mountain,  and  now 
opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  the  enemy,  who  were  trying  to  escape  up  the 
hill,  while  the  Union  troops  assaulted  them  from  above.  At  the  same 
time,  the  Union  batteries  on  Moccasin  Point,  and  those  of  the  Rebels  on 
Lookout  mountain,  opened  on  each  other,  and  the  day  being  misty  and 
threatening  rain,  the  base  of  the  mountain  was  soon  enveloped  in  clouds 
of  smoke  and  fog,  and  the  battle  which  followed  was,  most  of  it,  fought 
"  above  the  clouds." 

The  Rebels  taken,  thus  in  flank  and  rear,  made  but  little  organized  resist 
ance,  but  their  skirmishers  fora  long  time  kept  up  a  heavy  but  irregular  fi  ret 
from  behind  trees  and  jutting  rocks.  They  were,  however,  finally  forced 
back  by  the  heavy  skirmish  line  under  General  Hooker,  and  the  Rebel 
force  on  the  point  of  the  mountain  gradually  gave  way,  and  fell  back  in 
some  disorder  to  the  line  of  breastworks  on  the  east  slope  of  the  moun 
tain,  at  Carlin's  house.  The  Union  troops  then  swung  around  until  their 
line  was  parallel  to  that  of  the  enemy,  and  again  advanced,  but  being  met 
by  organized  and  well  directed  resistance,  recoiled,  and  hesitated  for  a 
little  time.  Meanwhile,  the  reserves  and  the  second  line  were  gleaning  a 
large  harvest  of  prisoners,  the  movement  around  the  spur  of  the  mountain 
having  been  so  rapid  that  the  Rebel  troops  stationed  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain,  and  along  the  river,  had  had  no  time  to  escape.  Thirteen  hun 
dred  and  sixty  prisoners  were  captured  here  in  a  few  minutes,  and  most 
of  them  proved  to  have  been  paroled  unexchanged  prisoners  from  Yicks- 
burg,  who,  through  the  bad  faith  of  the  Rebel  Government,  had  been 
declared  exchanged,  without  an  equivalent,  and  put  into  the  ranks 
again. 

The  enemy  on  the  east  side  of  the  mountain  were  posted  in  strong 
ani  deep  rifle-pits,  and  behind  them,  to  the  right  of  Carlin's  house,  were 
posted  two  pieces  of  artillery.  Had  the  Rebels  had  the  force  which  had 
been  taken  prisoners  a  few  minutes  before  to  aid  them  in  maintaining  this 
line,  they  would  have  probably  been  able  to  hold  their  position  against 
Hooker's  whole  force  ;  but  after  a  careful  reconnoissance,  General  Hooker 


THE   REBELS  DRIVEN   FROM  THEIR  POSITION.  653 

became  satisfied  that  their  line  was  very  thin,  and  that  under  a  systematic 
assault  they  would  be  compelled  to  break  it  at  some  point,  and  at  once 
ordered  a  resolute  advance.  As  he  had  foreseen,  the  Rebels  were  com 
pelled  to  contract  their  line  across  the  field,  and  in  doing  so,  left  their 
right  flank  exposed.  The  struggle  which  followed  was  heavy  and  severe  J 
for  an  hour  and  a  half,  from  two  to  half-past  three  P.  M.,  the  fighting  was  very 
close,  and  almost  entirely  between  man  and  man.  The  advance  of  Hook 
er's  troops  was  stubbornly  resisted,  but  a,  little  before  four  o'clock  p.  M.,  the 
general  ascertained  that  they  had  been  compelled  from  the  lack  of  numbers 
to  contract  their  line  on  the  left  also,  and  that  some  of  his  troops  had 
effected  a  lodgement  near  their  rifle-pits.  Ordering  a  charge  of  the  whole 
line  at  double-quickstep  upon  their  left  flank,  he  soon  had  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  them  fall  back,  abandoning  their  rifle-pits,  artillery,  and  position, 
but  still  retaining  their  hold  upon  the  important  Summertown  road. 
Apparently  repenting  of  their  retreat,  the  Rebels  now  hastily  reformed, 
and  charging  upon  the  Union  lines,  sought  to  regain  their  position  before 
the  Union  troops  could  occupy  fully  their  former  position,  or  turn  the 
captured  guns  upon  them.  They  rushed  forward  at  first  with  great  vigor, 
but  were  soon  halted  by  the  terrible  fire  which  was  poured  in  upon  them. 
They  attempted  to  push  forward  again,  but  met  with  a  resolute  resistance, 
which  would  have  repulsed  them  speedily,  but  for  the  fact  that  Hooker's 
men  had  nearly  expended  their  ammunition.  General  Hooker,  anticipa 
ting  this,  had  sent  twice  for  a  further  supply,  but  owing  to  the  difficulty 
of  transportation  across  the  pontoon  bridges  in  the  rain,  it  had  failed  to 
come.  Just  at  the  opportune  moment,  however,  when  his  men  were  begin- 
ing  to  fall  out  of  the  line  for  want  of  ammunition,  a  fresh- brigade  from 
the  fourteenth  corps,  two  thousand  strong,  marched  up  the  hill,  and  rush 
ing  at  once  to  the  attack,  repulsed  the  enemy  in  ten  minutes.  The  Rebels 
now  fell  back,  but  still  kept  possession  of  the  Summertown  road. 

It  was  now  night,  but  not  content  with  what  he  had  already  gained, 
General  Hooker  pushed  forward  in  the  darkness,  and  after  an  hour's  fight 
ing,  succeeded  in  intrenching  himself  within  three  hundred  yards  of  the 
enemy's  works  on  the  Summertown  road.  Here  the  second  Ohio  regi 
ment,  Colonel  Anson  McCook's,  which  was  in  the  advance,  was  suddenly 
and  furiously  attacked  by  the  Rebel  sharpshooters,  as  they  were  throwing 
up  a  line  of  breastworks,  but  repulsed  their  assailants,  though  not  with 
out  suffering  heavy  losses.  In  the  morning,  General  Hooker  found  that 
the  Rebels  had  abandoned  their  position  on  the  Summertown  road,  and 
on  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  and  had  escaped  to  Mission  Ridge.  The 
Union  troops  took  possession  at  once  of  these  positions,  and  the  main 
body  then  moved  down  the  eastern  slope,  by  the  Hickajack  trace — the 
route  which  General  Jackson  followed  in  his  campaign  against  the 
Cherokees — and  crossing  the  Chattanooga  creek  valley,  ascended  Mission 
Ridge,  at  a  point  nearly  opposite  the  battle-field  of  Chickamauga.  From 


654  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

thence  they  moved  northward  to  Rossville,  and  to  the  summit  of  Mission 
Ridge,  coming  upon  the  rear  of  Fort  Breckinridge,  the  southernmost  of 
the  three  Rebel  works  still  held  by  the  Rebels. 

While  he  was  thus  moving  upon  the  left  flank  of  the  Rebel  army  on 
the  morning  of  the  25th  of  November,  General  Sherman  was  moving  for 
ward  to  his  allotted  work  of  making  a  strong  and  persistent  demonstration 
upon  Fort  Buckner.  Sherman  knew,  what  the  newspaper  correspondents 
did  not,  that  this  demonstration  upon  the  Rebel  fort,  though  long,  contin 
uous,  and  bloody,  was  not  expected  or  intended  to  be  pushed  to  the  point 
of  capture  ;  that  its  only  intent  was  to  make  so  strong  a  feint,  as  to  draw 
thither  a  large  portion  of  the  troops  from  Fort  Bragg,  and  thus  weaken 
that  stronghold,  which,  though  larger,  was  weaker  than  Buckner,  so  that 
it  could  be  carried  by  assault.  The  capture  of  this  central  fort  would 
inevitably  be  followed  by  the  abandonment  of  the  other  two,  which  might 
not  be  the  case  if  either  of  the  terminal  ones  were  captured.  But  Sher 
man  had  learned  fully  the  soldier's  lesson  of  obedience,  and  though  it 
might  bring  temporary  reproach,  he  did  not  hesitate  in  his  fealty  to  his 
chief. 

We  have  already  alluded  to  the  semicircular  form  of  the  hill,  or  cluster 
of  hills,  on  which  his  troops  were  posted,  and  which  enabled  him  to  send 
his  assaulting  columns  either  up  the  eastern  or  western  slope  of  Tunnel 
hill.  In  the  valley  which  lay  between  his  position  and  Tunnel  hill,  was 
a  railroad  station,  near  which  the  Rebels  had  planted  a  strong  force. 
These,  by  an  artillery  attack,  as  well  as  by  a  feint  of  attaching  them  on 
the  right,  he  drew  out  of  their  position,  and  compelled  to  fall  back  to  the 
fort  on  the  hill.  The  first  attack  on  Fort  Buckner  was  made  by  Corse's  and 
Lightburn's  brigades  of  the  fifteenth  army  corps,  upon  the  left  or  eastern 
slope  of  Tunnel  hill,  and  these  brigades  succeeded  in  reaching  the  plateau  at 
the  top  of  the  hill,  but  there  met  a  most  destructive  fire  from  the  fort,  before 
which  they  rapidly  recoiled  and  fled.  The  enemy  attempted  pursuit,  but 
the  Union  batteries  having  the  exact  range,  rained  such  a  tempest  of  shell 
upon  them,  that  they  were  compelled  to  fall  back  into  the  fort  for  shelter. 
Meanwhile,  another  brigade  was  ascending  the  western  slope  of  the  hill, 
driving  the  Rebels  from  the  outworks  into  the  fort,  and  pursuing  them 
with  a  pitiless  rain  of  musket-balls  and  shells.  The  brigades  on  the 
eastern  slope,  having  sheltered  themselves  below  the  crest,  and  Smith's 
brigade  having  been  added  to  their  ranks,  and  the  eleventh  corps 
(Howard's)  advanced  to  the  base  of  the  hill  to  support  them,  moved  for 
ward  again  to  attack  the  fort,  and  this  time  approached  slowly,  and  in 
good  order,  within  a  hundred  yards  of  it,  only  to  be  again  forced  back  by 
the  terrible  blast  of  fire  from  the  fort,  and  this  time  with  Generals  Corse 
and  Smith  among  the  wounded.  General  Lightburn  reformed  them  below 
the  crest,  and  ordered  them  to  lie  down  and  await  the  attack  of  the  enemy, 
ahould  he  venture  to  make  one.  Sherman's  batteries,  meanwhile,  and 


r 


SHERMAN'S  ATTACK   UPON   FORT  BUCKNER.  655 

Thomas's,  from  Fort  Wood  and  Orchard  Knob,  were  showering  their  shot 
and  shell  upon  Forts  Buckner  and  Bragg,  with  great  rapidity  and  effect. 

On  the  right,  another  brigade  had  moved  forward,  and  after  skirmishing 
for  some  time  with  the  enemy,  succeeded  in  gaining  possession  of  an 
abrupt  ledge  of  rocks,  which,  outcropping  from  the  hill-side,  afforded  a 
secure  position  to  an  attacking  column  at  a  point  not  more  than  fifty 
yards  from  Fort  Buckner,  which  was  near  the  crest  of  the  west  side  of  the 
hill  up  which  the  brigade  was  now  moving.  They  were  soon  after  rein 
forced  by  a  second  brigade,  which  reached  the  position  without  skirmish 
ing.  The  enemy  fearing  their  proximity,  and  finding  themselves  unable  to 
reach  them  effectually  with  musketry,  began  to  roll  down  huge  stones  from 
the  crest  of  the  mountain  upon  them.  These  novel  missiles  did  consider 
able  damage,  and  annoyed  the  men  so  much  that  they  demanded  to  be  led 
against  the  enemy,  but  were  met  by  so  terrible  a  fire  that  they  fell  back 
to  their  ledge  again  in  considerable  disorder.  Here  they  formed  again, 
and  lay  down,  waiting  an  attack  from  the  enemy. 

On  the  left,  General  Sherman  now  sent  two  more  regiments  to  reinforce 
the  troops  under  Lightburn's  command.  On  their  approach  the  brigades 
sprang  up  and  pushed  on  again  toward  the  fort,  while  the  supporting 
regiments  toiled  up,  after  them,  and  though  met  by  a  fiercer  storm  of  shot 
and  shell,  of  musket  balls,  and  as  they  approached  nearer  of  grape  and 
canister,  than  before,  they  pushed  forward,  continuing  their  slow  ascent  for 
half  an  hour  in  the  midst  of  this  terrible  fire,  dashing  forward  and  furi- 
Dusly  upon  the  guns  of  the  fort,  and  the  flash  of  their  guns  meeting  that 
of  the  enemy,  but  were  hurled  back,  maddened  with  their  failure.  Our 
brigade,  unable  to  endure  this  pitiless  blast  of  fire,  broke  and  rushed 
down  the  hill,  but  midway  in  their  flight,  an  officer  of  another  brigade 
sprang  out  in  front  of  them,  and  shouted  "HALT!"  when  instantly  they 
stopped,  wheeled  in  order  at  the  word  of  command,  and  marched  up  the 
hill  again,  as  steadily  as  if  they  had  never  faltered.  On  they  went,  sternly 
and  grandly,  drawing  down  the  visors  of  their  caps  over  their  eyes, 
as  if  to  shield  them  from  the  fearful  flame  that  was  sweeping  their  ranks 
down.  It  was  but  fifty  yards,  but  they  found  the  distance  long,  and  yet 
seemed  just  on  the  point  of  winning,  when  the  Rebel  General  Buckner, 
fearing  for  the  fate  of  the  fort,  brought  up  a  large  reinforcement  from  Fort 
Bragg,  and  coming  upon  them  at  the  double-quick,  drove  them  hastily 
back,,  though  without  disorder  or  panic.  Pushing  on  to  the  east  side  of 
the  hill,  the  Rebels  were  met  by  Lightburn's  force,  and  driven  back  to  the 
fort.  The  object  of  the  demonstration  had  been  accomplished ;  nearly 
one  half  of  the  troops  around  Fort  Bragg  had  been  drawn  by  Sherman's 
persistence,  to  Fort  Buckner,  and  while  Sherman  ordered  Lightburn  to 
intrench  and  go  into  position,  the  six  guns,  fired  at  intervals  of  two 
seconds,  the  signal  for  the  starting  of  the  fourth  corps  to  assault  Fort 
Bragg,  had  already  been  heard,  and  the  men  who,  in  their  forced  idleness 


656  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

i 

had  been  restless  as  hounds  straining  at  their  leash,  sprang  at  once  into 

position,  and  in  another  minute  were  marching  rapidly  toward  Fort 
Bragg.  The  distance  from  Orchard  Knob,  where  the  fourth  corps  had  lain. 
perdu  all  day,  to  the  base  of  Mission  Eidge,  was  a  mile  and  a  half,  a  route 
"  with  narrow  fringes  of  woods,  rough  valleys,  sweeps  of  open  fields, 
rocky  acclivities,  to  the  base  of  the  ridge,  and  no  foot  in  all  the  breadth 
withdrawn  from  Rebel  sight.  The  base  attained,  what  then?  A  heavy 
Rebel  work  packed  with  the  enemy,  rimming  it  like  a  battlement.  That 
work  carried,  and  what  then?  A  hill,  struggling  up  out  of  the  valley 
four  hundred  feet,  rained  on  by  bullets,  swept  by  shot  and  shell ;  another 
line  of  works,  and  then  up  like  a  Gothic  roof,  rough  with  rocks,  a  wreck 
with  fallen  trees,  four  hundred  more,  another  ring  of  fire  and  iron,  and 
then  the  crest,  and  then  the  enemy."  The  hill  was  one  almost  inaccessible 
to  the  tourist,  who,  struggling  upward,  panting  and  breathless,  found  its 
precipitous  sides  too  steep  for  his  climbing,  where  no  rocks,  no  steady 
blaze  of  shot  and  shell  and  minie  balls,  made  the  ascent  more  impossible; 
how  then  could  these  brave  soldiers  climb  it  with  their  muskets  and 
knapsacks,  amid  a  fire  whose  terrors  have  hardly  been  equalled  during 
the  war  ? 

They  did  not,  however,  stay  for  impossibilities.  The  mile  and  a  half 
to  the  base  was  made  in  thirty  minutes,  and  though  the  dead  and  wounded 
were  numerous,  there  were  no  stragglers.  From  six  Union  batteries, 
Forts  Wood  and  Negley,  Forts  Palmer  and  King,  Bridge's  battery  on 
Orchard  Knob,  and  the  heavy  siege  guns  on  Moccasin  Point,  a  steady 
bombardment  was  kept  up  on  Fort  Bragg,  which  replied  stoutly  so  long 
as  its  shot  could  reach  the  assaulting  column. 

The  rifle-pits  at  the  base  were  reached,  and  taken  instantly,  the  Rebel 
prisoners  streaming  out  from  the  rear  like  the  tail  of  a  kite;  and  giving 
no  further  heed  to  them,  since  the  fire  of  their  own  forts  would  drive 
them  disarmed  to  a  Union  shelter,  the  daring  troops  went  on,  up,  up,  four 
hundred  feet,  to  the  second  line  of  rifle-pits,  from  which,  with  a  suddenness 
which  would  have  been  ludicrous,  had  not  the  occasion  been  too  serious 
for  laughter,  they  jerked  the  Rebels  out  of  these  also,  and  sent  them  flying 
down  the  hill,  and  addressed  themselves  to  the  mighty  task  yet  before 
them.  Hitherto,  from  that  crest,  thirteen  batteries,  numbering  sixty  guns, 
had  poured  their  concentrated  fire  upon  the  assaulting  columns,  but  now 
the  aacent  was  so  steep  that  the  guns  could  not  be  sufficiently  depressed 
to  reach  them.  The  Rebels  did  not  believe  it  possible  for  them  to  ascend 
this  part  of  the  ridge,  but  to  make  that  more  impossible  which  they  already 
believed  to  be  completely  so,  they  directed  a  steady  and  continuous  mus 
ketry  fire  upon  them,  rolled  down  huge  rocks,  and  shells  with  lighted 
fuse  upon  them,  and  ranging  themselves  along  the  edge  of  the  crest,  pre 
pared  to  hurl  to  sudden  destruction  the  score  or  so  who  they  thought 
might  probably  gain  its  verge. 


OPERATIONS  BEFORE   KNOXVILLE.  65T 

But  the  heroes  of  the  fourth  corps  struggled  upward  amid  the  thick 
falling  leaden  hail,  the  shells,  and  the  rolling  stones,  now  steadying  them 
selves  for  a  new  effort,  by  the  limb  of  some  fallen  tree,  or  the  angle  of 
a  projecting  rock,  but  ever  upward,  upward  still,  till  at  last,  panting  with 
the  exertion,  the  edge  of  the  crest  is  reached,  and  with  a  mighty  struggle, 
the  level  is  gained.  Here  for  a  few  minutes  the  fighting  was  sharp,  for  a 
part  of  the  Rebels,  veteran  troops,  stood  at  bay,  like  gray  wolves;  but 
soou  they  began  to  fly  down  the  eastern  slope  of  the  ridge,  and  Bragg, 
Breckinridge,  and  Buckner,  spurring  their  horses  to  the  utmost,  and 
barely  escaping  capture,  pushed  down  the  mountain  to  Chickamauga  sta 
tion.  The  cannon  were  seized,  and  turned  on  the  retreating  foe,  but  it 
was  already  night,  and  further  pursuit  was  relinquished  till  morning. 
Meanwhile,  Fort  Buckner  had  been  captured  by  Palmer's  column  imme 
diately  after  the  fate  of  Fort  Bragg  was  decided ;  and  General  Hooker's 
command  had  driven  the  Rebels  out  of  Fort  Breckinridge.  Early  in  the 
morning  the  pursuit  was  resumed,  with  three  army  corps,  headed  by 
Sherman,  Hooker,  Howard,  and  Palmer,  the  first  named  in  chief  com 
mand.  They  reached  Chickamauga  station,  from  whence  the  Rebels  were 
already  retreating,  and  captured  there .  some  of  the  commissary  stores 
which  the  enemy  had  not  had  time  to  destroy;  they  overtook  them  on 
Pigeon  Ridge,  and  drove  them  thence,  routed  them  at  Grayville  where  they 
attempted  to  bivouac,  pushed  them  the  next  morning  to  and  through  Ring- 
gold,  and  into  Ringgold  gap,  a  narrow  defile  through  Taylor's  Ridge, 
where  they  made  a  stand,  and  General  Hooker  rashly  attacking  them  in 
front,  met  with  terrible  losses,  but  finally  carried  the  defile,  and  captured 
three  hundred  prisoners.  The  loss  of  Hooker's  command  here  was 
heavier  than  in  the  capture  of  Lookout  mountain. 

The  eleventh  corps,  meanwhile,  crossing  Taylor's  Ridge  by  Parker's 
gap,  below  Ringgold,  pushed  forward  to  the  Cleveland  and  Dalton  railroad, 
at  Red  Clay  station,  and  thoroughly  destroyed  the  road  for  several  miles, 
thus  preventing  the  junction  of  Longstreet  and  Bragg  by  that  route. 
They  also  captured  about  a  thousand  prisoners.  Meantime,  the  siege  of 
Knoxville  was  pressed  with  ardor  by  Longstreet ;  and  Burnside,  who  had 
had  the  misfortune,  just  before  the  siege  commenced,  to  lose,  by  the  in 
efficiency  of  the  regimental  commanders,  a  considerable  portion  of  his 
cavalry,  and  supply  trains  of  great  value,  found  himself  in  close  quarters. 
On  the  18th  of  November,  he  was  obliged  to  put  his  troops  upon  half 
rations.  The  defences  of  Knoxville,  by  almost  incredible  labor,  under  the 
superintendence  of  Colonel  Poe,  chief  engineer  of  his  staff,  had  been 
strengthened  so  as  to  be  nearly  impregnable.  A  battle  of  considerable 
severity  had  been  fought  on  the  18th  of  November,  at  Armstrong's  farm, 
in  which  General  Sanders,  a  young  Union  officer  of  much  promise,  had 
been  mortally  wounded,  and  the  Union  troops  had  lost  about  one  hundred 
42 


658  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

and  fifty  in  killed  and  wounded,  but  the  Union  force  fell  back  in  good 
order  behind  their  second  line  of  defences. 

Longstreet  was  poorly  supplied  with  artillery,  and  hence,  though  the 
investment  was  complete,  the  siege  was  not  so  severe  as  it  otherwise  might 
have  been.  Several  sorties  were  made  by  the  besieged,  and  most  of  them 
were  successful.  On  the  26th  of  November,  the  day  after  his  defeat, 
General  Bragg  sent  orders  to  General  Longstreet  to  abandon  the  siege, 
and  join  him,  but  Longstreet,  sanguine  of  capturing  Knoxville,  declined 
to  obey.  He  could  not,  probably,  have  succeeded  in  effecting  a  junction 
with  Bragg,  had  he  attempted  it,  for  the  communications  were  broken, 
and  Sherman  was  in  his  way.  On  the  evening  of  the  27th  of  November, 
General  Grant,  who  had  previously  ordered  General  Gordon  Granger, 
with  the  fourth  corps,  to  go  to  Knoxville  to  raise  the  siege,  but  had  been 
met  with  hesitation,  objections,  and  complaints,  ordered  General  Sherman 
to  take  his  own  old  corps,  (the  fifteenth,)  together  with  the  fourth  and 
eleventh,  and  making  a  forced  march,  relieve  Burnside.  The  fifteenth 
corps  might  well  have  complained  of  the  hardship,  for  they  had  marched 
with  great  rapidity  from  Vicksburg,  and  with  their  shoes  and  clothing 
badly  worn,  and  without  a  day's  rest,  had  fought  the  severe  battles  of  the 
23d  to  the  25th  of  November ;  and  now  still  without  rest,  in  winter,  amid 
snow  and  deep  mud,  with  but  a  scanty  and  ill  supplied  commissariat,  they 
were  required  to  make  a  forced  march  of  about  one  hundred  and  thirty 
miles.  But  the  fifteenth  corps  and  its  commander  were  inured  to  hard 
ship,  and  no  complaint  was  uttered  by  them.  Starting  at  early  dawn  of 
the  28th  of  November,  Sherman's  cavalry  reached  Knoxville  on  the  even 
ing  of  the  3d  of  December,  and  his  main  column  came  up  on  the  4th, 
when  Longstreet  abandoned  the  siege,  and  hastily  retreated  toward  Vir 
ginia,  but  took  a  strong  position  at  Bean's  station,  and  fortified  it,  await 
ing  an  attack.  A  sharp  fight  ensued  between  General  Shackleford,  who 
commanded  the  Union  advance,  and  the  Rebels,  though  without  any  very 
decisive  result.  Shackleford  lost  about  two  hundred  men,  and  a  part  of 
his  train,  and  Longstreet  about  eight  hundred.  The  next  day  Longstreet 
retreated  to  Rogersville,  and  remained  there  for  several  weeks,  his  men 
being  generally  barefoot,  and  unabte  to  move  on  the  rough  and  icy  roads* 
•of  that  region  during  the  winter  months.  Leaving  the  fourth  corps  at 
Knoxville  to  strengthen  the  garrison,  General  Sherman  returned  with  the 
eleventh  and  fifteenth  corps  to  Chattanooga. 

The  Union  losses  in  the  Chattanooga  campaign,  including  the  relief  of 
Knoxville,  were  seven  hundred  and  fifty-seven  killed,  four  thousand  five 
hundred  and  twenty-nine  wounded,  and  three  hundred  and  thirty  missing: 
total,  five  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixteen.  The  number  of  Rebels 
killed  and  wounded  were  above  six  thousand,  and  they  lost  beside,  six 
thousand  one  hundred  and  forty-two  prisoners  unwounded,  as  well  as  four 
thousand  wounded  prisoners,  more  than  sixty  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a 


GENERAL  HALLECK'S   ESTIMATE  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN.        659 

large  train.     At  the  close  of  this  campaign,  General  Grant  issued  the  fol 
lowing  congratulatory  order  to  the  troops  under  his  command: 

"  HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  IN  THE  FIELD, 

"CHATTANOOGA,  TENNESSEE,  December  10,  1863. 

"  GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  9. — The  general  commanding  takes  this  oppor 
tunity  of  returning  his  sincere  thanks  and  congratulations  to  the  brave 
armies  of  the  Cumberland,  the  Ohio,  the  Tennessee,  and  their  comrades 
from  the  Potomac,  for  the  recent  splendid  and  decisive  successes  achieved 
over  the  enemy.  In  a  short  time  you  have  recovered  from  him  the 
control  of  the  Tennessee  river  from  Bridgeport  to  Knoxville.  You  dis 
lodged  him  from  his  great  stronghold  upon  Lookout  mountain,  drove 
him  from  Chattanooga  valley,  wrested  from  his  determined  grasp  the 
possession  of  Mission  Ridge,  repelled  with  heavy  loss  to  him,  his  repeated 
assaults  upon  Knoxville,  forcing  him.  to  raise  the  siege  there,  driving  him 
at  all  points,  utterly  routed  and  discomfited,  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
State.  By  your  noble  heroism  and  determined  courage,  you  have  most 
effectually  defeated  the  plans  of  the  enemy  for  regaining  possession  of 
the  States  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  You  have  secured  positions  from 
which  no  rebellious  power  can  drive  or  dislodge  you.  For  all  this,  the 
general  commanding  thanks  you  collectively  and  individually.  The  loyal 
people  of  the  United  States  thank  and  bless  you.  Their  hopes  and  prayers 
for  your  success  against  this  unholy  rebellion  are  with  you  daily.  Their 
faith  in  you  will  not  be  in  vain.  Their  hopes  will  not  be  blasted.  Their 
prayers  to  Almighty  God  will  be  answered.  You  will  yet  go  to  other 
fields  of  strife ;  and  with  the  invincible  bravery  and  unflinching  loyalty 
to  justice  and  right  which  have  characterized  you  in  the  past,  you  will 
prove  that  no  enemy  can  withstand  you,  and  that  no  defences,  however 
formidable,  can  check  your  onward  march. 

"  By  order  of  Major-General  U.  S.  GRANT. 

"T.  S.  BOWERS,  A.  A.  a:1 

Of  the  battles  around  Chattanooga,  General  Halleck  said  in  his  report: 
11  Considering  the  strength  of  the  Rebel  position,  and  the  difficulty  of 
storming  his  intrenchments,  the  battle  of  Chattanooga  must  be  considered 
the  most  remarkable  in  history.  Not  only  did  the  officers  and  men  ex 
hibit  great  skill  and  daring  in  their  operations  on  the  field,  but  the 
highest  praise  is  due  to  the  commanding  general  for  his  admirable  dispo 
sitions  for  dislodging  the  enemy  from  a  position  apparently  impregnable. 
Moreover,  by  turning  his  right  flank,  and  throwing  him  back  upon  Ring- 
gold  and  Dalton,  Sherman's  forces  were  interposed  between  Bragg  and 
Longstreet,  so  as  to  prevent  an^  possibility  of  their  forming  a  junction.'1 


660  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER  LIV. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  NORTHWEST — INDIAN  TROUBLES   IN  MINNESOTA — DEATH  OF  LITTLE 

CROW — GENERAL  SIBLEY'S  EXPEDITION  AGAINST    THE  INDIANS HE  DEFEATS,   PURSUES, 

AND  ROUTES  THEM GENERAL  BULLY'S  BATTLE    AT  WHITESTONE  HILL ESCAPE  OF   THE 

INDIANS GENERAL  CONNER'S  BATTLE  WITH  THE  INDIANS — DEPARTMENT  OF  WEST  VIRGINIA 

— GENERAL  AVEFELL'S  RAID  INTO  SOUTHWESTERN  VIRGINIA — HIS  CAPTURE  AT  SALEM 

AND  DESTRUCTION  OF  COMMISSARY  AND  QUARTERMASTERS*  STORES HIS  ESCAPE  FROM  THB 

SIX  GENERALS — SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  AVERELL — OTHER  OPERATIONS  IN  WEST  VIRGINIA 

ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC LEE?S  FLANKING  MOVEMENT ITS  EXTENT — GENERAL  MEADE's 

EXCESSIVE  CAUTION THE  CAVALRY  BATTLE  AT  BRANDY  STATION GENERAL  WARREN'S 

BATTLE  WITH  HILL'S  CORPS  AT  BRISTOW  STATION HILL  REPULSED CUSTER*S  ATTACK  ON 

STUART'S  CAVALRY — LEE'S  RETURN  TO  THE  RAPID  AN — IMBODEN'S  ATTACK  ON  CHARLESTOWN, 

VIRGINIA LEE  REMOVES  TO  THE  RAPPAHANNOCK  AND  FORTIFIES  HIS  POSITION — MEADK 

DRIVES  HIM  BACK,  TAKING  OVER  TWO  THOUSAND  PRISONERS — SEDGWICK?S   ASSAULT  AT 
RAPPAHANNOCK    STATION ITS    SUCCESS THE    LEFT    WING    AT    KELLY'S    FORD    AND 

BRANDY     STATION MEADE'S    COUp-de-main HIS     PLANS     UNMASKED HIS    WITHDRAWAL 

ACROSS  THE  RAPIDAN RESULTS. 

IN  the  Department  of  the  Northwest,  the  summer  of  1863,  though  hap 
pily  unsullied  by  any  massacres  like  the  atrocious  slaughter  of  1862,  was 
not  wholly  free  from  Indian  disturbances.  Little  Crow,  the  wily  and 
daring  leader  of  the  Sioux  in  their  deeds  of  blood  in  1862,  had,  during 
the  winter,  visited  the  British  settlements,  and  endeavored  to  obtain  from 
the  authorities  there,  arms,  ammunition,  and  provisions,  in  large  quanti 
ties.  He  failed  in  this,  but  secured  from  some  of  the  traders  a  moderate 
supply  of  powder  and  fire-arms,  and  gathered,  in  May  and  the  early  part 
of  June,  a  large  force  of  Indians  at  Miniwakan,  or  Devil's  Lake,  in  Dakota 
Territory,  five  hundred  miles  northwest  from  St.  Paul.  He  had  sent  also 
in  April,  May,  and  June,  small  bands  of  Indians,  a  half  dozen  or  dozen 
together,  to  penetrate  into  Minnesota,  and  rob,  murder,  steal  horses,  and 
other  valuables.  Several  of  these  bands  had  succeeded  in  eluding  the 
frontier  guard  of  over  two  thousand  men,  which  had  been  stationed  along 
the  western  line  of  Minnesota,  and  had  succeeded  in  murdering  twenty  - 
five  or  thirty  persons,  though  full  half  the  number  of  Indians  had  met 
their  death  at  the  hands  of  the  settlers.  In  the  latter  part  of  June,  from 
some  unexplained  cause,  Little  Crow,  taking  one  of  his  sons  with  him, 
left  the  Indian  camp,  and  made  his  way  into  Minnesota  to  steal  horses. 
About  the  first  of  July,  he  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Hutchinson,  Minnesota, 
and  Mr.  Chauncy  Lampson  and  his  son,  who  were  out  hunting,  observed 
them  prowling  about,  and  evidently  bent  on  mischief.  They  were  nearly 
six  miles  from  the  town.  Mr.  Lampson  fired  upon  them,  and  the  elder 
Indian  fired  in  return,  wounding  Mr.  Lampson,  when  young  Lampson 
fired  and  instantly  killed  Little  Crow,  but  his  son  made  his  escape.  Neither 


THE  INDIAN  TROUBLES  IN  TIIE  NORTHWEST.  661 

of  the  Lampsons  had  an  idea  that  it  was  the  famous  Indian  chief  whom 
they  had  killed,  and  the  fact  was  not  known  till  nearly  a  month  later, 
when  the  boy  being  captured,  related  the  circumstances  of  his  father's 
death,  and  the  body  was  identified.  General  Pope,  who  was  in  command 
of  the  Department  of  the  Northwest,  sent  General  Sibley,  early  in  June, 
with  a  force  of  about  two  thousand  five  hundred  men,  to  Lake  Minivva- 
kan,  to  attack  the  Indians  who  had  gathered  there ;  and  ordered  General 
Sully  to  start,  about  the  same  time,  with  a  large  cavalry  force,  to  ascend 
the  Missouri  river  if  possible  as  high  as  Fort  Clark,  and  co-operate  with 
him  in  cutting  off  the  retreat  of  the  Indians.  Owing  to  several  causes 
the  two  forces  did  not  connect,  and  on  the  25th  of  July/  General  Sibley 
met  the  Indians,  who  had  abandoned  their  position  at  Lake  Miuiwakan 
and  had  marched  toward  the  Missouri  river,  and  encamped  on  the 
lofty  plateau  extending  eastward  from  the  bank  of  that  river,  known  as 
Coteau  de  la  Missouri.  General  Sibley  attacked  them  at  once,  and  fought 
and  pursued  them  for  four  days,  opening  on  them  with  his  artillery  at 
every  point  where  they  made  a  stand.  There  were  four  distinct  engage 
ments  during  these  four  days,  at  Big  Mound,  Dead  Buffalo  Lake,  Stony 
Lake,  and  the  banks  of  the  Missouri.  In  these,  sixty  or  seventy  Indians 
were  killed,  and  over  one  hundred  wounded.  General  Sibley  lost  five 
killed  and  four  wounded.  On  the  3d  of  September,  General  Sully  met 
and  defeated  a  large  Indian  force  at  Whitestone  Hill,  one  hundred  and 
thirty  miles  northeast  of  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Cheyenne.  A  part  of 
these  had  participated  in  the  previous  engagements  with  General  Sibley. 
The  battle  was  a  very  severe  one,  though  occurring  near  nightfall,  the 
Indians  fighting  with  much  greater  tenacity  than  usual  for  them.  They 
lost  several  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-six 
were  taken  prisoners.  General  Sully's  loss  was  twenty  killed  and  thirty- 
eight  wounded.  It  was  ascertained  that  in  August,  1863,  these  Indians 
had  attacked  a  Mackinaw  boat,  coming  down  the  Missouri  river,  and  after 
fighting  with  its  crew  all  day,  losing  themselves  ninety-one  killed  and 
many  wounded,  had  succeeded  in  killing  all  on  board,  about  thirty.  The 
Indians  finding  themselves  thoroughly  defeated,  fled  across  the  Missouri, 
and  a  part  of  them  took  refuge  in  Idaho  (now  Montana)  Territory.  Late 
in  the  autumn  they  were  guilty  of  some  outrages  in  that  Territory,  which 
were  summarily  punished  by  General  Conner,  who  was  in  command  in 
the  Pacific  department.  General  Conner  had,  on  the  26th  of  January,  1863, 
overtaken  at  Bear  river,  Idaho  Territory,  a  band  of  about  three  hundred 
roving  Indians,  who  had  committed  thefts  and  murders  on  the  overland 
stage  route,  and  attacking  them  with  great  fury,  had  killed  two  hundred 
and  twenty -four  out  of  the  three  hundred,  and  captured  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  of  their  horses.  His  own  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was 
sixty-three,  beside  a  considerable  number  injured  by  the  extreme  frost. 
Returning  from  this  distant  portion  of  the  continent,  let  us  pass  briefly 


662  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

in  review  some  of  the  movements  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  Virginia, 
included  within  the  not  very  definitely  determined  bounds  of  the  Depart 
ment  of  West  Virginia. 

After  Longstreet  had  relinquished  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  and  fallen 
back  on  Rogersville,  as  recorded  in  the  preceding  chapter,  it  became  de 
sirable  to  prevent  his  rejoining  Lee.  (He  could  not  make  his  way  to 
Bragg,  or  rather  to  Johnston,  who  had  succeeded  Bragg.)  Accordingly, 
General  Averell,  one  of  the  ablest  cavalry  officers  of  the  army,  was  ordered 
to  penetrate  to  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  railroad,  east  of  Longstreet's 
position,  and  by  destroying  the  railroad,  and  burning  the  commissary  and 
quartermasters'  stores  gathered  along  its  route,  prevent  Longstreet  from 
advancing  into  Virginia  by  that  route.  The  service  was  a  dangerous  one, 
for  the  Rebels  had  in  the  valleys  of  southwestern  Virginia  five  or  six  of 
their  generals,  in  command  of  small  forces,  half  guerrillas,  thoroughly 
familiar  with  the  very  difficult  country,  who  would  at  once  be  on  the  alert 
to  entrap  any  Union  force  which  might  penetrate  into  their  region.  But 
General  Averell  was  too  energetic  a  partisan  officer  to  hesitate  before  any 
such  dangers.  He  set  out  on  the  8th  of  December,  with  three  regiments 
of  mounted  infantry,  one  and  a  half  of  cavalry,  and  Ewing's  battery,  and 
on  the  16th  of  that  month  had  penetrated  to  Salem,  an  important  station 
on  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  railroad.  Here  he  broke  up  and  com 
pletely  destroyed  fifteen  miles  of  the  railroad,  burned  five  bridges,  and 
broke  down  several  culverts,  cut  and  coiled  the  telegraph  wires  for  half 
a  mile,  burned  three  depots  of  Rebel  stores,  containing  one  hundred  thou 
sand  bushels  of  corn,  fifty  thousand  bushels  of  oats,  ten  thousand  bushels 
of  wheat,  two  thousand  barrels  of  flour,  two  thousand  barrels  of  meal, 
several  cords  of  leather,  one  thousand  sacks  of  salt,  thirty -one  boxes  of 
clothing,  twenty  bales  of  cotton,  and  a  very  large  quantity  of  harness, 
shoes,  saddles,  equipments,  and  other  stores,  and  one  hundred  wagons, 
which  had  been  sent  forward  for  Longstreet's  troops.  He  was  obliged 
on  his  return  to  swim  his  command,  and  drag  his  artillery  with  ropes 
across  Grog's  creek,  seven  times  in  twenty-four  hours. 

On  his  return,  he  found  the  Rebels  of  six  separate  commands,  under 
Generals  Early,  Jones,  Fitzhugh  Lee,  Imboden,  Jackson,  and  Echols, 
arranged  in  a  line  extending  from  Staunton  to  Newport,  on  all  the  avail 
able  roads,  to  intercept  him ;  but  he  captured  a  despatch  from  General 
Jones  to  General  Early,  giving  him  his  position,  and  that  of  Jackson, 
at  Clifton  Forge,  and  marching  from  Jones's  front  to  Jackson's  by  night, 
he  crossed  the  river,  and  pressing  in  his  outposts  passed  him.  Infuriated 
at  his  escape,  the  Rebel  generals  concentrated  their  forces  in  advance  of 
him,  at  a  place  called  Callaghan's,  where  they  held  every  road  but  one, 
which  they  deemed  impracticable.  Over  that  one  he  escaped,  crossing 
the  summit  of  the  Alleghanies,  and  reached  Beverly  on  the  21st  of  De 
cember.  He  stated  in  his  report  that  his  command  had  marched,  climbed, 


SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  AVERELL.  663 

slid,  and  swam,  three  hundred  and  fifty-five  miles  in  thirteen  days.  His 
losses  were  six  drowned,  five  wounded,  and  fourteen  missing.  He  cap 
tured  and  brought  in  two  hundred  prisoners,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
horses.  The  men  suffered  much  from  cold  and  hunger,  but  endured  all 
with  great  fortitude.  The  raid  was  one  of  the  most  daring  and  successful 
of  the  war. 

Brevet  Major-General  William  W.  Averell,  the  leader  in  this  brilliant 
cavalry  exploit,  was  born  in  New  York,  about  1834,  and  received  a  good 
education  in  the  academies  of  New  York  city.  He  entered  West  Point  in 
1851,  and  graduated,  with  a  fair  standing,  in  June,  1855 ;  was  appointed 
brevet  second  lieutenant  of  cavalry,  and  assigned  to  the  mounted  rifles, 
now  third  cavalry.  On  the  1st  of  May,  1856,  he  was  promoted  to  a  full 
second  lieutenancy,  and  ordered  to  service  in  the  southwestern  territories. 
He  was  on  duty  in  New  Mexico  from  that  time  to  the  commencement  of 
the  war,  and  distinguished  himself  in  several  conflicts  with  the  Kioway 
and  Navajoe  Indians.  Returning  east  in  the  spring  of  1861,  he  was 
promoted  to  be  first  lieutenant  in  May  of  that  year,  and  received  leave 
of  absence  to  enable  him  to  take  command  of  the  third  Pennsylvania 
volunteer  cavalry.  He  joined  the  army  of  the  Potomac  with  this  regi 
ment,  and  distinguished  himself  before  Yorktown,  at  Williamsburg,  and 
at  Malvern  Hill,  and  received  the  brevets  of  captain  and  major  in  the 
regular  army  for  his  gallant  conduct.  He  was  soon  after  placed  tempo 
rarily  in  command  of  the  cavalry  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  by  General 
McClellan.  In  July,  1862,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain  in 
the  regular  army;  and,  as  acting  brigadier-general  of  cavalry,  was  active 
in  the  latter  part  of  Pope's  campaign,  and  rendered  valuable  service  in 
the  battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Antietam.  For  his  good  conduct  in 
this  campaign  he  was  made  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  his  commis 
sion  dating  from  September  20th,  1862.  He  commanded  a  brigade  of 
cavalry  during  the  operations  of  the  cavalry  under  General  Pleasonton 
in  the  autumn  and  early  winter  of  1862-3,  and  in  February,  1863,  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  one  of  the  divisions  in  Stoneman's  cavalry 
corps.  In  March,  1863,  he  engaged  the  Rebels  at  Kelly's  ford.  He  took 
part,  though  with  no  great  distinction,  in  Stoneman's  raid  in  April  and 
May,  1863,  and  was  soon  after  appointed  to  a  command  in  Western  Vir 
ginia.  The  opportunities  for  distinction  here  were  not  numerous,  but  he 
kept  the  Rebels  thoroughly  in  check.  His  first  opportunity  for  a  brilliant 
achievement  was  the  raid  we  have  described.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he 
took  part  with  General  Crook  in  a  brilliant  movement  on  the  Rebel  forces 
in  southwestern  Virginia,  from  the  Ohio  river ;  joined  Hunter  in  June,  and 
was  engaged  with  his  cavalry  in  the  subsequent  actions  of  the  Shenan- 
doah  valley ;  led  one  wing  of  Sheridan's  army  at  Winchester  and  Fisher's 
Hill ;  and  on  the  24th  of  September  was  relieved  of  his  command  in 
the  army  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  subsequently  held  no  command.  He 


664  THE  CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

had  been  promoted  to  the  brevet  rank  of  major-general  for  his  gallant 
conduct  in  the  raid  described  in  this  chapter. 

The  army  of  West  Virginia  had,  during  the  preceding  summer  and 
autumn,  several  skirmishes  and  affairs  with  the  Kebels,  which  should  per 
haps  have  received  a  passing  notice.  A  small  force,  under  Colonel 
Toland,  had  captured  the  Rebel  garrison  at  Wytheville,  West  Virginia, 
on  the  24th  of  July,  taking  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  prisoners,  two 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  seven  hundred  muskets,  and  inflicting  a  loss  of 
seventy-five  in  killed  and  wounded,  while  their  own  losses  had  been  only 
seventeen  killed  and  eighteen  wounded.  In  August,  General  Averell  had 
attacked  a  Rebel  force,  under  General  Sam  Jones,  at  Rocky  gap,  Green- 
brier  county,  and  captured  one  piece  of  artillery  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  prisoners,  killing  and  wounding,  at  the  same  time,  about  two  hun 
dred.  His  own  loss  was  one  hundred  and  thirty  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing.  On  the  llth  of  September,  the  Rebel  General  Imboden  had 
returned  the  compliment  by  attacking,  with  a  large  force,  a  small  body 
of  Union  troops  near  Moorefield,  wounding  fifteen,  and  capturing  one 
hundred  and  fifty.  On  the  5th  of  November,  General  Averell  avenged 
this  by  attacking  and  defeating  a  Rebel  force  near  Lewisburg,  capturing 
three  pieces  of  artillery,  one  hundred  prisoners,  and  a  large  number  of 
arms,  wagons,  and  carnp  equipments,  and  inflicting  a  loss  of  three  hun 
dred  in  killed  and  wounded. 

The  hostile  armies  in  eastern  Virginia,  after  the  battles  of  Gettysburg 
and  the  retreat  and  pursuit,  had  occupied  for  several  months  positions 
facing  each  other  on  the  opposite  banks  of  the  Rapidan.  The  Union 
forces  extended  along  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad,  from  the  vicin 
ity  of  Culpepper  to  the  neighborhood  of  Raccoon  ford,  and  held  possession, 
also,  of  Thoroughfare  mountain,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Rapidan,  which 
they  occcupied  as  a  signal  station.  The  Rebel  forces  occupied  the  south 
bank  of  the  Rapidan,  and  the  wooded  country  back  of  it,  from  Germania 
ford  to  United  States  ford,  having  their  headquarters  at  Chancellorsville. 

The  Rebels  had  the  advantage  of  the  Union  army,  in  being  better  able 
to  conceal  their  movements ;  the  high,  steep,  and  wooded  southern  bank 
of  the  Rapidan  hiding  from  view  their  evolutions  in  rear,  while  they 
could  easily  overlook  the  changes  in  position  of  the  Union  army. 

Both  armies,  as  we  have  seen,  had  sent  large  contingents,  not  less  than 
twenty  thousand  men  each,  to  reinforce  their  respective  armies  near 
Chattanooga ;  but  the  Union  army  was  now  considerably  the  larger  of 
the  two.  General  Meade  had  been  for  some  time  maturing  the  details  of 
a  movement  to  compel  Lee  to  relinquish  the  strong  position  which  he 
held,  when  he  found  that  his  antagonist  had  anticipated  him,  and  was 
already  executing  a  flank  movement  which  would  compel  him  to  fall  back 
to  the  vicinity  of  Manassas  Junction. 

The  motive  which  led  General  Lee  to  attempt  this  piece  of  strategy  is 


FLANKING   MOVEMENT   OF   LEE'S   ARMY.  665 

somewhat  obscure.  The  most  probable  explanation  is  that  which  sup 
poses  that  his  object  was  to  so  thoroughly  cripple  the  Union  army,  and 
destroy  its  communications  with  its  base,  that  it  would  not  be  able  to 
threaten  Richmond,  or  molest  him,  should  he  find  it  necessary  to  send 
further  reinforcements  to  Bragg.  If  this  was  his  object  he  did  not  accom 
plish  it,  and  his  effort  was  a  costly  failure. 

The  Rebel  advance  was  made  with  great  caution  and  secrecy,  the  object 
of  Lee  being  to  move  behind  the  high  bank  of  the  Rapidan,  and  while 
deceiving  the  Union  army  by  maintaining  a  strong  picket-line,  and  the 
usual  number  of  camp-fires  in  their  front,  to  pass  westward  beyond  Orange 
Court  House,  to  and  beyond  Burnett's  ford,  and  crossing  the  Rapidan  in 
that  vicinity,  move  northward  to  Madison  Court  House,  Sperryville,  and 
Little  Washington ;  then  marching  rapidly  eastward  from  that  point,  to 
strike  the  Union  army  on  its  right  flank,  and  if  possible  pass  to  its  rear, 
and  cut  off  its  communications  with  the  capital, 

On  the  8th  of  October,  Heth's  and  Anderson's  divisions,  of  A.  P.  Hill's 
corps,  were  moved  beyond  Orange  Court  House  by  this  route,  and  the 
remainder  of  that  corps  followed  the  next  morning;  while  Ewell's  corps, 
which  had  previously  been  moved  by  a  road  farther  south,  joined  it,  and 
both  marched,  on  the  9th,  directly  for  Madison  Court  House. 

But  stealthy  and  secret  as  these  movements  had  been,  the  Union  signal 
officers  on  Thoroughfare  mountain  had  observed  them,  and  telegraphed, 
on  the  9th,  that  two  immense  columns  of  Rebel  troops  were  moving  on 
the  Orange  and  Gordonsville  roads,  and  threatened  to  flank  the  right 
wing  of  the  Union  army.  General  Meade,  satisfied  that  in  case  of  danger 
he  had  the  interior  line,  and  could  outmarch  the  foe,  devoted  Saturday, 
October  10th,  to  cavalry  reconnoissances,  to  ascertain  whether  it  was  any 
thing  more  than  a  cavalry  raid,  and  by  a  vigorous  demonstration  upon 
the  Rebel  lines,  sought  to  compel  them  to  recall  a  part,  at  least,  of  their 
troops  which  had  already  crossed  the  Rapidan.  Kilpatrick,  with  his 
division  of  cavalry,  skirmished  with  and  threatened  them  at  James  City, 
near  Robertson's  river,  and  fell  back  very  slowly  toward  Culpepper  when 
pursued  by  the  enemy,  thus  obstructing  their  progress.  The  first  and 
sixth  corps,  with  two  divisions  from  the  other  corps,  moved  toward  the 
Rapidan,  demonstrated  at  all  the  fords,  as  if  intending  to  cross  imme 
diately,  while  Buford,  with  his  cavalry  division,  hovered  around  the  Union 
right  wing  at  Germania  ford.  The  Rebels  were  thus  cc-mpelled  to  recall 
Ewell's  corps  to  the  south  of  the  Rapidan.  Meanwhile,  Meade  had  des 
patched  his  trains,  under  Pleasonton's  escort,  across  the  Rappahannock, 
covering  their  movement  by  the  second  and  third  corps,  which  were  ordered 
to  support  Kilpatrick,  and  were  in  position  between  the  enemy  and  Cul- 
pepper.  Gregg's  division  of  cavalry  came  up,  by  forced  marches,  on 
Saturday  and  on  the  evening  of  that  day,  Meade  had  .a  powerful  cavalry 


66C  THE    CIVIL   WAR   IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

force,  commanded  by  gallant  and  able  officers,  in  a  position  to  fight  the 
enemy  effectively. 

At  two  A.  M.  Sunday  morning,  October  llth,  the  entire  infantry  force 
of  five  corps  commenced  falling  back  to  the  Rappahannock;  the  first  and 
sixth  moving  from  the  Rapidan,  the  second  and  third  coining  from  their 
position  west  of  Culpepper,  and  the  fifth  bringing  up  the  rear.  Gregg  and 
Kilpatrick  covered  their  retreat,  hovering  on  each  wing,  while  Buford  re 
mained  near  Germania  ford  to  delay  the  passage  of  the  Rebels.  Gregg, 
whose  route  lay  east  of  that  of  the  army,  met  with  no  enemy  on  his  line 
of  march,  but  Kilpatrick  was  pressed  closely  by  the  Rebel  cavalry  under 
General  Stuart,  who  annoyed  him  continually,  during  the  morning,  by  his 
well  directed  fire.  Having  crossed  Mountain  Run  about  noon,  he  sup 
posed  himself  free  from  further  annoyance,  and  hearing  heavy  firing  in 
the  direction  of  Germania  ford,  he  sent  some  of  his  staff  to  open  communi 
cation  with  Buford,  who,  he  feared,  was  struggling  with  a  superior  force, 
His  messengers  returned,  reporting  Buford  as  doing  well,  and  that  a 
junction  of  the  cavalry  and  infantry  was  to  be  effected  before  night  at 
Brandy  station.  Thither  he  marched  leisurely  with  his  force,  anticipating 
no  further  opposition ;  but  on  reaching  the  hill  south  of  the  station,  he 
discovered  that  a  division  or  more  of  the  Rebel  cavalry  had  slipped  in  be 
tween  him  and  Buford,  and  were  now  strongly  posted,  and  awaiting  his 
approach,  while  other  divisions  were  gathering  on  his  flanks  and  rear. 
They  were  drawn  up  across  the  road  in  companies,  twelve  platoons  deep 
with  supporting  regiments  on  either  side.  Nothing  daunted,  he  formec 
his  men  in  three  columns  for  a  charge,  and  placing  himself  at  their  head 
charged  upon  the  enemy  with  the  utmost  fury,  shooting,  sabreing,  and 
trampling  them  down.  Unable  to  stand  before  such  an  assault,  the  Rebels 
gave  way  in  terror,  and  Kilpatrick's  men  passed  through  with  but  small 
loss,  though  they  had  inflicted  a  heavy  one  upon'the  enemy,  and  reached 
Buford's  troops  on  the  hill  beyond.  '  The  Rebels,  mortified  that  they  had 
suffered  their  prey  to  escape  them  so  easily,  formed  again  instantly,  and 
attacked  the  Union  cavalry,  but  they  were  outmatched,  and  after  a  despe- 
eate  fight,  lasting  till  long  after  nightfall,  the  foe,  tired  and  exhausted  by 
his  efforts,  which  all  ended  in  his  repulse,  fell  back  sullenly,  and  ceased 
his  attacks ;  while  the  Union  troops,  gathering  up  their  dead  and  wounded, 
withdrew  quietly  across  the  Rappahannock,  whither  the  infantry  had 
preceded  them. 

On  Monday,  General  Meade,  still  in  doubt  as  to  the  extent  of  the  Rebel 
movement,  with  a  hesitation  which  had  well  nigh  proved  fatal  to  his  army, 
determined  to  send  the  second,  third,  and  sixth  corps,  who  had  already 
crossed  the  Rappahannock,  back  to  Brandy  station,  on  a  reconnoissance 
in  force ;  and  sent  also,  two  or  three  regiments  to  Jeffersonton  and  Little 
Washington,  to  observe  the  position  of  the  enemy  in  that  direction.  These 
regiments  met  the  enemy  in  greatly  superior  force,  and  were  surrounded, 


MOVEMENTS   OF  THE   UNION   AND   REBEL  ARMIES.          667 

but  cut  their  way  through  and  escaped,  though  not  without  heavy  loss. 
The  three  corps  found  also,  that  the  Rebels  were  moving  in  great  force 
west  of  them,  and  the  only  result  of  this  delay  was  to  give  the  enemy  the 
advantage  of  a  day  or  more  in  his  flanking  movement. 

Satisfied,  at  last,  that  Lee  was  moving  his  entire  army  in  this  effort  to 
flank  him,  General  Meade  now  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  to  prevent 
the  Rebel  general  from  accomplishing  his  object.  The  Rebels  were  mov 
ing  from  Madison  Court  House  in  two  columns,  toward  Warrenton ;  one 
by  way  of  Culpepper,  the  other  by  way  of  Sperryville.  E well's  column, 
the  right,  passed  through  Warrenton  on  the  night  of  the  13th  of  October. 
Meade's  army,  on  the  night  of  the  12th,  was  posted  as  follows :  The  first 
corps,  at  Kelly's  ford ;  the  second,  fifth,  and  sixth,  near  Brandy  station ; 
the  third,  at  Freeman's  ford  ;  Buford's  cavalry,  at  Brandy  station  ;  Gregg's, 
at  Fayetteville ;  Kilpatrick's,  near  Hartwood ;  and  Pleasonton's,  with  the 
trains,  toward  Bristow  station.  The  actual  distance  to  be  passed  over  in  a 
direct  line  by  the  Rebels,  to  reach  the  heights  around  Centreville,  was 
considerably  less  than  that  to  be  traversed  by  the  Union  troops,  but  they 
were  necessitated  to  use  by-roads,  and  those  which  impeded  their  march. 
The  race  was,  however,  very  close  and  exciting,  and  the  more  so,  from 
the  fact  that  neither  army  could  ascertain  what  progress  the  other  had 
made.  Lee,  finding  that  General  Meade  was  fully  informed  of  his  move 
ments,  and  ready  to  meet  them,  changed  his  tactics,  and  sent  Hill's  corps, 
in  light  marching  order,  to  gain,  by  forced  marches,  the  heights  of  Centre- 
vine  in  advance  of  the  Union  army,  while  E  well's  corps  should  harass 
their  flank  and  rear. 

The  marching  on  both  sides  was  rapid  and  resolute,  and  in  the  space 
passed  by  infantry  troops  in  two  days,  has  been  rarely  equalled;  but  the 
Union  army  won.  On  Wednesday  morning,  October  14th,  Meade's  entire 
army  crossed  Cedar  Run  at  Auburn,  the  second  corps  (Warren's)  bringing  up 
the  rear  and  protecting  the  corps  trains.  At  this  point,  EwelFs  advance 
approached,  and  commenced  annoying  Warren's  rear,  and  from  this  point 
to  Bristow  station,  his  rear-guard  was  constantly  skirmishing  with  Ewell, 
and  by  various  tactical  manoeuvres,  delaying  his  progress.  At  noon,  War 
ren  passed  Catlett's  station,  and  at  forty -five  minutes  past  two,  entered  the 
village  of  Bristow  station,  seven  miles  distant.  Here  he  found  Hill's  corps 
drawn  up  in  line  of  battle.  Hill  had  crossed  from  Greenwich  to  Bristow, 
believing  that  he  should  strike  the  head  of  Meade's  army,  but  all  had 
passed  save  the  rear  corps. 

General  Hill  was  familiar  with  the  ground  at  Bristow  station,  but,  by  a 
strange  oversight,  he  had  formed  his  troops  in  a  column  perpendicular  to 
the  railroad,  and  had  not  taken  possession  of  the  railroad  cut  and  embank 
ment.  General  Warren,  coming  up  on  the  quickstep,  and  being  saluted 
as  he  approached,  by  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy,  comprehended  the  po 
sition  at  a  glance,  saw  Hill's  blunder,  and  jumping  his  men  into  these 


668  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

ready  made  breastworks,  poured  almost  instantly  a  terrible  musketry  fire 
into  the  advancing  column  of  the  enemy,  which  sent  them  back  in  disor 
der  and  confusion.  While  they  were  rallying  for  another  advance,  he  had 
brought  his  artillery  up,  planted  it,  and  charging  it  heavily  with  grape 
and  canister,  was  ready  for  them,  as  they  came  up  a  second  time  with  their 
forces  strongly  massed,  and  ploughed  great  furrows  in  their  columns. 
They  rallied  again  and  again,  and  sought  to  break  his  lines,  but  in  vain, 
and  after  five  hours  of  hard  fighting,  they  retreated,  leaving  six  guns  on 
the  field  (the  corps'  best  battery),  and  having  lost  over  five  hundred  in 
killed  and  wounded,  and  four  hundred  prisoners.  Hill  fell  back  to  Cat- 
lett's  station,  and  there  joined  Ewell.  Warren,  during  the  night,  moved 
forward  quietly,  and  joined  the  remainder  of  the  army  on  the  heights  of 
Centreville,  leaving  Lee's  army  at  Catlett's  station.  The  Union  army 
formed  in  line  of  battle  on  Thursday  morning,  and  awaited  an  attack  from 
the  enemy;  but  Lee  was  too  shrewd  to  hurl  his  forces  against  those  strong 
works,  especially  when  nothing  could  be  gained  by  it ;  for  Meade's  posi 
tion  could  not  be  effectually  flanked,  and  Lee  had  no  troops  to  sacrifice  in 
an  attack  which  could  only  result  in  a  disastrous  repulse.  He  remained, 
however,  in  the  vicinity  of  Bristow  station  till  the  18th,  his  men,  mean 
while,  destroying  the  railroad  from  Cub  Eun  to  the  Rappahannock,  and 
making  reconnoissances  around  the  Union  position.  On  the  18th,  he 
gave  orders  for  the  infantry  to  move  southward  to  the  Rappahannock. 

The  Rebel  cavalry,  under  command  of  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  formed 
the  rear-guard  of  Lee's  army,  and  did  not  move  until  the  19th.  On  the 
morning  of  that  day,  Custer's  brigade  of  Union  cavalry  attacked  them, 
and  drove  them  from  Gainesville  to  Buckland's  mills,  where,  after  a  sharp 
fight,  he  turned  Stuart's  right  flank,  and  drove  him  across  Broad  Run  to 
Greenwich,  where  the  Rebel  infantry  were  overtaken,  and  came  to  Stu 
art's  support.  Custer  fought  another  desperate  battle,  inflicting  severe 
losses  on  the  enemy,  and  then  withdrew  to  the  north  bank  of  Broad  Run, 
the  Rebels  making  no  attempt  to  pursue  beyond  the  south  bank.  In  the 
retreating  movement,  the  Rebels  intercepted  and  cut  off"  a  part  of  one  regi 
ment,  capturing  nearly  two  hundred  prisoners.  But  for  this  misfortune, 
Custer's  losses,  in  a  protracted  battle  against  such  heavy  odds,  would  have 
been  light. 

On  the  21st  of  October,  Lee  had  returned  with  his  army  to  his  old  quar 
ters  south  of  the  Rapidan.  The  Rebels  had  captured,  in  this  expedition, 
nearly  two  thousand  prisoners,  but  their  own  losses,  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  prisoners,  were  fully  as  many,  and  they  had  lost,  also,  their  best  bat 
tery.  They  had,  indeed,  destroyed  the  railroad  for  twenty-six  miles,  but, 
with  the  abundant  material  and  facilities  possessed  for  replacing  it  by  the 
Union  army,  it  would  be  rebuilt  in  a  few  days.  It  was,  in  fact,  restored 
almost  completely  in  seventeen  days. 

General  Lee  had  ordered  General  Imboden,  who  was  in  com  maud  of 


SEDGWICK'S  ASSAULT  ON   RAPPAHANNOCK  STATION.       669 

the  Rebel  forces  near  the  Potomac  river,  to  make  an  attack  simultaneously 
with  his  own,  upon  the  Union  troops  near  the  Potomac.  Accordingly, 
on  the  18th  of  October,  he  marched  suddenly  and  rapidly  upon  Charles- 
town,  Va.,  and  surprised  and  captured  the  Union  garrison,  taking  four 
hundred  and  thirty-four  prisoners,  and  though  pursued  by  a  Union  force 
from  Harper's  Ferry,  he  managed  to  reach  Front  Royal  with  his  prisoners, 
without  serious  loss. 

As  we  have  said,  Lee  at  first  returned  to  his  old  quarters  on  the  south 
bank  of  the  Rapidan,  but  he  presently  broke  up  his  camp  there,  and 
advanced  to  the  Rappahannock,  occupying  the  south  bank,  from  Rappa- 
hannock  station  to  Kelly's  ford,  while  at  the  former  point,  he  established 
his  camp  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  and  protected  it  by  a  strong  fort,  two 
redoubts,  and  lines  of  rifle-pits.  He  evidently  intended  to  make  this  po 
sition  his  winter  quarters ;  but  General  Meade  had  no  intention  of  being 
thus  pushed  back,  and  on  the  7th  of  November,  the  railroad  being  nearly 
repaired,  he  moved  from  Cedar  Run,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  his  troops 
had  been  encamped,  to  regain  possession  of  the  line  of  the  Rappahannock. 
The  sixth  corps,  forming  the  Union  right  wing,  marched  from  Warren- 
ton  toward  Rappahannock  station ;  the  second,  third,  and  fifth  corps, 
forming  the  centre,  moved  from  Warrenton  Junction  to  Bealeton,  whence 
the  fifth  turned  its  course  to  join  the  sixth  corps,  and  the  second  and 
third  directed  their  march  to  Kelly's  ford,  whither  also  the  first  corps, 
forming  the  left  wing,  had  marched.  Moving  rapidly,  and  throwing  out 
heavy  lines  of  skirmishers  and  sharpshooters,  the  first,  second,  and  third 
corps,  the  latter  in  advance,  approached  the  river,  drove  the  Rebel 
pickets  before  them,  occupied  the  line  of  hills  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
river  with  their  batteries,  and  under  cover  of  these,  which  swept  the  plains 
on  the  south  bank,  laid  their  pontoons,  and  an  attacking  party  crossing, 
at  the  double-quickstep,  charged  the  rifle-pits,  and  captured  over  four  hun 
dred  prisoners. 

The  fifth  and  sixth  corps  had  a  more  difficult  task  before  them.  Tne 
fort,  redoubts,  and  rifle-pits  on  the  north  side  of  the  Rappahannock,  at 
the  station,  were  held  by  about  two  thousand  men  of  Early's  division, 
E well's  corps.  By  a  series  of  brilliant  and  determined  movements,  the 
sixth  corps  succeeded  in  obtaining  possession  of  commanding  positions  in 
rear  of  the  fort  in  the  morning,  and  planting  heavy  batteries  on  these, 
bombarded  it  through  the  day,  and  just  before  dark,  General  Sedgwick 
formed  a  storming  column  of  two  brigades,  which  carried  the  fort  by  as 
sault,  capturing  over  fifteen  hundred  prisoners,  four  guns,  and  eight  battle- 
flags.  The  Union  loss  in  the  sixth  corps  was  about  three  hundred  killed 
and  wounded.  The  fifth  and  sixth  corps,  having  crossed  the  river,  secured 
the  country  as  far  as  Stevensburg,  about  midway  between  the  two  rivers, 
the  Rebels  everywhere  retreating  before  them.  The  first,  second,  and 
third  corps  moved  on  toward  Brandy  station,  and  two  miles  east  of  that 


670  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

point,  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  were  confronted  by  a  strong  Rebel  force 
of  cavalry  and  light  artillery,  with  whom  they  skirmished  all  day,  but 
finally  succeeded  in  driving  them  two  miles  beyond  the  station.  The 
Rebels,  by  the  morning  of  the  9th,  had  all  retreated  beyond  the  Eapidan, 
and  as  General  Meade  ascertained,  occupied  a  strong  position  on  the  south 
bank  of  the  Rapidan,  a  little  west  of  their  former  camp,  and  were  dili 
gently  employed  in  fortifying  it.  They  had  left  their  camp  near  the  Rap- 
pahannock  in  such  haste,  that  they  had  not  destroyed  the  railroad  which 
they  had  repaired,  or  the  new  station-house,  platform,  etc.,  which  they 
had  built  at  Brandy  station.  While  General  Meade  was  waiting  for  the 
connection  of  the  railroad  to  Brandy  station,  and  the  bringing  up  of  such 
supplies  as  were  necessary,  he  had  a  careful  reconnoissance  made  of  the 
enemy's  position,  and  the  extent  to  which  the  lower  fords  of  the  Rapidan 
were  guarded.  He  ascertained  that  Swell's  corps  occupied  a  line  running 
nearly  south  from  the  Rapidan  toward  Orange  Court  House.  His  front 
on  the  Rapidan  was  impregnable,  consisting  of  a  succession  of  ridges, 
commanding  every  foot  of  the  north  bank  of  the  river  opposite,  which  at 
that  point  was  low  and  flat.  This  naturally  strong  position  had  been 
greatly  strengthened  by  extensive,  and  elaborate  fortifications.  Hill's 
corps  were  at,  and  below  Orange  Court  House,  extending  eastward  on  the 
Orange  and  Fredericksburg  plank  road,  and  separated  by  an  interval  of 
several  miles  from  E well's  corps.  The  lower  fords  of  the  Rapidan  were 
either  left  unguarded,  or  were  held  only  by  a  small  picket  force. 

Having  ascertained  these  facts,  General  Meade  determined  upon  a  coup 
de  main,  by  which  he  hoped  to  divide,  and  conquer  in  detail,  Lee's  army. 
His  plan  was  to  cut  loose  from  his  base  of  supplies,  taking  ten  day's  rations 
for  his  men,  cross  the  Rapidan  at  the  lower  fords,  and  marching  in  the 
direction  of  Old  Yerdiersville,  on  a  road  midway  between  the  Orange  and 
Fredericksburg  plank  road,  and  the  Rapidan,  moving  with  great  rapidity, 
to  throw  his  entire  force  between  Ewell  and  Hill,  and  from  the  ridges 
west  of  Mine  Run,  a  position  of  rare  strength,  attack  first  one  and  then  the 
other.  In  order  to  accomplish  this,  however,  the  elements  of  time  and 
space  must  be  taken  into  account.  The  work  was  to  be  accomplished 
rapidly  and  simultaneously,  every  corps  reaching  its  specified  position  by 
a  given  hour.  The  distance  to  be  traversed  by  each  corps  to  reach  Old 
Verdiersville,  the  place  of  rendezvous,  varied  from  twenty  to  twenty-five 
miles.  General  Meade  reasonably  calculated  that  each  of  the  corps  com 
manders  could  bring  their  corps  over  this  distance  in  thirty  hours.  The 
advance  was  begun  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  November;  he  ex 
pected  them  to  reach  the  designated  point  on  the  evening  of  the  27th. 
But  this  was  not  accomplished.  On  the  morning  of  the  27th  the  army 
were  only  just  across  the  Rapidan,  not  more  than  half  the  distance,  though 
twenty-four  hours  had  passed.  Orders  were  now  given  to  push  forward 
with  greater  rapidity.  Early  in  the  afternoon,  General  Warren's  second 


ABORTIVE  MOVEMENT  OF  GENERAL  MEADE.  671 

corps  came  up  with  the  enemy,  and  began  developing  his  strength  by  a 
brisk  skirmish,  but  was  ordered  not  to  make  a  serious  attack  until  the 
third— French's — corps  should  come  up.  This  corps,  however,  did  not 
come  up,  having  been  delayed  by  various  difficulties,  the  most  serious  of 
which  was,  that  it  took  the  wrong  road,  and  was  brought  face  to  face  with 
Johnson's  division  of  Ewell's  corps,  which  held  it  in  check,  and  de 
layed  its  progress.  But  this  mishap  was  more  serious  in  its  consequences 
than  merely  delaying  the  march  of  the  corps,  for  it  revealed  to  Ewell 
the  entire  movement  of  Meade,  and  led  him  to  plant  his  entire  force  across 
the  turnpike,  and  thus  prevent  Warren's  advance,  and  while  holding 
Warren  in  check,  to  bring  Hill  up  to  close  the  gap  between  them. 

His  plan  thus  unmasked  to  the  enemy,  and  completely  thwarted  by 
being  thus  prematurely  disclosed,  General  Meade  could  only  order  up 
other  corps  to  the  support  of  Warren,  in  the  hope  that  he  might  yet  be 
able  to  force  Ewell  back,  and  gain  the  position  which  he  coveted,  and  from 
which  he  might  have  fought  Lee's  army  with  strong  hope  of  decisive 
victory.  The  first — Newton's — corps  was  ordered  up,  but  did  not  reach 
him  before  dark.  The  sixth — Sedgwick's — corps  arrived  about  the  same 
time,  and  was  posted  on  Warren's  right,  but  they  could  not  fight  well  in 
the  darkness,  where  the  country  was  entirely  unknown  to  them,  and  they 
were  compelled  to  wait  until  morning,  with  the  certainty  that  before  that 
time  Hill  would  have  joined  Ewell.  In  the  morning,  General  Meade  found 
the  enemy  occupying  the  very  position  he  had  striven  to  gain,  their  line 
formed  on  a  series  of  ridges,  with  enfilading  positions  for  batteries,  while 
in  front  stretched  the  marsh  of  Mine  Run,  and  the  enemy  had  added  forti 
fications  to  the  natural  strength  of  the  position.  To  attempt  to  assail  this 
in  front,  was  simply  suicidal,  for  while  floundering  through  the  marsh, 
every  soldier  would  have  been  destroyed  by  the  concentrated  fire  of  the 
enemy's  batteries.  Saturday,  and  a  part  of  Sunday,  were  spent  in  a  care 
ful  reconnoissance  of  the  enemy's  position ;  General  Warren  had  exam 
ined  carefully  the  enemy's  right,  and  reported  confidently  his  ability  to 
carry  it.  It  was  determined  to  make  the  assault  on  Monday  morning,  and 
to  ensure  the  success  of  his  attack,  two  divisions  of  the  third,  and  one  of 
the  sixth  corps,  were  ordered  to  report  to  hi**>  During  the  night  of  the  29th, 
General  Warren  again  examined  the  poe^jon,  with  still  greater  care,  and 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  could  not  be  carried  without  an  immense 
sacrifice  of  life.  This  conclusion  he  reported  to  General  Meade,  who  then 
resolved  to  postpone  the  attack.  Under  the  circumstances,  to  postpone 
it,  was  to  abandon  it.  His  ten  day's  rations  were  nearly  exhausted,  and  a 
single  day's  rain  would  place  the  army  in  a  perilous  position.  The  com 
mander,  therefore,  reluctantly,  but  of  necessity,  marched  his  army  back 
in  safety  across  the  Rapidan,  to  their  former  position.  The  losses  of  the 
army  of  the  Potomac,  in  this  unfortunate  movement,  were  sixty  killed, 
and  five  hundred  and  forty  wounded  and  missing. 


612  THE.CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 


CHAPTER   LV. 

THE  "  ANACONDA"  POLICY — REASONS  WHY  IT  COULD  NOT  SUCCEED  IN  CRUSHING  THE  REBEL 
LION DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  GULF — THE  OCCUPATION  OF  TEXAS  DETERMINED  UPON TH« 

REASONS  ASSIGNED  FOR  IT GENERAL  FRANKLIN  ORDERED  TO  LOUISIANA — EXPEDITION  OF 

GENERALS  BANKS  AND  FRANKLIN  TO  TEXAS — THE  GREAT  PREPARATIONS  MADE  FOR  IT — THK 

TROOPS  AND    THEIR    COMMANDERS — THE  DISASTROUS  ATTACK  ON  SABINE  PASS  AND  CITY 

ADVANCE  OF  THK  ARMY  TO  VERMILLIONVILLE — THE  COAST  EXPEDITION  TO  TEXAS — RECON 
STRUCTION  IN  LOUISIANA THE  STARTING  OF  THE  ADVANCE  OF  THE  GRAND  ARMY — CAPTURE 

OF  SIMMSPORT,  BAYOU  GLACE,  AND  FORT  DE  RUSSY ALEXANDRIA  CAPTURED  AND  OCCU 
PIED BATTLES  OF  TEACHOE8  AND  CANE  RIVER THE  ARMY  TOO  MUCH  SCATTERED ARRI 
VAL  AT  GRAND  ECORE THE  ADVANCE  TOWARD  MANSFIELD — THE  BATTLE  OF  MANSFIELD 

ROUT  AND    PANIC BATTLE    OF    PLEASANT    HILL THE    RETREAT    DOWN    THE    RED  RIVER 

GRAND  ECORE JUMPING  THE  SAND  BARS ALEXANDRIA THE  RAPIDS COLONEL  BAILEY'S 

DAMS — ESCAPE  OF  THE    GUNBOATS REAR-ADMIRAL    PORTER'S    REPORT — THE    RETREAT  TO 

SIMMSPORT    AND     MORGANZIA GENERAL     STEELED    RETREAT   TO    LITTLE    ROCK GENERAL 

CANBY  IN  COMMAND  OF  THE  TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    DIVISION DEPARTMENT  OF    THE    SOUTH 

POLITICAL  ASPIRATIONS  OF  FLORIDA    UNIONISTS THEIR    PLEAS    FOR  AN  EXPEDITION    INTO 

NORTHERN  FLORIDA THE    EXPEDITION    ORDERED THE    PLAN — GENERAL  SEYMOUR  AT  ITS 

HEAD — DELAYS  AND   DISASTERS — BATTLE  OF  OLUSTEE —RETREAT  OF    THE  UNION  FORCES 

LOSSES END  OF  THE  "  ANACONDA*'  POLICY. 

THE  policy  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States  during  the  first 
three  years  of  the  war,  in  regard  to  its  prosecution,  was  that  originated, 
it  is  said,  by  General  Scott,  and  more  fully  developed  by  General  McClellan, 
and  known  in  popular  phrase  as  the  "Anaconda"  policy.  It  contemplated 
the  surrounding  the  insurgents  at  all  points  by  a  cordon  of  troops,  cutting 
off  their  supplies  by  a  land  as  well  as  sea  blockade,  and  by  a  gradual 
contraction  of  its  lines,  hemming  them  in  and  crushing  them,  as  the 
anaconda,  by  the  contraction  of  its  coils,  crushes  its  prey.  With  a  territory 
far  less  extended,  and  a  country  possessing  few  or  none  of  the  topo 
graphical  difficulties  which  the  region  occupied  by  the  insurgents  pre 
sented,  and  a  more  gigantic  army  than  that  of  the  Union,  this  policy 
would  possibly  have  succeeded ;  but,  under  the  circumstances,  its  success 
was  impossible.  Particular  battles  or  campaigns  might  prove  successful ; 
the  enemy  might  be  defeated  at  one  point  or  another ;  his  sources  of  sup 
ply  from  one  point  or  another,  either  by  running  the  blockade,  or  by 
communication  with  the  disloyal  at  the  north,  might  be  cut  off;  but  the 
number  of  troops  required  to  inclose  the  insurgent  territory,  and  drive 
the  Rebels  in  upon  their  own  centre,  was  too  great,  the  expenditure  it 
necessitated  too  vast,  and  the  opportunities  of  evading  the  pressure  too 
many,  to  admit  of  complete  success.  The  triumphs  which  led  to  the 
close  of  the  war  were  not  attained  until  this  policy  had  been  abandoned, 
and  that  of  concentration  adopted.  When,  by  the  movements  of  the 


THE   ANACONDA  POLICY.  673 

Union  armies,  the  Rebels  were  compelled  to  collect  their  forces  mainly 
around  two  or  three  points,  whose  preservation  and  defence  was  vital  to 
their  existence,  the  problem  of  the  continuance  of  the  war  was  very  much 
simplified.  If  they  could  successfully  defend  these  positions,  and  destroy, 
or  thoroughly  and  permanently  cripple,  the  armies  which  assailed  them, 
they  would  thereby  present  a  claim  to  foreign  recognition,  which  would 
not  be  long  withheld.  If,  on  the  contrary,  they  found  it  impossible,  after 
a  long  and  desperate  struggle,  to  retain  their  possession  of  these  vital 
points,  and  were  compelled  to  yield  them  to  the  assailing  power,  their 
claim  to  independence  or  separate  national  existence,  would  be  proved 
futile,  and  the  Rebellion  must  come  to  an  end. 

The  United  States  Government  had  not,  however,  at  the  time  of  which 
we  write,  fully  comprehended  the  necessity  for  the  abandonment  of  the 
"  anaconda"  policy.  They  were  beginning,  indeed,  to  see  that  it  involved 
a  vast  expenditure,  and  that  when  a  particular  section  had  been  subdued, 
the  work  was  often  to  be  done  over — that  they  could  not  maintain  lines 
of  auch  vast  extent,  even  with  the  great  armies  they  were  keeping  in  the 
field ;  but  the  desire  to  overrun  and  conquer  new  portions  of  the  insur 
gent  territory,  even  if  their  occupation  of  it  were  only  temporary,  where 
such  occupation  yielded  to  the  captors  a  plentiful  supply  of  cotton  or 
cattle,  or  would  result  in  a  crop  of  lucrative  offices,  was  too  strong  to  be 
as  yet  resisted. 

The  Department  of  the  Gulf  had  not  been  in  all  respects  judiciously 
managed.  Its  civil -administration  under  General  Butler  had  been  wise 
and  efficient ;  but  the  military  force,  during  his  administration,  had  never 
been  sufficient  to  hold  more  than  a  narrow  strip  of  territory  along  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi,  and  his  tenure  of  some  portions  of  that  was  pre 
carious.  When  General  Banks  assumed  command  of  the  department,  he 
was  at  first  crippled  by  the  same  lack  of  troops ;  and  it  was  not  until  his 
second  expedition  into  the  "Attakapas  country"  that  he  was  strong  enough 
to  hold  the  region  of  central  Louisiana.  When  he  undertook  the  siege 
of  Port  Hudson,  though  reinforced  by  a  very  considerable  body  of  nine 
months  troops,  he  was  compelled  to  weaken  the  garrisons  of  the  central 
towns  to  such  an  extent  that  the  Rebels  regained  possession  of  several  of 
them.  Galveston,  Texas,  had  been  captured  and  held  for  a  few  weeks  by 
a  combined  naval  and  land  force ;  but  with  the  disastrous  assault  upon 
the  mere  handful  of  Union  troops  forming  its  garrison,  and  the  capture, 
destruction,  and  defeat  of  the  squadron  there,  it  had  lapsed  again  into 
Rebel  hands,  and  all  efforts  to  obtain  a  permanent  foothold  in  Texas  had 
failed  from  the  want  of  a  sufficient  Union  force  to  garrison  and  hold  what 
they  might  capture.  The  possession  of  Texas,  except  for  the  relief  of  its 
oppressed  and  long-suffering  Unionists,  was  not  essential  to  the  successful 
conduct  of  the  war.  If  left  alone  till  the  vital  points  in  the  insurgent 
territory  were  reduced,  it  would,  as  it  afterward  did,  fall  into  the  hands 
43 


6U  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

of  the  Union  Government  without  a  battle.  But  on  the  "  anaconda"  theory 
its  occupation  was  essential,  and  despite  its  vast  extent,  its  plains  and 
plateaus,  covered  only  with  the  mesquit,  or  the  more  formidable  cactus 
growths,  its  unnavigable  rivers,  and  its  storm-lashed  coasts,  the  decree 
went  forth  that  it  must  be  occupied.  The  reasons  assigned  for  the  expe 
dition  for  its  invasion  were  sufficiently  plausible.  It  was  known  that 
there  had  been  many  thousands  of  Unionists  in  the  State,  and  that  they 
had  been  treated  with  great  cruelty,  murdered,  imprisoned,  exiled,  and 
plundered  of  all  they  possessed.  Those  who,  amid  great  suffering,  had 
been  able  to  make  their  escape  into  Mexico,  or  into  the  loyal  States  or 
territories,  gave  a  frightful,  but  probably  not  overdrawn  picture  of  the 
persecutions  to  which  they  and  their  loyal  fellow-citizens  had  been  sub 
jected.  The  Texan  soldiers  in  the  Rebel  armies  had  been  among  the 
most  efficient  and  reckless  troops  in  their  service.  Accustomed  to  a  life 
on  horseback,  and  skilled  in  all  equestrian  accomplishments,  leading, 
especially  on  the  frontier,  a  life  of  daring  and  hardship,  exposed  for  years 
to  the  attacks  of  the  Apaches,  Camanches,  Navajoes,  and  other  formidable 
tribes  of  Indians,  and  educated,  from  the  early  history  of  their  State,  to  a 
criminal  disregard  of  the  sanctity  of  human  life,  they  were  troops  which 
were  not  to  be  despised  for  their  prowess,  and  often  to  be  dreaded  for  their 
cruelty.  Their  numbers,  too,  compared  with  the  population  of  the  State, 
were  large.  Nearly  the  whole  disloyal  male  population,  of  military  age, 
had,  in  one  capacity  or  another,  entered  the  Rebel  service,  and  the  larger 
portion  had  been  enrolled  in  the  armies  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in 
Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  Louisiana.  To  call  these  home,  or  to  overrun 
the  State  while  they  were  absent,  would,  it  was  argued,  inflict  serious 
injury  upon  the  enemy.  Texas,  from  a  variety  of  causes,  was  richer  than 
the  other  insurgent  States.  She  had,  from  the  first,  refused  to  receive  the 
worthless  Confederate  currency  for  her  products,  accepting  nothing  but 
gold  in  exchange.  Her  cattle  and  sheep,  which  by  tens  and  hundreds  of 
thousands  dotted  her  plains  and  prairies,  had  furnished  a  large  part  of 
the  Rebel  commissariat ;  and,  on  her  western  border,  the  Mexican  port  of 
Matamoras  formed  the  nominal,  and  Brownsville,  Texas,  the  real,  destina 
tion  of  great  numbers  of  blockade-runners,  which  brought  thither  the 
greatly  coveted  products  of  European  manufactories,  and  took  in  ex 
change,  at  high  prices,  vast  quantities  of  cotton,  carted  across  the  plains 
from  eastern  Texas.  To  check  this  blockade-running,  and  obtain  for 
loyal  use  this  contraband  cotton,  was  surely  desirable. 

The  route  to  be  selected  was  a  question  of  great  importance.  To  send 
an  expedition  overland,  through  western  Louisiana  and  eastern  Texas, 
was  difficult,  and  fraught  with  numerous  dangers ;  there  were  bayous, 
lakes,  and  rivers  to  be  crossed,  requiring  large  pontoon  trains ;  the  roads, 
much  of  the  way,  were  muddy  and  heavy,  and  where  they  were  not,  the 
cross  timbers,  or  dense  forest,  so  matted  as  to  obstruct  passage,  and  extend- 


THE  EXPEDITION   TQ  TEXAS  675 

ing  for  many  miles,  and  the  chapparal,  a  thick  and  impenetrable  growth 
of  the  thorny  cactus  and  the  acacia,  barred  any  rapid  progress,  especially 
of  wagon  trains;  yet  a  large  force,  and  one  having  an  immense  train, 
could  alone  force  its  way  through,  and  the  delay  which  the  trains  would 
necessitate,  would  leave  ample  time  for  the  concentration  of  the  Rebel 
forces  in  front  of  the  advancing  army. 

The  route  by  sea  was  perhaps  equally  perilous.  The  coast  of  Texas 
presented  but  few  even  tolerable  ports;  sand-bars  at  the  mouth  of  nearly 
every  harbor,  obstructed  the  entrance,  and  rendered  the  passage  of  vessels 
drawing  over  ten  feet  of  water  impossible ;  while  the  norther,  a  fierce 
cold  wind  which  sweeps  down  upon  the  gulf  from  the  Rocky  mountains, 
and  often  lasts  for  a  week,  renders  the  navigation  exceedingly  dangerous, 
and  imperils  the  lives  of  the  horses  and  cattle  needed  for  the  land  service. 
The  knowledge  of  the  coast  possessed  by  the  squadron,  was  imperfect, 
especially  of  that  portion  adjacent  to  its  ports. 

Still,  with  all  these  difficulties,  the  Administration,  stimulated  to  the 
work  by  those  who  had  sinister  ends  to  gain,  and  who  had  the  skill  to 
conceal  their  purposes  under  the  cloak  of  desire  to  serve  the  country  and 
to  put  down  the  Rebellion,  determined  upon  the  expedition,  and,  as  if  to 
render  disaster  certain,  decided  to  proceed  by  both  routes,  attacking  by 
way  of  the  coast,  and  sending  a  column  inland  through  western  Louisiana. 
Major-General  Franklin  was  sent  from  the  army  of  the  Potomac  to  take 
command  of  one  of  the  corps  which  was  to  take  part  in  the  expedition  ; 
Major-General  Ord  was  to  command  the  other,  and  Major-General  Banks 
was  to  have  the  chief  command  of  the  expedition,  as  department  comman 
der.  At  a  later  period,  the-  commanding  general  was  authorized  to  borrow 
what  troops  could  be  spared  from  other  departments,  and  did  obtain  por 
tions  of  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  army  corps,  under  General  A.  J. 
Smith,  from  the  Department  of  the  Tennessee,  while  General  Steele  was 
ordered  to  march  with  as  large  an  army  as  he  could  collect  in  Arkansas 
and  Missouri,  to  his  support,  through  Arkansas. 

While  the  troops,  supplies,  and  vessels  of  light  draft  were  being  col 
lected  at  New  Orleans  for  the  great  expedition,  it  was  determined  to 
attack,  with  a  moderate  force,  Sabine  City,  a  place  of  considerable  strategic 
importance,  and  defended  by  a  small  but  somewhat  troublesome  fort,  a 
battery  of  small  field  pieces,  aad  affording  shelter  to  two  bay  steamers, 
which  the  Rebels  had  converted  into  rams.  The  town  lies  at  the  outlet 
of  Sabine  lake,  the  estuary  of  Sabine  river,  and  the  boundary-line  between 
Louisiana  and  Texas.  The  place  was  supposed  to  be  indifferently  fciti- 
fied ;  though  the  information  in  regard  to  it  was  very  imperfect,  and  such 
as  rendered  the  enterprise  unjustifiable,  without  a  previous  reconnoissance. 

About  four  thousand  men  of  the  nineteenth  corps,  were  sent  on  this 
expedition,  under  the  command  of  Major-General  Franklin,  while  Briga 
dier-General  Weitzel  accompanied  it  as  chief  engineer  and  chief  of  stafU 


676  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

They  were  embarked  in  transports,  and  convoyed  by  the  light  draft  gun 
boats  Clifton,  Sachem,  Arizona,  and  Granite  City.  The  attack  was  to  be 
made  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  September,  the  land  forces  having  been 
previously  landed  under  the  protection  of  the  gunboats,  and  these  were 
then  to  reduce  the  small  fort  first,  which  the  Union  troops  would  imme 
diately  occupy. 

The  whole  enterprise  proved  a  failure.  So  ignorant  were  the  leaders 
of  the  expedition  of  the  topography  of  the  place  they  were  attempting  to 
reduce,  that  they  found,  "on  arriving  at  the  spot  where  the  troops  were 
destined  to  land,"  that  it  was  the  edge  of  an  impassable  swamp,  and  the 
Granite  City  was  obliged  to  protect  them  in  their  fruitless  endeavors 
to  find  more  solid  ground.  As  they  were  thus  thrown  hoi's  du  combat, 
the  work  of  reducing  the  fort  and  batteries  was  necessarily  left  to  the 
squadron.  The  Clifton  and  Sachem,  followed  by  the  Arizona,  proceeded 
manfully  to  the  work.  For  some  time  the  forts  deigned  no  reply,  though 
the  gunboats  threw  their  large  shells  directly  into  the  works ;  but  at 
length  they  opened  upon  their  assailants,  and  greatly  to  the  surprise  of 
the  officers  of  the  gunboats,  with  eight  guns,  all  of  large  calibre,  and  three 
of  them  rifled,  instead  of  the  two  thirty-two  pounders  which  they  had  been 
assured  constituted  the  sole  armament  of  the  fort.  For  some  time  the 
fighting  was  severe ;  the  fort  and  batteries  replying  shot  for  shot,  and 
with  great  accuracy,  to  every  gun  of  the  three  boats.  The  Sachem,  mean 
while,  was  working  round  to  the  flank  and  rear  of  the  fort,  where  the 
works  were  weakest,  while  the  Clifton  and  Arizona  continued  their  attack 
in  front,  firing  with  great  rapidity.  When  the  Sachem  had  nearly  accom 
plished  her  purpose,  she  was  struck  on  the  side  by  a  rifled  shot,  which 
penetrated  her  armor,  entered  her  steam  chest,  and  made  her  a  complete 
wreck ;  and  her  crew,  being  entirely  helpless,  ran  up  the  white  flag. 

The  Clifton,  running  down  closer  to  the  principal  battery,  to  endeavor 
to  silence  it,  both  by  her  broadside,  and  by  her  sharpshooters  picking  off 
the  enemy's  gunners,  unfortunately  ran  aground,  when  a  new  Rebel  bat 
tery,  hitherto  silent,  opened  upon  her  at  short  range.  She  replied  with 
great  vigor,  but  presently  a  shot  from  the  battery  entered  and  exploded 
her  boiler,  when  her  commander,  Lieutenant  Crocker,  determined  that  she 
should  be  of  no  service  to  the  enemy,  ordered  his  deck  to  be  cleared,  and 
loading  the  after  pivot-gun  with  a  nine  inch  solid  shot,  fired  it  through 
the  centre  of  the  ship,  from  stem  to  stern,  tearing  the  machinery  to  pieces, 
and  rendering  it  utterly  worthless  to  the  enemy,  and  then,  with  his  crew, 
made  his  escape  to  the  other  gunboats.  The  Arizona  and  Granite  City, 
finding  themselves  unable  to  cope  with  the  formidable  Rebel  batteries, 
withdrew,  the  Arizona  grounding  once,  but  getting  afloat  again  without 
serious  injury,  and  the  gunboats  and  transports  returned  to  Brashear  City. 
The  Union  loss  in  this  unfortunate  adventure,  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners,  was  about  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  twelve  heavy  guns. 


MOVEMENTS  OP  THE   FORCES   UNDER   GENERAL  BANKS.      677 

The  armament  of  the  two  gunboats  had  also  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 

After  a  somewhat  protracted  delay  at  Brashear  City,  one  hundred  and 
thirty  miles  distant  by  railroad  from  New  Orleans,  the  troops  under  Gene 
ral  Franklin's  command  moved  forward  to  Franklin  and  Vermillionville. 
Here  they  met  with  some  resistance,  on  the  9th  of  October,  but,  after  a 
sharp  fight,  drove  the  enemy  before  them  in  a  precipitate  retreat.  The 
same  day  the  remainder  of  the  nineteenth  and  the  whole  of  the  thirteenth 
corps,  under  command  of  General  Ord,  reached  Vermillionville. 

General  Banks  now  determined  to  make  New  Iberia,  on  the  Bayou 
Teche,  about  twenty  miles  below  Vermillionville,  his  secondary  base,  and 
commenced  accumulating  here  the  necessary  supplies  for  his  grand  expe 
dition.  Franklin's  corps  advanced,  meanwhile,  to  Opelousas,  but  finding 
no  opposition,  returned  to  Vermillionville,  and  eventually  to  New  Iberia. 
One  division  of  the  thirteenth  corps  was  sent  to  Madisonville,  on  the  north 
side  of  Lake  Pontchartrain,  and  encamped  there.  Detachments  of  the  thir 
teenth  corps,  to  the  amount  of  about  four  thousand  men,  were  embarked 
at  New  Orleans,  on  the  27th  of  October,  in  about  twenty  transports,  and 
accompanied  by  the  gunboats  Owasco,  Virginia,  and  Monongahela,  for  an 
expedition  to  the  coast  of  Texas.  General  Banks  accompanied  the  expe 
dition,  but  it  was  under  the  special  command  of  General  C.  C.  Washburne. 
The  voyage  lasted  four  days,  and  the  expedition  encountered  a  norther,  in 
which  three  vessels  but  no  lives  were  lost.  On  the  31st  of  October,  they 
anchored  off  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  on  the  1st  of  November,  a 
body  of  troops  was  landed,  without  opposition,  on  Brazos  island.  From 
this  point  they  marched  to  Brownsville,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  twenty-seven 
miles  distant,  and  on  the  4th  of  November,  General  Banks  occupied  the 
town,  the  Rebels  having  fled,  after  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  destroy  the 
government  property.  Proceeding  along  the  coast,  leaving  sufficient  gar 
risons  at  every  important  point,  the  expedition  captured,  with  but  insig 
nificant  resistance,  successively,  Point  Isabel,  Mustang  island,  and  the 
Rebel  fortifications  on  Corpus  Christi  bay,  Aransas,  Matagorda  island  and 
bay,  with  Fort  Esperanza  and  two  heavy  siege  guns,  Indianola,  Lavacca, 
and  Saluria.  Early  in  December,  General  Banks  returned  to  New  Or 
leans.  On  his  return,  his  attention  was  much  occupied  for  some  months 
with  the  efforts  making  for  the  reconstruction  of  Louisiana,  and  its  read- 
mission  to  the  Union,  with  Governor,  members  of  Congress,  &o.,  elected 
mainly  by  the  votes  of  the  soldiers  and  civilians  from  the  North,  who  had 
come  thither  for  business  or  speculation.  The  work  of  collecting  supplies 
and  troops  went  on  slowly.  The  west  gulf  squadron,  finding  that  their 
services  were  not  required,  scattered  to  other  portions  of  their  cruising 
ground,  and  the  transports  were  sent  north,  to  bring  Sherman's  army 
from  Memphis  to  Vicksburg,  and  at  the  close  of  his  expedition,  to  return 
a  portion  of  it  to  Memphis.  Meantime,  the  garrisons  on  the  Texas  coast 


678  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

were  maintained,  but  were  too  small  to  attempt  any  enterprise  of  offence. 
It  was  proposed,  at  one  time,  to  send  a  considerable  force  to  Indianola  or 
Matagorda,  and  thence  march  into  the  interior,  prepared  to  hold  western 
Texas,  prevent  the  illicit  traffic  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  pressing  gradually 
eastward,  joined,  as  they  would  have  been,  by  the  loyal  Texans  in  con 
siderable  numbers,  to  crush  the  Rebel  army  in  Texas  between  this  advan 
cing  force  and  that  under  Franklin  and  Ord,  in  western  Louisiana.  The 
Rebel  army  in  Texas,  at  this  time,  was  weak,  and  such  a  movement,  if  prose 
cuted  with  energy,  might  have  proved  successful.  Unfortunately,  it  was 
neglected,  and  the  notes  of  preparation  sounded  for  so  long  a  time  before 
any  actual  movement,  served  only  to  rouse  the  Rebels  to  action,  and  before 
the  march  was  actually  commenced,  they  had  thrown  into  western  Louisi 
ana  a  force  sufficiently  formidable  to  cope  successfully  with  General  Banks' 
army. 

During  the  winter  of  1863-4,  from  twenty  to  thirty  thousand  troops  lay 
idle  in  Louisiana,  waiting  for  the  proposed  movement.  Early  in  March, 
the  thirteenth  and  nineteenth  corps  moved  northward  to  Opelousas  and 
the  banks  of  the  Atchafalaya,  abandoning  the  Teche  country,  except  a 
few  important  posts,  in  order  to  be  nearer  Natchez  and  Port  Hudson,  both 
of  which  were  threatened  by  the  enemy.  On  the  10th  of  March,  an  expe 
dition,  composed  of  detachments  of  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  army 
corps,  amounting  in  all  to  nearly  an  average  army  corps,  under  command 
of  Brigadier,  (now  Major  General)  Andrew  J.  Smith,  left  Yicksburg  on 
transports  for  the  Red  river.  They  passed  into  the  Atchafalaya  river 
through  the  old  mouth  of  the  Red,  and  on  the  13th  landed  at  Simmsport, 
a  few  miles  from  the  head  of  the  Atchafalaya,  and  on  its  west  bank.  The 
naval  squadron  of  Rear- Admiral  Porter,  consisting  of  three  monitors, 
seven  river  iron-clads,  three  rams,  and  four  small  gunboats,  accompanied 
them.  On  the  approach  of  these  forces,  the  enemy  abandoned  his  posi 
tion  and  defences  at  Simmsport,  as  well  as  the  much  stronger  position  at 
Bayou  Glace,  and  hastily  retreated  to  Fort  de  Russy,  distant  by  land 
about  thirty-five  miles.  Thither,  leaving  the  navy  to  follow,  General 
Smith  pursued,  and  arrived  before  the  fort  on  the  afternoon  of  the  14th 
of  March.  Fort  de  Russy  was  a  formidable  quadrangular  work,  with 
bastions  and  bomb-proofs,  covered  with  railroad  iron,  and  was  regarded 
by  the  Rebels  as  impregnable,  especially  on  its  water  front.  It  was 
garrisoned  by  a  strong  force,  under  General  Dick  Taylor.  That  general, 
learning  of  Smith's  approach,  had  gone  out  to  intercept  him,  and  had 
taken  by-roads,  in  the  hope  of  reaching  and  attacking  his  flank  and  rear. 
But  three  hundred  and  fifty  troops  of  the  large  garrison  were  left  in  the 
fort.  General  Smith  had  made  a  forced  march  to  reach  the  enemy's  posi 
tion  before  the  squadron,  the  route  by  water  being  nearly  seventy  miles, 
and  on  coming  up,  immediately  ordered  an  attack.  After  a  very  brief 
engagement,  conducted  on  the  side  of  the  Union  troops  with  equal 


OPERATIONS   OF  THE  ARMY   IX   LOUISIANA.  679 

gallantry  and  skill,  the  garrison  surrendered,  and  the  Union  flag  was 
hoisted  on  the  ramparts  just  as  the  squadron  hove  in  sight.  By  this 
gallant  action,  General  Smith  captured  two  hundred  and  sixty  pris 
oners,  ten  cannon — four  of  which  had  been  captured  by  the  Rebels  from 
the  Harriet  Lane  and  other  Union  vessels — a  large  number  of  small 
arms,  two  thousand  barrels  of  fine  powder,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of 
ammunition  and  commissary  stores.  His  losses  were  seven  killed  and 
forty-one  wounded.  Ordering  the  destruction  of  the  fort,  General  Smith 
embarked  on  his  transports,  and  in  company  with  the  squadron,  ascended 
the  Red  river  to  Alexandria,  which  surrendered  without  resistance,  and 
was  entered  the  same  day  by  the  advance-guard  of  the  cavalry  of  the 
army  of  the  gulf,  which  had  moved  forward  from  Opelousas.  General 
Banks,  who  was  still  at  New  Orleans,  now  exerted  himself  to  push  forward 
his  troops,  and  having  repulsed  an  impudent  attack  made  by  a  mere 
handful  of  Rebel  troops  on  the  upper  portion  of  the  Bayou  Teche,  sent  the 
thirteenth  and  nineteenth  corps  with  all  haste  by  way  of  Opelousas  to 
Alexandria,  a  distance  from  Brashear  City  of  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  miles.  On  the  27th  of  March,  they  had  nearly  all  arrived  at  that 
point.  Alexandria  was  rich  in  spoils.  Five  thousand  bales  of  Confeder 
ate  cotton  were  found  there,  as  well  as  other  stores.  On  the  21st  of 
March,  while  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  army  of  the  gulf,  General  Smith 
had  sent  Brigadier-General  John  A.  Mower,  with  a  detachment  of  several 
hundred  troops,  to  make  a  reconnoissance.  He  followed  the  retreating 
foe  to  Trachoes,  near  Natchitoches,  where,  meeting  them  in  considerable 
force,  he  repulsed  them,  and  by  a  skilful  flank  and  rear  movement  cap 
tured  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  prisoners,  four  pieces  of  artillery,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  horses,  and  other  spoils.  Continuing  his  advance,  he 
captured,  within  a  few  days,  thirteen  more  cannon.  On  the  27th  of  March, 
General  Smith  left  Alexandria  to  continue  the  forward  movement,  accom 
panied  by  a  few  of  the  troops  of  the  army  of  the  gulf.  His  whole 
command  did  not  number  more  than  six  thousand  men.  The  next  day 
he  met  the  enemy  in  force — about  twelve  thousand  strong — at  Cane  river, 
thirty  miles  above  Alexandria,  and  after  a  battle  of  about  three  hours,  the 
Rebels  gave  way,  losing  two  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  over 
five  hundred  prisoners.  Soon  after  this  battle,  General  Banks  arrived 
and  assumed  command  of  the  army.  Its  progress  from  this  time  was  slow 
and  it  was  scattered  too  widely  not  to  fall  a  prey  to  a  wily  and  skilful 
enemy.  Mower,  with  his  advance  column,  was  far  on  the  way  to  Shreve- 
port ;  Smith,  with  the  force  which  had  defeated  the  enemy  at  Cane  Hill, 
was  marching  near  the  river,  and  General  Banks,  with  the  greater  part  of 
the  thirteenth  and  nineteenth  corps,  was  marching  slowly  in  the  interior, 
at  considerable  distance  from  the  river,  his  army  gathering  cotton  in  large 
quantities.  His  army  did  not  reach  Grand  Ecore,  only  sixty  miles  above 
Alexandria,  until  the  6th  of  April.  Porter,  with  his  squadron,  had  pushed 


$80  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

up  the  Eed  river  as  far  as  Springfield  landing,  within  eighty  miles  of 
Shreveport;  and  the  river,  which  he  had  ascended  at  its  highest  stage, 
was  already  beginning  to  fall.  General  Steele  was  marching  to  join  them 
by  way  of  Arkadelphia,  at  the  head  of  fifteen  thousand  men,  and  General 
Thayer  of  the  army  of  the  frontier,  was  coming  southward,  by  way  of 
Washington,  Arkansas,  with  a  considerable  cavalry  force.  These  troops 
were,  however,  too  far  distant,  and  their  march  was  too  long,  to  hope  for 
support  from  them  very  speedily.  The  army  of  the  Gulf  had  been  weak 
ened  before  starting,  by  sending  a  considerable  portion  of  its  cavalry  on 
an  expedition  up  the  Rio  Grande  to  Eagle  Pass,  four  hundred  miles  above 
Brownsville,  to  capture  that  post,  which  had  been  a  noted  outlet  for  Rebel 
cotton,  of  which  a  large  amount  was  captured.  Indianola  had  been 
evacuated  by  the  Union  troops,  on  the  plea  that  it  was  of  no  strategic 
importance,  and  Corpus  Christi  had  been  reoccupied,  and  eight  hundred 
prisoners  captured,  and  large  quantities  of  cotton.  The  greed  for  this 
fibre,  growing  by  what  it  had  fed  upon,  had  become  the  bane  and  curse 
of  the  army.  Reckoning  their  prospective  profits  by  thousands  arid  tens 
of  thousands  of  dollars,  officers  and  men  alike  grew  reckless  and  impatient 
of  restraint,  and  in  a  fit  condition  to  meet  with  a  disastrous  defeat.  It  is 
but  just  to  General  Banks  to  say  that  personally  he  did  not  profit  by  this 
mania  for  cotton,  and  that  he  did  what  lay  in  his  power  to  prevent  the 
demoralizing  effect  which  it  had  produced  upon  the  army ;  but  it  was 
utterly  in  vain.  The  entire  army  were  infected  by  the  cotton  mania,  and 
had  no  thought  of  any  thing  else. 

For  two  days,  the  cavalry  pushed  on  recklessly,  far  ahead  of  the 
infantry,  driving  the  enemy  before  them,  and  supposed  they  could  proceed 
in  the  same  way  to  Springfield  landing,  where  the  squadron  awaited  their 
coming.  But  they  reckoned  without  their  host.  The  Rebel  commander 
was  no  longer  the  easy-going  General  Dick  Taylor,  but  Lieutenant-General 
E.  Kirby  Smith,  a  skilful  strategist,  who  had  met  and  measured  the  Union 
army  on  the  other  side  of  the  Mississippi,  knew  their  scattered  condition 
here,  knew  thoroughly  the  country  through  which  they  were  passing — a 
country  covered,  for  the  most  part,  with  a  dense  pine  forest — and  who  had 
at  his  command  a  large  and  well  disciplined  force,  upon  which,  at  that 
time,  cotton  had  not  exercised  its  demoralizing  power. 

The  Union  cavalry,  marching,  as  we  have  said,  far  in  advance  of  the 
infantry,  had  their  own  immense  wagon  train  following  them  immediately, 
laden  with  the  precious  fibre.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  8th  of  April,  near 
Mansfield,  Louisiana,  where  the  road  forks  to  Logansport,  they  met  the 
enemy,  and  immediately  engaged  him,  little  doubting  the  result.  The 
Rebel  skirmishers  fell  back  a  little  to  the  main  body,  and  the  Union 
cavalry  found  that  they  had  the  entire  Rebel  army  to  fight.  More  cavalry 
was  hurried  in,  and  ere  long  the  whole  cavalry  division,  much  of  it  cavalry 
only  in  name,  was  engaged,  but  was  compelled  to  fight  dismounted.  The 


DISASTER  TO  THE  ARMY  IN  LOUISIANA.  681 

Kebel  infantry  pressed  steadily  on,  his  line  overlapping  the  Union  forcea 
on  both  flanks.  Embarrassed  by  their  horses,  astonished  at  the  extraor 
dinary  fighting  of  an  enemy  who  had  hitherto  shown  them  only  his  back, 
the  extemporized  cavalry,  which  had  been,  for  the  most  -part,  only 
mounted  infantry,  melted  away,  the  straggling  became  a  panic,  the  panic 
a  crazy,  mad  rout  of  shrieking  men  on  scared  horses.  The  train  was  in 
the  way  of  flight  or  advance,  the  teamsters  insane  with  fright,  the  horses, 
with  their  traces  cut,  used  by  the  drivers  to  expedite  their  flight,  and  the 
wagons,  without  horses  or  drivers,  effectually  blocking  the  road.  The 
panic-stricken  cavalry  fly  back  till  they  reach  the  thirteenth  corps,  which, 
better  disciplined,  forms  and  hurries  into  action  against  the  pursuing 
enemy ;  but  after  fighting  gallantly  for  a  short  time,  they  too  are  flanked* 
and  melt  into  a  rout.  The  enemy,  flushed  with  victory,  now  comes  upon 
the  nineteenth  corps,  takes  it  almost  by  surprise,  in  the  very  act  of 
deploying,  with  scarcely  time  to  recall  skirmishers ;  rushes  upon  it  with 
wild  cheers  to  meet  the  first  check  that  day.  The  nineteenth  corps  was 
unable  to  hold  its  position ;  but  not  being  pressed  by  the  full  weight 
of  the  enemy,  and  being  measurably  relieved  from  the  terrifying 
presence  of  its  panic-stricken  predecessors,  its  retreat  never  became  a 
rout. 

Next  day,  at  Pleasant  Hill,  thirty-five  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  first  scene 
of  battle,  the  panic  having  burned  out,  the  troops  were  halted,  a  hasty  re 
organization  of  fragments  was  attempted,  an  excellent  position  taken  up, 
and  the  onset  of  the  enemy  awaited.  He  attacked  impetuously,  and  with 
varying  success.  All  day  the  tide  of  battle  ebbed,  and  flowed  along  the 
line  until,  finally,  a  tremendous  effort  of  the  enemy,  steadily  met  and  vig 
orously  repulsed,  exhausted  their  force,  and  left  the  Union  troops  a  fruit 
less  victory  and  safety.  On  the  following  day,  the  Union  army  fell  back 
to  Grand  Ecore.  The  results  of  this  short  campaign,  were  the  loss  to  the 
Union  army  of  thirty-nine  hundred  and  sixty-nine  men,  thirty  field  guns, 
and  over  two  hundred  wagons.  At  Pleasant  Hill,  they  captured  nearly  two 
thousand  prisoners,  and  it  was  reported,  twenty  guns.  The  Rebel  loss  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  was  probably  not  much  less  than  that  of 
the  army  of  the  Gulf. 

Rear- Admiral  Porter  was  notified  at  once  of  the  disaster  which  had 
befallen  the  army,  and  was  requested  to  descend  the  Red  river  to  Grand 
Ecore,  to  support  their  further  retreat.  The  admiral  complied  at  once 
with  the  request,  though  greatly  chagrined  at  the  failure.  On  his  way 
down,  he  found  the  river  falling  rapidly,  but  though  twice  attacked  by 
the  enemy  during  his  passage  down,  succeeded  in  repulsing  his  assailants 
without  serious  loss.  He  reached  Grand  Ecore  on  the  13th,  and  found 
two  of  his  gunboats  which  had  been  left,  aground  above  the  bar  with  but 
little  prospect  of  getting  off.  The  army  remained  at  Grand  Ecore  about 
two  weeks  the  commanding  general  summoning  to  his  aid  all  the  avail- 


682  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

able  troops  in  his  department,  including  most  of  those  in  Texas,  and  then 
fell  back  to  Alexandria,  its  rear  constantly  harassed  by  the  enemy,  who 
was,  however,  engaged  with  spirit  at  the  crossing  of  Cane  river,  and  re 
pulsed  handsomely,  with  considerable  loss. 

The  fleet  and  transports,  meantime,  were  following  as  best  they  might, 
"jumping"  the  sand  bars  and  logs,  which,  either  by  accident  or  design, 
obstructed  their  passage.  Only  one  vessel,  the  Eastport,  was  lost,  while  the 
only  wonder  was  that  in  this  perilous  passage,  where,  in  addition  to  the  diffi 
culties  of  the  navigation,  the  enemy  had  planted  batteries  at  every  available 
point,  and  the  light  draft  gunboats  were  riddled  with  their  shot,  any  were 
saved.  The  Champion  was  burned  near  Alexandria,  the  Cricket  struck 
thirty-eight  times  and  twenty-three  men  of  her  crew  either  killed  or  wounded, 
and  the  other  boats,  though  suffering  less  severely,  had  each  lost  a  num 
ber  of  their  crew.  Arrived  at  Alexandria,  they  were  safe  from  the 
enemy,  but  a  new  danger  menaced  them.  They  could  not  pass  the  rapids, 
and  they  could  not  spend  the  summer  at  Alexandria.  Already  General 
Sherman  had  recalled  General  A.  J.  Smith  and  his  command,  which  be 
longed  to  his  army,  to  Yicksburg. 

The  rapids  at  Alexandria,  at  high  water,  offer  no  serious  obstacle  to 
the  passage  of  vessels,  but  at  a  low  stage  of  the  river,  they  are  impassable. 
Fortunately,  there  was  an  officer  in  the  army,  Lieu  ten  ant- Colonel  (now 
Brigadier-General)  Bailey,  of  Wisconsin,  acting  engineer  of  the  nineteenth 
army  corps,  who  had  had  large  experience  as  a  superintendent  of  lum 
berers,  in  the  navigation  in  safety  of  rapid  and  rocky  streams  in  the 
north.  He  proposed  to  build  a  series  of  dams  across  the  rocks  at  the 
falls,  and  raise  the  water  high  enough  to  let  the  vessels  pass  over.  The 
proposition  seemed  feasible  to  Admiral  Porter,  and  though  others  ridi 
culed  it,  he  requested  General  Banks  to  detail  the  necessary  force  to 
carry  it  out.  It  must  be  done  within  ten  days,  as  the  supplies  of  the 
army  were  getting  short,  and  they  could  not  wait  longer  than  that  time. 
Colonel  Bailey  promised  to  finish  it  within  the  ten  days.  We  will  allow 
Admiral  Porter  to  narrate  in  his  own  graphic  way  the  process  and  result 
of  the  undertaking. 

"  General  Banks  placed  at  the  disposal  of  Colonel  Bailey  all  the  force 
he  required,  consisting  of  some  three  thousand  men,  and  two  or  three 
hundred  wagons.  All  the  neighboring  steam  mills  were  torn  down  for 
material,  two  or  three  regiments  of  Maine  men  were  set  to  work  felling 
trees,  and  on  the  second  day  after  my  arrival  in  Alexandria  from  Grand 
Ecore,  the  work  had  fairly  begun.  Trees  were  falling  with  great  rapidity, 
teams  were  moving  in  all  directions,  bringing  in  brick  and  stone;  quarries 
were  opened ;  flatboats  were  built  to  bring  down  stone  from  above ;  and 
every  man  seemed  to  be  working  with  a  vigor  I  have  seldom  seen 
equalled,  while  perhaps  not  one  in  fifty  believed  in  the  success  of  the  un 
dertaking.  These  falls  are  about  a  mile  in  length,  filled  with  rugged 


THE  PASSAGE  OF  THE  RAPIDS  AT  ALEXANDRIA.  683 

rocks,  over  which,  at  the  present  stage  of  water,  it  seemed  to  be  impossi 
ble  to  make  a  channel. 

"The  work  was  commenced  by  running  out  from  the  left  bank  of  the 
river  a  tree  dam,  made  of  the  bodies  of  very  large  trees,  brush,  brick,  and 
stone,  cross-tied  with  other  heavy  timber,  and  strengthened  in  every  way 
which  ingenuity  could  devise.  This  was  run  out  about  three  hundred 
feet  into  the  river ;  four  large  coal  barges  were  then  filled  with  brick  and 
sunk  at  the  end  of  it.  From  the  right  bank  of  the  river  cribs  filled  with 
stone  were  built  out  to  meet  the  barges.  All  of  which  was  successfully 
accomplished,  notwithstanding  there  was  a  current  running  of  nine  miles 
an  hour,  which  threatened  to  sweep  every  thing  before  it. 

"  It  will  take  too  much  time  to  enter  into  the  details  of  this  truly  won 
derful  work.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  dam  had  nearly  reached  com 
pletion  in  eight  days'  working  time,  and  the  water  had  risen  sufficiently 
on  the  upper  falls  to  allow  the  Fort  Hindman,  Osage,  and  Neosho  to  get 
down  and  be  ready  to  pass  the  dam.  In  another  day  it  would  have  been 
high  enough  to  enable  all  the  other  vessels  to  pass  the  upper  falls.  Un 
fortunately,  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  instant,  the  pressure  of  water 
became  so  great  that  it  swept  away  two  of  the  stone  barges,  which  swung 
in  below  the  dam  on  one  side.  Seeing  this  unfortunate  accident,  I  jumped 
on  a  horse,  and  rode  up  to  where  the  upper  vessels  were  anchored,  and 
ordered  the  Lexington  to  pass  the  upper  falls,  if  possible,  and  immediately 
attempt  to  go  through  the  dam.  I  thought  I  might  be  able  to  save  the 
four  vessels  below,  not  knowing  whether  the  persons  employed  on  the  work 
would  ever  have  the  heart  to  renew  their  enterprise. 

"  The  Lexington  succeeded  in  getting  over  the  upper  falls  just  in  time, 
the  water  rapidly  falling  as  she  was  passing  over.  She  then  steered 
directly  for  the  opening  in  the  dam,  through  which  the  water  was  rushing 
so  furiously  that  it  seemed  as  if  nothing  but  destruction  awaited  her. 
Thousands  of  beating  hearts  looked  on,  anxious  for  the  result.  The 
silence  was  so  great  as  the  Lexington  approached  the  dam  that  a  pin 
might  almost  be  heard  to  fall.  She  entered  the  gap  with  a  full  head  of 
steam  on,  pitched  down  the  roaring  torrent,  made  two  or  three  spasmodic 
rolls,  hung  for  a  moment  on  the  rocks  below,  was  then  swept  into  deep 
water  by  the  current,  and  rounded-to  safely  into  the  bank.  Thirty  thou 
sand  voices  rose  in  one  deafening  cheer,  and  universal  joy  seemed  to  per 
vade  the  face  of  every  man  present. 

"  The  Neosho  followed  next ;  all  her  hatches  battened  down,  and  every 
precaution  taken  against  accident.  She  did  not  fare  as  well  as  the  Lex 
ington,  her  pilot  having  become  frightened  as  he  approached  the  abyss 
and  stopped  her  engine,  when  I  particularly  ordered  a  full  head  of  steam 
to  be  carried ;  the  result  was  that  for  a  moment  her  hull  disappeared  from 
sight  under  the  water.  Every  one  thought  she  was  lost.  She  rose,  how. 
ever,  swept  along  over  the  rocks  with  the  current,  and  fortunately  escaped 


684  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

with  only  one  ho?e  in  her  bottom,  which  was  stopped  in  the  course  of  an 
hour. 

"The  Hindman  and  Osage  both  came  through  beautifully  without 
touching  a  thing,  and  I  thought  if  I  was  only  fortunate  enough  to  get  my 
large  vessels  as  well  over  the  falls,  my  fleet  once  more  would  do  good 
service  on  the  Mississippi. 

"The  accident  to  the  dam,  instead  of  disheartening  Colonel  Bailey,  only 
induced  him  to  renew  his  exertions,  after  he  had  seen  the  success  of  get 
ting  four  vessels  through. 

"  The  noble-hearted  soldiers,  seeing  their  labor  of  the  last  eight  days 
swept  away  in  a  moment,  cheerfully  went  to  work  to  repair  damages 
being  confident  now  that  all  the  gunboats  would  be  finally  brought  over. 
These  men  had  been  working  for  eight  days  and  nights  up  to  their  necks 
in  the  boiling  sun,  cutting  trees  and  wheeling  bricks,  and  nothing  but 
good  humor  prevailed  amongst  them.  On  the  whole  it  was  very  for- 
tunate  the  dam  was  carried  away,  as  the  two  barges  that  were  swept  away 
from  the  centre  swung  around  against  some  rocks  on  the  left,  and  made  a 
fine  cushion  for  the  vessels,  and  prevented  them,  as  it  afterward  appeared, 
from  running  on  certain  destruction. 

"  The  force  of  the  water  and  the  current  being  too  great  to  construct  a 
continuous  dam  of  six  hundred  feet  across  the  river  in  so  short  a  time, 
Colonel  Bailey  determined  to  leave  a  gap  of  fifty-five  feet  in  the  dam,  and 
build  a  series  of  wing  dams  on  the  upper  falls.  This  was  accomplished 
in  three  days'  time,  and  on  the  llth  instant,  the  Mound  City,  Carondelet, 
and  Pittsburg,  came  over  the  upper  falls,  a  good  deal  of  labor  having  been 
expended  in  hauling  them  through,  the  channel  being  very  crooked, 
scarcely  wide  enough  for  them.  Next  day  the  Ozark,  Louisville,  Chilli- 
cothe,  and  two  tugs,  also  succeeded  in  crossing  the  upper  falls.  Immedi 
ately  afterward  the  Mound  City,  Carondelet,  and  Pittsburg,  started  in  suc 
cession  to  pass  the  dam,  all  their  hatches  battened  down,  and  every  pre 
caution  taken  to  prevent  accident.  The  passage  of  these  vessels  was  a 
most  beautiful  sight,  only  to  be  realized  when  seen.  They  passed  over 
without  an  accident,  except  the  unshipping  of  one  or  two  rudders.  This 
was  witnessed  by  all  the  troops,  and  the  vessels  were  heartily  cheered 
when  they  passed  over.  Next  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  the  Louisville, 
Chillicothe,  Ozark,  and  two  tugs,  passed  over  without  any  accident,  except 
the  loss  of  a  man,  who  was  swept  off  the  deck  of  one  of  the  tugs.  By 
three  o'clock  that  afternoon,  the  vessels  were  all  coaled,  ammunition  re 
placed,  and  all  steamed  down  the  river,  with  the  convoy  of  transports  in 
company.  A  good  deal  of  difficulty  was  anticipated  in  getting  over  the 
bars  in  lower  Red  river;  depth  of  water  reported  only  five  feet ;  gunboats 
were  drawing  six.  Providentially,  we  had  a  rise  from  the  back-water  of 
the  Mississippi,  that  river  being  very  high  at  that  time ;  the  back-water 


1 


MOVEMENT  OF  GENERAL  STEELB.  685 

extending  to  Alexandria,  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  distant,  enabling  us 
to  pass  all  the  bars  and  obstructions  with  safety." 

On  the  14lh  of  May,  the  army  took  up  its  line  of  march  from  Alexan 
dria  for  Simmsport,  which  place  was  reached  on  the  19th,  the  march 
having  been  a  tiresome  one,  and  the  rear  of  the  arrny  continually  harassed 
by  the  enemy,  who  were  twice  briskly  engaged  and  driven  off.  The 
work  of  bridging  the  Atchafalaya  was  immediately  commenced;  General 
Banks'  troops  crossed  on  the  20th,  and  marched  to  Morganzia,  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  above  Port  Hudson,  which  place  they 
reached  on  the  21st,  and  General  Smith's  troops  embarked,  and  returned 
to  Vicksburg.  At  Morganzia,  General  Canby,  who  had  in  the  meantime 
been  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  military  division  of  the  Trans-Mis 
sissippi,  assumed  personal  command.  The  fleet  reached  the  Mississippi 
with  a  loss  of  one  gunboat,  the  Covington,  destroyed,  and  another,  the 
Signal,  captured. 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  march  of  General  Steel e,  with  a  co-op 
erative  column  of  twenty-five  thousand  or  thirty  thousand  men  from  Little 
Rock,  with  the  intention  of  forming  a  juncture  with  General  Banks  at  or 
beyond  Shreveport,  and  also  to  General  Thayer's  moving  southward,  with 
a  body  of  troops  from  the  army  of  the  frontier,  by  way  of  Washington, 
Arkansas.  These,  which  left  Fort  Smith  oil  the  25th  of  March,  were  to 
join  Steele  at  or  near  Camden,  Arkansas,  and  had  primarily  in  view,  the 
defeat  of  Price,  who  was  said  to  be  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  Arkan 
sas.  The  two  columns  effected  a  juncture  in  safety,  without  having  en 
countered  Price,  and  General  Steele  succeeded  in  occupying  Camden 
without  much  difficulty,  only  to  meet  there  the  news  of  the  failure  of  the 
main  column  under  General  Banks.  About  the  1st  of  May,  General 
Steele,  apprised  of  the  retreat  of  the  Union  forces  on  the  Red  river,  and 
of  the  definite  abandonment  of  offensive  operations  in  that  quarter,  and 
finding  his  rear  threatened  by  Marmaduke,  and  a  large  force,  commanded 
by  General  E.  Kirby  Smith  in  person,  in  his  front,  took  up  the  line  of 
march  for  Little  Rock.  The  retreat  was  substantially  a  race  with  the 
enemy  for  his  base,  and  was  barely  won  by  him  with  heavy  loss  of  men 
and  materiel.  The  insignificant  and  despised  enemy,  who  two  months 
before  was  threatened  on  all  sides  with  destruction,  having  been  forced 
into  concentration,  was  now  attempting  the  passive  offensive  measure  of 
blockading  the  Arkansas,  White,  and  Red  rivers.  The  escape  of  Banks' 
weakened  and  dispirited  columns  was  due  to  the  attention  of  the  enemy 
being  withdrawn  from  them,  in  the  direction  of  the  Arkansas  forces. 

Thus  ended  ingloriously,  though  with  less  of  disaster  than  had  been 
feared  at  one  time,  this  unfortunate  campaign. 

The  Department  of  the  South  had  been  the  scene  of  a  parallel,  though 
less  extensive  disaster,  during  the  winter,  from  a  campaign  prompted  by 
other,  but  hardly  more  honorable  motives  than  those  which  led  to  the 


686  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

.Red  rive,:  blunder.  After  the  President's  proclamation  of  December  8th 
1863,  relative  to  the  reorganization  of  States  then  in  Rebellion,  prominent 
Union  politicians  in  Florida,  as  well  as  in  Louisiana,  Arkansas,  and  Ten 
nessee,  resolved  to  bring  their  respective  States  under  its  provisions,  with 
a  view  to  secure  to  themselves  seats  in  Congress,  or  other  offices  of  honor 
and  emolument.  In  Florida,  the  United  States  Government  held  most  of 
the  coast,  and  the  lakes  and  swamps  of  the  peninsula  were  for  the  most 
part  uninhabited,  but  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  was  still  under 
Rebel  control,  and  its  broad  savannas  furnished  pasturage  to  tens  of  thou 
sands  of  cattle,  whose  flesh  largely  contributed  to  the  commissariat  of  the 
Rebel  armies.  The  aspiring  politicians  to  whom  we  have  alluded,  found 
in  this  circumstance  a  strong  argument  for  the  undertaking  of  an  expedi 
tion,  which,  while  it  should  cut  off  the  Rebel  supplies  of  beef,  would  also 
so  far  bring  that  section  of  the  State  under  subjection,  as  to  enable  them 
to  accomplish  their  purpose  of  restoring  it  to  the  Union,  in  name  if  not  in 
fact,  and  would  at  the  same  time  give  them  the  opportunity  of  riding  into 
power.  They  accordingly  sought  the  ear  of  the  general  commanding  the 
department,  and  by  strong  representations  of  the  advantages  which  would 
result  from  such  an  expedition,  induced  him  to  favor  it  in  good  faith. 
Armed  with  his  approval,  they  next  hastened  to  Washington,  and  laid  the 
matter  before  the  President,  carefully  concealing  their  real  motives  under 
the  plea  of  the  public  weal.  The  President,  confiding  in  General  Gill- 
rnore's  approval,  and  unaware  of  the  sinister  purposes  of  the  proposers, 
gave  it  his  sanction. 

General  Gillmore  entrusted  the  command  of  the  expedition  to  Brigadier- 
General  Truman  Seymour,  an  officer  of  great  experience  and  military 
ability,  who  had  already  won  a  high  reputation  in  some  of  the  hardest 
fought  actions  in  that  department.  It  is  said,  on  what  seems  to  be  good 
authority,  that  General  Seymour,  apprised  of  the  motives  which  actuated 
the  promoters  of  the  expedition,  regarded  it  with  distrust,  and  avowed  his 
opinion  of  its  ill-advisedness  to  his  superior.  However  this  may  be,  he 
was  too  thorough  a  soldier  to  disobey  orders,  and  a  man  of  too  high  prin 
ciple  to  neglect  any  measure  which  might  conduce  to  its  success.  Five 
brigades  were  designated  for  the  expedition,  but  just  before  leaving 
Hilton  Head,  the  best  of  the  five — Howell's — was  detached  from  it. 

The  object  of  the  expedition  was  to  penetrate  as  far  as  Lake  City,  and 
to  cut  the  railroad  at  Suwanee  river. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  1864,  the  expeditionary  force,  consisting  of 
Barton's  and  Hawley's  brigades,  Montgomery's  colored,  and  Henry's 
light  brigade,  with  Generals  Gillmore  and  Seymour,  left  Hilton  Head,  and 
landed  on  the  7th  at  Jacksonville  without  opposition,  the  Rebel  outposts 
falling  back  into  the  interior.  The  Union  forces  did  not  delay  at  Jack 
sonville,  but  pushed  directly  into  the  country,  and  at  first  met  with 
admirable  success.  They  reached  Baldwin,  twenty  miles  from  Jackson- 


THE   BATTLE  OF  OLUSTEE,   FLORIDA.  68T 

ville,  on  the  9th,  and  the  light  brigade  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake 
City  on  the  llth.  The  advance  was  now  delayed  for  several  days,  while 
a  secondary  base  was  established  at  Barber's,  on  the  south  forks  of  St. 
Mary's  river,  thirty  miles  from  Jacksonville.  The  necessity  of  this  arose 
from  the  fact  that  sufficient  transportation  could  not  be  procured  in  the 
Department  of  the  South  to  permit  them  to  make  Jacksonville  their 
secondary  base.  This  delay  proved  disastrous.  General  Gillmore  had 
ordered  a  diversion  to  be  made  by  General  Schimmelpfennig  with  about 
forty-five  hundred  troops,  to  Holover  Cut,  and  the  vicinity  of  the  Charles 
ton  and  Savannah  railroad,  to  intercept  and  hold  at  that  point  any  troops 
the  Rebels  might  send  to  reinforce  their  army  in  Florida.  This  force 
held  the  position  until  the  llth,  skirmishing  with  the  Rebels,  when,  under 
their  instructions,  they  withdrew,  and  the  Rebel  brigades  which  they  had 
held  in  check,  immediately  took  the  cars  of  the  Savannah,  and  the  Albany, 
Savannah  and  Gulf  railroads,  and  by  vigorous  marching,  reached  the 
Suwanee  in  season  to  take  part  in  the  battle,  and  render  the  defeat  of  the 
Union  troops  certain.  On  the  15th,  Major-General  Gillmore  returned  to 
Hilton  Head,  and  on  the  20th,  Brigadier-General  Seymour,  having  ob 
tained  some  reinforcements  and  a  battery,  and  having  a  sufficiency  of 
transportation  to  move  his  supplies  from  his  secondary  base,  moved  for 
ward  his  army,  consisting  of  four  thousand  five  hundred  infantry,  five 
hundred  cavalry,  and  twenty  guns,  arranged  in  four  batteries. 

They  left  Barber's  station  at  seven  A.  M.,  reached  Sanderson,  sixteen 
miles  distant,  about  noon,  and  pushed  on  to  Olustee,  ten  miles  further, 
without  halting.  The  information  which  General  Seymour  had  received 
from  his  scouts  led  him  to  suppose  that  the  enemy  were  in  that  vicinity. 
At  about  three  P.  M.,  they  came  suddenly  upon  the  Rebel  position,  which 
was  admirably  chosen.  On  the  right,  their  line  rested  upon  a  low  and 
rather  slight  earthwork,  protected  by  rifle-pits;  their  centre  was  defended 
by  an.  impassable  swamp;  while  on  the  left  their  cavalry  was  drawn  up 
on  a  small  elevation  behind  the  shelter  of  a  grove  of  pines.  The  railroad 
intersected  their  camp,  and  on  the  embankment  was  placed  a  battery, 
which  commanded  the  Union  left  and  centre,  while  a  rifled  gun,  mounted 
on  a  truck,  prevented  the  Union  troops  from  advancing  along  the  line  of 
the  railroad.  The  Rebel  force  was  about  thirteen  thousand.  The  Union 
position,  from  necessity,  and  not  choice,  was  not  desirable.  They  were 
compelled  to  approach  and  form  their  line  of  battle  between  two  swamps, 
one  in  front,  the  other  in  rear.  Their  artillery  was  posted  within  one 
hundred  yards  of  the  Rebel  line,  and  was  thus  within  easy  range  of  the 
Rebel  sharpshooters,  llawley's  brigade  led  the  attack,  the  seventh  New 
Hampshire  regiment  being  in  advance.  The  left  flank  of  the  regiment, 
composed  mostly  of  substitutes,  who  had  not  previously  been  under  fire, 
and  who  were  but  indifferently  armed,  soon  gave  way  under  the  terrible 
fire  of  the  Rebel  sharpshooters  ;  but  the  right,  which  was  armed  with  the 


688  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Spencer  repeating  rifle,  maintained  their  position  till  their  ammunition 
was  exhausted.  The  regiment  lost  its  colonel  and  three  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  killed  or  wounded.  Barton's  brigade  was  now  brought  up; 
with  the  artillery,  and  eighth  United  States  volunteers — colored — and 
they  met  the  enemy  with  great  firmness,  and  forced  them  back  for  some 
time ;  but  Colonel  Fribley,  commanding  the  eighth  regiment,  being  killed, 
and  the  regiment  for  the  first  time  under  fire,  they  fought  somewhat  at 
random,  and  were  finally  withdrawn,  to  prevent  their  useless  slaughter. 
Barton's  brigade  fought  on,  but  were  finally  compelled,  for  want  of 
ammunition,  to  fall  back,  which  they  did  slowly  and  in  good  order ;  two 
colored  regiments,  the  fifty-fourth  Massachusetts  and  first  North  Carolina, 
from  Montgomery's  brigade,  covering  their  retreat.  During  the  whole 
time  that  the  battle  lasted  (about  four  hours),  General  Seymour  was  in 
the  front,  encouraging  and  cheering  his  troops.  The  retreat  was  made  in 
the  most  perfect  order,  the  Kebels  not  attempting  to  pursue.  The  Union 
troops  were  obliged  to  abandon  their  wounded  on  the  field,  and  five  guns, 
the  horses  having  been  killed.  Their  retreat  was  continued  to  Barber's 
station,  and  the  next  day  to  Baldwin,  where  such  stores  as  could  not  be 
transported  to  Jacksonville  were  destroyed.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  22d 
of  February,  the  army  reached  its  camping  ground  near  Jacksonville,  and 
soon  commenced  fortifying  its  position,  which,  by  subsequent  reinforce 
ments,  was  made  too  strong  to  be  attacked  by  the  enemy,  and  was  held 
permanently  as  a  Union  post.  The  losses  of  the  Union  force  in  this 
expedition  were  two  hundred  and  three  killed,  about  eleven  hundred 
wounded,  and  over  five  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners.  Five  pieces  of 
artillery,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  small  arms  and  commissary 
stores  also  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  ill  success  of  the  expe 
dition,  which,  if  well  planned  and  conducted,  might  possibly  have  cut  off 
a  large  portion  of  the  supply  of  beef  from  the  Rebel  army,  was  a  matter 
of  serious  regret  in  the  Department  of  the  South;  but  its  failure,  under 
the  circumstances,  was  inevitable.  The  two  expeditions,  whose  disastrous 
termination  we  have  recorded  in  this  chapter,  were  the  last  attempts 
which  were  made  to  carry  out  the  "anaconda"  policy.  With  the  changes 
which  took  place  in  the  control  of  the  Union  armies,  about  this  time,  the 
new  policy  of  concentration  was  inaugurated,  and  resulted,  within  about. 
a  twelvemonth,  in  the  complete  overthrow  of  the  Rebellion. 


SHERMAN'S  MERIDIAN   EXPEDITION.  689 


CHAPTER   LYI. 

SHERMAN'S  MERIDIAN  EXPEDITION — THE  'CO-OPERATIVE  MOVEMENTS  AXD  THEIR  FAILURE — 
THE  MOVABLE  COLUMN — ADVANCE  INTO  THE  ENEMY'S  COUNTRY — RETURN — GENERAL  GRANT 

PROMOTED  TO  THE  LIEUTENANT-GENERALSHIP,  AND  SHERMAN  APPOINTED  TO  COMMAND  THR 
MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI — SKETCH  OF  SHERMAN OTHER  CHANGES  IN  COM 
MANDS — REORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EASTERN  AND  WESTERN  ARMIES — IMPROVEMENT  IN 
DISCIPLINE  AND  MORALE — FORREST  AND  CHALMERS  SET  OUT  ON  AN  EXPEDITION  FOR 

PLUNDER  AND  MURDER — ATTACK  ON  UNION  CITY — ON  PADUCAH — THE    MASSACRE  AT  FORT 

e 
PILLOW — ATROCITY  OF    THE  CONDUCT  OF  THE  REBELS — THE  REBEL    GOVERNMENT    PROMOTB 

FORREST  AND  CHALMERS  FOR  IT — BUFORD's  DEMAND  FOR  THE  SURRENDER  OF  COLUMBUS, 
KENTUCKY — FORREST'S  RETREAT 

IN  the  early  part  of  the  year  1864,  the  War  Department,  acting  upon 
the  suggestion  of  General  Grant,  determined  upon  a  series  of  co-operative 
movements,  looking  to  the  repossession  of  Mississippi  and  Alabama,  and 
the  menacing  of  the  strong  Rebel  position  of  Atlanta,  the  Gate  City,  as  it 
was  called,  which  commanded  the  entrance  from  the  mountainous  region 
of  north  Georgia  into  the  rich  and  fertile  plains  of  the  central  and  southern 
portions  of  the  State.  The  operations  finally  determined  upon  were,  a 
naval  attack  on  Mobile  and  its  defences  in  the  lower  bay,  under  the  direc 
tion  of  Rear- Admiral  Farragut,  to  prevent  the  blockade-running  which, 
in  spite  of  the  exertions  of  the  West  Gulf  blockading  squadron,  was  now 
and  then  successful ;  an  expedition  across  the  country,  east  from  Yicksburg, 
toward  Selma  and  Montgomery,  with  a  column  of  twenty  or  twenty-five 
thousand  men,  under  the  command  of  General  Sherman,  to  hold  Folk's 
army  in  check  from  reinforcing  Mobile ;  and  a  cavalry  expedition  from 
Memphis  and  La  Grange,  southward,  along  the  line  of  the  Mobile  and 
Ohio  railroad,  to  join  Sherman  at  Meridian,  under  the  command  of  General 
W.  Sooy  Smith,  General  Grant's  chief  of  cavalry. 

Of  these  expeditions,  two  were  unsuccessful,  while  the  third,  though 
proving  very  effective  in  destroying  the  enemy's  property,  and  carrying 
terror  and  alarm  into  regions  which  had  hitherto  not  been  visited  by  the 
war,  did  not  accomplish  so  much  as  it  would  have  done  had  the  cavalry 
column  succeeded  in  effecting  a  junction  with  it. 

Admiral  Farragut  approached  Forts  Morgan,  Powell,  and  Gaines,  situ 
ated  at  the  entrance  of  Mobile  bay,  with  his  squadron,  and  bombarded 
them  for  six  days  (February  23-29),  but  they  could  not,  at  that  time,  be 
reduced  without  the  aid  of  a  land  force,  and  having  become  convinced  of 
this,  he  withdrew,  without  having  received  or  inflicted  serious  loss. 

The  force  detailed  for  General  Sherman's  expedition  consisted  of  four 
divisions,  of  twelve  regiments  each,  from  the  sixteenth  army  corps,  under 
the  command  of  General  S.  A.  Hurlbut.  and  the  whole  of  the  seventeenth 
44 


690  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

army  corps,  under  command  of  General  James  B.  McPherson.  The  whole 
force  numbered  twenty-one  thousand  infantry,  twelve  hundred  cavalry, 
forty  pieces  of  artillery,  with  the  full  quota  of  artillery  troops  for  them, 
and  eight  hundred  wagons.  The  cavalry  column,  under  General  Smith's 
command,  numbered  about  nine  thousand  mounted  troops,  with  a  light 
artillery  train. 

General  Sherman's  command  embarked  at  Memphis,  about  the  28th  of 
January,  for  Yicksburg,  where  it  arrived,  without  serious  casualty  (though 
fired  upon  several  times  by  the  Kebels),  on  the  1st  and  2d  of  February. 
Here  the  troops  were  ordered  to  take  twenty  days'  rations,  but  no  tents, 
either  for  officers  or  men,  all  bivouacking  in  the  open  air  during  the,entire 
campaign.  It  was  the  aim  of  General  Sherman  to  bring  his  army  into 
the  lightest  possible  marching  order,  that  they  might  move  with  the 
greater  celerity  and  certainty  in  the  enemy's  country.  It  was  the  first 
attempt  at  a  movement  of  such  extent,  with  so  large  a  force,  and  for 
so  long  a  time,  into  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country  without  a  base  of 
supplies,  and  was  destined  to  be  the  precursor  of  other  and  still  more 
extended  applications  of  the  movable  column.  General  Grant  had,  indeed, 
cut  loose  from  his  base  for  ten  or  twelve  days,  in  his  march  from  Grand 
Gulf  to  Jackson  and  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  but  he  had  at  no  time  pene 
trated  more  than  two  or  three  days'  forced  march  into  the  interior,  and 
that  only  for  a  brief  period.  General  Lee,  in  his  Gettysburg  expedition, 
had  given  an  example  of  the  movable  column  on  a  large  scale,  but  his 
distance  from  points  of  supply  in  his  own  territory  was  not  great,  and  the 
lack  of  supplies  had  as  much  to  do  with  his  somewhat  precipitate  retreat 
across  the  Potomac,  as  the  loss  of  men  and  ammunition. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  the  Union  army  left  its  camps  at  Vicksburg, 
and  the  same  evening  reached  and  crossed  the  Big  Black  river,  the  left 
wing — the  sixteenth  corps — crossing  at  Messenger's  ferry,  and  the  right 
wing — seventeenth  corps — at  the  railroad  bridge,  eight  miles  below.  On 
the  4th,  they  met  a  Rebel  cavalry  force  of  about  seven  thousand  men, 
under  command  of  the  Rebel  General  S.  D.  Lee,  at  Champion  hills.  The 
Union  advance-guard  was  at  first  driven  back,  but  their  supports  coming 
up,  forced  the  Rebels  back  to  the  west  side  of  Baker's  creek,  where  they 
occupied  a  commandiag  position,  but  were  driven  from  it  about  sundown. 
The  next  morning,  a  brigade  of  McPherson's  corps  engaged  them,  and 
after  a  sharp  action,  defeated  and  drove  them  to  Jackson,  twenty-three 
miles  distant,  inflicting  upon  them  a  loss  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  killed 
and  wounded,  while  their  own  loss  was  but  thirty.  McPherson's  corps 
moved  on  to  Jackson,  where  they  were  joined,  on  the  evening  of  the  5th, 
by  the  sixteenth — Hurlbut's  corps — the  two  having  previously  moved  on 
different  roads.  The  Rebel  force  made  their  escape  from  the  capital  with 
such  precipitancy,  that  they  had  not  time  even  to  destroy  their  pontoon 
bridge.  On  the  6th  of  February,  the  Union  troops  destroyed  all  the 


ADVANCE  INTO  THE  ENEMY'S   COUNTRY.  691 

public  stores  and  arms  accumulated  at  Jackson  for  the  use  of  the  Rebel 
army,  broke  up  and  rendered  useless  the  track  of  the  Mississippi  Central 
railroad  for  some  miles,  and  put  the  pontoon  bridge  in  complete  order  for 
crossing  Pearl  river.  On  the  7th,  they  resumed  their  march,  and  though 
the  Rebel  cavalry  hovered  on  their  flanks,  they  inflicted  no  serious  loss. 
On  reaching  Brandon,  they  found  and  destroyed  a  large  quantity  of  Rebel 
commissary  stores.  During  the  next  day — February  8th — the  Rebel 
cavalry  continued  to  skirmish  with  the  Union  troops,  but  only  lost  a  con 
siderable  number  of  prisoners  by  doing  so. 

At  Moreton,  thirty-six  miles  from  Jackson,  the  Rebel  troops  were  found 
drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  but  as  the  Union  advance  approached  they 
retreated,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  their  number  were  taken  prisoners, 
and  some  papers  of  importance  captured,  showing  that  the  Rebel  troops 
had  orders  to  fall  back  to  Mobile.  For  the  next  two  days,  the  Union 
army  found,  all  along  their  route,  abundant  evidence  of  the  precipitancy 
and  disorderly  character  of  the  Rebel  retreat,  in  the  vast  quantity  of 
abandoned  stores,  and  the  great  numbers  of  dead  horses  and  mules.  On 
the  llth,  at  Lake  station,  on  the  southern  Mississippi  railroad  (which 
leads  from  Yicksburg  to  Meridian),  the  Union  troops  destroyed  the  depot 
and  machine  shop,  two  locomotives,  thirty-five  cars,  and  three  steam  mills. 
On  the  12th,  the  army  reached  Decatur,  where  they  destroyed  a  large 
tannery;  and  a  body  of  Rebel  cavalry,  under  General  Adams,  attacked 
their  train,  but  was  driven  off  with  but  trifling  loss.  A  part  of  the  Union 
force  here  turned  aside,  and  visited  Quitman  and  Enterprise,  destroying 
stores  belonging  to  the  Rebel  Government  in  both  places.  On  the  13th 
of  February,  they  were  together  again  on  the  banks  of  the  Big  Chunkey 
river,  from  whence  they  marched  to  Meridian,  which  they  entered  on  the 
morning  of  the  15th,  and  from  which  General  Polk  and  his  army  had  re 
treated  but  half  an  hour  previously.  Meridian  was  of  importance  only  as 
the  point  of  junction  of  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  with  the  southern  Missis 
sippi!  and  Alabama  and  Mississippi  railroads,  and  as  the  principal  depot 
of  supplies — quartermasters'  and  commissary  stores — for  the  Rebel  armies 
of  Mississippi  and  Alabama.  General  Sherman  gave  orders  at  once  to 
seize  and  use  or  destroy  these  stores,  and  to  burn  the  store-houses,  depots, 
officers'  quarters,  and  hospitals.  The  last  named  would  have  been  sparedf 
but  for  the  uniform  practice  of  the  Rebels  to  destroy  the  Union  hospitals, 
whenever  they  fell  into  their  power.  Among  the  stores  captured  was  a 
large  quantity  of  corn,  and  the  grist  mills  in  the  vicinity  were  put  in 
order,  and  this  corn  ground,  and  used  by  General  Sherman's  army  during 
his  stay  at  Meridian.  Detachments  were  sent  out  in  all  directions  to 
destroy  the  railroads  and  railroad  bridges.  General  Smith's  cavalry 
column  was,  as  we  have  said,  to  have  joined  Sherman's  army  at  this  point, 
and  for  this  purpose  he  had  been  ordered  to  leave  Colliersville,  near 
Memphis,  on  the  3d  of  February ;  but  he  was  delayed  waiting  for  General 


692  THE  CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Waring's  brigade  of  cavalry  until  the  llth,  and  this  delay  enabled  Forrest, 
Rhoddy,  and  Chambers,  to  concentrate  their  forces  in  such  positions  as  to 
check  his  progress.  With  the  utmost  exertion,  and  without  opposition, 
he  could  not  now  reach  Meridian  till  about  the  close  of  the  time  set  for 
the  junction  of  the  two  forces  (the  loth  to  the  19th  of  February) ;  but,  for 
some  reason,  General  Smith  made  but  slow  progress,  averaging  not  over 
fifteen  miles  a  day,  and  did  not  reach  Oakland,  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  miles  from  Meridian,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  from 
Memphis,  until  the  18th,  and  on  the  21st  was  at  West  Point,  but  twenty- 
nine  miles  farther.  Here  he  encountered  so  large  a  Kebel  force,  so  advan 
tageously  posted,  and  offering  him  such  determined  opposition,  that  he 
was  compelled  to  fall  back  on  Memphis,  which  he  reached  on  the  26th, 
having  made  the  return  march  in  four  days. 

This  failure  to  connect  was  greatly  to  be  regretted,  as,  with  the  aid  of 
this  cavalry,  General  Sherman  could  have  penetrated  readily  and  safely 
to  Selma  and  Montgomery,  while  without  cavalry  to  cover  his  flanks,  he 
could  not  go  much  farther  than  he  had  already  done  into  the  enemy's 
country,  without  encountering  obstructions  and  resistance  which  an 
infantry  column  would  find  it  difficult  to  overcome.  Having  waited  till 
one  day  beyond  the  utmost  limit  set  for  effecting  the  junction  of  the  two 
corps,  and  being  unable  to  ascertain,  through  his  scouts,  any  indications 
of  General  Smith's  approach,  General  Sherman  did  not  deem  it  wise  to 
delay  longer,  but  gave  orders,  on  the  morning  of  the  20th,  to  return  to 
Yicksburg.  Marching  as  far  as  Hillsboro,  by  the  same  route  by  which 
they  had  gone  eastward,  they  diverged  at  that  point  to  the  northward, 
and,  on  the  26th,  arrived  at  Canton,  twenty -three  miles  north  of  Jackson, 
on  the  Mississippi  Central  railroad.  At  this  point  General  Sherman  left 
the  army,  the  next  day,  in  charge  of  General  Hurlbut,  and  taking  a  small 
escort,  proceeded  at  once  to  Vicksburg,  and  descended  the  river  to  New 
Orleans.  The  army  remained  at  Canton  for  several  days,  in  the  hope  of 
hearing  from  General  Smith's  cavalry.  They  had  some  skirmishes  here 
with  the  Rebel  General  Adams'  cavalry,  and  in  one  of  them  lost  sixteen 
forage  wagons.  The  Union  troops  destroyed  here  twenty-one  locomotives, 
a  large  number  of  cars,  and  other  Eebel  property  ;  but  the  town  itself,  and 
the  property  of  private  citizens,  were  uninjured,  in  consequence  of  the 
friendly  conduct  of  the  citizens.  On  the  2d  of  March,  the  Union  troops 
resumed  their  march  for  Vicksburg,  which  they  reached  on  the  4th. 
Their  total  loss  during  the  expedition  had  been  one  hundred  and  seventy 
in.  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  On  arriving  at  Vicksburg,  General 
McPherson's  corps  went  into  camp  there,  while  General  Hurlbut's  returned 
at  once  to  Memphis. 

General  Sherman  made  the  following  official  statement  of  the  results 
of  the  expedition:  One  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of  railway  rendered  use 
less,  thirty  mills  and  ten  thousand  bales  of  cotton  burned,  two  millions  of 


SKETCH   OF  MAJOR-GENERAL  SHERMAN.  693 

bushels  of  corn  either  used  or  destroyed,  twenty-three  locomotives,  eighty- 
eight  cars,  sixty-seven  bridges,  and  seven  thousand  feet  of  trestlework, 
were  burned,  or  otherwise  destroyed.  The  Union  army  also  killed  and 
wounded  about  three  hundred  Rebel  soldiers,  took  two  hundred  prisoners, 
liberated  nearly  eight  thousand  negroes,  and  brought  back  several  thou 
sand  more  horses  and  mules,  and  three  hundred  more  wagons  than  they 
had  when  they  left  Yicksburg.  They  had  subsisted  almost  entirely  upon 
the  country.  General  Sherman  estimated  the  damage  done  to  the  Rebel 
cause  from  this  expedition  as  more  than  fifty  millions  of  dollars. 

On  the  2d  of  March,  Major-General  Grant,  then  in  command  of  the 
grand  military  division  of  the  Mississippi,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Lieutenant-General,  and  the  command,  under  the  President,  of  all  the 
armies  of  the  United  States ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  Major-General  Sherman 
was  advanced  to  the  command  vacated  by  General  Grant's  promotion. 
Other  changes  were  made  about  the  same  time,  but  before  noticing  them 
let  us  sketch  briefly  the  life-history  of  this  new  general  of  the  military 
division  of  the  Mississippi,  who  was  henceforth  Grant's  most  efficient 
lieutenant  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  Major-General  William 
Tecumseh  Sherman  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Ohio,  on  the  8th  of  February, 
1820.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Hon.  Charles  R.  Sherman,  at  the  time 
of  his  death  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio.  Soon 
after  his  father's  death,  in  1829,  he  was  adopted  by  Hon.  Thomas 
Ewing,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  after  receiving  a  good  preliminary 
education,  appointed  a  cadet  at  West  Point,  where  he  graduated,  June 
30th,  1840,  ranking  sixth  in  his  class.  He  was  appointed  immediately 
second  lieutenant  in  the  third  artillery,  and  ordered  to  duty  in  Florida, 
where,  in  November,  1841,  he  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenantcy.  He 
was  soon  after  assigned  to  duty  at  Fort  Moultrie,  Charleston  harbor, 
where  he  remained  for  several  years.  In  1846,  he  was  ordered  to  Cali 
fornia,  where  he  was  made  acting  assistant  adjutant-general,  and  performed 
his  duties  with  such  ability  that  he  received  a  brevet  of  captain,  dating 
from  May  30th,  1848,  "for  meritorious  services  in  California  during  the 
war  with  Mexico."  In  1850,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain, 
and  appointed  commissary  of  subsistence,  being  assigned  to  the  staff  of 
the  commander  of  the  Department  of  the  West,  with  headquarters  at  St. 
Louis.  He  was  soon  after  transferred  to  the  military  post  of  New  Orleans. 
In  the  duties  of  the  office  of  commissary,  he  acquired  his  aptitude  for 
bringing  together  the  necessary  supplies  for  an  army,  with  a  promptness 
which  has  never  been  surpassed  by  any  military  commander.  On  the 
6th  of  September,  1853,  he  resigned  his  commission  in  the  army,  and  for 
the  next  four  years  resided  in  California,  as  the  manager  of  the  banking 
house  of  Lucas  Turner  &  Co.,  at  San  Francisco.  In  1857,  he  was  invited 
by  some  of  the  friends  whom  he  had  made  in  New  Orleans  to  take  the 
superintendency  of  the  State  Military  Institute  of  Louisiana,  then  just 


694  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IX   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

organizing,  and  accepted  the  post.  The  purpose  of  the  founders  of  this 
military  school  was  to  educate  young  men  for  officers  in  the  army  of  the 
Rebellion,  the  coming  of  which  they  foresaw  and  desired ;  but  this  ulterior 
purpose  was  carefully  hidden,  and  other  reasons,  plausible  enough, 
assigned  for  the  establishment  of  a  military  academy.  When,  in  the 
winter  of  1861,  it  began  to  be  evident  that  the  secession  of -Louisiana  was 
resolved  upon,  and  that  war  would  probably  follow,  Captain  Sherman 
promptly  resigned  his  superintendency,  as  incompatible  with  his  views 
of  loyalty,  and  came  north  to  St.  Louis.  Soon  after  he  visited  "Wash 
ington,  and  warned  the  Government  of  the  extent  and  fierceness  of  the 
struggle  which  was  so  soon  to  come,  but  found  them  incredulous 
on  the  subject.  At  the  organization  of  the  new  regiments  of  the  regular 
army  in  June,  1861,  he.  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  thirteenth  infantry, 
his  commission  dating  from  May  14th,  1861.  In  the  battle  of  Bull  Run 
he  commanded  the  third  brigade  in  the  first  (Tyler's)  division,  a  brigade 
composed  of  some  of  the  most  celebrated  regiments  of  volunteers  in  the 
subsequent  history  of  the  war,  the  thirteenth  New  York  State  militia,  the 
sixty-ninth  (Irish),  the  seventy -ninth  (Highlanders)  New  York  State 
militia,  and  the  second  Wisconsin.  His  conduct  in  that  battle  was  not 
only  brave,  but  skilful,  and  no  troops  in  the  field  that  day  behaved  better 
than  those  in  his  command.  On  the  3d  of  August  he  was  confirmed  a 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  his  commission  dating  from  May  17th, 
1861.  Early  in  August,  he  was  ordered  to  report  to  General  Robert 
Anderson,  then  commanding  the  Department  of  the  Ohio,  and  was  by  him 
made  second  in  command,  and  soon  after  sent  with  a  force  of  seven  thou 
sand  men,  volunteers  and  Kentucky  home-guards,  to  occupy  Muldraugh's 
hill,  a  point  of  considerable  strategic  importance,  south  of  the  Rolling  Fork 
of  Salt  river.  The  troops  under  his  command  proved  entirely  unreliable, 
the  home-guards  abandoning  the  camp  for  their  homes;  and  the  reinforce 
ments  intended  for  his  command  being  ordered  elsewhere,  he  soon  found 
himself  with  less  than  five  thousand  troops,  badly  armed,  and  wholly  un 
tried,  confronted  by  the  Rebel  General  Buckner,  with  a  force  of  twenty- 
five  thousand  men.  At  this  juncture,  the  failure  of  General  Anderson's 
health  compelled  his  resignation,  and,  on  the  8th  of  October,  Sherman  was 
appointed  his  successor.  His  position  was  a  trying  one.  His  force  was 
entirely  inadequate  to  cope  with  the  greatly  superior  numbers  of  the 
enemy,  and  his  appeals  for  more  troops  met  with  no  favorable  response 
from  the  War  Department.  Secretary  Cameron  and  Adjutant-General 
Thomas  had  an  interview  with  him  at  Louisville,  in  October,  and  among 
other  questions,  asked  him  how  many  troops  would  be  required  for  a 
forward  movement  in  his  department.  He  replied,  "  Sixty  thousand." 
"And  how  many,"  asked  the  Secretary,  "for  the  entire  western  depart 
ment  ?"  "  Not  less  than  two  hundred  thousand,"  was  the  prompt  reply. 
This  seemed  to  the  Washington  officials  very  absurd,  and  they  repeated 


SKETCH   OF  MAJOR-GENERAL  SHERMAN.  695 

it  publicly,  with  some  ungracious  comments.  It  did  not  require  a  twelve 
month  to  prove  the  accuracy  of  General  Sherman's  estimate,  but  at  the 
time  he  was  denounced  as  insaue  for  making  it.  Finding  it  impossible 
to  obtain  reinforcements,  and  General  McClellan  making  inquiries  which 
indicated  an  intention  of  giving  up  Louisville  and  Kentucky,  General 
Sherman  asked,to  be  relieved  of  his  command.  His  request  was  granted, 
and  General  Buell  put  in  his  place,  who  was  immediately  reinforced  to  aii 
extent  beyond  what  General  Sherman  had  asked.  Sherman  himself  was 
shelved  by  being  ordered  to  duty  at  Benton  Barracks,  near  St.  Louis. 
Here,  on  assuming  command  of  the  western  department,  General  Halleck 
found  him,  and  knowing  his  abilities,  detailed  him  to  forward  reinforce 
ments  and  supplies  to  General  Grant,  then  besieging  Fort  Donelson ;  and 
after  the  fall  of  that  fortress,  put  him  in  command  of  the  fifth  division  of 
Grant's  army,  with  which  he  fought  with  great  gallantry  at  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  April  6th  and  7th,  1862.  Of  his  conduct  in  this  battle  Colonel 
Bowman  well  says :  "  There  was  not  a  commanding  general  on  the  field 
who  did  not  rely  on  Sherman,  and  look  to  him  as  our  chief  hope,  and 
there  is  no  question  that  but  for  him  our  army  would  have  been  destroyed." 
General  Grant  said  in  his  report:  "To  General  Sherman's  individual 
efforts  I  am  indebted  for  the  success  of  that  battle."  In  the  siege  of 
Corinth,  his  division  was  constantly  in  the  advance,  and  carried,  occupied, 
and  reintrenched  seven  distinct  Rebel  camps.  After  the  evacuation  of 
Corinth,  he  was,  at  the  urgent  request  of  Generals  Halleck  and  Grant, 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general,  his  commission  dating  from  May 
1st,  1862.  On  the  20th  of  June,  he  captured  Holly  Springs,  Mississippi, 
and  was  soon  after  put  in  command  of  the  district  of  Memphis,  which  he 
governed  with  skill  and  decision,  breaking  up  the  contraband  trade,  and 
suppressing  the  guerrillas. 

In  the  latter  part  of  December,  1862,  General  Grant  ordered  him,  with 
parts  of  two  corps,  to  descend  the  river  to  Vicksburg,  and  attack  thu 
works  on  Chickasaw  bluffs,  while  he  would  approach  from  the  rear,  by 
way  of  Jackson,  and  co-operate  in  an  assault  upon  the  city.  General 
Sherman  obeyed  the  order,  but  the  capture  of  Holly  Springs,  Grant's  base 
of  supplies,  prevented  his  co-operation  too  late  to  recall  Sherman,  and  the 
attack,  though  skilfully  conducted,  proved  a  failure.  General  Sherman 
had  submitted  a  plan  for  the  reduction  of  Arkansas  Post,  an  important 
strategic  point,  to  follow  immediately  his  assault  upon  Chickasaw  bluffs, 
and  General  McClernand  having  been  sent  down  with  additional  troops 
to  participate  in  this  movement,  and  ranking  General  Sherman,  took  com 
mand  of  the  expedition.  There  are  but  few  generals  who  would,  under 
the  sting  of  disappointment  and  defeat  for  which  they  were  not  responsi 
ble,  have  submitted,  with  so  good  a  grace,  to  serve  under  another,  and  he 
a  civilian  general,  in  the  execution  of  their  own  plans ;  but  General  Sher 
man  had  learned  well  that  obedience  is  the  first  duty  of  a  soldier,  and  he 


696  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

rendered  it  heartily.  Arkansas  Post  was  taken,  and  Sherman  returned  to 
Grant's  army,  which,  about  this  time,  took  position  at  Young's  Point,  for 
the  operations  against  Yicksburg.  In  these,  General  Sherman  was  con 
spicuous  for  bravery,  skill,  and  promptness  of  action.  In  the  attempt 
made  by  Hear- Admiral  Porter  to  penetrate  to  the  upper  Yazoo,  through 
several  of  the  interlacing  creeks  and  bayous,  it  was  due  *o  the  extraordi 
nary  energy  and  promptness  of  General  Sherman,  that  the  light-draft 
gunboats  of  the  squadron  escaped  from  the  enemy,  who  had  so  nearly 
captured  them.  The  forced  march  through  the  deep  mud  of  the  Yazoo 
country,  which  alone  rescued  them,  was  one  of  the  most  extraordinary 
of  the  war. 

When  General  Grant  determined  to  assail  Vicksburg  from  below,  he 
left  Sherman's  corps  behind,  to  demonstrate  on  Haines'  bluff,  and  draw 
the  Eebel  troops  in  that  direction,  while  he  landed  his  other  corps  below, 
and  marched  northward.  Having  been  successful  in  this,  General  Sher 
man  made  a  rapid  march  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  to  a  point 
opposite  Grand  Gulf,  and  crossing  there,  participated  in  most  of  the  sub 
sequent  battles  of  the  Yicksburg  campaign.  He  defeated  one  wing  of 
Johnston's  forces  at  Jackson,  and  marching,  at  General  Grant's  order,  by 
the  northern  route  to  Yicksburg,  crossed  the  Big  Black  river  at  Bridge 
port,  and  inarching  rapidly,  compelled  the  evacuation  of  the  Rebel  works 
on  Walnut  hills  and  Chickasaw  bluffs,  and  divided  the  Rebel  force  in 
the  outer  defences  of  the  city,  before  the  remainder  of  the  army  came  up. 
In  the  two  assaults  on  Yicksburg,  Sherman's  corps  alone  made  any  con 
siderable  gain;  and  when  the  city  was  surrendered,  he  started  immediately 
for  Jackson,  and  drove  Johnston's  army  from  the  capital.  After  devoting 
the  next  two  months  to  resting,  refitting,  and  recruiting  his  force,  he  re 
ceived  a  telegraphic  despatch  on  the  22d  of  September,  ordering  him  to 
send  a  division  to  reinforce  Rosecrans  at  Chattanooga ;  and  the  next  day, 
an  order  to  follow,  with  the  remainder  of  his  corps.  Both  were  promptly 
obeyed,  and  though  delayed  by  the  low  state  of  the  river,  and  by  the  order 
of  General  Halleck  to  repair  the  railroad,  as  well  as  by  some  hard  fight 
ing,  he  made  a  march  of  most  extraordinary  celerity,  and  brought  his 
advance-guard  into  Chattanooga  on  the  15th  of  November.  It  was  while 
on  this  march,  that  he  was  apprised  that  he  had  been  appointed  comman 
der  of  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  Grant's  previous  command.  His  part 
in  the  battles  of  Chattanooga,  we  have  already  described,  as  well  as  his 
promptness  in  raising  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  and  his  daring  expedition 
into  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country,  in  February,  1864.  Promoted  to 
the  command  of  the  military  division  of  the  Mississippi,  he  inspected 
every  post  and  garrison  in  his  command,  displayed  his  matchless  energy 
and  executive  ability  in  pushing  forward,  mainly  over  a  single  long  rail 
road  line,  supplies  for  his  army  in  such  quantities  as  to  be  for  weeks,  in 
the  subsequent  campaign,  practically  independent  of  his  base,  and  by  the 


REORGANIZATION   OF  THE  UNION   ARMIES.  697 

first  week  in  May,  had  accumulated  at  Chattanooga  an  army  of  one  Hun 
dred  thousand  men,  fully  equipped  for  a  campaign  such  as  had  had  no 
previous  parallel.  Of  the  campaigns  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  the 
retrograde  movement  northward,  the  return  to  Atlanta,  the  departure 
thence  to  Savannah,  the  ability  manifested  in  military  and  civil  affairs 
there,  the  last  and  most  marvellous  march  of  all,  through  the  Carolinas, 
moving  for  sixty  days  without  a  base  of  supplies  through  the  enemy's 
country,  the  rest  and  refitting  at  Goldsboro,  the  new  advance  to  Raleigh, 
and  beyond,  and  the  final  surrender  of  Johnston's  army,  we  have  yet  to 
speak;  but  in  all  we  see  displayed  the  ability,  foresight,  and  strategic  skill 
of  a  great  commander. 

About  the  same  time  that  Lieutenant-General  Grant  received  his  com 
mission,  and  Major- General  Sherman  his  order  to  take  command  of  the 
military  division  of  the  Mississippi,  General  Hal  leek  accepted  the  position 
of  chief  of  staff  to  the  President ;  General  McPherson  was  advanced  to 
the  command  of  the  army  of  the  Tennessee ;  General  Schofield  was  trans 
ferred  from  the  command  of  the  Department  of  Missouri  to  that  of  the 
Ohio,  with  headquarters  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee ;  and  General  Rosecrans 
succeeded  him  in  Missouri ;  and  General  Sigel  was  appointed  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  army  of  Western  Virginia.  Generals  Burnside  and  Han 
cock  were  directed  to  recruit  the  ninth  and  second  corps,  respectively,  up 
to  fifty  thousand  men,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  to  secure  veteran  soldiers 
for  the  purpose. 

The  two  months  which  followed,  were  months  of  great  activity  and  in 
cessant  preparation.  Soon  after  taking  command  of  the  armies  of  the 
United  States,  General  Grant  returned  to  the  West,  and  in  a  protracted 
interview  with  General  Sherman,  settled  upon  the  outlines  of  the  cam 
paign  of  the  ensuing  spring  and  summer,  in  the  West,  and  then  returning 
to  the  East,  devoted  himself  with  great  assiduity  to  the  reorganization  of 
the  armies  of  the  Atlantic  slope,  and  the  marshalling  and  discipline  of 
the  large  body  of  new  recruits  which  were  being  constantly  added  to  their 
ranks.  Among  these  were  two  large  divisions  of  colored  troops,  one  in 
Burnside's  (ninth)  corps,  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  the  other  in  Gill- 
more's  (tenth)  corps,  of  the  army  of  the  James. 

The  morale  of  the  army  was  greatly  improved ;  vicious,  intemperate, 
and  "conditionally  loyal "  officers  were  dismissed  with  little  ceremony,  and 
straggling,  malingering,  and  intemperance,  among  rank  and  file,  severely 
and  promptly  punished.  These  great  improvements  were  equally  manifest 
in  the  army  of  the  West,  where  General  Sherman,  with  unsparing  hand, 
weeded  out  the  officers  whose  vices  had  hitherto  been  tolerated,  but  who 
were  unfit  to  command.  In  both  armies  the  pulse  of  patriotism  beat  high, 
and  officers  and  men  looked  forward  to  the  coming  campaign  with  an  eager 
ness  and  enthusiasm  which  betokened  their  confidence  in  the  speedy  triumph 
of  their  arms. 


698  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

The  Rebel  Government  and  commanders  were,  perhaps,  less  sanguine  of 
Buccess,  but  they  were  not  less  active  and  energetic  in  preparing  for  the 
coming  campaign.  A  new  conscription  law  called  into  the  field  all  their 
white  able-bodied  male  citizens  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  fifty, 
authorizing  details,  where  necessary,  for  special  civil  duty ;  the  army 
officers  were  empowered  to  impress  provisions  for  the  army ;  arms  and 
ammunition  were  purchased  in  England  in  large  quantities,  and  run  into 
Wilmington 'and  Mobile,  evading  the  blockade;  great  activity  was  dis 
played  at  the  few  points  where  cannon,  fire  arms,  and  ammunition  were 
manufactured  in  their  own  territory ;  desertion  and  evasion  of  the  con 
scription,  both  extensively  prevalent,  were  punished  with  terrible  severity, 
and  every  preparation  made  for  a  sanguinary  and  desperate  resistance. 

While  these  preparations  were  going  on,  the  Eebel  cavalry  in  the  West, 
which,  though  recognized  and  commissioned  as  regular  troops  by  the 
Rebel  Government,  was  largely  composed  of  felons,  outlaws,  and  ruffians, 
more  ready  to  commit  murders  and  outrages  than  to  engage  in  honorable 
warfare,  was  guilty  of  a  series  of  disgraceful  and  infamous  murders,  which 
would  stamp  any  government  authorizing  or  sanctioning  them  with  eternal 
dishonor.  The  leaders  in  these  horrible  deeds  were  General  Forrest  and 
General  Chalmers,  who  had  both  attained  a  considerable  notoriety  as 
partisan  and  guerrilla  officers,  and  had  not,  in  their  previous  career,  been 
free  from  the  imputation  of  dishonorable  deeds. 

General  Sherman  was  receiving,  in  March,  large  reinforcements  from 
Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois,  and  was,  at  the  same  time,  using  his  railroad 
communications  to  their  utmost  capacity,  in  pushing  forward  supplies  to 
Memphis,  Johnsouville,  Nashville,  Stevenson,  and  Chattanooga.  It  was 
with  a  view  to  prevent  these  new  troops  from  reaching  his  camps,  and  to 
alarm  him  for  the  safety  of  his  communications,  that  Forrest  was  sent  on 
his  murderous  raid.  He  had  a  force  of  about  seven  thousand  cavalry,  his 
own  and  Chalmers'  command,  and  his  purpose  was  to  attack  the  Union 
garrisons  of  Paducah,  Union  City,  Columbus,  and  Fort  Pillow,  and  to 
threaten  Memphis.  It  had  no  effect,  however,  in  luring  General  Sherman 
from  the  accomplishment  of  his  plans,  and  atrocious  as  was  the  conduct  of 
the  raiders,  they  accomplished  nothing  of  any  benefit  to  the  Rebel  cause, 
while  they  lost  from  their  own  ranks  more  men  than  they  murdered  or 
killed  in  battle. 

Forrest  first  attacked  Union  City  on  the  24th  of  March.  The  town  was 
garrisoned  by  five  hundred  men,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Hawkins, 
of  the  seventh  Tennessee  Union  cavalry.  This  force  repulsed  him  several 
times,  but  finally  yielded  to  his  demand  for  surrender,  though  they 
might,  perhaps,  have  held  the  town.  They  were  taken  prisoners,  but 
were  not  treated  with  particular  cruelty. 

From  Union  City  he  proceeded  to  Paducah,  where  was  a  garrison  of 
six  hundred  and  fifty-five  men,  under  Colonel  S.  G.  Hicks,  and  several 


FORREST'S  ATTACK  ON  FORT  PILLOW.  699 

gunboats  lay  along  the  river  near  the  town.  The  Union  forces  retired 
into  Fort  Anderson,  and  successfully  repelled  the  attacks  of  the  Rebel 
cavalry.  Failing  to  make  any  impression  by  fighting,  Forrest  next  de 
manded  an  unconditional  surrender,  and  closed  his  letter  of  demand  with 
these  words  :  "If  you  surrender,  you  shall  be  treated  as  prisoners  of  war; 
but  if  I  have  to  storm  your  works,  you  may  expect  no  quarter."  Colonel 
Hicks  replied,  saying  that  he  should  not  surrender ;  that  he  had  been 
placed  there  to  defend  that  post,  and  that  he  should  do  so.  Forrest  then 
assaulted  the  fort  three  times,  but  was  repulsed  each  time  with  severe  loss, 
one  of  his  brigadiers  being  killed  in  the  last  assault.  He  withdrew  the 
next  morning,  March  26th,  having  lost  over  three  hundred  killed  and 
about  twelve  hundred  wounded.  In  his  attack  on  Fort  Anderson.  Forrest 
was  guilty  of  the  same  meanness  and  bad  faith  for  which  he  nad  been 
noted  throughout  the  war.  "While  professedly  negotiating,  under  flag  of 
truce,  for  the  surrender  of  the  fort,  he  took  advantage  of  the  cessation  of 
fire  to  creep  up  and  secure  a  better  position  for  making  an  assault,  and 
also  to  plunder  private  stores  and  government  property  in  the  town.  He 
seized  the  women  and  children,  whom  the  officers  of  the  fort  and  of  the 
gunboats  had  advised  to  go  down  to  the  river,  that  they  might  be  taken 
across  out  of  danger,  and  placed  them,  and  the  female  nurses  of  the 
hospitals,  in  front  of  his  lines,  while  he  was  advancing  toward  the  fort,  in 
order  to  prevent  the  garrison  from  firing  on  him.  No  brave  or  gallant 
soldier  would  ever  have  stooped  to  such  measures  for  protection  in  making 
an  attack.  The  other  fortified  posts  along  the  Mississippi  Central  and 
Mobile  and  Ohio  railroads  were  each  approached,  but  finding  them  watch 
ful  and  ready  for  him,  and  having  no  artillery,  he  soon  relinquished  the 
effort  to  capture  them. 

His  approach  to  Fort  Pillow  was  made  stealthily,  before  sunrise  on  the 
morning  of  the  12th  of  April.  The  garrison  there  consisted,  at  the  time, 
of  nineteen  officers  and  five  hundred  and  thirty -eight  enlisted  men,  of 
whom  two  hundred  and  sixty-two  were  colored  troops,  comprising  one 
battalion  of  the  sixth  United  States  heavy  artillery  (formerly  called  the 
first  Alabama  artillery),  under  command  of  Major  L.  F.  Booth ;  one 
section  of  the  second  United  States  light  artillery,  colored ;  and  one  bat 
talion  of  the  thirteenth  Tennessee  cavalry,  white,  commanded  by  Major 
W.  F.  Bradford.  Major  Booth  was  the  ranking  officer,  and  was  in  com 
mand  of  the  post. 

The  first  intimation  which  the  garrison  had  of  the  approach  of  the 
enemy  was  the  driving  in  of  their  pickets.  Fighting  soon  became  general, 
and  about  nine  o'clock  Major  Booth  was  killed.  Major  Bradford  succeeded 
to  the  command,  and  withdrew  all  the  forces  within  the  fort.  They  had 
previously  occupied  some  intrenchments  at  a  little  distance,  and  further 
from  the  river.  There  were  six  pieces  of  artillery  in  the  fort,  viz :  two 
six  pounders,  two  twelve  pounder  howitzers,  and  two  ten  pounder 


700  THE  CIVIL  WAK  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Parrotts.  The  fort  was  situated  on  a  high  bluff,  which  descended  rapidly 
to  the  river's  edge.  The  side  of  the  bluff  toward  the  river  was  covered 
with  trees,  bushes,  and  fallen  timber.  Extending  back  from  the  river,  on 
either  side  of  the  fort,  were  ravines  or  hollows,  the  one  below  the  fort  con 
taining  several  private  stores  and  some  dwellings,  constituting  what  was 
called  the  town.  At  the  mouth  of  that  ravine,  and  on  the  river's  bank, 
were  some  government  buildings,  containing  commissary  and  quarter 
masters'  stores.  The  ravine  above  the  fort  was  known  as  Cold  Creek 
ravine,  and  its  sides  were  covered  with  trees  and  bushes.  To  the  right, 
or  below  and  a  little  to  the  front  of  the  fort,  was  a  level  piece  of  ground, 
on  which  had  been  erected  some  log  huts  or  shanties,  which  were.occupied 
by  the  white  troops,  and  also  used  for  hospital  and  other  purposes. 
Within  the  fort,  tents  had  been  erected,  with  board  floors,  for  the  use  of 
the  colored  troops. 

"  The  Rebels  continued  their  attack,  but,  up  to  two  or  three  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  they  had  gained  no  decisive  success.  The  Union  troops,  both 
white  and  black,  fought  most  bravely,  and  were  in  good  spirits.  The  gun 
boat  number  seven  (New  Era),  Captain  Marshall,  took  part  in  the  conflict, 
shelling  the  enemy  as  opportunity  offered.  There  being  but  one  gunboat 
there,  no  permanent  impression  appears  to  have  been  produced  upon  the 
Rebel  force ;  for,  as  they  were  shelled  out  of  one  ravine,  they  would  make 
their  appearance  in  the  other.  They  would  thus  appear  and  retire  as  the 
gunboat. moved  from  one  point  to  the  other.  About  one  o'clock,  the  fire 
on  both  sides  slackened  somewhat,  and  the  gunboat  moved  out  into  the 
river,  to  cool  and  clean  its  guns,  having  fired  two  hundred  and  eighty-two 
rounds  of  shell,  shrapnell,  and  canister,  which  nearly  exhausted  its  supply 
of  ammunition. 

"  The  Rebels  having  thus  far  failed  in  their  attack,  now  resorted  to  their 
customary  use  of  flags  of  truce.  The  first  flag  of  truce  conveyed  a  demand 
from  Forrest  for  the  unconditional  surrender  of  the  fort.  To  this  Major 
Bradford  replied,  asking  to  be  allowed  one  hour  to  consult  with  his  officers 
and  the  officers  of  the  gunboat.  In  a  short  time  a  second  flag  of  truce 
appeared,  with  a  communication  from  Forrest,  that  he  would  allow  Major 
Bradford  twenty  minutes  in  which  to  move  his  troops  out  of  the  fort,  and 
if  it  was  not  done  within  that  time  an  assault  would  be  ordered.  To  this 
Major  Bradford  returned  the  reply  that  he  would  not  surrender. 

"  During  the  time  these  flags  of  truce  were  flying,  the  Rebels  were  moving 
down  the  ravine,  and  taking  positions  from  which  the  more  readily  to 
charge  upon  the  fort.  Parties  of  them  were  also  engaged  in  plundering 
the  government  buildings  of  commissary  and  quartermasters'  stores,  in 
full  view  of  the  gunboat.  Captain  Marshall  states  that  he  refrained  from 
firing  upon  the  Rebels,  although  they  were  thus  violating  the  flag  of  truce, 
for  fear  that,  should  they  finally  succeed  in  capturing  the  fort,  they  would 
justify  any  atrocities  they  might  commit  by  saying  that  they  were  in 


THE  MASSACRE  AT  FORT  PILLOW.  701 

retaliation  for  his  firing  while  the  flag  of  truce  was  flying.  lie  says  how 
ever,  that  when  he  saw  the  Rebels  coming  down  the  ravine  above  the  fort, 
and  taking  positions  there,  he  got  under  way  and  stood  for  the  fort,  deter 
mined  to  use  what  little  ammunition  he  had  left  in  shelling  them  out  of 
the  ravine ;  but  he  did  not  get  up  within  effective  range  before  the  final 
assault  was  made. 

"  Immediately  after  the  second  flag  of  truce  retired,  the  Rebels  made  a 
rush  from  the  positions  they  had  so  treacherously  gained  and  obtained 
possession  of  the  fort,  raising  the  cry  of  'No  quarter  1'  But  little  oppor 
tunity  was  allowed  for  resistance.  The  Union  troops,  black  and  white, 
threw  down  their  arms,  and  sought  to  escape  by  running  down  the  steep 
bluff  near  the  fort,  and  secreting  themselves  behind  trees  and  logs,  in  the 
bushes,  and  under  the  brush — some  even  jumping  into  the  river,  leaving 
only  their  heads  above  the  water,  as  they  crouched  down  under  the  bank. 

"  Then  followed  a  scene  of  cruelty  and  murder  without  a  parallel  in 
civilized  warfare,  which  needed  but  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife  to 
exceed  the  worst  atrocities  ever  committed  by  savages.  The  Rebels  com 
menced  an  indiscriminate  slaughter,  sparing  neither  age  nor  sex,  white  or 
black,  soldier  or  civilian.  The  officers  and  men  seemed  to  vie  with  each 
other  in  the  fiendish  work;  men,  women,  and  even  children,  wherever 
found,  were  deliberately  shot  down,  beaten,  and  hacked  with  sabres;  some 
of  the  children,  not  more  than  ten  years  old,  were  forced  to  stand  up  and 
face  their  murderers  while  being  shot ;  the  sick  and  the  wounded  were 
butchered  without  mercy,  the  Rebels  even  entering  the  hospital  building 
and  dragging  them  out  to  be  shot,  or  killing  them  as  they  lay  there  unable 
to  offer  the  least  resistance.  All  over  the  hill-side  the  work  of  murder 
was  going  on  ;  numbers  of  Union  men  were  collected  together  in  lines  or 
groups,  and  deliberately  shot ;  some  were  shot  while  in  the  river,  while 
others  on  the  bank  were  shot,  and  their  bodies  kicked  into  the  water,  many 
of  them  still  living,  but  unable  to  make  any  exertions  to  save  themselves 
from  drowning.  Some  of  the  Rebels  stood  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  or  a 
short  distance  down  its  side,  and  called  to  the  Union  soldiers  to  come  up 
to  them,  and  as  they  approached,  shot  them  down  in  cold  blood ;  if  their 
guns  or  pistols  missed  fire,  forcing  them  to  stand  there  until  they  were 
again  prepared  to  fire.  All  around  were  heard  cries  of  '  No  quarter!'  'No 
quarter !'  '  Kill  the  damned  niggers  ;  shoot  them  down  !'  All  who  asked 
for  mercy  were  answered  by  the  most  cruel  taunts  and  sneers.  Some 
were  spared  for  a  time,  only  to  be  murdered  under  circumstances  of  greater 
cruelty.  No  cruelty  which  the  most  fiendish  malignity  could  devise  was 
omitted  by  these  murderers.  One  white  soldier  who  was  wounded  in  one 
leg  so  as  to  be  unable  to  walk,  was  made  to  stand  up  while  his  tormentors 
shot  him ;  others  who  were  wounded  and  were  unable  to  stand,  were 
held  up  and  again  shot.  One  negro,  who  had  been  ordered  by  a  Rebel 
officer  to  hold  his  horse,  was  killed  by  him  when  he  remounted ;  another, 


702  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

a  mere  child,  whom  an  officer  had  taken  up  behind  him  on  his  horse,  was 
seen  by  Chalmers,  who  at  once  ordered  the  officer  to  put  him  down  and 
shoot  him,  which  was  done.  The  huts  and  tents  in  which  many  of  the 
wounded  had  sought  shelter,  were  set  on  fire,  both  that  night,  and  the  next 
morning,  while  the  wounded  were  still  in  them — those  only  escaping  who 
were  able  to  get  themselves  out,  or  who  could  prevail  on  others  less  in 
jured  than  themselves,  to  help  them  out ;  and  even  some  of  those  thus 
seeking  to  escape  the  flames,  were  met  by  those  ruffians  and  brutally  shot 
down,  or  had  their  brains  beaten  out.  One  man  was  deliberately  fastened 
down  to  the  floor  of  a  tent,  face  upward,  by  means  of  nails  driven 
through  his  clothes  and  into  the  boards  under  him,  so  that  he  could  not 
possibly  escape,  and  then  the  tent  set  on  fire  ;  another  was  nailed  to  the 
side  of  a  building  outside  the  fort,  and  then  the  building  set  on  fire  and 
burned.  The  charred  remains  of  five  or  six  bodies  were  afterward 
found,  all  but  one  so  much  disfigured  and  consumed  by  the  flames  that 
they  could  not  be  identified. 

"  These  deeds  of  murder  and  cruelty  ceased  when  night  came  on,  only 
to  be  renewed  the  next  morning,  when  the  demons  carefully  sought 
among  the  dead,  lying  about  in  all  directions,  for  any  of  the  wounded  yet 
alive,  and  those  they  found  were  deliberately  shot.  Scores  of  the  dead 
and  wounded  were  found  there  the  day  after  the  mastacre,  by  the  men 
from  some  of  the  Union  gunboats,  who  were  permitted  to  go  on  shore 
and  collect  the  wounded,  and  bury  the  dead.  The  Eebels  themselves  had 
made  a  pretence  of  burying  a  great  many  of  their  victims,  but  they  had 
merely  thrown  them,  without  the  least  regard  to  care  or  decency,  into  the 
trenches  and  ditches  about  the  fort,  or  the  little  hollows  and  ravines  on 
the  hill-side,  covering  them  but  partially  with  earth.  Portions  of  heads  and 
face,  hands  and  feet,  were  found  protruding  through  the  earth  in  every 
direction.  The  testimony  collected  by  the  '  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of 
the  War,'  also  establishes  the  fact  that  the  Rebels  buried  some  of  the  living 
with  the  dead,  a  few  of  whom  succeeded  afterward  in  digging  themselves 
out,  or  were  dug  out  by  others." 

The  whole  number  thus  brutally  murdered  at  Fort  Pillow,  was  about 
four  hundred,  and  a  very  considerable  number  subsequently  died  of  their 
wounds  at  Mound  City  hospital,  and  elsewhere.  Major  Bradford,  it  ap 
peared,  from  the  evidence  obtained  by  the  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the 
War,  was  murdered  the  day  after  the  capture  of  the  fort,  between  Browns 
ville  and  Jackson,  Tenneseee,  and  of  the  nearly  two  hundred  who  escaped 
death  on  that  day,  it  is  supposed  that  the  greater  part  were  subsequently 
murdered. 

Both  Forrest  and  Chalmers  undoubtedly  ordered  and  sanctioned  this 
massacre,  and  both  subsequently  justified  it,  and  declared  that  they  were 
under  orders  to  kill  every  colored  soldier,  or  "  home-made  Yankee"  (the 
name  they  gave  to  the  white  Tennessee  and  Alabama  unionists),  they 


BUFORD  DEMANDS   THE  SURRENDER  OF   COLUMBUS.         703 

might  capture.  The  Rebel  press  also  justified  and  gloried  in  these  butch 
eries,  .and  the  Rebel  Government  made  them  the  occasion  for  promoting 
both  Forrest  and  Chalmers  to  a  higher  Tank  in  the  army. 

Having  thus  escaped  with  impunity,  after  committing  these  atrocities, 
Forrest  was  emboldened  to  attempt  further  outrages.  He  accordingly 
sent  the  Rebel  General  Buford,  the  next  day,  April  13th,  to  Columbus, 
Kentucky,  to  demand  the  unconditional  surrender  of  that  post.  This  de 
mand  was  coupled  with  a  threat,  that  if  the  post  was  not  immediately 
surrendered,  and  he  were  compelled  to  storm  it,  he  would  show  no  quarter 
to  the  negro  troops.  Colonel  Lawrence,  the  commander  of  the  fortress, 
replied,  that  "  surrender  was  out  of  the  question,  as  he  had  been  placed 
there  by  his  Government  to  hold  and  defend  the  place,  and  he  should  do 
so."  Buford,  like  his  superior  officer,  took  advantage  of  the  flag  of  truce 
to  steal  a  number  of  horses,  but  on  receiving  the  patriotic  reply  of  Colonel 
Lawrence,  he  made  no  attempt  to  attack  the  Union  garrison,  but  retired 
to  Forrest's  camp.  A  considerable  force  of  Union  cavalry  were  now  in 
pursuit  of  Forrest,  and  as  his  vocation  was  rather  to  steal  and  murder 
than  to  fight,  he  made  all  speed  southward,  and  escaped  into  Mississippi. 


704  THE   CIVIL  WAS  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER    LYII. 

PREPARATIONS  FOR  TUB  ADVANCE GENERAL  GRANT'S  STRATEGY SIMULTANEOUS  MOVEMENT 

THE    NUMBERS    IN    THB    OPPOSING    ARMIES SITUATION  OF  THE    SUBORDINATE    ARMIES  OF 

THE    UNION    AND    THEIR    NUMBERS — GENERAL     BUTLER'S    ADVANCE THE     FEINT    ON    YORK 

RIVER — ASCENT  OF  THE  JAMBS  TO  CITY  POINT  AND  BERMUDA    HUNDRED THE  ADVANCE  OJT 

FORT  DARLING THE    TROOPS    DRIVEN    BACK ATTACK  OF    THE    REBELS  ON  BERMUDA  HUN 
DRED THEY  ARE    REPULSED DEPARTURE    OF    THE    EIGHTEENTH    CORPS — THE  ATTACK  ON 

PETERSBURG ITS    PARTIAL   FAILURE ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC    CROSSING    TIIE  RAPIDAN 

THE  BATTLES  OF  MAY  5TH  AND  6TH LEE's  CHANGE  OF  POSITION DEATH  OF  WADSWORTH 

SKETCH  OF  WADSWORTH FIGHTING  OF  MAY    7TH  AND  8TH PARTIAL  LULL  ON  THE  9TH 

DEATH  OF  GENERAL    SEDGWICK DESPERATE    FIGHTING  ON  THE    10TH THE  RESULTS  STILL 

INDECISIVE QUIET  ON  THE  NEXT  DAY GENERAL    GRANT'S  DESPATCH — "FIGHTING  IT  OUT 

ON  THAT  LINE" — TIIE  TERRTBLK  BATTLE  OF  THE  12TH THE  CHARGE  OF  THE  SECOND  CORPS 

— DESPERATE    FIGHTING — WILCOX's    DIVISION    FORCED    BACK — SUCCESS    TURNING    TO    THB 

UNION  SIDE — LOSSES  OF  THB  EIGHT  DAYS  ON  THE  UNION  SIDE LOSSES  ON  THE  REBEL  SIDE 

IMPOSSIBILITY  OF  MOVEMENTS  DURING  THE  STORM SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  SEDGWICK. 

THE  notes  of  preparation  had  sounded  loud  and  long,  and  all  was  ready 
for  such  a  campaign  between  the  opposing  armies  as  had  not  been  sur 
passed  in  any  war  of  modern  times.  Under  the  control  and  at  the 
bidding  of  the  Lieutenant-General,  Sherman's  army  in  Georgia,  Meade's 
army  on  the  Rapidan,  Butler's  on  the  James,  Sigel's  in  the  Shenandoah 
valley,  were  each  to  seek  their  foe,  and  plunge  simultaneously  into  the 
conflict.  Hitherto  it  had  been  towns  or  cities  which  our  armies  sought 
to  win ;  now  it  was  the  opposing  army  itself,  wherever  it  might  retreaty 
which  was  the  real  objective.  Not  Atlanta,  so  much  as  Johnston's  army, 
was  the  prize  Sherman  sought  to  win ;  not  Eichmond,  so  much  as  Lee's 
army,  was  the  guerdon  of  the  armies  of  the  Potomac  and  the  James.  The 
old  strategy  consisted  in  driving  the  covering  force  of  the  foe  from  a  city 
which  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  capture,  and  then  reducing  it,  when  it  had 
but  a  slender  garrison.  Grant's  strategy  aimed  at  something  entirely 
different ;  he  drove  the  army  of  his  enemy  into  his  capital,  surrounded 
and  held  him  there,  striking  first  at  one  flank  and  then  at  the  other,  and 
wearied  him  by  his  pertinacity  and  his  heavy  blows,  until  the  citadel  and 
the  army  of  the  foe  were  surrendered  together,  and  the  war  brought  to  an 
end,  almost  simultaneously  with  the  reduction  of  the  enemy's  capital. 
The  siege  of  the  beleaguered  city  might  be  longer  by  this  process,  but 
when  the  surrender  came,  the  results  amply  repaid  the  delay.  The  cam 
paigns  of  the  spring  and  summer  of  186-i,  both  in  Virginia  and  Georgia, 
were  on  a  far  larger  scale  than  those  of  any  previous  year  of  the  war. 
The  Union  armies  outnumbered  their  opponents  in  both  States,  but  more 
largely  in  the  latter  than  in  the  former,  but  they  were  to  a  greater  extent 
new  troops,  and  were  to  act  on  the  offensive  against  an  enemy  on  his  own 


GENERAL   BUTLER'S   MOVEMENTS   ON   RICHMOND.  705 

territory,  and  with  abundant  intrenched  positions,  and  these  advantages 
fully  counterbalanced  any  excess  of  numbers. 

In  Virginia,  by  the  most  strenuous  efforts,  General  Lee  had  assembled 
a  Rebel  army  far  superior  in  numbers,  discipline,  and  equipment,  to  any 
he  had  hitherto  commanded.  His  army,  when  much  inferior  in  numbers, 
training,  and  equipment,  to  the  present  one,  had  indeed  been  defeated  at 
Antietam  and  Gettysburg,  but  had  always  been  successful  on  its  own 
territory,  and  its  able  commander  might  well  be  hopeful  of  victory  in  the 
coming  contest.  But  he  had  not  reckoned  upon  the  iron  will,  the  stern 
persistence,  the  unyielding  grip,  of  his  antagonist.  He  had  hitherto  been 
matched  against  generals  less  skilled  in  strategy,  less  fertile  in  resources, 
less  capable  of  wielding  a  great  army  effectively  than  himself.  But  he 
was  now  to  contend  against  a  general  who  could  parry  all  his  attacks, 
who  was  a  greater  master  of  strategy  than  himself,  and  who  could  work 
steadily  on  for  months,  or  even  years,  if  necessary,  to  accomplish  his 
purposes. 

The  army  of  the  Potomac,  under  the  command  of  Major-General  Meade, 
numbering,  including  Burnside's  reserves,  which  were  at  this  time  at 
Annapolis,  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  men,  occupied  a 
position  along  the  Rapidan,  south  and  southeast  of  Culpepper  Court 
House. 

Major-General  Butler's  command,  afterward  named  the  arrny  of  the 
James,  consisted  of  the  army  of  southeast  Virginia  and  North  Carolina, 
nearly  or  quite  an  ordinary  army  corps  in  numbers,  the  tenth  (Gillmore's) 
corps,  from  the  Department  of  the  South,  and  the  eighteenth  corps  from 
Louisiana ;  it  numbered  about  forty  thousand,  and  was  concentrated  at 
Fortress  Monroe  and  its  vicinity.  In  the  Shenandoah  valley,  Major- 
General  Sigel  was  in  command  of  a  single  corps  of  not  far  from  ten 
thousand  men,  with  orders  to  participate  in  the  simultaneous  movement, 
by  attacking  the  forces  of  the  enemy  in  the  valley,  and  to  strike  at 
Lynchburg.  Generals  Crook  and  Averell  were  in  West  Virginia,  and 
had  assembled  there  a  force  of  more  than  twenty  thousand  men,  a  part  of 
whom  were  to  be  pushed  forward  to  join  Sigel. 

The  forward  movement  commenced  on  the  4th  of  May.  The  tenth  and 
eighteenth  corps,  of  General  Butler's  command,  having  marched  previously 
from  Fortress  Monroe  to  Yorktown  and  Gloucester  Point,  embarked,  on 
the  4th  of  May,  on  transports,  and  made  a  feint  of  ascending  York 
river,  a  small  force  being  landed  at  West  Point  to  build  wharves,  &c. 
Having  deceived  the  enemy  by  this  movement,  General  Butler  secretly 
re-embarked  his  troops,  and  descended  the  York  river  by  night,  ascended 
the  James,  accompanied  by  a  large  squadron  of  gunboats,  four  monitors, 
and  the  iron-clad  Atlanta.  Landing  a  part  of  his  troops  at  City  Point,  he 
went  on  with  the  remainder  as  far  as  Bermuda  Hundred,  four  miles 
above  Appornattox  river,  where,  landing  under  the  protection  of  the  gun- 
45 


706  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

boats,  they  proceeded  at  once  to  intrench  themselves.  On  the  6th,  he 
ascertained  the  enemy's  position  by  means  of  reconnoitering  parties, 
and  on  the  7th  made  a  demonstration,  with  a  force  of  five  brigades,  toward 
Petersburg.  After  a  sharp  and  severe  fight,  the  Union  troops  succeeded 
in  reaching  and  cutting  the  railroad,  General  Kautz  meanwhile  being  sent 
with  a  cavalry  force  to  burn  the  railroad  bridge  below  Petersburg,  thus 
temporarily  dividing  Beauregard's  force,  a  part  of  which  had  not  yet 
reached  that  city.  Meanwhile,  Colonel  West,  with  two  regiments  of 
colored  troops,  moved  from  Williamsburg,  and  made  a  successful  demon 
stration  on  Lee's  lines  north  of  the  James. 

General  Butler  next  sent  reconnoissances  in  force  toward  Kichmond,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  James,  which  destroyed  the  railroad  between  that 
city  and  Petersburg  for  a  considerable  distance,  busying  the  rest  of  his 
troops  meantime,  in  fortifying  the  two  positions  at  Bermuda  Hundred  and 
City  Point.  This  accomplished,  he  proceeded  at  once  to  lay  siege  to  Fort 
Darling,  a  work  of  considerable  strength,  situated  on  Drewry's  bluff,  an 
eminence  overlooking  the  James,  and  which  had  previously  repulsed  an 
attack  of  the  Union  iron-clads  on  its  river  front. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  the  outer  line  of  earthworks  around  the  fort  was 
carried,  after  a  brief  but  sharp  battle,  and  the  Union  troops  moved  for 
ward  toward  the  second  line,  and  began  to  bring  up  their  artillery  to  bear 
upon  it,  but  committed  the  fatal  mistake  of  neglecting  to  intrench  their 
new  position. 

On  the  16th  of  May,  the  enemy,  taking  advantage  of  this  blunder,  made 
a  sortie  upon  their  lines,  in  a  dense  fog,  (having  been  reinforced  for  the 
purpose  by  the  greater  part  of  Beauregard's  army,)  and  attacking  the 
Union  right  wing  with  great  violence,  forced  it  back  with  very  heavy 
loss,  flanking  it  so  completely  that  the  whole  army  was  compelled  to  fall 
back  to  their  intrench ments  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  which,  however,  they 
succeeded  in  reaching  in  good  order.  The  Rebel  force,  satisfied  with  hav 
ing  compelled  them  to  raise  the  siege  of  the  fort,  did  not  pursue  them  to 
Bermuda  Hundred.  It  is  said  that  Beauregard  sought,  from  the  Rebel 
President,  the  loan  of  ten  thousand  of  Lee's  troops,  in  addition  to  his  own, 
for  thirty-six  hours,  promising,  if  he  could  have  them,  to  annihilate  But 
ler's  force.  Mr.  Davis  refused,  because  that  reduction  of  Lee's  troops, 
even  for  so  short  a  time,  would  compel  him  to  fall  back  to  Richmond,  and 
would  add  to  Grant's  prestige  to  such  an  extent,  that  the  annihilation  of 
Butler's  force  would  not  compensate  for  it.  He  insisted,  however,  that 
Beauregard  could  accomplish  his  object  without  reinforcement.  The  at 
tempt  wa^  made,  and  Butler  suffered  heavy  loss,  nearly  five  thousand  of 
his  troops  being  killed,  wounded,  or  taken  prisoners,  but  he  was  very  far 
from  being  annihilated.  On  the  early  morning  of  the  20th  of  May,  after 
three  days'  skirmishing,  the  Rebel  army  advanced,  and  attacked  Bermuda 
Hundred,  but  were  repulsed  with  severe  slaughter,  and  retreated  in  con- 


THE   ATTACK   ON  PETERSBURG.  707 

siderable  disorder,  leaving  two  hundred  and  sixty-three  of  their  dead  and 
wounded  on  the  field,  and  acknowledging  a  loss  of  over  six  hundred. 
The  Union  loss  was  very  heavy,  but  they  held  their  position,  though  sorely 
distressed  by  their  protracted  fighting,  having  had  little  food  and  no 
rest  for  forty-eight  hours. 

On  the  night  of  the  21st,  the  Rebels  again  attempted  to  carry  the  Union 
lines,  making  a  vigorous  attack  with  both  infantry  and  artillery.  The 
whole  heavens  were  lit  up  by  the  blaze  of  artillery  and  the  bursting  of 
shells.  But  the  affair  ended  in  a  complete  repulse  of  the  enemy,  who 
suffered  severely. 

On  the  2-ith  of  May,  a  brigade  of  Eebel  cavalry,  under  command  of 
General  Fitzhugh  Lee,  approached  the  Union  position  on  the  north  side 
of  the  James,  at  Wilson's  wharf,  which  was  held  by  two  regiments  of 
colored  troops,  under  the  command  of  General  Wild,  and  demanded  the 
instant  surrender  of  their  works,  accompanying  the  demand  with  the 
statement  that  if  they  surrendered  they  should  be  handed  over  to  the 
authorities  of  Richmond  as  prisoners  of  war;  otherwise,  he  would  not  be 
responsible  for  the  consequences,  when  he  captured  the  post.  General 
Wild  replied,  "We  will  try  that."  A  battle  of  three  or  four  hours  ensued, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time,  having  exhausted  his  ingenuity  in  attempting 
to  carry  the  position,  either  by  front  or  flank  attack,  General  Lee  found 
himself  compelled  to  retire,  leaving  the  ground  in  front  of  the  works 
strewn  with  dead  Rebel  cavalry,  and  the  colored  troops  masters  of  the 
field.  On  the  27th  and  28th  of  May,  the  eighteenth  corps,  commanded 
by  General  William  F.  Smith,  was  withdrawn  secretly,  and  embarked  for 
White  House,  whither  they  were  sent  to  reinforce  Grant's  army.  For 
some  days  there  was  no  further  movement,  all  of  Beauregard's  troops 
which  could  be  spared,  having  been  sent  to  reinforce  Lee.  On  the  10th 
of  June,  believing  that  Petersburg  contained  but  a  small  garrison,  General 
Butler  ordered  a  combined  attack  upon  it;  General  Gillmore,  with  about 
three  thousand  five  hundred  troops,  approaching  it  from  the  north ;  Gene 
ral  Kautz,  with  a  fine  cavalry  force,  attacking  it  from  the  south ;  while 
the  remainder  of  the  troops,  commanded  by  General  Butler  in  person,  and 
supported  by  the  gunboats,  should  assail  it  from  the  northeast  and  east. 
General  Kautz  approached  on  the  south  side,  and  after  some  severe  fight 
ing,  forced  his  way  into  the  city,  while  the  gunboats,  and  General  Butler's 
troops,  attacked  vigorously  on  the  east  and  northeast ;  but  General  Gill- 
more,  advancing  toward  the  works  on  the  north  side,  deemed  them  too 
strong  to  be  assailed  by  his  force,  and  withdrew  without  attacking,  and 
General  Kautz,  after  fighting  some  time,  was  compelled,  in  consequence, 
to  withdraw  also.  This  action  ended  the  independent  movements  of  this 
army,  which,  though  maintaining  thenceforward  a  distinct  existence  as 
the  army  of  the  James,  was  under  the  direct  command  of  General  Grant, 


708  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

and  co-operated  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  its  subsequent  siege  of 
Kichmond  and  Petersburg,  making  with  it  but  one  grand  army. 

We  return  now  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  its  advance  against 
Lee's  principal  force.  In  his  reorganization  of  this  army,  Lieutenant- 
General  Grant  had  consolidated  its  five  infantry  corps  into  three;  the 
second,  under  command  of  Major-General  W.  S.  Hancock,  the  fifth,  com 
manded  by  Major-General  G.  K.  Warren,  and  the  sixth,  by  Major-General 
John  Sedgwick.  Beside  these,  he  had  organized  a  reserve  corps,  from 
the  ninth  (Burnside's  old)  corps,  which  had  been  recruited  up  to  nearly 
forty  thousand,  one  division  of  them  colored  troops.  The  cavalry  also 
constituted  a  full  corps,  and  was  placed  under  the  command  of  the  bril 
liant  and  fiery  Sheridan,  whom  Grant  had  ordered  from  the  West  for  this 
very  service. 

The  reserves  were  yet  at  Annapolis,  and  were  supposed  by  the  Kebels 
to  be  intended  to  strike  some  southern  point.  The  Lieutenant-General 
accompanied  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  the  principal  movements  were 
directed  by  him,  though  the  method  of  carrying  them  out  was  left  very 
much  to  Major-General  Meade,  who  commanded  the  army. 

General  Grant's  immediate  design  was,  by  a  series  of  movements  on 
the  right  flank  of  Lee,  to  compel  him  to  fall  back  toward  Richmond,  to 
protect  his  communications  with  the  Kebel  capital.  Of  course,  with  an 
antagonist  so  wary  and  skilful  as  Lee,  and  at  the  head  of  so  formidable  an 
army,  he  could  not  hope  to  effect  a  speedy  destruction  or  surrender  of  his 
army,  or  such  a  weakening  of  it  as  to  permit  his  ready  entrance  into 
Richmond ;  but  the  region  in  which  Lee's  army  was  encamped  was  one 
exceedingly  unfavorable  for  fighting,  and  every  .mile  he  was  compelled  to 
fall  back  brought  him  nearer  to  better  battle-grounds ;  and  it  was,  more 
over,  a  part  of  the  Lieutenant-General's  strategy  to  shut  him  up  in  Rich 
mond. 

While  hoping,  doubtless,  to  succeed  in  his  first  flanking  movement 
without  a  battle,  Grant  was  prepared  to  accept  the  chances  of  it  without 
flinching.  He  soon  found  that  his  wary  foe  was  prepared  to  fight  him  at 
almost  his  first  advance  on  his  right  flank.  Pontoon  bridges  were  laid  at 
Ely's  and  Germania  fords,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  May,  Han 
cock's  corps  crossed  at  the  former,  and  Warren's  and  Sedgwick's  at  the 
latter,  the  entire  force  being  on  the  south  side  of  the  Rapidan  by  noon  of 
that  day.  The  region  upon  which  they  entered  immediately  was  that  same 
Wilderness  in  which  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  had  been  fought ;  a 
rough,  sparsedly  inhabited  country,  covered  for  the  most  part  with  a  heavy 
forest-growth,  and  having  a  wet  and  often  marshy  soil,  which  nourished  a 
dense  undergrowth  of  shrubs,  brambles,  and  young  trees,  offering  insu 
perable  obstacles  to  the  use  of  artillery,  and  rendering  infantry  movements 
exceedingly  difficult. 

Gregg's  division  of  cavalry  was  ordered  to  patrol  the  plank  road  lead- 


THE  FIRST  DAY'S  BATTLE   OF  THE   WILDERNESS.  709 

ing  to  Chancellorsville  and  Fredericksburg,  while  Wilson's  division  did 
the  same  duty  toward  Parker's  store  and  Orange  Court  House,  the  sup 
posed  base  of  the  enemy.  At  all  events,  there  should  be  no  surprise,  no 
unexpected  attack,  such  as  had  stricken  with  panic  the  eleventh  corps  at 
Chancellorsville;  that  much,  at  least,  was  effectually  guarded  against. 
The  second  corps  encamped  on  the  old  battle-field  of  Chancellorsville;  the 
fifth  around  the  old  Wilderness  tavern,  and  the  sixth  between  that  and 
Germania  ford.  Thus  far  they  had  proceeded  without  opposition,  and  at 
roll-call  hardly  a  man  was  missing. 

On  Thursday  morning,  May  5th,  the  reveille  in  the  Union  army  was 
beaten  long  before  daybreak,  and  the  troops  were  ordered  to  move  in  the 
following  order:  Warren's — fifth — corps  from  its  position  on  Belmont 
farm,  near  Wilderness  tavern,  along  the  Spottsylvania  plank  road,  five  mile 
to  Parker's  store;-  Sedg wick's — sixth — corps  to  follow  him  on  the  plank 
road ;  Hancock's — second — corps  to  move  southwesterly  from  Chancellors 
ville  toward  Shady  Grove  church,  on  the  Pamunkey  road,  and  to  form  a 
junction  with  Warren's  left;  Sheridan's  cavalry,  having  been  collected 
at  Piney  Branch  church,  to  make  a  sweeping  reconnoissance  on  the  left 
flank,  and  endeavor  to  find  and  engage  Stuart's  cavalry.  The  immediate 
object  of  these  movements  was  to  straighten  the  Union  line,  and  bring  it 
in  a  continuous  front  upon  Lee's  right  flank.  They  were,  however,  inter 
rupted  before  they  had  attained  their  full  consummation.  The  Union  army 
had  proceeded  but  a  short  distance,  before  there  were  indications  of  the 
approach  of  the  enemy  in  strong  force  ;  E well's  corps  moving  along  the 
turnpike  from  Old  Yerdiersville  on  Mine  Run,  and  A.  P.  Hill's  from  New 
Verdiersville  along  the  Spottsylvania  county  plank  road,  the  one  on  which 
Warren  was  advancing.  Skirmishing  soon  commenced,  and  the  cavalry 
skirmishers  were  driven  in  with  some  loss,  but  General  Grant  ordered  the 
march  to  be  continued  until  some  rolling  ridges  in  advance  were  gained, 
and  then  halting  his  troops,  disposed  them  advantageously  in  line  of  battle, 
and  quickly  throwing  up  some  hasty  and  rude  breastworks,  awaited  the 
enemy's  onset.  In  the  line  thus  formed,  Sedgwick  held  the  right  toward 
the  Rapidan  ;  Warren  the  centre,  on  the  plank  road,  near,  but  a  little  east 
of  Parker's  store  ;  and  Hancock  stretched  out  toward  Shady  Grove  church, 
southeast  of  Warren,  and  formed  the  left  wing.  The  Union  line  extended 
nearly  five  miles,  the  centre  being  thrown  a  little  forward. 

About  noon,  Griffin's  division  of  Warren's  corps,  whose  advance  had 
already  skirmished  with  the  enemy  and  been  driven  back,  was  ordered  to 
push  his  division  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  turnpike  to  feel  the  enemy.  He 
obeyed,  moving  Bartlett's  brigade  to  the  right,  and  Ayres'  (regulars)  to 
the  left,  while  Barnes'  brigade  was  held  in  reserve.  Less  than  a  mile's 
march,  stretching  across  the  turnpike,  brought  them  in  collision  with 
E  well's  corps,  well  posted  in  a  wooded  acclivity.  A  sharp  engagement 
ensued  for  an  hour,  but  the  presence  of  this  overwhelming  force  (a  full 


710  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

corps)  upon  two  brigades,  and  especially  upon  Ayres',  could  no  longer  be 
resisted,  and  the  two  brigades  fell  back,  leaving  two  pieces  of  artillery, 
the  horses  of  which  had  nearly  all  been  killed,  in  the  enemy's  hands. 
Wadsworth's  and  Robinson's  divisions,  both  of  the  fifth  corps,  advanced 
promptly  and  relieved  Griffin,  holding  the  enemy  completely  in  check. 
After  an  hour  more  of  musketry  firing,  with  a  little  artillery,  that  partic 
ular  locality  being  partially  cleared,  the  enemy  moved  off  to  attack 
another  point.  The  purpose  of  this  desperate  attack  on  the  part  of  Lee, 
had  been  to  pierce  the  right-centre,  and  thus  destroy  the  Union  army 
before  it  arrived  in  position.  He  had  been  foiled  by  the  steadiness  and 
firmness  of  Griffin's  troops,  and  when  they  were  at  last  forced  back,  by 
the  prompt  support  accorded  to  them  by  Wadsworth  and  Robinson. 

Disappointed  in  this,  the  Rebel  commander  now  transferred  his  troops 
to  the  left-centre,  and  attempted  to  force  his  way  between  Warren  and 
Hancock.  It  was  about  three  o'clock  when  this  effort  was  made,  and 
Hancock,  who  had  been  recalled  from  his  advance  toward  Shady  Grove 
when  the  first  attack  was  made,  and  had  marched  rapidly  across  to  close 
the  gap  in  the  line  of  battle,  had  arrived — but  with  no  time  to  spare,  as 
the  Rebel  advance  were  pushing  on  to  insert  themselves  between  the  two 
corps.  Getty's  division  of  the  sixth  corps,  had  been  temporarily  detached 
and  sent  to  the  left  beyond  Warren,  and  the  first  brigade  of  Mott's  division 
of  the  second  corps,  had  just  formed  a  junction  with  it,  when  A.  P.  Hill's 
corps  came  upon  them  with  great  force.  The  stubborn  fighting  of  these 
two  divisions  enabled  the  remainder  of  Hancock's  corps  to  arrive  and 
form,  and  in  a  few  moments  Hancock  burst  upon  their  right  with  a  hot 
fire  of  musketry.  Birney,  Barlow,  and  Gibbons,  successively  hurried 
their  respective  divisions  into  the  fight.  The  contest  that  followed  was 
one  of  extraordinary  intensity  and  stubbornness.  The  Rebel  comman 
der,  massing  his  troops,  poured  in  for  hours  a  deadly  hail  of  musketry, 
such  as  had  not  perhaps  been  surpassed  in  fury  during  the  war.  There 
was  little  or  no  play  of  artillery,  owing  to  the  dense  undergrowth  ;  but  on 
both  sides  the  sharp  crack  of  the  rifle  and  musket,  and  the  ringing  of 
the  volleys  was  incessant.  The  iron  second  corps,  mostly  composed  of 
veterans,  held  nearly  three  times  its  own  numbers  at  bay,  but  in  order  to 
relieve  the  terrible  pressure  which  was  steadily  crowding  upon  them  in 
spite  of  the  splendid  fight  they  were  making,  it  was  necessary  to  advance 
along  the  whole  line.  The  advance  was  ordered,  and  while  the  darkness 
was  fast  gathering,  Sedgwick's — sixth — corps,  which  had  been  engaged 
heavily  since  half-past  three,  and  to  some  extent  since  half-past  one,  P.  M., 
pressed  upon  the  enemy,  and  drove  him  back,  putting  E well's  corps 
in  extreme  peril.  With  this  gain  upon  the  Union  right,  the  fighting, 
which  had  extended  far  into  the  night,  closed.  The  losses  in  killed  and 
wounded  on  each  side  had  been  about  equal,  but  the  Rebels  had  the  ad 
vantage  in  the  number  of  prisoners,  they  having  captured  nearly  one 


THE   SECOND   DAY'S   BATTLE  OF  THE  WILDERNESS.          711 

thousand,  while  the  Union  troops  had  only  three  hundred.  The  battle 
was  indecisive,  and  each  army  awaited  the  coming  of  the  morrow  to  renew 
the  contest.  Still,  General  Grant  had  gained  some  advantage  in  the  fight; 
he  had  learned  the  position  and  strength  of  Lee's  army,  information  of 
great  value  to  him;  he  had,  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  formed  his  troops 
advantageously,  and  had  them  well  in  hand  for  the  next  day's  fighting, 
and  the  ninth  (Burnside's)  corps,  his  reserves,  which  had  been  ordered  up 
when  the  advance  was  made,  arrived  in  the  evening  after  a  forced  march, 
and  were  distributed  to  the  support  of  the  other  three  corps.  The  line 
remained  substantially  as  on  the  preceding  day,  stretching  from  north 
west  to  southeast,  over  a  line  nearly  parallel  with  that  from  Germania  ford 
to  Chancellorsville. 

On  Friday,  May  6th,  at  the  very  dawn  of  day  the  battle  was  resumed. 
Sedg wick's  corps,  on  the  right,  had  been  ordered  to  advance  at  five 
o'clock  A.M.,  but  fifteen  minutes  before  that  time  the  enemy  were  upon 
them,  making  a  desperate  effort  to  turn  their  flank.  This  effort  was  re 
pulsed,  and  the  Union  line  pushed  forward  a  few  hundred  yards,  but 
without  gaining  any  material  advantage.  At  eight  o'clock  A.  M.,  and 
again  at  half-past  ten,  the  Rebels  massed  on  the  right,  and  repeated  their 
efforts  to  turn  Sedgwick's  flank,  but  in  vain,  though  heavy  losses  were 
experienced  on  both  sides.  Whenever  there  was  a  lull,  the  Union  troops 
at  once  commenced  throwing  up  breastworks,  which  proved  of  great 
advantage.  Hancock,  moving  out  at  dawn,  had  encountered  and  driven 
back  Hill's  corps  more  than  two  miles,  toward  Parker's  store.  Here, 
being  reinforced  by  Longstreet,  they  succeeded  in  holding  their  ground, 
leaving,  howeve^  many  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  Union  troops. 
After  a  lull,  the  Rebels  came  up  and  assailed  the  left  with  great  fury,  fol 
lowing  up  their  attack  along  the  whole  line  with  such  vigor  as  to  throw 
it  into  some  confusion.  Reinforcements  from  Burnside's  corps  coming  up, 
order  was  restored,  and  the  Rebels  held  in  check. 

The  entire  line  swayed  back  and  forth  with  the  shifting  fortunes- of  the 
terrific  fight,  and  the  dense  and  heavy  thicket  in  contention  was  covered 
with  the  dead  and  wounded  of  both  armies.  The  Union  right  and  centre 
had  gained  a  little  ground  under  a  hot  fire ;  but  this  only  brought  them 
in  front  of  the  enemy's  intrenched  line,  posted  on  an  extended  ridge,  and 
approached  through  a  densely  wooded  swamp  of  considerable  width,  pro 
tected  by  a  front  and  flank  fire.  "Warren's  and  a  part  of  Sedgwick's  corps 
assailed  this  twice,  unsuccessfully,  in  the  course  of  the  morning,  and  in 
the  second  attack  Brigadier-General  James  S.  "Wadsworth,  commanding 
one  of  the  divisions  in  the  fifth  corps,  was  mortally  wounded  and  taken 
prisoner.* 

*  Brigadier-General  James  Samuel  "Wadsworth  was  the  son  of  Hon.  James  Wads- 
worth,  of  Genesee,  one  of  the  largest  landholders  of  western  New  York,  and  a  man  of 
most  noble  and  philanthropic  spirit.  General  Wadsworth  was  born  in  Genesee, 


THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

A  comparative  lull  took  place  about  noon,  and  was  improved  by  the 
Union  commander,  in  concentrating  his  lines,  and  bringing  Burnside's 
corps  up  to  fill  the  gap  between  Hancock  and  Warren.  Hancock's  corps 
was  also  brought  forward  from  the  Brock  road  toward  the  centre.  These 
changes  had  hardly  been  completed,  when  Longstreet  and  Hill  again  fell 
upon  the  left  and  centre  with  great  fury,  and  pushed  them  back  for  a  little 
distance.  At  the  junction  of  the  left  and  centre  their  attack  was  particu 
larly  severe ;  Crawford's  division  of  the  fifth  corps,  Carr's  division  of  the 
second  corps,  and  Stevenson's  division  of  the  ninth  corps,  sustaining  the 
brunt  of  the  attack.  Stevenson's  division  at  length  gave  way,  but  General 
Hancock  sent  Carroll's  brigade,  of  the  second  division  of  his  corps,  to 
drive  back  the  enemy,  who  were  rushing  into  the  gap,  and  they  were  re 
pulsed  with  severe  loss.  Finding  himself  foiled  in  all  his  efforts  on  the 
centre  and  left,  Lee  again,  just  at  night,  turned  his  attention  to  the  right, 
and  by  a  sudden  and  furious  assault,  turned  and  broke  the.  brigades  of 

October  30th,  1807.  He  was  educated  at  Harvard  and  Yale  colleges,  and  studied  law 
under  Daniel  Webster,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1833.  He  did  not  practice  his 
profession  to  any  considerable  extent,  his  extensive  estates  requiring  his  entire  atten 
tion.  He  had  become  distinguished  for  his  liberality,  not  only  to  his  tenants,  whose 
rents  he  remitted,  when  their  crops  were  visited  by  the  midge,  to  the  amount  of 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars  in  a  single  year,  but  to  the  cause  of  education,  of  which, 
like  his  father,  he  was  a  warm  and  bountiful  friend;  to  the  starving  poor  of  Ireland,  to 
whom,  in  1847,  he  sent  a  thousand  bushels  of  corn,  and  to  every  good  object.  Giving 
was  to  him  a  pleasure  and  delight.  When,  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  the  railroadn 
leading  to  Washington  were  obstructed  and  torn  up,  he  freighted  a  vessel  with  pro 
visions,  at  his  own  expense,  and  set  sail  in  it  for  Annapolis,  whence  he  sent  the 
supplies  to  Washington  for  distribution  to  the  army.  He  was  appointed  in  January, 
1861,  a  member  of  the  Peace  Conference  which  met  at  Washington ;  but  finding  all 
efforts  to  prevent  the  war  were  unavailing,  he  entered  in  earnest  upon  the  contest. 
Governor  Morgan  appointed  him  major-general  of  New  York  State  troops,  but  he 
declined  the  commission.  He  served  as  volunteer  aid  to  General  McDowell  in  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  his  conduct  in  that  relation  was  highly  commended  by  the 
general.  Mr.  Lincoln  nominated  him  for  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  he  was 
at  once  confirmed  by  the  Senate.  He  commanded  a  brigade  in  the  army  of  the 
Potomac  till  March,  1862,  when  he  was  appointed  military  governor  of  the  District  of 
Columbia,  a  post  which  he  held  during  most  of  the  remainder  of  the  year.  He  was 
the  Republican  candidate  for  Governor  of  New  York,  in  the  autumn  of  1862,  but  was 
defeated  by  Horatio  Seymour.  In  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  he  was  again  engaged 
in  active  duty,  having  command  of  the  first  division  of  the  first  (Reynold's)  corps,  and 
participated  in  the  hard  fighting  of  that  disastrous  battle.  He  also  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Chancellorsville,  or  rather,  in  the  feint  which  preceded  it  on  the  left  wing, 
and  at  Gettysburg  distinguished  himself  for  his  coolness  and  bravery.  He  was  greatly 
rejoiced  at  being  able  to  participate  in  the  battles  of  Grant's  campaign,  but  on  the 
second  day  of  the  battle,  while  leading  a  charge,  was  struck  by  a  ball  in  the  forehead, 
and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  He  remained  insensible  till  the  8th  of  May, 
when  lie  died.  An  Irishman,  to  whom  he  had  rendered  some  service,  recognized  him, 
attended  him  till  his  death,  buried  him,  and  informed  the  Union  troops  of  the  place 
and  circumstances  of  his  death. 


GENERAL  LEE'S  CHANGE  OF  POSITION.  713 


Seymour  and  Shaler,  on  the  extreme  right,  and  captured  both  generals, 
with  a  considerable  portion  of  their  commands.  By  the  most  extraor 
dinary  effort  and  personal  exposure,  General  Sedgwick  succeeded  in 
rallying  his  corps  and  holding  the  position,  which  was  in  great  peril  at 
one  time,  and  the  flanking  of  which  would  have  brought  destruction  upon 
the  whole  army.  Had  the  enemy  been  fully  aware  how  nearly  they  had 
succeeded,  they  would  not,  in  all  probability,  have  relinquished  the  attack 
as  they  did.  The  losses  of  this  day  had  been  very  heavy,  large  numbers 
being  wounded,  and  many  prisoners  captured.  The  Rebels  had  taken 
many  more  prisoners  than  the  Union  troops,  but  their  casualties  in  killed 
and  wounded  had  also  been  greater.  The  result  was  still  indecisive,  and 
the  two  armies  seemed  very  evenly  balanced. 

During  the  night,  the  right  wing  was  drawn  back  and  strengthened. 
At  daybreak  on  Saturday  morning,  the  Union  forces  opened  the  conflict 
again,  with  artillery,  which  they  had  planted  in  a  favorable  position  to 
protect  their  right  wing.  This  cannonading  elicited  no  reply,  and  an  ad 
vance  being  ordered,  a  series  of  brisk  skirmishes  ensued,  in  which  the 
Union  troops  were  generally  victorious.  About  noon,  it  became  evident 
that  General  Lee  was  falling  back  with  his  main  force  toward  Spottsyl- 
vania  Court  House,  having  abandoned  his  strong  line  of  intrenchments  at 
Mine  Run,  for  his  second  defensive  line  on  or  near  the  North  Anna.  His 
tactics  in  this  movement  were  similar  to  those  he  practiced  at  Chancellors- 
ville,  his  purpose  being  to  outflank  his  antagonist,  while  he  was  attempt 
ing  to  flank  him,  and  compel  him  to  change  his  front  or  have  his  lines 
broken  and  annihilated.  There  was  a  cavalry  battle  on  Saturday  after 
noon,  between  four  brigades  of  Sheridan's  cavalry,  and  Stuart's  Rebel 
cavalry,  in  which  Sheridan  held  the  ground.  The  infantry  meantime 
pursued  Lee,  who  turned  again  and  again  to  give  battle,  as  the  Union 
troops  pressed  him.  On  Saturday  evening,  Fredericksburg  was  occupied 
and  made  a  depot  for  the  Union  wounded  troops.  Hancock's  and  Burn- 
side's  corps  pressed  on  as  far  as  possible,  and  early  on  Sunday  morning, 
May  8th,  resumed  the  chase.  Warren's  corps  remained  till  dark,  Satur 
day  evening,  on  the  site  of  the  battle-field  of  Friday,  and  then  set  out  and 
rilnrched  all  night,  taking  the  Brock  road,  past  Todd's  tavern,  to  Spottsyl- 
vania  Court  House.  Soon  after  leaving  Todd's  tavern,  Sunday  morning, 
Bartlett's  brigade  of  Griffin's  division,  fifth  corps,  being  in  advance  as 
skirmishers,  were  fired  upon  by  the  enemy.  Line  of  battle  was  formed 
at  once,  and  the  corps  came  into  action.  A  severe  battle  was  fought, 
and  the  enemy  at  last  driven  back,  but  the  Union  troops  were  so  greatly 
exhausted  that  they  could  march  no  farther  for  the  time.  Toward  evening, 
General  Grant  ordered  an  advance,  which  was  attempted  by  the  fifth  and 
sixth  corps,  and  resulted  in  another  sharp  battle. 

On  Monday,  May  9th,  there  was  quiet  in  the  morning,  then  skirmishing 
and  artillery  firing,  but  no  general  battle  till  evening.     During  the  day 


714  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

General  Sedgwick,  the  commander  of  the  sixth  corps,  was  killed  by  a 
ball  from  the  rifle  of  a  sharpshooter,  while  superintending  the  mounting 
of  artillery.  The  positions  of  the  different  corps  had  been  changed  on 
Sunday,  with  a  view  to  prevent  Lee's  attempted  flanking  movement. 
Hancock  now  held  the  right,  Warren  the  centre,  and  the  sixth  corps  the 
left.  Toward  evening,  General  Grant  ordered  another  advance  on  the 
enemy,  and  the  second  corps  again  led  the  attack,  this  time  on  the  right, 
while  Burnside  offered  battle  on  the  left.  The  battle  was  one  of  great 
severity,  artillery  being  used  to  a  greater  extent  than  in  any  previous 
battle  of  the  campaign,  and  both  sides  alternately  charging.  The  object 
of  the  battle  was  the  possession  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  but  at  the 
close  of  the  night's  fighting,  the  Rebels  still  held  it,  and  Hancock's  brave 
corps  retired  slowly,  having  largely  increased  their  previous  heavy 
losses. 

On  Tuesday,  May  10th,  the  incessant  storm  of  battle  culminated  in  the 
most  terrific  carnage  of.  the  campaign.  The  position  of  the  two  armies 
was  as  follows :  the  Union  army  stretched  along  the  Po»  for  a  distance  of 
nearly  six  miles,  from  the  vicinity  of  Corbin's  bridge,  nearly  to  Glady  Run, 
Hancock's  corps  being  on  the  south  side  of  the  Po,  and  the  other  troops 
on  the  north.  Burnside  occupied  the  extreme  left,  facing  Spottsylvania 
Court  House ;  next,  north,  lay  the  sixth  (Wright's)  corps ;  then  Warren'a, 
and  finally  Hancock's,  on  the  extreme  right ;  both  right  and  left  were  pro 
tected  by  several  batteries  of  artillery,  and  the  ground  was  more  favorable 
than  it  had  hitherto  been  for  using  them,  though  a  dense  forest  lay  directly 
in  front  of  the  Union  army.  The  Rebels  still  held  Spottsylvania,  and  the 
region  north  of  the  Court  House.  Their  right  rested  on  the  Ny  river ; 
their  centre  was  thrown  forward  a  little,  and  posted  on  commanding 
ground,  and  their  left  rested  on  Glady  Run.  Their  whole  line  was  strongly 
intrenched.  In  his  counter  flanking  movement,  Lee  had  been  so  far 
successful  that  his  army  lay  east,  or  rather  southeast,  of  the  Union  forces, 
instead  of  southwest  of  them,  as  at  the  beginning  of  the  campaign.  His 
position  was  not  only  well  supported  by  breastworks,  but  along  his  cen 
tre  was  the  forest  and  underbrush,  lining  a  marsh  partially  drained  by  a 
creek.  + 

The  battle  opened  in  the  early  morning,  by  a  terrific  cannonade  of  the 
Union  artillery  against  the  advancing  lines  of  the  enemy,  and  for  the 
first  time  in  the  campaign  was  this  arm  brought  into  full  and  destructive 
use.  Burn  side's  corps  next  skirmished  cautiously  on  the  extreme  left. 
Mott's  division,  of  Hancock's  corps,  was  then  transferred  to  the  left,  and 
the  advance  continued,  pressing  heavily  upon  the  enemy's  right.  General 
Grant's  orders  were  now  to  attack  the  Rebel  centre,  and  accordingly,  Gib 
bons'  and  Birney's  divisions,  of  the  second  corps,  were  drawn  back  from 
the  south  side  of  the  Po,  to  connect  with  the  fifth  corps,  the  second  and 
fourth  divisions  of  which  co-operated  in  the  attack,  and  were  supported  by 


GRANT'S  DESPATCH  TO   SECRETARY  ST ANTON.  715 

the  remainder  of  the  fifth  corps.  The  Union  troops  fought  with  great 
tenacity  and  fury  for  several  hours,  driving  the  enemy  to  his  rifle-pits ; 
but,  though  Gibbons'  division,  and  especially  Carroll's  brigade,  charged 
fiercely  and  repeatedly  upon  these,  they  could  not  capture  them.  General 
James  C.  Kice,  commanding  a  brigade  in  the  fourth  division  of  the  fifth 
corps,  an  officer  of  great  promise,  was  killed. 

By  this  check  of  the  Union  centre,  Barlow's — the  only  remaining  divi 
sion  of  the  second  corps  on  the  right — was  thrown  into  extreme  peril,  and 
orders  were  given  to  withdraw  it  to  the  north  side  of  the  Po ;  but  the 
enemy  had  already  attacked  it  in  great  force,  and  turned  it.  After  severe 
fighting,  its  withdrawal  was  at  length  effected.  Toward  evening,  a  most 
energetic  and  gallant  assault  was  made  by  the  whole  line.  Upton's  bri 
gade,  of  the  first  division  of  the  sixth  corps,  and  Russell's  brigade,  from 
the  third  division,  led  the  forlorn  hope,  moving  steadily  forward  amid  a 
raking  and  murderous  fire,  without  firing  a  shot,  scaled  the  enemy's 
works  in  gallant  style,  and  captured  more  than  a  thousand  prisoners,  and 
several  guns ;  but  finding  themselves  far  in  advance  of  the  enemy,  and 
not  properly  supported,  they  were  compelled  to  fall  back,  with  their  dearly 
won  prisoners,  from  this  daring  assault.  As  on  each  preceding  day,  night 
closed  on  a  hard  fought  but  indecisive  field. 

On  Wednesday,  May  llth,  the  position  of  the  two  armies  was  much 
the  same  as  on  the  previous  day,  and  though  there  was  some  skirmishing, 
there  was  not  much  heavy  fighting.  A  reconnoissance,  intended  proba 
bly  as  a  feint,  was  sent  out  to  investigate  the  condition  of  the  enemy's  left, 
and  assaulting  columns  from  the  sixth  and  second  corps  were  ordered  to 
put  themselves  in  readiness  for  attack,  but  the  object  having  been  accom 
plished,  of  drawing  the  enemy's  force  to  that  wing,  the  enterprise  was 
delayed.  In  the  afternoon,  rain  commenced,  for  the  first  time  during  the 
campaign,  and  the  two  armies  desisted  for  the  time  from  their  hostilities, 
except  occasional  artillery  firing.  It  was  at  this  time  that  General  Grant 
sent  his  famous  despatch  to  Secretary  Stanton.  It  was  as  follows :  "  We 
have  now  ended  the  sixth  day  of  very  hard  fighting.  The  result  to  this 
time  is  much  in  our  favor.  Our  losses  have  been  heavy,  as  well  as  those 
of  the  enemy.  I  think  the  loss  of  the  enemy  must  be  greater.  We  have 
taken  over  five  thousand  prisoners  in  battle,  whilst  he  has  taken  from  us 
but  few,  except  stragglers.  I  propose  to  fight  it  out  on  this  line  if  it  takes 
all  summer." 

The  fiercest  battle,  however,  was  yet  in  reserve.  During  Wednesday 
night,  Hancock's  corps,  which  since  Sunday  had  been  upon  the  right,  was 
transferred  to  the  left,  between  Wright's — sixth — and  Burnside's — ninth — 
corps,  thus  leaving  Warren's — fifth — corps  on  the  right  wing,  while 
Wright's  and  Hancock's  constituted  respectively  the  right  and  left-centre, 
and  Burnside's  the  left  wing.  At  dawn  of  day  on  Thursday,  May  12th, 
sheltered  by  the  darkness  and  by  a  dense  mist,  the  second  corps  moved 


716  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

quietly  and  cautiously  up  from  its  position  toward  the  enemy's  lines. 
Barlow's  and  Birney's  divisions  formed  the  first  line,  and  Gibbon's  and 
Mott's  the  reserve.  Barlow's  advance  marched  in  columns  of  battalions, 
doubled  on  the  centre.  As  the  corps  surmounted  gradually  the  rugged 
and  woody  space  which  intervened,  the  excitement  increased,  till  it  broke 
out  in  a  splendid  rush  at  the  Kebel  intrenchments,  which  the  troops  of 
that  gallant  division  leaped  with  loud  cheers,  dashing  into  the  enemy's 
camp  and  compelling  their  surrender  in  mass.  Hardly  a  gun  was  fired, 
the  charge  being  made  entirely  with  the  bayonet.  It  was  a  clear  surprise, 
and  resulted  in  the  capture  of  an  entire  Kebel  division  (Edward  Johnson's), 
of  three  thousand  men,  thirty  or  forty  guns,  and  Major-General  Johnson, 
and  Brigadier-General  G.  H.  Stewart,  all  of  Ewell's  corps.  No  sooner 
was  the  first  line  of  rifle-pits  carried  than  the  second  was  stormed  with 
great  impetuosity,  and,  after  a  stout  resistance,  wrested  from  the  enemy. 
This,  the  first  considerable  success  of  the  campaign,  inserted  the  second 
corps  as  a  wedge  between  the  enemy's  centre  and  right,  and  if  that  wedge 
could  be  driven  to  its  head,  the  result  would  inevitably  be  the  dismember 
ment  of  Lee's  army. 

The  charge  of  the  second  corps  was  followed  by  a  heavy  cannonade 
all  along  the  line,  to  which  the  Rebels  promptly  replied,  and  under  cover 
of  which  the  whole  line  moved  up  to  support  the  second  corps.  Burn- 
side  pressed  in  on  the  extreme  left,  converging  toward  the  penetrated 
space,  and  speedily  joined  his  right  to  Hancock's  left  division,  closed  the 
gap,  and  mingled  his  infantry  fire  with  that  of  Hancock's  corps.  On  the 
other  side,  the  sixth  corps  also  threw  itself  against  Ewell's  left,  and  on 
the  extreme  right  Warren's  corps  became  hotly  engaged,  and  an  incessant 
rattle  and  roar  of  battle  arose  along  the  whole  line.  The  rain  began 
again  to  descend  with  greater  violence  than  on  the  preceding  day,  but  it 
did  not  in  the  least  cool  the  ardor  of  the  combatants. 

By  nine  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  Bebels,  fully  roused  to  the  value  of  the  posi 
tion  they  had  lost,  began  a  series  of  desperate  and  furious  charges  against 
the  second  and  ninth  corps,  in  the  hope  of  regaining  their  lines.  For 
three  hours  the  battle  was  as  bloody  and  fierce  as  any  battle  of  the  war. 
The  Kebel  columns  surged  with  unflinching  determination  against  the 
Union  lines,  retiring  each  time  with  their  heavily  massed  columns  cut 
through  and  through  by  the  cross  and  enfilading  fires  of  artillery  and 
musketry  which  were  steadily  brought  to  bear  upon  them.  At  length, 
about  noon,  the  enemy,  surfeited  with  slaughter,  abandoned  for  a  time 
their  attempts  to  regain  their  lost  position.  But  if  they  had  not  been 
successful  in  this,  they  had  at  least  checked  any  further  advance ;  and  of 
the  captured  cannon,  the  greater  part  lay  covered  by  the  guns  of  the 
sharpshooters,  neither  party  being  able  to  carry  them  off. 

The  LTnion  troops  on  the  centre  and  right,  emulating  the  success  of  the 
second  corps,  had  charged  the  enemy's  centre  with  great  gallantry;  but 


DESPERATE   BATTLE   AT   SPOTTSYLVANIA.  717 

the  position  was  impregnable,  and  after  repeated  heroic  attempts,  the 
effort  to  capture  it  was  abandoned.  Finding  that  success  lay  most  clearly 
in  turning  the  enemy's  right,  General  Meade,  after  a  temporary  lull, 
began,  in  the  early  afternoon,  to  crowd  his  troops  down  toward  the  left, 
shortening  and  massing  his  line,  and  again  pouring  a  fierce  musketry  and 
artillery  fire  into  the  enemy,  and  pressing  hard  upon  their  right  and  right- 
centre.  All  through  the  afternoon,  and  till  nightfall,  the  carnage  went  on 
with  varying  success  along  the  line,  the  resistance  of  the  Rebels  being 
stubborn,  and  the  whole  field,  from  headquarters  to  the  extreme  front, 
being  at  times  swept  by  their  fire.  Finding  that  the  Union  right  had 
been  merely  holding  them  in  front  from  reinforcing  their  right,  and  that 
the  Union  troops  had  now  abandoned  their  front,  the  Rebels  began  to 
concentrate  their  troops  upon  the  important  point  on  the  Union  left,  and 
every  inch  of  the  muddy  soil,  already  slippery  with  gore,  was  fought 
over  with  desperation,  and  yielded  only  when  it  was  impossible  to  hold 
it.  The  rival  bayonets  often  interlocked,  and  a  fierce  and  death-like 
grapple  over  the  intrenchrnents  lasted  for  hours,  the  Rebel  flags  now 
surging  up  side  by  side  with  those  of  the  Union,  and  anon,  torn  and 
riddled,  disappearing  in  the  woods.  The  dead  and  wounded  lay  thickly 
strewn  along  the  ground,  and  were  fairly  heaped  up  where  the  fight  was 
deadliest. 

Exasperated  at  our  Access  on  their  right-centre,  as  well  as  at  the  per 
tinacity  and  determination  with  which  Burnside's  corps  were  forcing  them 
back,  and  attempting  to  turn  their  right  flank,  the  Rebels  prepared  a 
strong  counter-movement  on  their  extreme  right,  and  massing  their  troops 
against  Wilcox's  division,  forming  the  extreme  left  of  the  Union  army,  in 
spite  of  the  most  desperate  fighting,  bore  it  back,  capturing  three  hun 
dred  prisoners  from  Hartranft's  brigade ;  and  leaving  as  large  a  number  of 
dead  and  wounded  on  the  ground,  rushed  forward  in  pursuit,  but  were 
checked  and  driven  back  with  great  loss,  by  a  sweeping  artillery  fire, 
from  batteries  brought  up  and  posted  since  the  advance  of  the  morning. 
The  other  divisions  of  the  corps  stood  firm,  and  even  penetrated  to  the 
enemy's  intrench ments.  Hard  fighting  continued,  but  the  Union  troops 
were  obliged  to  content  themselves  with  what  they  had  already  gained, 
and  the  Rebels  to  be  resigned  to  their  losses.  After  fourteen  hours'  fight 
ing,  night  fell  on  a  battle  unsurpassed  in  severity  during  the  war.  For 
the  first  time  in  the  campaign,  a  decided  success  had  been  achieved.  A 
strong  and  permanent  foothold  had  been  gained  in  the  enemy's  lines,  and 
the  Union  line  pushed  forward  a  mile  beyond  its  morning  position,  and 
though  five  determined  assaults  had  been  made  during  the  day,  to  expel 
them  from  the  position  they  had  won,  they  had  all  proved  fruitless.  During 
the  night  the  enemy  fell  back  to  a  new  position,  a  little  to  the  rear  of  the 
one  they  had  previously  occupied,  and  though  there  was  some  skirmishing, 
and  the  fifth  and  sixth  corps  were  ordered  to  make  another  advance,  and 


718  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

surprise  the  enemy,  if  possible,  by  an  attack  at  dawn,  it  was  found  that  his 
new 'position  was  so  strong  as  to  offer  no  probabilities  of  success.  The 
heavy  and  persistent  rain  which  had  now  set  in,  rendered  any  intended 
movement  impossible  for  some  days.  The  position  of  the  corps  was 
changed  again,  Warren  being  on  the  left,  Wright  on  the  left-centre, 
Buruside  on  the  right-centre,  and  Hancock  on  the  right.  There  was  now, 
for  nearly  a  week,  a  lull  in  the  fighting,  and  both  armies  improved  it,  to 
bring  up  as  large  a  number  of  reinforcements  as  possible. 

The  first  act  of  the  campaign  was  completed.  After  eight  days  of 
almost  continuous  fighting,  the  two  armies  paused  to  bury  their  dead,  to 
care  for  their  wounded,  and  to  count  up  their  gains  and  losses.  These 
had  been  fearful  on  both  sides.  The  Union  losses,  though  not  quite  so 
large  as  at  first  reported,  were  sufficiently  heavy,  amounting,  according 
to  official  returns,  to  two  hundred  and  sixty-nine  officers,  and  three  thou 
sand  and  nineteen  men,  killed ;  one  thousand  and  seventeen  officers,  and 
eighteen  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty-one  men,  wounded ;  and  one 
hundred  and  seventeen  officers,  and  six  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty- 
seven  men,  missing — mostly  prisoners — making  an  aggregate  of  twenty- 
nine  thousand  three  hundred  and  fifty  hors  du  combat  in  the  eight  days. 
Among  the  officers  slain  were  Major-General  Sedgwick,  commanding  the 
sixth  corps,*  Brigadier-Generals  Wadsworth,  Hays,  Bice,  and  Stevenson ; 
_„ J 

*  John  Sedgwick,  a  major-general  of  volunteers,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
commander  of  the  sixth  army  corps,  was  born  in  Litchfield  county,  Connecticut, 
about  1815.  He  was  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1837,  ranking  twenty-fourth  in  a 
class  of  fifty  members — General  Hooker,  and  the  Rebel  generals  Bragg,  Early,  and 
Pemberton,  being  among  his  classmates.  He  entered  the  Mexican  war  as  first  lieu 
tenant  of  artillery,  and  was  successively  bre vetted  captain  and  major  for  gallant 
conduct  at  Contreras,  Churubusco,  and  Chapultepec.  He  also  distinguished  himself 
at  the  head  of  his  command  in  the  attack  on  the  San  Cosmo  gate  of  the  city  of 
Mexico.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Rebellion  he  held  the  position  of  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  second  United  States  cavalry.  He  was  promoted  April  25th,  1861,  to 
the  colonelcy  of  the  fourth  cavalry;  and  on  the  31st  of  August  was  commissioned  a 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  placed  in  command  of  a  brigade  of  the  army  of 
the  Potomac,  which  in  the  subsequent  organization  of  the  army  was  assigned  to  the 
second  corps  under  General  Sumner — General  Sedgwick  assuming  command  of  the 
third  division  of  the  corps.  In  this  capacity  he  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Yorktown, 
and  the  subsequent  pursuit  of  the  enemy  up  the  peninsula,  and  greatly  distinguished 
himself  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  where  the  timely  arrival  of  Sumner's  corps,  and 
his  division  of  it,  saved  the  day.  In  all  the  seven  days  fighting,  and  particularly  at 
Savage's  station  and  Glendale,  he  bore  an  honorable  part;  and  at  Antietam  he  ex 
hibited  the  most  conspicuous  gallantry,  exposing  his  person  greatly  to  the  peril  of  his 
life.  He  was  twice  wounded  in  this  battle,  but  refused  to  be  removed  from  the  field 
for  two  hours  after  receiving  his  second  wound.  On  the  23d  of  December  he  was 
appointed  major-general  of  volunteers,  having  previously  been  breveted  brigadier- 
general  in  the  regular  army.  In  February,  1863,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  sixth  army  corps.  At  the  head  of  his  corps  he  carried  Marye's  heights, 
Fredericksburg,  and  subsequently  fought  the  battles  of  Salem  heights  and  Banks's 


OF  GENERAL  SEDGWICK.  719 

several  general  officers  wounded,  and  two  brigadier-generals  taken  pris 
oners.  The  Rebel  loss  had  not  been  less  severe.  Their  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing,  by  their  own  admission,  considerably  exceeded  thirty  thou 
sand,  and  among  the  number  were  eight  thousand  prisoners.  Eighteen 
cannon  and  twenty-two  flags  were  also  captured,  and  the  Union  forces 
had  taken  one  major-general  and  one  brigadier-general  prisoners.  They 
had  also  lost  in  these  battles  Major-General  Samuel  Jones,  Brigadier- 
Generals  Jenkins,  John  M.  Jones,  Daniels,  Gordon,  Perrin,  and  Stafford, 
while  Lieutenant-General  Longstreet  was  so  severely  wounded  that  he 
was  unable  to  resume  command  for  seven  or  eight  months.  So  far,  though 
there  had  been  no  decisive  victory,  success  preponderated  on  the  Union 
side.  Their  loss  was  somewhat  less,  though  they  were  better  able  to  bear 
a  heavy  loss  than  the  Rebels;  and  they  were  pressing  their  enemy,  slowly 
indeed,  but  surely,  toward ^the  Rebel  capital. 

ford,  in  the  first  week  of  May ;  and  finally  withdrew  his  command  across  the  Rappa- 
hannock,  in  the  face  of  a  greatly  superior  force,  after  a  day  of  obstinate  fighting.  He 
commanded  the  left  wing  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  during  the  advance  into  Mary 
land  in  June,  1863,  and  also  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  where  he  arrived  on  the 
second  day,  after  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  forced  marches  on  record,  and  where 
his  steady  courage  inspired  confidence  among  his  troops.  During  the  passage  of  the 
Rapidan,  November  7th,  1863,  he  succeeded  by  a  well-executed  manoeuvre  in  captur 
ing  about  fifteen  hundred  men  of  Early's  (Rebel)  division,  with  a  number  of  guns  and 
colors,  for  which  he  was  thanked  by  General  Meade  in  a  general  order.  On  the  re 
organization  of  the  army  in  the  spring  of  1864,  he  was  retained  in  command  of  the 
sixth  corps,  which  was  greatly  enlarged.  In  the  commencement  of  the  campaign 
whose  history  we  are  narrating,  he  had  command  of  the  Union  right  wing,  and  took 
part  in  the  severe  fighting  of  the  first  days  of  the  campaign.  He  was  killed  on  the 
9th  of  May,  a  day  of  comparative  quiet,  falling  by  a  shot  from  a  sharpshooter,  and 
dying  instantly.  He  had  more  than  once  declined  the  command  of  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  which  had  been  tendered  to  him. 


720  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 


CHAPTER  LVIII. 

CONTINUATION  OF  GRANT'S  CAMPAIGN BATTLES  NEAR  SPOTTSYLVANIA REINFORCEMENTS— 
THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  18TH  OF  MAY THE  REPULSE ANOTHER  FLANK  MOVEMENT  TO  THK 

NORTH  ANNA,  AND  BEYOND — EWELL's  RAID  UPON  THE  UNION  REAR — HE  IS  REPULSED  WITH 
LOSS — FIGHTING  NEAR  THE  NORTH  ANNA — STRENGTH  OF  THE  REBKL  POSITION — ANOTHER 
FLANK  MOVEMENT — RECROSSING  THE  NORTH  ANNA — MARCH  TO  HANOVERTOWN — CAVALRY 
ENGAGEMENT  ON  TOLOPATOMOY  CREEK — BATTLE  OF  TOLOPATOMOY  CREEK,  OR  SHADY  GROVF 

CHURCH TOPOGRAPHY  OF  THE  COUNTRY  NORTH  OF  THE  CHICKAHOMINY POSITION  OF 

LEE'S  ARMY — CAVALRY  BATTLE  FOR  THE  POSSESSION  OF  COLD  HARBOR— THE  BATTLE  OF 

COLD  HARBOR DESPERATE  FIGHTING  OF  THE  SIXTH  AND  EIGHTEENTH  CORPS — FIGHTING 

ON  OTHER  PARTS  OF  THE  LINE— THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  CHICKAHOMINY — INDECISIVE  RESULTS 

OF  THE  GALLANT  AND  DESPERATE  FIGHTING THE  OPPOSING  LINES  VERY  NEAR  EACH  OTHER 

LOSSES  OF  BOTH  SIDES  SINCE  THE  BATTLES  OF  THE  WILDERNESS SKETCH  OF  GENERAL 

HANCOCK — SHERIDAN'S  FIRST  RAID — RICHMOND  THREATENED — HIS  FORCE  SURROUNDED  AT 

THE  CHICKAHOMINY REBUILDING  MEADOW  BRIDGE — GALLANT  CHARGE  ON  THE  ENEMY 

HIS  ESCAPE HIS  SECOND  RAID — THE  BATTLES  OF  TREVILIAN  STATION SHERIDAN  WITH 
DRAWS,  AFTER  PUNISHING  THE  ENEMY  SEVERELY,  AND  REJOINS  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC 
SOUTH  OF  THE  JAMES  RIVER. 

THE  temporary  cessation,  or  rather  relaxation,  of  hostilities  which  took 
place  from  the  12th  to  the  18th  of  May,  and  which  was  only  broken 
seriously  by  the  fighting  on  Saturday,  the  14th,  (the  result  of  the  capture 
by  the  Union  troops  of  a  house  near  the  Ny  river,  which  had  been  occu 
pied  by  the  enemy,  and  was  dangerously  near  the  Union  lines,  the 
desperate  efforts  of  the  Rebels  to  recapture  it,  and  of  the  Union  troops  to 
recover  it  after  losing  it  again,)  was  an  absolute  necessity  for  both  armies. 
The  heavy  rains  made  extended  locomotion,  except  on  railroads,  impossi 
ble  ;  and  both  contestants  were  so  much  exhausted  as  to  require  rest 
The  burial  of  their  dead,  the  removal  of  their  wounded,  the  bringing  up 
of  reinforcements,  and  the  intrenching  and  fortifying  their  position,  fully 
occupied  the  time  of  those  who  were  able  to  move.  The  rest  improved 
very  greatly  the  health  and  spirits  of  the  Union  troops,  and  when  the 
order  came  again,  with  the  return  of  fair  weather,  for  the  renewal  of  the 
conflict,  they  were  eager  for  the  fight.  In  all,  during  this  and  the  suc 
ceeding  week,  about  fifty  thousand  new  troops  were  brought  up,  making 
Grant's  army  larger  by  twenty  thousand  than  at  the  beginning  of  the 
campaign. 

On  Tuesday,  the  17th  of  May,  extensive  reconnoissances  were  made, 
and  all  the  previous  attacks  having  been  made  on  the  enemy's  right  flank, 
and  having  led  him  to  concentrate  his  forces  on  his  right,  it  was  now  deter 
mined  to  strike  the  left  flank,  in  the  hope  of  effecting  a  surprise  there.  A 
change  of  position  was  effected  in  some  of  the  corps,  and  on  Wednesday 
morning,  when  the  new  line  was  formed,  Wright's — sixth — corps,  occu- 


CONTINUATION   OF  GRANT'S  CAMPA)GN.  721 

pied  the  right,  Hancock  joined  him  on  the  right-centre,  Burnside  was  on 
the  left-centre,  and  Warren  on  the  extreme  left.     Wright,  Hancock,  and 
Burnside  were  to  attack.     The  battle  commenced  by  a  heavy  cannonade 
from  the  Union  right,  to  which  the  enemy  responded  promptly,  and  be 
tween  half-past  four  and  five  A.  M.,  a  general  assault  was  made  by  the  three 
corps,  who  dashed  forward,  drove  back  the  enemy's  skirmish  line,  and 
carried  two  lines  of  rifle-pits  promptly,  and  with  comparatively  slight 
loss.     These  carried,  a  formidable,  and,  as  it  proved,  insuperable  barrier 
interposed,  preventing  farther  advance.     In  front  of  the  .whole  Rebel  line 
stretched  abroad,  dense  and  almost  absolutely  impenetrable  abatis,  behind 
which,  in  strong  earthworks,  lay  a  large  body  of  riflemen  and  sharpshoot 
ers,  too  secure  to  be  dislodged,  and  behind  them  batteries  of  heavy  artillery. 
It  was  impossible  to  penetrate  this  triple  defence  without  terrible  slaughter, 
and  it  was  equally  impossible  to  stand  longer  under  the  murderous  sweep 
of  artillery,  and  the  troops  were  therefore  withdrawn  in  good  order,  and  as 
promptly  as  possible.     The  assault  was   abandoned  about  eleven  o'clock, 
A.  Mv  and  all  the  troops  recalled  to  their  original  positions,  but  it  had  cost, 
in  killed  and  wounded,  about  twelve  hundred  men.     There  was  no  further 
fighting  during  the  day,  but  with  that  promptness  which  characterized 
all  his  movements,  General  Grant  sent  Torbert's  cavalry  on  Wednesday 
night^to  Guinney's  station,  on  the  Fredericksburg  and  Richmond  railroad, 
ten  mileB  southeasterly  from  Spottsylvania,  and  north  of   the  Po,  which 
receives  the  Ny,  some  distance  above.     This  station  was  to  the  right  and 
rear  of  Lee's  position,  and  threatened  his  communications  with  Richmond. 
The  cavalry  destroyed  the  depot  and  warehouses,  which  contained  large 
amounts  of  supplies,  cut  the  telegraph  wires,  and  broke  up  the  railroad 
track.     General  Grant  next  ordered  the  preliminary  changes  of  position 
for  a  new  flanking  movement,  and  on  Thursday,  a  part  of  the  sixth  corps 
began  to  move  from  the  right,  and  march  across  to  the  left.     Lee  at  once 
comprehended  this  movement,  and  Ewell's  corps  was  despatched  to  check 
it  by  a  bold  dash  upon  the  rear  of  the  Union  army.     A  little  after  noon 
of  Thursday,  Ewell  crossed  the  Ny,  passed  the  Union  right  wing  without 
discovery,  owing  to  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  on  the  right,  and  about 
five  o'clock,  struck  the  Fredericksburg  wagon  road  in  rear  of  the  Union 
right  flank.    Here  he  attacked  the  wagons  laden  with  commissary  and  ord 
nance  supplies,  and  the  ambulances  with  wounded,  which  were  constantly 
passing  on  that  road.     The  number  of  these  passing  that  point  at  that 
time  was   fortunately  small,  heavier   trains   having   passed  just  before 
toward  the  camp,  and  others  being  nearer  Belle  Plain  than  the  secondary 
base  of  supplies,  but  the  Rebels  took  possession  of  such  as  were  within 
reach,  and  fired  after  the  others.     The  distance  of  this  point  from  the  front 
was  such  that  Ewell  might  well  have  hoped  to  plunder  at  will  before  the 
Union  troops  could  be  upon  him ;   but  Union  troops  were  nearer  by  far 
than   he  supposed.     Tyler's   division   of  heavy  artillery,  but  armed  as 
46 


722  '      THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

infantry,  had  been  sent  down  from  the  Washington  defences  a  day  or 
two  previous,  and  were  now  approaching  from  Belle  Plain,  when  the  stam 
peded  teamsters  and  ambulance  drivers,  rushing  back,  apprized  them  of  the 
corning  of  the  enemy.  Forming  his  troops  as  soon  as  possible  in  line, 
General  Tyler  moved  upon  .the  enemy,  who  were  already  fighting  Tan- 
natt's  brigade,  which  was  in  the  advance,  and  after  a  short,  but  severe 
battle,  they  drove  the  Eebels  from  the  road  into  and  through  the  woods, 
repulsing  them  thoroughly,  and  in  admirable  style.  Late  in  the  evening, 
three  divisions  (one  each  from  the  second,  fifth,  and  sixth  corps)  hurried 
up  to  support  Tyler,  but  the  enemy  were  already  defeated.  The  enemy 
effected  no  capture  of  stores  or  animals.  They  killed  a  few  horses,  but 
destroyed  nothing  else  of  importance.  In  this  sharp  but  brief  battle  the 
Union  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  was  about  twelve  hundred, 
and  that  of  the  enemy  fully  as  great.  While  this  attack  was  in  progress, 
the  Eebels  advanced  against  the  Union  left,  opening  a  very  heavy  can 
nonade  against  it  at  the  same  time,  but  after  a  brief  engagement  were 
driven  back,  and  the  cannonading  ceased.  The  object  of  this  advance 
was  probably  to  cover  Ewell's  movement.  About  three  o'clock  on  Fri 
day  morning,  the  three  divisions  from  the  second,  fifth,  and  sixth  corps, 
entered  the  wood  silently  and  swiftly,  and  sweeping  through  them, 
attacked  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  column,  and  cut  off  about  four  hundred 
prisoners.  Ewell  immediately  recrossed  the  Ny,  and  retreated  to  his 
earn  p. 

On  Friday  night,  the  new  flanking  movement  commenced  in  earnest. 
At  midnight,  Torbert's  cavalry  left  Massaponax  church,  and  advancing 
through  Guinney's  station,  proceeded  to  Guinney's  bridge,  over  the  Po, 
just  below  its  junction  with  the  Ny,  some  two  miles  farther.  At  Downer's 
bridge,  a  mile  or  two  farther  down  the  Po,  they  found  a  body  of  Rebel 
cavalry  threatening  their  further  progress,  but  a  sharp  charge  of  the 
Union  cavalry  drove  them  back,  and  pushing  them  from  the  road,  the 
cavalry  column  went  on  to  Bowling  Green,  a  village  fifteen  miles  south 
east  from  Spottsylvania,  and  six  miles  below  Guinney's ;  and  thence,  still 
pushing  the  enemy  before  them,  to  Milford  station,  from  which  they  drove 
out  the  Rebel  garrison,  a  part  of  Pickett's  division  of  Ewell's  corps,  cap 
turing  about  seventy  men. 

The  second  corps  followed  on  Friday  night,  and  reached  and  crossed 
the  Mattaponay,  at  Milford's  bridge,  on  Saturday  evening,  forming  line  in 
a  commanding  position,  about  a  mile  from  the  bridge.  Warren's — fifth — 
corps  moved  at  ten  o'clock  Saturday  morning,  and  reached  Guinney's 
station  Saturday  evening.  The  sixth  and  ninth  corps  followed,  and  before 
night  of  Saturday  the  entire  army  had  left  Spottsylvania.  On  Sunday, 
the  Union  army  lay  along  and  near  the  line  of  the  Fredericksburg  rail 
road,  facing  westward;  its  right  at  Guinney's  station,  its  centre  at  Bowling 
Green,  and  its  left  at  Milford  station.  Each  corps  had  encountered  some 


MARCH   TO   HANOVERTOWN.  •  723 

opposition  from  the  enemy's  cavalry,  but  had  easily  driven  it  back.  The 
enemy  were  evidently  fully  aware  of  the  movement,  and  had  anticipated 
it  by  removing  their  stores  from  every  point  on  the  route ;  and  General 
Grant  had  already  become  convinced  that  Lee  was  moving  also,  and  had 
preceded  him,  in  the  direction  of  Hanover  Court  House.  On  Monday, 
the  Union  army  were  pushed  on  at  a  rapid  rate,  and  by  nightfall  reached 
the  North  Anna  river,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Jericho  bridge.  The  second 
and  fifth  corps  were  in  the  advance — the  fifth  at  the  right  of  the  second. 
Here  the  enemy  were  formed  in  a  very  strong  position,  but  the  second 
corps,  under  their  gallant  leader,  Hancock,  rushed  upon  their  works,  and 
by  a  desperate  charge,  carried  the  position,  losing  about  three  hundred 
men  in  so  doing.  The  fifth  corps  crossed  higher  up  the  river,  without 
difficulty,  but  were  soon  attacked  with  great  vehemence.  General  Grant 
stated,  in  his  despatch  to  Secretary  Stanton,  that  he  had  never  heard  more 
rapid  or  massive  firing,  either  of  artillery  or  musketry.  It  resulted,  how 
ever,  in  a  most  destructive  repulse  of  the  enemy. 

At  night,  the  second  and  fifth  corps  were  on  the  south  side  of  the  North 
Anna,  and  the  sixth  and  ninth,  on  the  north  side,  and  by  Wednesday,  the 
25th  of  May,  the  whole  army  were  across,  though  this  had  not  been  accom 
plished  without  some  severe  fighting,  the  passage  of  the  river  at  Taylor's, 
or  Chesterfield  bridge,  and  between  that  point  and  Jericho  bridge  and 
ford,  being  stoutly  contested  by  the  Rebels.  After  crossing,  the  position 
of  the  enemy  was  found  to  be  one  of  great  strength,  their  right  resting  on 
the  deep  and  impassable  Bull  swamp,  and  their  left  on  Little  river,  while 
their  front  was  thrown  forward  toward  Ox  ford,  of  the  North *Anna,  so  as 
to  extend  their  line  in  the  shape  of  a  Y,  the  apex  being  thrust  forward 
almost  to  the  North  Anna,  and  partially  separating  the  Union  right  and 
left  wings,  and  its  own  right  and  left  wings  protecting  the  Virginia  Cen 
tral  and  Fredericksburg  railroads,  and  especially  the  important  position 
of  Sexton's  Junction,  where  they  united.  Port  Royal,  on  the  Rappahan- 
nock,  was  temporarily  made  the  Union  base  of  supplies  and  a  depot  for  the 
wounded,  but  foreseeing  that  another  flank  movement  would  soon  be 
required,  General  Grant  ordered  supplies  shipped  to  White  House,  on  the 
Pamunkey,  the  whilom  base  of  General  McClellan,  in  May  and  June,  1862. 
This  precaution  was  wisely  taken. 

The  position  of  the  enemy,  which  we  have  already  described,  near 
Sexton's  Junction,  proving  too  strong  to  be  carried  without  incurring  too 
heavy  losses,  General  Grant  again  moved  on  the  enemy's  right  flank. 
Two  divisions  of  Sheridan's  cavalry  (Torbert's  and  Gregg's),  were  sent,  on 
the  26th  of  May,  to  recross  the  North  Anna,  march  southeastward,  and 
take  possession  of  Hanover  ferry  and  Hanovertown,  about  twenty-five 
miles  below  the  position  the  army  were  occupying  on  the  Pamunkey 
river,  while  Wilson's  division  was  employed  in  destroying  the  Virginia 
Central  railroad,  from  the  vicinity  of  Sexton's  Junction  westward.  Still 


724  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

better  to  cover  the  movement  on  which  he  had  determined,  a  vigorous 
demonstration  was  made  on  the  enemy's  left  on  Thursday,  the  26th,  sev 
eral  divisions  of  infantry  attacking  the  enemy  in  position.  Meanwhile, 
the  two  divisions  of  cavalry  had  arrived  at  their  destination,  where  they 
found  only  a  Rebel  vidette,  of  which  they  captured  seventy-five.  The 
sixth  corps  had  left  its  camp  on  Thursday  night,  and  crossing  the  North 
Anna,  followed  the  cavalry,  marching  rapidly  but  silently. 

On  Saturday  morning,  May  28th,  the  infantry  had  possession  of  Han- 
overtown  and  the  crossing  of  the  Pamunkey.  The  cavalry  now  pushed  on 
southward,  the  whole  of  Sheridan's  cavalry  corps  co-operating,  and  the 
infantry  followed  as  fast  as  they  could.  Near  Howe's  store,  which  is  not 
far  from  Tolopatomoy  creek,  an  affluent  of  the  Pamunkey,  Gregg's  cavalry, 
which  was  in  the  advance,  encountered  Hampton's  and  Fitzhugh  Lee's 
Rebel  cavalry,  and  a  severe  cavalry  engagement  ensued.  Gregg,  being 
greatly  outnumbered,  but  fighting  gallantly,  was  on  the  point  of  being 
forced  back,  when  Ouster's  brigade  of  Torbert's  division  came  up,  and 
being  armed  with  the  Spencer  repeating  rifle,  soon  compelled  the  Rebels 
to  retire  before  their  concentrated  and  deadly  fire,  leaving  their  dead  and 
wounded  in  the  hands  of  the  Union  troops.  The  loss  on  each  side  was 
about  four  hundred.  Aside  from  this  battle,  there  was  no  fighting  until 
Monday,  May  30th.  The  Union  troops  continued  to  press  forward  on 
the  Shady  Grove  church  and  Mechanicsville  roads.  The  Rebels  were 
posted  on  the  south  side  of  Tolopatomoy  creek,  their  right  resting  on  the 
Mechanicsville  road,  near  Shady  Grove  church,  and  their  left  extending 
toward  Atle^'s  station,  on  the  Virginia  Central  road.  On  Monday,  May 
30th,  about  noon,  the  enemy  attacked  and  drove  in  the  Union  skirmishers 
on  the  road  leading  from  Cold  Harbor  to  Old  Church  tavern,  making  a 
desperate  effort  to  effect  a  raid  upon  the  rear  of  the  Union  army.  Devens', 
Merritt's,  and  Custer's  cavalry  brigades  came  up  successively,  and  after  a 
brisk  engagement,  beat  off  the  enemy  and  drove  them  back  with  a  loss  of 
eighty  or  ninety  men.  About  five  P.  M.,  Warren's  corps,  which  was 
moving  out  along  the  Mechanicsville  road,  was  suddenly  and  fiercely 
attacked  by  a  Rebel  force,  consisting  of  one  division  of  Ewell's  corps  and 
two  cavalry  brigades;  and  Crawford's  division,  which  was  a  little  detached 
from  the  rest,  and  near  Shady  Grove  church,  was  forced  back  so  far  as  to 
endanger  the  turning  of  Warren's  flank.  The  other  divisions  of  the  corps 
hastening  up,  prevented  this  disaster,  and  a  severe  engagement  followed, 
in  which  General  Meade,  in  order  to  relieve  Warren's  corps  from  the 
heavy  pressure  upon  it,  ordered  an  attack  along  the  whole  line.  Only 
the  second  corps,  however,  received  the  order  in  time  to  attack  before 
dark,  and  Hancock,  without  delay,  dashed  upon  the  enemy's  skirmish 
line,  captured  their  rifle-pits,  and  held  them  all  night.  At  nightfall,  the 
enemy  had  been  driven  at  every  point,  and  left  his  dead  and  wounded 
upon  the  field,  but  moved  down  a  large  force  to  prevent  any  further  con- 


CAVALRY   ENGAGEMENT  AT  TOLOPATOMOY  CREEK.    *   725 

oentration  upon  his  right.  General  William  F.  Smith,  with  the  eighteenth 
corps,  from  the  army  of  the  James,  had,  however,  been  already  ordered  to 
White  House  by  General  Grant,  and  was  moving  down  upon  the  right  of 
the  enemy ;  and  Burnside's  corps  was  also  marching  toward  the  same 
point.  This  engagement  is  known  by  the  names  of  Tolopatomoy  creek, 
and  Shady  Grove  church,  though  the  former  more  properly  belongs  to 
the  cavalry  engagement  of  the  28th. 

There  was  a  brief  but  somewhat  sharp  engagement  toward  midnight  of 
Monday,  between  the  Eebels  and  Burnside's  corps,  but  it  soon  terminated 
The  position  of  the  two  armies  at  this  time,  in  connection  with  the  topog 
raphy  of  the  country  in  which  they  were  fighting,  is  of  some  importance, 
as  indicating  the  purposes  of  the  movements  of  each  army.  The  Chicka- 
hominy  river,  which  maintains  a  nearly  parallel  course  with  the  Pamun- 
key,  and  is  about  ten  miles  southwest  of  it,  forms,  from  Winston's  to 
Bottom's  bridge,  the  outer  line  of  defences  of  Kichmond  on  the  north  and 
northeast,  and  as  such,  was  vigorously  defended  by  General  Lee,  who 
saw  clearly  that  to  permit  the  Union  army  to  cross  it,  would  at  once  im 
peril  the  Rebel  capital.  The  ground  between  the  Pamunkey  and  Chicka- 
hominy  is,  for  the  most  part,  open,  high,  dry,  and  favorable  for  military 
manoeuvres.  Near  the  Chickahominy,  however,  there  are  some  swamps, 
of  a  similar  character  to  those  which  proved  so  pestilential  to  the  Union 
army  in  1862 ;  from  this  low  ground  the  land  rises  soon  to  ridges,  on 
which  there  are  several  roads  running  parallel  to  the  Chickahominy,  from 
near  Atlee's  station  to  Bottom's  bridge.  These  roads,  as  well  as  the  river 
bank,  were  firmly  held  by  the  Rebel  commander,  and  every  attempt  to 
gain  possession  of  them  was  repulsed  promptly. 

Lee's  main  line  extended  from  near  Atlee's  to  Games'  mills  and  Cold 
Harbor.  His  cavalry,  with  perhaps  some  infantry  supports,  extended 
to  Hanover  Court  House  on  the  left,  and  on  the  right  to  Bottom's  bridge. 
His  line  ran  as  follows :  A.  P.  Hill's  corps  on  the  left,  Longstreet  in  the 
centre,  and  Ewell  on  the  right.  Beauregard  and  Breckinridge  were  in 
reserve,  so  far  as  the  army  of  the  Potomac  was  concerned,  but  the  former 
was  engaged  in  holding  the  army  of  the  James  at  bay. 

On  Tuesday,  May  3 1st,  there  was  a  brief  but  brilliant  action,  in  which 
Birney's  division  of  the  second  corps  rushed  at  and  carried  a  breastwork 
of  the  enemy  on  the  south  side  of  Tolopatomoy  creek,  capturing  about 
forty  prisoners.  There  were  other  desultory  fights  with  small  bodies  of 
troops,  at  various  points  of  the  extended  Hue,  (of  over  six  miles  in  length,) 
during  the  day.  On  the  right,  Wilson's  cavalry  division  skirmishing  suc 
cessfully,  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  army,  with  Young's  Rebel  brigade  of 
Wade  Hampton's  cavalry,  and  Ledlie's  brigade  of  Burnside's  corps,  attack 
ing  the  enemy  in  its  front,  and  advancing  its  skirmish  line.  The  most  im 
portant  action,  however,  was  that  of  Torbert's  division  of  Sheridan's  cavalry 
corps,  in  the  vicinity  of  Cold  Harbor,  whither  they  had  been  sent  by  General 


•726  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

Grant,  to  hold  that  position  for  the  occupation  of  the  infantry.  It  was  the 
purpose  of  General  Grant  to  extend  his  lines  eastward,  by  removing  bis 
corps  successively  from  his  extreme  right,  and  force  a  passage  across  the 
Chickahominy,  on  the  enemy's  right.  In  attempting  to  occupy  Cold 
Harbor,  the  cavalry  found  themselves  opposed  by  a  party  of  Fitzhugh  Lee's 
cavalry,  and  Clingman's  brigade  of  Hoke's  North  Carolina  division.  A 
sharp  fight  resulted,  Merritt's  regular  cavalry  brigade  opening,  and  Devens' 
and  Custer's  brigades  quickly  joining.  The  Union  forces,  after  a  somewhat 
severe  struggle,  held  the  desired  ground,  though  with  difficulty. 

On  Wednesday,  June  1st,  the  cavalry  fighting,  with  artillery  firing,  was 
resumed  on  both  flanks.  There  was  heavy  skirmishing  also,  all  along  the 
line.  At  Cold  Harbor,  the  contest  lasted  longest,  as  the  enemy  were  de 
termined  to  drive  the  Union  troops  out,  while  Sheridan's  orders  were  to 
hold  it.  Hoke's  division  was  completely  repulsed  by  Sheridan's  dis 
mounted  cavalry,  fighting  with  carbines.  McLaw's  division  then  rein 
forced  Hoke,  and  other  portions  of  Longstreet's  corps  coming  up,  the 
Union  troops  could  only  stand  at  bay,  and  hold  their  own,  though  fight 
ing  with  desperate  bravery.  The  fighting  died  away  about  noon,  and 
soon  after,  the  sixth — Wright's — corps  arrived,  and  deployed  into  line  on 
the  right  of  the  Gaines'  mill  road,  relieving  Sheridan's  cavalry.  At  three 
o'clock  the  eighteenth  corps  also  came  up,  having  been  delayed  by  taking 
the  wrong  road,  and  at  once  deployed  in  line,  though  wearied  by  a  long 
march.  A  charge  was  ordered  immediately.  In  front  was  a  ploughed 
field  two-thirds  of  a  mile  wide,  and  beyond,  a  strip  of  pine  forest,  in  which 
the  enemy  lay  intrenched.  The  artillery  on  the  Union  left  and  rear  fired 
sharply  for  an  hour,  and  at  length,  about  six  o'clock,  the  line  dashed  forward. 
Devens'  division  of  the  eighteenth  corps,  and  Ricketts'  of  the  sixth,  were 
the  assaulting  force,  and  rushed  forward  across  the  ploughed  land,  through 
a  patch  of  green  plain  and  into  the  woods,  while  a  deadly  storm  of  artillery 
and  musketry  raked  their  ranks.  The  charge  was  made  at  the  double- 
quickstep,  and  the  men  of  both  divisions  dashed  over  the  Eebel  earth 
works  with  great  spirit,  taking  and  holding  their  first  line  01  rifle-pits,  and 
capturing  about  six  hundred  prisoners.  In  this  charge,  Drake's  brigade, 
in  the  advance  of  Devens'  division,  was  badly  cut  up,  and  by  the  time  it 
reached  the  abatis  and  entanglements  in  the  woods,  had  hardly  men 
enough  left  to  surmount  them.  At  this  critical  juncture  Barton's  brigade 
of  the  same  division  sprang  forward,  and  gallantly  crossing  the  open 
under  the  murderous  fire,  swept  the  obstacles  and  carried  the  rifle-pits, 
capturing  two  hundred  prisoners  in  them.  The  enemy,  however,  still 
held  his  line  on  the  Union  right,  and  began  to  enfilade  the  rifle-trench. 
Henry's  brigade  of  Brooks'  division,  eighteenth  corps,  was  next  sent  in 
to  support  Barton,  and  after  a  desperate  struggle  gained  a  lodgement  in 
the  line,  but  it  was  soon  found  that  a  redoubt  in  the  enemy's  second  line 
completely  commanded  this  position,  and  Henry  was  obliged  to  relinquish 


THE  BATTLE   OF  THE   CHICKAHQMINY.  727 

it.  The  other  divisions  of  the  two  corps  were  brought  up,  but  no  more 
ground  was  gained,  though  the  struggle  cost  heavy  losses.  The  Union 
troops  held  Cold  Harbor  after  a  fierce  conflict,  but  they  could  not  drive 
the  Rebels  from  their  position.  During  the  night  the  enemy  attempted, 
by  a  succession  of  desperate  charges,  to  regain  the  territory  they  had  lost, 
but  they  were  repulsed  promptly.  The  Union  loss  was  not  far  from  two 
thousand.  That  of  the  enemy  was  considerably  less  in  killed  and 
wounded,  since  they  had  fought  behind  breastworks,  but  they  had  also 
lost  six  hundred  prisoners. 

The  Union  line  now  extended  from  Bethesda  church,  near  Shady  Grove, 
to  Cold  Harbor,  and  the  corps  were  arranged  thus :  from  right  to  left, 
Hancock,  Burnside,  Warren,  Smith,  and  Wright.  Cold  Harbor,  the  object 
of  this  desperate  fighting,  consisted  of  only  a  single  building,  the  Cold 
Harbor  tavern,  but  it  was  important  as  the  junction  of  the  roads  leading 
to  White  House  on  the  east,  Dispatch  station  and  Bottom's  bridge  on  the 
south,  Richmond  by  way  of  Games'  mill  on  the  west,  and  Hanovertown 
and  New  Castle  on  the  north. 

While  this  heavy  fighting  was  going  on  at  Cold  Harbor,  there  had  been 
also  hot  work  in  front  of  the  other  corps.  During  the  day,  there  had 
been  artillery  firing,  and  some  skirmishing  and  musketry  firing,  on  the 
extreme  right  of  the  Union  army ;  but  the  advance  of  Gibbon's  division 
of  the  second,  and  Potter's  of  the  ninth  corps,  intended  to  cover  the  with 
drawal  of  the  second  corps  from  the  right  to  the  left,  to  follow  the  sixth, 
roused  the  fury  of  the  Rebels,  and  toward  evening,  massing  their  troops, 
they  made  a  most  desperate  and  determined  attack  along  the  whole  line. 
Regardless  of  the  gaps  the  Union  artillery  ploughed  through  their  dense 
columns,  they  came  on,  till  the  leaden  hail  of  the  musketry  delivered  at 
very  short  range,  swept  them  down  in  frightful  numbers.  Again  and 
again  they  charged,  but  with  the  same  result,  and  it  was  late  in  the  night 
before  they  desisted,  their  retirement  being  immediately  succeeded  by  the 
advance  of  the  Union  troops  to  their  skirmish  line.  The  loss  of  the 
Rebels  in  this  attack  was  fully  two  thousand,  while  the  Union  troops,  fight 
ing  behind  breastworks,  lost  probably  less  than  half  that  number.  The 
fighting  of  the  day  is  known  as  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  though  but  a 
part  of  the  conflict  was  in  that  vicinity. 

On  Wednesday  night,  General  Grant  decided  to  follow  up  the  occupa 
tion  of  Cold  Harbor,  by  a  serious  attempt  to  push  the  enemy  across 
the  Chickahominy,  and  establish  for  the  Union  troops  a  place  for  fording. 
Accordingly,  that  night,  the  second  corps  was  drawn  off'  from  the  right, 
and  marched  across  the  lines  to  the  extreme  left,  which  point  it  reached 
about  noon  on  Thursday,  and  with  the  troops  already  there,  formed  a 
very  heavy  force  at  that  point.  The  attack  was  ordered  for  Thursday 
evening,  June  2d,  but  a  heavy  thunder-storm,  with  torrents  of  rain,  pre 
sented  its  execution,  and  gave  the  enemy  the  opportunity  to  perfect  still 


?28  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

farther  their  defensive  preparations.  The  attack  was  then  ordered  for 
dawn,  on  Friday  morning,  June  3d.  During  the  afternoon,  on  Thursday, 
the  Rebels  charged  upon  the  fifth  and  ninth  corps,  incited  thereto  by  a 
movement  of  some  of  the  brigades,  which  they  regarded  with  suspicion  ; 
they  were  repulsed,  however,  with  severe  loss. 

The  assault  of  the  second  corps  on  the  enemy's  lines  on  Friday  morn 
ing,  June  3d — the  bloody  battle  of  the  Chickahorniny — was  unsurpassed 
for  daring,  lofty  courage,  and  stubborn  persistance.  even  by  the  gallant 
action  of  the  same  corps  at  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania.  The  divisions  of 
Gibbon  and  Barlow,  which  were  in  the  advance,  swept  over  the  enemy's 
works,  drove  Breckinridge's  troops  from  the  summit,  and  for  a  few  min 
utes  were  masters  of  the  position;  but  in  their  valiant  zeal,  they  had  been 
carried  a  considerable  distance  beyond  their  supporting  columns,  and  the 
enemy,  aware  that  every  thing  depended  upon  their  retaining  this  position, 
pushed  forward  A.  P.  Hill's  corps  upon  them,  while  an  enfilading  fire 
swept  through  their  already  decimated  columns,  and  they  were  compelled 
to  fall  back  upon  their  supports,  which  they  did  in  perfect  order,  carrying 
back  with  them  a  captured  color  and  three  hundred  prisoners,  under  a 
most  deadly  fire,  and  even  then  they  would  only  retreat  over  the  brow 
of  the  nearest  ridge,  where  they  formed  anew,  and  intrenched,  remaining 
all  day  within  fifty  yards  of  the  enemy's  breastworks. 

With  no  less  gallantry,  but  with  no  better  success,  the  sixth  and 
eighteenth  corps  had  made  their  assault.  Charging  through  the  under 
brush  and  across  the  open,  they  succeeded  in  carrying  the  first  line  of 
intrenchments,  but  it  was  only  to  be  received  bv-  the  murderous  enfilading 
fire  by  which  all  the  Union  troops  that  day  found  their  daring  repaid. 
Tenaciously  and  obstinately  they  clung  to  their  conquests,  which  were  at 
length  wrested  from  them,  and  they  were  finally  forced  back  with  great 
loss.  They  succeeded,  however,  as  Ilancock  had  done  on  Ihe  left,  in 
holding  and  intrenching  a  position  considerably  in  advance  of  the  starting 
point,  and  very  close  to  the  enemy's  works.  The  fifth  and  ninth  corps 
pushed  out  their  skirmishers,  and  kept  up  a  heavy  cannonade  along  their 
lines,  but  soon  found  that  there  was  only  a  thin  skirmishing  line  in  front 
of  them.  They  did  not,  however,  as  would  perhaps  have  been  better, 
move  on  to  join  the  three  corps  on  the  left  in  the  effort  to  break  the  enemy's 
line  which  he  had  so  heavily  massed  in  defence  of  the  passes  of  the 
Chickahominy.  At  night  the  whole  Union  line  was  advanced  to  within 
fifty  yards  of  the  enemy's  breastworks  and  intrenched  there,  and  the 
fighting  was  maintained,  furious  assaults  being  made  on  one  side  or 
the  other  till  about  nine  P.  M.  Wilson's  cavalry  division  had  also  had  a 
severe  fight  with  Hampton's  Rebel  cavalry  during  the  day,  but  without 
any  decisive  results. 

For  the  next  nine  days  there  were  no  more  pitched  battles,  but  the  two 
armies  looked  each  other  in  the  face  steadily,  and  every  officer  or  soldier, 


SKETCH   OF  MAJOR-GENERAL  HANCOCK.  729 

on  either  side,  who  exposed  his  head  or  body,  was  sure  to  be  brought 
down  by  a  sharpshooter's  bullet  Occasionally  dashes  were  made  from  one 
side  or  the  other,  but  they  were  repelled  at  once  by  heavy  artillery  and 
musketry  fire.  The  carnage  of  the  four  weeks  had  been  terrible  on  both 
sides,  though  a  little  less  than  in  the  first  week  of  the  campaign.  Ou  the 
Union  side,  two  hundred  and  seventy  officers,  and  three  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  thirty-one  enlisted  men,  had  been  killed ;  seven  hundred 
and  forty-seven  officers,  and  seventeen  thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
one  men  wounded,  and  eighty-five  officers,  and  twenty-nine  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  men  were  missing,  mostly  prisoners ;  making  a  total  of 
twenty-five  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty-one  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing.  The  loss  of  the  Rebels  had  been  little,  if  at  all  less.  In  some 
of  the  actions  they  had  lost  more  than  the  Union  troops ;  in  others,  fight 
ing  behind  fortifications,  their  killed  and  wounded  had  been  less,  but  they 
had  taken  a  smaller  number  of  prisoners  than  the  Union  troops.  t 

In  all  the  battles  of  the  campaign,  the  commander  of  the  second  corps 
had  been  conspicuous,  among  the  many  brave  officers  of  the  army,  for 
daring,  enthusiasm,  and  steady  valor.  Wherever  there  was  the  most  dif 
ficult  work  to  be  done,  and  it  was  necessary  that  an  attack  should  be 
made  promptly,  earnestly,  and  unflinchingly,  there  Hancock  and  his 
second  corps  were  sure  to  be,  ready  to  do  and  dare  any  thing  that  human 
courage  and  skill  could  undertake ;  and  if  there  was  one  post  of  greater 
danger  than  another,  or  requiring  those  special  acts  of  gallantry  which 
men  will  only  attempt  under  the  eye,  and  stimulated  by  the  approbation 
of  a  beloved  and  honored  commander,  there  Hancock  was  certain  to  be 
found,  encouraging  and  urging  his  men  to  higher  exertion,  and  the 
accomplishment  of  seeming  impossibilities.  A  brief  sketch  of  the  life 
of  this  able  and  brilliant  officer  is  appropriate  in  this  portion  of  our 
history. 

Major-General  Winfield  Scott  Hancock  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county,  Pennsylvania,  February  14,  1824.  He  entered  West  Point  in 
]  840,  and  graduated  in  1844,  not  ranking  very  high  as  a  scholar,  but 
with  an  energy  and  activity  in  his  manner  which  betokened  his  future 
success.  He  entered  the  army  in  July,  1844,  with  only  the  brevet  rank  of 
second  lieutenant  of  the  fourth  infantry,  and  did  not  receive  his  commis 
sion  as  full  lieutenant  until  the  18th  of  June,  1846,  when  he  was  ordered 
almost  immediately  to  Mexico,  where  he  distinguished  himself  for  gallant 
conduct  at  Contreras  and  Churubusco,  and  was  breveted  first  lieutenant 
therefor.  He  was  also  present  and  fought  bravely  at  Molino  del  Key  and 
Mexico.  On  his  return  to  the  United  States,  he  was  appointed  regimental 
quartermaster,  and  retained  that  position  till  1849,  when  he  was  promoted 
to  be  adjutant  of  the  sixth  United  States  infantry,  and  saw  service  on  the 
plains,  and  afterward  in  California.  In  January,  1853,  he  received  his 
commission  as  first  lieutenant,  and  on  the  7th  of  November,  1855,  was 


730  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

appointed  assistant  quartermaster-general,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  and 
assigned  to  duty  in  California.  He  remained  on  the  Pacific  coast  till  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Eebellion,  and  exerted  a  powerful  influence  in  pre 
venting  the  secessionists  from  carrying  the  State  out  of  the  Union.  When 
hostilities  began,  he  returned  to  the  east,  and  was  appointed  chief  quarter 
master  to  General  Anderson,  then  in  command  of  the  Department  of  the 
Ohio,  but  before  he  reached  his  post,  was  commissioned  brigadier-general 
in  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  On  the  9th  of  October,  1861,  his  brigade 
formed  part  of  the  forces  that  occupied  Lewinsville,  Virginia.  During 
the  winter  of  1861-2,  he  was  engaged  in  several  reconnoissances,  and  was 
generally  successful.  He  went  to  the  Peninsula  with  General  McClellan's 
army,  and  was  breveted  major  in  the  regular  army  for  his  meritorious 
services  at  Lee's  mills  and  Yorktown.  At  Willian.sburg,  he  led  an  in 
fantry  charge,  which  turned  the  tide  of  battle,  and  was  breveted  lieuten 
ant-colonel  from  May  5,  1862.  He  was  actively  engaged  in  the  seven 
days'  contests,  especially  in  the  battles  of  White  Oak  swamp  and  Gold- 
ing's  farm,  and  was  breveted  colonel  in  the  regular  army  from  June  27th. 
He  took  part  in  the  Maryland  campaign,  and  commanded  his  brigade  at 
Antietam,  September  17,  1862.  He  was  in  command  of  a  division  of' 
the  second  corps,  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862, 
and  was  wounded  during  the  engagement,  in  which  his  division  lost 
heavily.  He  was  subsequently  appointed  major-general  of  volunteers,  his 
commission  dating  from  November  20,  1862.  He  commanded  his  division 
at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  and  after  the  appointment  of  General 
Couch  to  the  command  of  the  Department  of  the  Susquehanna,  was  pro 
moted  to  the  charge  of  the  second  corps.  With  this  corps  he  took  an 
active  part  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  on  the  third  day  of  the  battle, 
July  3, 1863,  was  severely  wounded.  He  did  not  recover  so  as  to  resume 
command  of  his  corps  till  the  spring  of  1864,  and  meantime  it  had  been 
recruited  to  more  than  forty  thousand  men.  During  the  earlier  battles  of 
the  campaign,  and  indeed  till  late  in  the  autumn,  General  Hancock  re 
tained  command  of  his  corps,  and  distinguished  himself  on  many  fields, 
but  his  old  wounds,  received  at  Gettysburg,  breaking  out  afresh,  he  was 
compelled  to  ask  to  be  relieved,  and  was  finally  appointed  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  middle  department,  after  fighting  there  had  nearly  ceased.  At 
the  reorganization  of  the  army,  in  June,  1865,  he  was  appointed  to  com 
mand  the  new  middle  department,  comprising  West  Virginia,  the  greater 
part  of  Maryland,  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad,  and  the 
States  of  Delaware  and  Pennsylvania,  which  he  still  (November,  1865,) 
retains. 

We  have  not  turned  aside  from  our  narrative  of  the  movements  of  the 
army  of  the  Potomac,  to  notice,  at  the  time  of  their  occurrence,  the  inde 
pendent,  yet  co-operative  expeditions  of  the  cavalry  corps,  lest  we  might 
thereby  render  complicated  the  narrative  of  the  progress  of  the  main 


' 


SHERIDAN'S   RAID   TOWARD   RICHMOND.  731 

array ;  but  the  present  seems  a  good  opportunity  to  describe  Sheridan's 
two  great  raids,  which  exerted  a  powerful  influence  in  crippling  Lee's 
forces  and  reducing  his  "supplies. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  the  cavalry,  which  for  four  days  previous  had  been 
engaged  in  guarding  the  army  trains,  and  the  ambulances  containing  the 
sick  and  wounded,  as  well  as  in  protecting  the  flanks  of  the  army,  was 
relieved  from  that  duty,  and  General  Grant  ordered  General  Sheridan  to 
select  the  best  mounted  troops  of  his  command,  and  start  on  an  expedition 
to  the  rear  of  Lee's  army,  and  cut  off  his  communications  and  supplies, 
allowing  him  full  discretion  as  to  the  best  plan  of  effecting  the  object  of 
the  expedition.  General  Sheridan  issued  his  orders  at  once  for  this  im 
portant  movement,  selecting  the  staff  officers  who  were  to  accompany 
him,  directing  the  issuing  of  three  days  rations  to  his  men,  and  leaving 
behind  every  thing  in  the  way  of  a  train,  except  the  ammunition 
wagons,  and  two  ambulances.  The  baggage  actually  indispensable  was 
carried  on  pack  mules.  Thus  freed  from  incumbrances,  he  perfected  his 
arrangements  and  moved  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day  that  he  received 
the  order,  toward  Fredericksburg,  but  before  reaching  that  city  turned 
southward  on  the  Childsburg  road,  and  after  a  short  halt  there,  moved  to 
Beaver  Dam  station,  on  the  Virginia  Central  railroad,  crossing  the  North 
Anna  river  at  the  fords.  At  Beaver  Dam  they  found  a  Kebel  provost- 
guard,  with  more  than  three  hundred  Union  prisoners,  who  had  been  cap 
tured  the  day  before  at  Spottsylvania ;  these  they  promptly  released, 
taking  the  Kebel  guard  prisoners.  Thence  they  moved  toward  Kichrnond, 
sending  a  detachment  to  Ashland  station,  on  the  Fredericksburg  railroad, 
who  destroyed  the  track,  trains,  station-houses,  and  other  Kebel  Govern 
ment  property,  and  then,  after  a  sharp  fight,  rejoined  the  main  column. 
On  the  llth  of  May,  the  cavalry  had  reached  a  point  within  six  miles  of 
Kichmond.  Here  they  encountered  the  Kebel  cavalry,  under  command 
of  Lieutenant-General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  in  person,  and  charging  upon  them 
promptly,  a  severe  battle  took  place,  in  which  General  Stuart  was  killed, 
and  some  Kebel  guns  captured. 

The  next  morning  before  daybreak,  a  detachment  was  sent  toward 
Kichmond  to  reconnoitre,  and  penetrate  to  the  second  line  of  defences  of 
that  city,  within  less  than  two  miles  of  the  capital,  and  having  captured 
a  Kebel  courier,  withdraw.  Early  in  the  morning  of  May  12,  Sheridan's 
advance  approached  Meadow  bridge,  on  the  Chickahominy,  where  they 
again  encountered  the  enemy,  who  had  destroyed  the  bridge,  and  con 
structed  defences  commanding  the  railroad  bridge,  over  which  the  Union 
troops  must  cross.  Nothing  daunted,  Sheridan's  gallant  troopers  dashed 
on ;  and  though  compelled  to  traverse  about  half  a  mile  of  swampy 
ground,  rushed  on  the  Kebel  works,  and  carried  them,  after  the  most  de 
termined  resistance. 

Meantime,  another  Kebel  force  had  come  up  in  his  rear,  and  surrounded 


732  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

his  command.  Though  remarkably  fertile  in  resources,  the  Union  com 
mander  had  here  a  position  which  would  call  for  his  ablest  generalship. 
To  attempt  to  retreat  would  inevitably  be  fatal ;  to  go  forward  was  to 
encounter  a  Eebel  force  greatly  outnumbering  his  own,  and  to  cross  the 
river,  a  difficult  one,  on  account  of  its  swampy  shores,  under  their  con 
centrated  fire.  His  decision  was  quickly  made  ;  it  was  to  reconstruct  the 
Meadow  bridge  over  the  Chickahominy,  and  cross  it  with  his  force  and 
train.  This  he  accomplished,  though  under  fire  all  the  time,  keeping  the 
Rebels  at  bay  with  his  artillery  the  while,  and  repelling  their  charges  by 
fierce  counter-charges.  Once  or  twice  his  men  were  slowly  pressed  back, 
but  he  encouraged  them,  and  fighting  under  his  eye,  they  soon  re 
gained  their  position.  At  length,  the  bridge  was  completed,  and  his 
ammunition  train  was  to  be  taken  across  it;  and  if  the  Rebel  fire  con 
tinued,  it  could  scarcely  escape  destruction  from  explosion,  a  destruction 
which  would  imperil  his  force,  and  render  their  capture  or  death  inevita 
ble.  The  emergency  did  not  appal  him  or  deprive  him  of  self-possession 
for  an  instant.  When  the  train  was  ready  to  advance,  he  ordered  up  an 
ammunition  wagon,  supplied  his  men  who  had  fallen  back  with  fresh  cart 
ridges,  and  placing  himself  at  their  head,  said  "Boys,  do  you  see  those 
fellows  yonder  ?  They  are  green  recruits,  just  from  Richmond  ;  there's  not 
a  veteran  among  them.  You  have  fonght  them  well  to  day,  but  we  have 
got  to  whip  them.  We  can  do  it,  and  we  will  I"  The  men  responded  with 
a  rousing  cheer,  and  with  the  order  "  Forward ! — Charge !"  in  his  clear 
ringing  tones,  he  led  them  on  in  a  charge  which  sent  the  Rebels  flying 
back  to  their  works,  and  his  artillery  immediately  opened  upon  them, 
greatly  to  their  terror.  Under  cover  of  this  charge,  the  train  passed  in 
perfect  safety.  Pressing  hard  upon  the  now  beaten  and  demoralized  foe, 
amid  a  most  terrific  thunder-storm,  in  which  it  was  difficult  to  distinguish 
between  the  artillery  of  heaven,  and  the  thunder  of  his  guns,  he  drove 
them  back  to  Mechanicsville,  and  finally  to  Cold  Harbor,  capturing  a  con 
siderable  number,  and  encamped  with  his  wearied  command  near  Gaines' 
mills.  The  next  day  he  moved  down  the  north  bank  of  the  Cbickahom- 
iny  to  Bottom's  bridge,  and  the  day  following  to  General  Butler's  head 
quarters,  not  being  molested  in  any  of  his  movements.  He  then  opened 
communication  with  Yorktown,  and  thence  with  Washington.  He 
returned  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  season  to  take  part  in  the 
movements  from  the  North  Anna,  and  in  the  battles  of  Cold  Harbor  and 
the  Chickahominy.  We  have  already  spoken  of  the  stubbornness  with 
which  he  held  Cold  Harbor,  until  the  sixth  corps  could  come  up  and  re 
lieve  him.  He  next  led  the  advance  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  its 
passage  to  and  across  the  James,  and  on  the  8th  of  June,  set  out  upon 
a  second  expedition  into  the  heart  of  the  Confederacy.  This  time  his 
object  was  to  penetrate  northward  and  westward  of  Lee's  lines,  and  cut 
the  Virginia  Central  railroad  at  some  point  which  should  effectually 


L. 


SHERIDAN'S   WITHDRAWAL    FROM  TREVILIAN.  733 

prevent  the  movement  of  supplies  or  troops  from  the  Virginia  and  Ten 
nessee  railroad  toward  Richmond.  General  "Hunter,  then  in  command  in 
Western  Virginia,  was  ordered  to  co-operate  with  him,  and  had  he  been 
able  to  do  so,  Gordonsville  and  Charlottesville  might  both  have  been  cap 
tured.  Crossing  the  Pamunkey,  he  moved  at  once  to  Aylett's  station ; 
thence  the  next  day  to  the  Fredericksburg  railroad  at  Chesterfield  station, 
where  he  seriously  damaged  the  railroad  ;  thence  to  Childsburg,  New- 
Market,  and  Mount  Pleasant,  and  crossed  E.  NE.  creek  at  Young's  bridge. 
On  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  June,  he  moved  forward  again,  and  having 
crossed  both  branches  of  the  North  Anna  river,  encamped  at  Buck  Childs, 
a  small  village  three  miles  north  of  Trevilian  station,  on  the  Virginia 
Central  railroad.  It  had  been  his  intention  to  destroy  the  railroad  from 
this  point  west  for  some  distance,  and  then  crossing  to  Keswick  station, 
cut  the  railroad  in  both  directions  from  Gordonsville  and  Charlottesville, 
which  latter  town  was  his  ultimate  objective.  On  arriving  at  Buck  Childs, 
however,  he  found  the  Rebel  cavalry  in  his  front,  and  immediately  pre 
pared  to  give  them  battle.  He  divided  his  force,  and  sent  a  part  to  attack 
the  Rebels  in  rear,  while  he  assailed  them,  the  next  morning,  June  llth, 
in  front.  The  fighting  was  desperate,  but  he  at  last  drove  them  back 
from  line  after  line  of  breastworks,  .through  an  almost  impassable  forest, 
to  the  station  at  Trevilian  ;  and  here  his  detached  troops  attacking  them 
in  rear,  their  route  was  complete,  and  Sheridan  established  his  headquar 
ters  that  night  at  Trevilian. 

The  next  morning,  June  12th,  the  railroad  from  Trevilian  station  to 
Louisa  Court  House  was  completely  destroyed,  the  ties  burned,  and  the 
rails  twisted  and  bent,  so  as  to  be  utterly  unserviceable.  This  occupied 
from  daybreak  to  three  P.  M.  The  Rebels  meantime  had  concentrated  in 
considerable  force  at  Gordonsville,  and  advancing  toward  Trevilian,  com 
menced  the  construction  of  rifle-pits,  at  a  distance  of  about  four  miles,  to 
resist  Sheridan's  movements.  After  a  careful  reconnoissance,  General 
Sheridan  found  the  enemy  too  strongly  posted  to  be  effectively  assailed  by 
his  light  artillery,  especially  as  his  ammunition  was  running  low,  and  he 
therefore  decided  not  to  make  a  general  assault.  On  the  extreme  right, 
however,  his  troops  assaulted  and  carried  the  enemy's  lines  again  and 
again,  but  were  eventually  driven  from  them,  by  the  long-range  guns  of 
the  Rebel  infantry  ;  and  finding  his  ammunition  giving  out,  and  being 
unable  to  obtain  forage  for  his  horses,  General  Sheridan  determined  to 
withdraw ;  but  he  carried  out  this  determination  in  a  characteristic  way. 
Returning  to  Trevilian  station,  he  ordered  supper  inviting  his  generals  to 
sup  with  him,  and  having  given  orders  for  the  removal  of  the  wounded 
who  could  be  moved,  and  detailed  surgeons  to  stay  with  those  who  were 
most  severely  injured,  and  perfected  his  order  of  march,  he  partook 
quietly  of  his  evening  meal,  and  then  set  about  the  withdrawal  of  his 
force  from  a  position  in  which  it  was  confronted  by  nearly  the  entire 


734 


THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 


cavalry  of  the  Kebel  army.  While  the  trains  and  the  rear  divisions 
were  moving  off  with  the  wounded,  he  ordered  forty  rounds  of  canister 
to  be  fired  at  the  Eebel  position  ;  and  when  the  enemy,  severely  cut  up 
by  this  fire,  attempted  to  take  the  battery  by  a  bold,  sudden  dash,  he 
charged  upon  them  with  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  at  the  same  time  pouring 
in  a  full  round  of  canister  at  very  short  range,  and  compelled  them  to 
retire  in  confusion.  While  they  were  retiring,  the  gun  was  withdrawn, 
and  as  he  found  that  the  Rebels  were  still  retreating,  he  moved  quietly 
back,  and  followed  the  divisions  which  had  already  set  their  faces  south 
ward.  By  day-dawn  of  the  13th,  his  men  were  well  out  of  Trevilian  sta 
tion,  and  he  marched  with  them  to  Troyman's  store,  without  encountering 
any  opposition ;  and  on  the  14th,  reached  the  vicinity  of  Spottsylvania 
Court  House,  the  scene  of  so  many  bloody  battles  a  short  month  previ 
ous.  Remaining  here  a  day,  to  aid  the  wounded,  who  had  been  left  in 
field  hospitals,  he  arrived  at  Guinney's  station  on  the  evening  of  the  15th, 
and  established  his  headquarters  there  for  a  few  days,  and  then  moved  to 
White  House.  On  the  23d  of  June,  having  marched  from  White  House, 
he  was  attacked  by  the  enemy  at  Jones'  bridge,  over  the  Chickahominy, 
and  on  the  24th,  near  St.  Mary's  church,  between  the  Chickahominy  and 
the  James.  On  both  occasions  the  Rebels  were  in  strong  force,  and  en 
tirely  confident  of  their  ability  to  overwhelm  and  capture  his  troops. 
Sheridan  acted  entirely  on  the  defensive,  but  produced  such  terrible  havoc 
among  the  enemy  with  his  artillery,  firing  at  short  range,  that  they  were 
soon  very  willing  to  withdraw,  and  not  further  molest  his  progress. 
During  the  afternoon  and  night  of  June-  25th,  he  crossed  the  James 
river,  five  miks  above  Fort  Fowhatan,  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  protected 
on  either  side  by  gunboats,  without  loss,  though  the  enemy  were  in 
heavy  force  near  him. 


THE  TROOPS  IN   WEST  VIRGINIA.  735 


CHAPTER   LIX. 

THE  TROOPS  IN  WEST  VIRGINIA CROOK  AND  AVERELL  DEFEAT  THE  REBELS  ON  NEW  RIVER 

THE  BATTLE  OF  NEW  MARKET 8IQEL  DEFEATED HE  IS  RELIEVED  OF  COMMAND,  AND    SENT 

TO  MARTINSBURG  AS  POST  COMMANDANT GENERAL  HUNTER  SUCCEEDS  HIM — BATTLE  NEAR 

MOUNT    CRAWFORD — THE  REBELS    DEFEATED,  AND  THEIR  GENERAL  KILLED HUNTER    CAP 
TURES  STAUNTON  AND  LEXINGTON,  AND  BURNS    THE    LEXINGTON    MILITARY    INSTITUTE,  AND 

GOVERNOR  LETCHER'S  HOUSE,  BUT  FAILS  TO  JOIN  SHERIDAN,  AND  is  COMPELLED  BY  EARLY 

TO  FALL  BACK  FROM    LYNCHBURG    INTO    THE    KANAWHA  VALLEY,  AFTER  A  LOSING  FIGHT 

EARLY  TAKES  ADVANTAGE  OF    THIS  TO  DESCEND  THE  SHENANDOAH  VALLEY    TO    THE    POTO 
MAC — HUNTER'S  EFFORTS  TO  RETRIEVE  HIS  BLUNDER — ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC — CROSSING 

THE    JAMES — CAVALRY    RECONNOISSANCE    TO    MALVERN    HILL THE     ATTACK    ON     PETERS 
BURG — PARTIAL    SUCCESS BUTLER    CUTS   THE    RAILROAD THE    ASSAULTS  OF  THE  SECOND 

AND  NINTH  CORPS  ON  THE  DEFENCES  OF  PETERSBURG INCOMPLETE  SUCCESS — THE  REBELS 

RETIRE  TO  THEIR  INNER  LINE  OF  DEFENCES — FAILURE  OF  THE  ATTEMPT  TO  CARRY  THESE 

THE    ATTACKS  ON  THE  WELDON  RAILROAD THE    DISASTROUS    REPULSE  OF  JUNE  22D TUB 

POSITION    NEARLY    REGAINED,    BUT    NO    ADVANCE    MADE WILSON'S  AND  KAUTZ's  RAID  ON 

THE    WELDON    AND    SOUTESIDB     RAILROADS GREAT    DESTRUCTION   OF    RAILROAD    TRACKS 

AND    PROPERTY HEAVY    LOSSES    OF    THE    EXPEDITION    IN    ITS    RETURN     MARCH — EARLY's 

FORAY  INTO  MARYLAND  AND  PENNSYLVANIA TERROR  OF  THE  INHABITANTS THE  BATTLE 

OF  MONOCACY— WALLACE  DEFEATED THE    SIXTH  AND  NINETEENTH  CORPS  ORDERED    INTO 

MARYLAND GENERAL  ORD  SUCCEEDS  GENERAL  WALLACE RAILROADS  BROKEN  UP  AND 

TRAINS   CAPTURED  BY  THE  REBELS WASHINGTON  THREATENED — REBELS  DEFEATED  BY 

GENERAL  AUGUR — THEIR  RETREAT  ACROSS  THE  POTOMAC — FIGHTING  AT  SNICKER'S  AND 
ASHBY'S  GAPS — AVERELL'S  BATTLE  NEAR  WINCHESTER — DEFEAT  OF  THE  REBELS — BATTLE 

OF  WINCHESTER,  JULY    24TH CROOK  DEFEATED,  AND  MULLIGAN  KILLED SKETCH  OF  MUL 
LIGAN THE    PANIC    IN    MARYLAND    AND    PENNSYLVANIA    RENEWED — ABSURD    REPORTS 

BURNING  OF  CHAMBERSBURG MOSBY's  LITTLE  RAID GOVERNOR  CURTIN  CALLS  A  SPECIAL 

SESSION    OF    THE    LEGISLATURE THIRTY    THOUSAND   MILITIA     CALLED     OUT EARLY's    RE 
TREAT — FIGHTING    NEAR    CUMBERLAND,    MARYLAND — REBELS    DEFEATED    BY    AVERELL    AT 

MOOREFIELD,    VIRGINIA THE*    MINE     AT    PETERSBURG — DEMONSTRATION    ON    THE    ENEMY/S 

LEFT — FIGHT  AT  DEEP  BOTTOM — EXPLOSION  OF  THE  MINE FATAL    BLUNDERING REPULSE 

AND  HEAVY  LOSS. 

WE  have  referred  incidentally,  in  connection  with  other  operations,  to 
the  movements  of  the  army  under  Sigel,  in  the  Shenandaah  valley,  and 
to  those  troops  in  Western  Virginia,  under  Crook  and  Averell,  whose 
office  it  was  to  threaten  the  Rebel  communications  by  way  of  the  Vir 
ginia  and  Tennessee  railroad.  The  movements  of  these  troops,  though 
not,  on  the  whole,  successful,  and  perhaps  contributing  but  little,  one  way 
or  the  other,  toward  the  final  result,  was  yet  of  sufficient  importance  to 
merit  some  notice. 

The  force  under  Crook  and  Averell  fought  three  battles  about  the  mid 
dle  of  May,  near  the  west  line  of  the  State,  on  New  river,  with  the  Rebel 
Generals  Sam.  Jones  and  A.  G.  Jenkins,  and  were  successful  ID  all.  In 
one  of  them  General  Jenkins  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Union  troops 


736  THE   CIYIL  WAS.  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

mortally  wounded ;  and  in  the  three,  about  six  hundred  of  the  Bebels 
were  killed  and  wounded,  and  three  hundred  taken  prisoners.  Averell 
also  succeeded  in  cutting  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  railroad,  burning 
the  bridge  over  New  river,  and  destroying  several  miles  of  the  track. 
The  loss  of  these  troops,  who  were,  perhaps,  one  half  of  them,  guerrillas 
and  bushwhackers,  was  not  a  very  serious  one  to  Lee,  and  the  injury 
done  to  the  railroad  was  but  temporary. 

General  Sigel,  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  did  not  meet  with  success. 
He  moved,  early  in  May,  up  the  valley  as  far  as  New  Market,  where,  on 
the  loth  of  May,  he  encountered  a  Kebel  force  of  seven  or  eight  thou 
sand,  under  the  command  of  General  Breckinridge,  with  Echols  and 
Imboden  under  him  as  subordinate  generals.  General  Sigel  chose  an 
untenable  position,  and  after  some  hard  fighting  was  defeated,  with  a  loss 
of  about  six  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  fifty  taken  prisoners,  and  five 
pieces  of  artillery.  On  receiving  the  report  of  this  mishap,  the  War 
Department  promptly  relieved  General  Sigel  of  his  command,  and  or 
dered  him  to  Martinsburg,  as  post  commander,  while  General  David 
Hunter  succeeded  him  in  the  command  of  the  army  of  the  Shenandoah 
valley. 

Breckinridge,  after  defeating  Sigel,  hastened,  as  we  have  seen,  to  rein 
force  Lee,  whose  numbers  had  been  seriously  reduced  by  the  battles  of 
the  Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania,  and  General  Hunter  found  few  Rebel 
troops  to  oppose  his  progress  toward  Staunton,  which  town  he  reached 
and  captured  on  the  6th  of  June,  having  the  previous  day  fought  and 
defeated  a  Kebel  force  under  General  W.  E.  Jones  near  Mount  Crawford. 
The  Rebels  were  very  heavy  losers  in  this  battle,  their  commander, 
General  Jones,  being  killed,  a  large  number  of  their  troops  killed  or 
wounded,  fifteen  hundred  prisoners,  and  three  guns  captured,  and  the 
remainder  of  their  forces  driven  from  Staunton  to  Waynesboro.  On  the 
8th,  a  junction  was  effected  between  Hunter's  force  and  those  commanded 
by  Crook  and  Averell,  from  Western  Virginia. 

He  had  received  instructions,  after  this  reinforcement,  to  march  toward 
Charlottesville,  tearing  up  the  track  of  the  Virginia  Central  railroad  as 
.he  went,  and  driving  the  Rebels  before  him  toward  Charlottesville  and 
Gordons ville,  and  there  to  form  a  junction  with  Sheridan,  who,  as  we 
have  seen,  was  pushing  toward  the  latter  point.  Had  he  done  so,  the 
Rebels,  somewhat  too  strong  for  either  force  separate,  might  have  been 
driven  out  of  Gordonsville  by  the  combined  force  with  heavy  loss,  and 
Lynchburg,  one  of  the  most  important  depots  of  supplies  for  the  Rebels, 
have  been  captured.  Owing  to  some  misunderstanding,  for  we  cannot  in 
justice  ascribe  to  so  meritorious  an  officer  as  General  Hunter  any  other 
motive,  he  failed  to  join  the  cavalry  commander;  and  while  he  delayed, 
to  destroy  the  Lexington  Military  Institute  and  Governor  Letcher's  house, 
Sheridan  was  compelled  to  fall  back  for  want  of  support ;  and  when  at 


MOVEMENTS   OF  THE   ARMY  OF  THE   POTOMAC.  737 

last   he   approached  Lynchburg,  it  was  too  strongly  fortified  and  gar 
risoned  to  make  success-  possible. 

Lee  now  sent  General  Early,  who  had  taken  command  of  Swell's 
corps  in  consequence  of  the  illness  of  Ewell,  to  drive  Hunter  out  of  the 
valley.  Early  at  once  assumed  the  offensive,  and  marching  out  from 
Lynchburg  with  a  large  and  well  appointed  force,  he  compelled  Hunter 
to  fall  back — and  he  adopted  what  he  believed  to  be  the  most  judicious 
course,  but,  as  it  proved,  was  a  very  unwise  one.  He  abandoned  the 
Shenandoah  valley — having  previously  had  a  fight  with  the  Rebels,  in 
which  only  a  part  of  his  troops  were  engaged,  and  in  which  he  lost  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  about  six  hundred,  and  several  pieces  of 
artillery — and  moved  westward  into  the  Kanawha  valley,  leaving  the* 
Shenandoah  valley  open  to  the  Rebel  forces.  Early  took  immediate  ad 
vantage  of  this  blunder,  and  marched  at  once  down  the  valley,  capturing 
Winchester,  flanking  Martinsburg,  where  General  Sigel  was  in  command, 
and  compelling  him  to  evacuate  the  town,  and  retreat  to  Harper's  Ferry, 
on  ttfe  3d  of  July.  This  in  turn  was  evacuated  by  Colonel  Mulligan,  and 
Sigel  took  possession  of  Maryland  heights,  and  the  Rebels  of  the  town 
and  the  Virginia  side.  Of  Early's  subsequent  movements  we  shall  speak 
by  and  by.  Hunter  saw  his  mistake  too  late,  and  made  desperate  efforts 
to  retrieve  it,  and  to  reach  the  Potomac ;  but  in  attempting  to  cross  the 
mountains,  the  greater  part  of  his  train  and  seven  cannon  were  lost,  and 
his  troops  were  placed  on  short  allowance,  and  suffered  severely.  The 
blunders  of  Sigel  and  Hunter  in  this  campaign  were  not  the  result  of 
cowardice,  for  there  were  not  two  braver  generals  in  the  army,  but  they 
indicated  a  want  of  capacity  and  generalship  for  the  somewhat  difficult 
situations  in  which  they  were  placed,  and  resulted  in  serious  and  exten 
sive  disaster  to  Maryland  and  Southern  Pennsylvania. 

We  return  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  which  we  left  face  to  face  with 
its  enemy  on  the  banks  of  the  Chickahominy.  Convinced  that  the  small 
gains  which  could  be  made  by  a  series  of  determined  and  persistent  as 
saults  upon  the  very  strong  positions  occupied  by  the  Rebels  would  only 
be  purchased  by  a  heavy  and  excessive  sacrifice  of  life,  and  having,  be 
sides,  resolved,  as  a  part  of  his  plan  for  the  utter  overthrow  of  Lee's  army, 
to  approach  it  from  the  south  and  southwest,  and  by  cutting  off  its  commu 
nications  compel  it  to  surrender,  General  Grant  now  made  the  bold  stroke 
of  transferring  the  army  of  the  Potomac  to  the  south  side  of  the  James 
river.  In  this  campaign  he  had  already  three  times  changed  his  base  of 
supplies,  to  Belle  Plain  and  Fredericksburg,  to  Port  Royal,  and  to  White 
House.  He  now  proposed  to  change  it  again,  to  City  Point,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  make  a  flanking  movement  with  his  whole  army  of  about 
fifty-five  miles  around  the  enemy's  base,  and  by  routes  nowhere  more  than 
six  or  eight  miles  distant  from  his  fortified  lines.  It  was  in  this  case  as  in 
all  the  previous  ones,  the  enemy's  right  which  he  flanked.  The  move- 
47 


738  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

ment  was  a  daring  and  extremely  hazardous  one ;  two  rivers,  both  too 
deep  for  fording,  and  one  a  wide  and  formidable  stream,  were  to  be 
crossed;  a  difficult,  swampy  region,  luxuriant  in  its  undergrowth,  and 
offering  great  facilities  for  ambushes,  was  to  be  traversed ;  and  if  practica 
ble,  this  was  to  be  done  so  quietly  that  the  enemy  should  not  become 
cognizant  of  it  in  season  to  offer  any  serious  obstruction  to  his  progress. 

The  preparations  for  this  transfer  had  been  made  with  equal  secrecy, 
promptness,  and  skill,  in  the  period  between  the  3d  and  the  12th  of  June, 
and  at  the  latter  date,  though  frequent  reconnoissances  of  the  enemy  had  tes 
tified  his  uneasiness  at  the  quiet  which  reigned  throughout  the  Union  lines, 
yet  he  had  failed  to  discover  the  secret,  and  all  was  ready  for  an  advance. 

On  the  night  of  Sunday,  June  12th,  the  army  began  its  march.  As  we 
have  already  stated  in  the  preceding  chapter,  the  enemy's  line  extended 
along  the  Chickahominy  as  far  as  Bottom's  bridge,  where  it  was  intrenched. 
The  Union  forces  lay  north  of  the  enemy,  in  a  line  generally  parallel,  and 
were  also  well  intrenched  opposite  his  right.  Of  course,  Bottom's  Bridge 
could  not  be  used  for  crossing.  The  next  two  bridges  below  are  Long 
bridge  and  Jones'  bridge,  the  former  about  seven,  and  the  latter  about 
twelve  miles  below  Bottom's  bridge. 

On  Sunday  night,  Wright's — sixth — and  Burnside's — ninth — corps 
marched  to  Jones'  bridge,  crossed  the  Chickahominy,  and  moved  rapidly 
thence  to  Charles  City  Court  House,  a  mile  from  the  James  river,  and 
nearly  nine  miles  south  of  Jones'  bridge.  At  the  same  time,  Hancock's — 
second — and  Warren's — fifth — corps  moved  to  Long  bridge,  crossed  there, 
and  took  the  road  to  Wilcox's  wharf,  on  the  James,  about  twelve  miles, 
by  the  road,  almost  due  south,  and  about  one  and  a  half  miles  west  of 
Charles  City  Court  House.  Meanwhile,  Smith's — eighteenth — corps 
marched  to  White  House,  there  took  transports  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and 
without  pausing,  passed  directly  up  the  river  to  Bermuda  Hundred,  oppo 
site  City  Point,  and  just  above  the  Appomattox,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
James.  This  was  the  headquarters  of  Butler's  army.  The  place  desig 
nated  for  crossing  the  other  four  corps  to  the  south  side  of  the  James,  was 
Powhatan  Point,  near  Wilcox's  wharf.  General  Butler  had  carefully  pre 
pared  pontoon  bridges  for  crossing. 

The  whole  movement  was  conducted  with  consummate  skill.  The  men 
moved  cautiously  from  their  intrenchments,  which  for  miles  lay  under 
the  Rebel  guns.  Only  a  few  shells  thrown  at  the  rear,  as  it  moved  off, 
indicated  that  the  enemy  had  taken  the  alarm.  All  night  and  all  day 
Monday,  the  troops  moved  forward,  with  hardly  more  skirmishing  or 
impediment  than  they  experienced  in  their  first  march  from  Culpepper  to 
Chancellorsville.  On  Monday  evening  the  advance  had  reached  Wilcox's 
landing,  where  also  headquarters  were.  Before  noon  of  Tuesday  the 
forces  had  all  arrived  at  Charles  City  Court  House  and  Wilcox's  landing, 
having  made  their  movement  in  perfect  security,  the  only  fighting  being 


THE  ATTACK  ON  PETERSBURG.  739 

A  little  cavalry  skirmishing  at  the  close  of  their  march.  On  Tuesday  the 
crossing  of  the  James  was  commenced,  the  army  transfeired  without  diffi 
culty  to  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  the  change  in  position  fully  con 
summated. 

General  Grant,  having  thus  skilfully  brought  his  army  across  the  James, 
was  disposed  to  lose  no  time  in  attacking  the  enemy  at  his  most  vulnera 
ble  points.  On  Wednesday,  the  15th  of  June,  the  cavalry  made  a  recon- 
noissance  toward  Malvern  Hill,  on  the  north  side  of  the  James,  and 
ascertained  that  A.  P.  Hill's  corps  were  holding  the  defences  of  Richmond 
in  th#t  region  in  strong  force.  The  movement,  however,  on  which  the 
Union  commander  particularly  relied  for  beneficial  results,  was  one 
against  Petersburg.  At  one  o'clock  A.  M.  Wednesday  morning,  the 
eighteenth  corps,  which  had  arrived  at  Bermuda  Hundred  the  previous 
evening  on  transports  from  White  House;  marched  for  Petersburg,  Kautz's 
cavalry  being  in  the  advance.  Kautz  moved  out  toward  the  Norfolk  rail 
road  and  the  Baxter  road,  on  the  extreme  left,  hoping  to  carry  the  position 
of  the  enemy  there,  but  found  it  too  strong,  and  after  some  hard  fighting, 
reluctantly  retired.  The  eighteenth  corps,  operating  on  the  outer  de 
fences  of  the  city  on  the  northeast  and  east,  after  fighting  all  day,  carried 
the  enemy's  line  of  intrench  merits,  the  outer  defences,  about  two  miles 
from  the  city,  a  little  before  sunset,  by  a  determined  assault,  driving  the 
Rebels  out,  and  capturing  sixteen  guns,  a  battle-flag,  and  three  hundred 
prisoners.  General-  Grant  ordered  up  the  other  corps  to  their  support  as 
fast  as  they  came  in,  the  advance  of  the  second  corps  coming  up  at  dusk, 
and  the  entire  corps  being  on  the  ground  before  morning.  During  the 
night,  the  enemy  attempted  to  wrest  these  strong  intrenchments  from  their 
captors,  but  failed,  Birney's  division  of  the  second  corps  holding  them 
firmly.  The  Rebels  in  the  intrenchments  in  front  of  Butler's  position  at 
Bermuda  Hundred,  during  Wednesday  night,  left  their  works  and  hurried 
to  Petersburg,  to  prevent  its  capture,  and  early  Thursday  morning,  Gene 
ral  Butler  took  advantage  of  their  absence  to  penetrate  to  and  destroy 
the  Richmond  and  Petersburg  railroad,  in  the  vicinity  of  Port  Walthall 
Junction.  Two  miles  of  the  track  were  torn  up,  and  portions  of  the  tele 
graph  wire  cut ;  but  Beauregard,  who  in  the  recent  battles  had  been  rein 
forcing  Lee,  hurried  down  from.  Richmond  with  such  a  force  as  to  compel 
the  Union  troops  to  retire,  after  having  interrupted  his  transit  one  day  at 
least. 

In  front  of  Petersburg,  the  attempt  of  the  Union  picket-lines  to  push 
forward  toward  the  inner  defences  of  the  enemy  in  the  early  morning 
was  stubbornly  resisted,  and  a  heavy  cannonade  followed,  which  was 
briskly  responded  to  by  the  Union  troops.  On  attempting  to  advance, 
it  was  found  that  the  Rebels  had  been  so  strongly  reinforced  during  the 
night,  that  it  was  necessary  to  wait  till  Burnside's  corps  could  come  up. 
At  six  o'clock  P.  M.,  an  assault  was  ordered,  and  Burnside's  troops  being 


740  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

on  the  ground,  it  was  made  promptly  by  the  second  and  ninth  corps,  and 
maintained  for  three  hours.  Birney's  division  of  the  second  corps  carried 
the  crest  in  his  front,  and  held  it  firmly.  Barlow's  division  of  the  second, 
and  part  of  Potter's  of  the  ninth,  succeeded  after  a  desperate  and  pro 
tracted  struggle  in  gaining  a  foothold  in  the  rifle-pits  outside  of  the 
stronger  works,  but  being  greatly  annoyed  by  the  enemy's  fire  from  the 
inner  works,  Barlow  determined  to  assault  them  also,  and  Burnside  made 
ready  a  column  to  help  him  ;  but  the  enemy  opened  upon  Burnside  with 
so  destructive  a  fire  that  he  was  forced  to  desist,  and  all  further  progress 
was  suspended  till  morning. 

At  four  A.  M.  on  Friday,  the  17th,  General  Burnside  ordered  Potter's 
division  to  take  the  works  in  his  front.  Two  of  Potter's  brigades  moving 
at  once  with  great  rapidity,  dashed  gallantly  upon  the  Rebel  position,  and 
carried  it  as  by  a  whirlwind,  capturing  six  guns,  sixteen  officers,  four  hun 
dred  men,  and  a  stand  of  colors.  Brisk  skirmishing,  and  a  constant  but 
moderate  artillery  fire  was  now  maintained  till  afternoon,  when  Ledlie's 
division  of  the  ninth  corps,  which  had  relieved  Potter,  was  ordered  to 
advance,  under  cover  of  a  brisk  artillery  fire,  and  charging  over  a  broad 
field  under  an  oblique  fire  on  either  side,  reached  the  enemy's  intrerich- 
ments,  and  after  a  brief  but  bloody  conflict,  drove  them  out,  and  carried 
the  position,  the  combatants  fighting  desperately  across  the  breastworks 
for  some  time.  Burnside  was  now  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  city,  into 
which  he  threw  some  shells  from  his  batteries.  Several  attempts  were 
made  by  the  enemy  to  regain  their  lost  intrenchments,  but  they  were  all 
vigorously  repulsed.  Burnside  now  occupied  the  left,  Warren's — fifth — 
corps,  having  come  up,  and  massed  on  his  left  and  rear.  The  second  corps, 
now  commanded  by  Birney,  in  consequence  of  Hancock's  illness,  from  the 
breaking  out  of  his  old  wounds,  occupied  the  centre,  and  the  sixth  corps 
the  right,  while  Martindale's  division  of  the  eighteenth  corps  were  on  the 
extreme  right,  the  remainder  of  that  corps  having  returned  to  Bermuda 
Hundred.  At  nine  o'clock  Friday  night  (17th),  the  Rebels,  after  trying 
at  all  points  along  the  Union  lines,  made  a  sudden  and  desperate  attack 
on  Burnside,  and  succeeded  in  recapturing  the  works,  taken  by  Ledlie's 
division  in  the  afternoon,  pushing  the  Union  troops  out. 

General  Grant  had  determined  to  make  a  strong  push  on  Saturday 
morning,  and  had  ordered  an  assault  along  the  entire  line  at  four  A.  M., 
but  upon  sending  out  skirmishers,  it  was  found  that  the  enemy  had  aban 
doned  the  works  in  the  immediate  front  of  the  Union  lines  for  an  inner 
series  of  defences.  Having  reconnoitered  these,  an  advance  upon  them 
by  the  second,  ninth,  and  fifth  corps,  was  ordered  at  noon.  The  second 
corps  made  two  assaults,  but  was  driven  back  both  times,  notwithstanding 
their  most  strenuous  efforts,  by  the  murderous  artillery  fire  of  the  enemy. 
The  ninth  corps  pushed  forward,  and  established  their  line  firmly  across  the 
Petersburg  and  Norfolk  railroad,  driving  the  enemy  before  them  for  some 


THE  ATTACK  ON   THE  WELDON   RAILROAD.  741 

distance,  but  could  not  carry  the  enemy's  lines.  The  fifth  corps  gained 
Borne  ground  in  two  assaults,  but  was  only  partially  successful.  Attempts 
made  by  the  sixth,  and  part  of  the  eighteenth  corps,  to  advance  on  the 
right,  had  also  met  with  but  indifferent  success.  The  losses  in  these  four 
days  had  been  heavy,  eighty-five  officers,  and  one  thousand  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  men  having  been  killed;  three  hundred  and  sixty-one  offi 
cers,  and  six  thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety-two  men  having  been 
wounded,  and  forty-six  officers,  and  fifteen  hundred  and  sixty-eight  men 
missing,  most  of  them  prisoners,  making  a  grand  total  of  casualities  of 
nine  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty-five. 

After  two  days  of  comparative  quiet,  General  Grant  ordered  another 
advance  around  the  south  side  of  Petersburg,  to  take  possession  of  the 
Weldon  railroad,  one  of  the  two  principal  lines  of  communication  over 
which  the  Rebels  now  received  their  supplies.  Over  this  road  came  the 
ammunition,  fire-arms,  shoes,  and  clothing,  thrown  into  Wilmington  from 
England  by  the  blockade-runners,  and  if  it  could  be  possessed  and  firmly 
held  by  the  Union  troops,  the  Rebels  would  be  reduced  to  a  single  line  of 
communication  for  all  their  supplies,  the  Southside  railroad,  and  goods 
from  Wilmington  could  only  reach  this  by  wagon  trains,  driven  a  long 
distance. 

The  movement  toward  this  road  was  commenced  on  Tuesday,  June 
21st,  Wilson's  and  Kautz's  cavalry  divisions  marching  out  ten  miles 
below  Petersburg,  and  cutting  the  railroad  at  that  point.  This  would, 
however,  prove  only  a  temporary  blockade  of  the  road,  and  accordingly, 
the  same  day,  General  Grant  renewed  his  old  tactics,  extending  the  left 
flank  of  his  army,  by  ordering  the  second  corps,  which  formed  the  right- 
centre,  to  move  out  of  its  intrenchments  to  the  extreme  left,  the  ninth 
and  a  part  of  the  eighteenth  corps  closing  up  the  gap.  The  second  corps 
moved  out  to  the  Jerusalem  plank  road,  which  bisects  the  region  between 
the  Norfolk  and  Weldon  railroads,  and  near  that  road  encountered  the 
enemy  in  strong  force,  and  their  progress  was  not  only  checked,  but  they 
received  a  counter-attack  from  the  enemy,  and  a  severe  skirmish  ensued. 
The  result  of  the  action  was  indecisive,  and  during  the  night  the  sixth 
corps  was  brought  up  to  the  left  of  the  second,  while  the  fifth  formed  on 
their  right,  east  of  the  Jerusalem  plank  road.  The  sixth  corps,  and  Mott's 
and  Barlow's  divisions  of  the  second,  were  ordered  to  advance  at  day 
break,  Gibbon's  division  of  the  second  being  already  up  with  the  enemy 
on  the  right.  There  was  some  difficulty  in  regard  to  the  movements  of 
the  two  corps,  each  waiting  for  the  other  to  lead  off.  At  length  each  corps 
received  orders  to  start  at  once,  independently  of  the  other,  each  being 
cautioned  to  protect  its  flank,  in  case  connection  was  not  made  by  the  other. 
As  they  moved  forward,  Barlow's  division  began  to  open  a  gap  between 
itself  and  the  sixth  corps,  and  he  had  hardly  reached  his  position  when 
Hill's  (Rebel)  corps  having  discovered  this  gap,  came  rushing  through  it. 


742  TPIE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

rolling  up  in  succession  Barlow's  flank,  capturing  several  hundred  pris 
oners,  pushing  back  Mott,  with  the  loss  of  about  as  many  more,  and  finally 
falling  upon  Gibbon's  front  and  rear  at  the  same  time,  and  driving  his 
division  out  ot  their  intrenchments,  sweeping  off  several  entire  regiments, 
and  McKnight's  battery. 

At  length  the  tide  of  disaster  was  staid  by  the  exertions  of  a  single 
regiment,  the  twentieth  Massachusetts,  which,  under  the  skilful  handling 
of  its  commander,  Captain  Patten,  and  the  coolness  and  courage  of  the 
men,  checked  the  triumphant  and  dangerous  advance  of  the  enemy,  and 
profiting  by  this,  the  reserve  brigades  were  brought  up,  what  remained  of 
Gibbon's  division  rallied,  and  the  line,  being  formed  anew,  dashed  upon  the 
enemy,  and  regained,  before  evening,  considerable  of  the  lost  ground,  and 
even  at  some  points  pushed  the  enemy  back  from  his  old  line.  Heavy  firing 
continued  through  the  night.  On  Thursday,  the  23d,  there  was  a  slight 
further 'advance  gained  on  the  left;  but  the  enemy  proved  to  be  strong  in 
numbers,  and  to  occupy  a  position  of  great  advantage.  The  Vermont 
brigade  of  the  sixth  corps,  attempting  to  seize  and  hold  the  railroad 
farther  south,  were  pounced  upon  by  Anderson's  (Rebel)  division,  enveloped 
and  repulsed,  with  a  loss  of  several  hundred  of  their  number  taken  pris 
oners,  and  a  considerable  number  killed  and  wounded.  There  was  now 
for  more  than  a  month  a  lull  in  the  fighting  in  front  of  Petersburg,  except 
occasional  artillery  duels,  the  sharpshooting  practised  on  both  sides,  and 
one  or  two  attacks  and  reprisals  at  particular  points  of  the  line. 

On  the  22d  of  June,  General  Grant  had  sent  Brigadier-General  Wilson, 
with  his  own  cavalry  division,  and  Kautz's  brigade,  his  entire  force  num 
bering  from  six  thousand  to  eight  thousand  men,  with  three  batteries  of 
four  guns  each,  half  rifled  ordnance,  and  half  light  twelve  pounders,  and 
one  battery  of  four  small  mountain  howitzers,  to  break  up  the  Weldon 
and  Southside  railroads.  They  left  their  camps,  near  Prince  George  Court 
House,  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  June,  and  moved  to  the  Petersburg 
and  Weldon  railroad,  at  Reams'  station.  There  they  took  up  and  burned 
the  track  for  several  hundred  yards,  as  well  as  the  water-tank,  depot,  and 
public  buildings.  Thence  they  marched  to  Sutherland's  station,  on  the 
Southside  railroad,  and  in  the  evening  advanced  to  Ford's  station,  where 
they  found  two  locomotives,  sixteen  cars,  a  depot,  and  a  few  stores,  and 
destroyed  several  miles  of  the  track.  The  next  morning,  General  Kautz 
advanced  toward  Burkesville,  the  important  junction  of  the  Petersburg 
and  Lynchburg,  and  the  Richmond  and  Danville  railroad.  Here  he  de 
stroyed  depots,  cars,  and  similar  property,  and  several  miles  of  the  track, 
east  and  west.  Meanwhile,  the  main  column  followed,  and  in  the  after 
noon  encountered  a  Rebel  brigade  near  Nottoway.  A  sharp  conflict 
ensued  until  night,  when  the  enemy  retired.  On  the  24th,  the  column 
reached  Keysville,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night,  Kautz's  men  having  de 
stroyed  eighteen  miles  of  railroad  track,  besides  other  property.  The  next 


EARLY'S  FORAY  INTO  MARYLAND.  743 

day  they  reached  the  bridge  over  Staunton  river,  which  they  were  very 
anxious  to  burn,  but  it  was  found  to  be  too  strongly  guarded  and  de 
fended  by  the  enemy. 

They  now  commenced  their  return  march,  but  were  harassed  at  every 
step  by  the  enemy,  who  was  thoroughly  exasperated  by  their  daring  and 
success,  and  who,  confronting  them  at  every  turn,  hanging  upon  their 
rear,  putting  obstructions  in  their  way,  and  fighting  them  whenever  he 
could  find  opportunity,  reduced  them  to  extremity.  The  men  and  horses 
were  worn  and  jaded  beyond  description,  and  only  escaped  into  the  lines 
by  making  wide  detours.  Their  entire  wagon  train,  the  ambulance  train 
their  guns,  (sixteen  in  number,)  nearly  all  their  caissons,  and  many  horses, 
and  about  twelve  hundred  men,  of  whom  about  one  thousand  were  pris 
oners,  were  lost,  in  efforts  to  regain  the  Union  line.  Still,  the  expedition 
had  been  to  some  extent,  a  success.  More  than  fifty  miles  of  the  track  of 
the  Danville  and  Southside  railroads  had  been  destroyed,  and  their  rolling- 
stock  so  much  crippled  that  they  could  not,  during  the  war,  restore  them 
to  their  former  condition  of  efficiency.  More  than  a  thousand  negroes 
had  been  collected,  and  followed  the  column,  and  though  many  of  them 
had  been  recaptured  by  the  Rebels,  yet  a  considerable  number  found  their 
way  to  the  Union  lines.  The  expedition  had  very  seriously  embarrassed 
the  enemy,  and  rendered  their  supplies,  never  over-abundant,  more  scanty 
than  they  had  been  hitherto.  The  cavalry  came  in  by  squads,  from  the 
30th  of  June  to  the  3d  of  July.  An  infantry  force  sent  out  by  General 
Meade  to  relieve  them,  was  too  late  to  be  of  service.  The  intense  heat  and 
drought  which  prevailed  at  this  time,  rendered  active  movements  almost 
impracticable,  and  greatly  increased  the  sickness  and  suffering  in  the 
camps,  while  the  exhaustion  consequent  on  such  continuous  and  superhu 
man  exertions,  impaired,  in  a  marked  degree,  the  morale  of  the  army. 

While  comparative  quiet  was  maintained  along  the  lines  in  the  vicinity 
of  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  in  consequence  of  this  extreme  heat  and 
exhaustion,  there  was  no  lack  of  activity  in  other  and  not  distant  portions 
of  the  eastern  departments.  We  have  already  noticed  that  Early,  in  com 
mand  of  what  was  Ewell's  (Rebel)  corps,  the  original  "  Stonewall"  Jackson 
corps,  had  moved  down  the  Shenandoah  valley,  after  driving  Hunter  into 
the  Kanawha  valley ;  that  he  had  recaptured  Winchester,  so  often  the 
battle-ground  of  the  war ;  flanked  Martinsburg,  compelling  Sigel  to  fall 
back  to  Harper's  Ferry ;  and  had  finally  occupied  the  Virginia  side  of 
that  town,  while  Sigel  intrenched  himself  on  Maryland  Heights. 

Early  now  proceeded  with  his  main  column  (a  small  detachment  only 
having  occupied  Harper's  Ferry),  to  move,  by  way  of  Martinsburg  and 
North  mountain,  toward  Hagerstown.  The  people,  panic-stricken,  fled 
with  such  property  as  they  could  hastily  seize  and  remove.  On  the  5th 
of  July,  the  government  stores  at  Frederick,  Md.,  were  all  put  upon  rail 
road  cars,  and  preparations  made  for  an  immediate  evacuation  of  the  city. 


THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

On  the  same  day,  Hagerstown  was  occupied  and  the  stores  plundered,  and 
a  requisition  made  on  the  inhabitants  for  twenty  thousand  dollars.  This 
amount  was  paid,  and  the  raiders  left.  The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad 
was  held  by  the  enemy  as  far  down -as  Sandy  Hook,  and  much  of  the 
track  torn  up. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  the  President  issued  a  call  for  twelve  thousand 
militia  from  Pennsylvania,  twelve  thousand  from  New  York,  and  five 
thousand  from  Massachusetts.  The  Governors  of  those  States  issued  proc 
lamations  calling  out  the  troops,  and  they  began  to  assemble.  On  the 
6th,  there  was  some  skirmishing  between  the  Union  and  Rebel  cavalry, 
between  Hagerstown  and  Frederick,  and  the  Federal  troops  fell  back 
toward  Chambersburg.  On  Thursday,  July  7th,  a  reconnoitering  force 
sent  out  by  General  Lewis  Wallace,  who  was  in  command  of  the  Depart 
ment  of  Annapolis,  was  quickly  repulsed  by  the  enemy.  The  Rebels 
occupied  Boonsboro  and  Middletown,  and  approached  near  enough  to 
Frederick  to  throw  some  shots  into  the  city,  but  withdrew  before  morning 
of  the  next  day.  Small  bands  of  Rebel  soldiers  scoured  the  region  about 
Ilagerstown,  plundering,  stealing  horses,  and  burning  buildings.  On  the 
evening  of  the  8th,  General  Wallace  withdrew  with  his  force  from  Fred 
erick  to  Monocacy  Junction,  and  at  sunrise  the  next  morning  (July  9th) 
the  Rebels  entered,  and  levied  a  contribution  on  the  inhabitants. 

About  nine  A.  M.  they  advanced  against  General  Wallace,  who  occupied  a 
position  on  the  east  side  of  the  Monocacy  river,  with  his  batteries  protect 
ing  the  railroad  and  turnpike.  They  attacked  his  left,  which  was  under 
the  command  of  General  Ricketts,  and  the  battle  continued  with  varying 
success,  for  several  hours,  but  at  last  Ricketts'  division  was  forced  to  give 
way.  At  the  same  time,  they  had  succeeded  in  out-flanking  General 
Wallace's  right,  and  pouring  in  a  reverse  fire  upon  his  rear,  swept  oft 
about  six  hundred  men  and  officers,  including  General  Tyler.  General 
Wallace  now  fell  back,  and  the  enemy  pursued  him  some  miles,  toward 
Ellicott's  Mills,  on  the  Baltimore  turnpike.  In  the  battle,  he  lost  about 
twelve  hundred  men  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  and  six  pieces  of 
artillery.  He  was  greatly  outnumbered  in  the  fight,  his  entire  command 
consisting  of  only  five  or  six  thousand  men,  while  that  of  the  Rebels  was 
from  fourteen  to  sixteen  thousand.  The  object  of  Lee  in  sending  this 
expedition  under  Early  into  Maryland  was  two-fold.  The  grasp  of  Grant 
upon  the  throat  of  the  Rebellion  was  growing  tighter  and  more  oppressive 
every  day,  and  the  only  chance  of  compelling  him  to  relax  that  grasp,  lay 
in  threatening  the  capital  of  the  Union.  If  that  could  be  put  in  peril,  he 
reasoned,  the  outcry  from  the  President  and  Cabinet  and  the  officials,  for 
aid  and  protection,  would  be  so  strong  that  Grant  would  be  compelled  to 
march  his  army  thither,  and  relinquish  the  siege  of  Richmond.  With  the 
generals  previously  in  command  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  such  a  result 
would  probably  have  followed ;  but  he  had  not  appreciated  correctly 


WASHINGTON   THREATENED.  745 

General  Grant's  firmness,  perseverance,  and  persistency.  While  a  small 
body  of  troops  (the  sixth  corps)  were  sent  to  take  care  of  Early,  and  the 
nineteenth  corps,  then  on  its  way  from  Louisiana  to  reinforce  General 
Grant,  was  ordered  to  "Washington,  the  pressure  upon  the  throat  of  the 
Rebellion  was  not  relaxed  for  an  instant;  indeed,  it  was  rather  increased. 
But  another  object  had  in  view  by  General  Lee  was  the  plunder  of  the 
rich  granaries  and  the  well  supplied  stables  of  southern  Pennsylvania. 
His  cavalry  were  poorly  mounted,  and  his  troops  but  scantily  fed.  If 
Early  could  obtain  a  good  supply  of  superior  horses  to  remount  the  cav 
alry,  and  an  abundance  of  grain  to  feed  his  troops,  it  would  greatly  relieve 
his  army,  and  meantime,  while  in  the  loyal  States,  they  were  living  on 
the  country  they  ravaged,  not  drawing  their  supplies  from  his  compara 
tively  scanty  stores. 

The  defeat  of  General  Wallace  created  great  excitement  in  Washington 
and  the  northern  States.  The  arrival  of  the  sixth  and  nineteenth  corps 
did  much  to  calm  the  minds  of  the  citizens,  and  the  change  in  command 
of  the  forces  in  Maryland,  General  Ord  relieving  General  Wallace,  aided 
in  restoring  a  better  state  of  feeling.  Meantime,  the  enemy,  after  destroy 
ing  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad  for  some  distance  below  Frederick, 
turned  their  attention  to  the  Northern  Central  railroad,  which  connects 
Baltimore  and  Harrisburg.  They  destroyed  twenty-five  miles  of  this 
railroad,  and  on  Monday,  July  llth,  a  considerable  force  appeared  on  the 
line  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington,  and  Baltimore  road,  and  captured 
and  set  on  fire  the  trains  at  Magnolia  station,  seventeen  miles  south  of  • 
Havre  de  Grace.  Major-General  Franklin  was  on  board  of  one  of  these 
trains,  and  was  captured,  but  though  suffering  from  wounds  received  in 
Louisiana,  he  made  his  escape  soon  after.  The  track  was  slightly  dam 
aged,  and  the  bridge  over  Gunpowder  river  partially  burned.  Having 
accumulated  a  large  amount  of  plunder,  the  Rebel  cavalry  approached  to 
within  six  miles  of  Baltimore,  and  finding  a  force  there  prepared  to  meet 
them,  turned  off,  and  joined  a  larger  body  of  Rebels,  who  were  in  the 
vicinity  of  Washington.  They  approached  within  less  than  two  miles  of 
the  city,  taking  a  position  in  front  of  Fort  Stevens,  on  Seventeenth  street 
Here  their  sharpshooters  became  so  annoying,  and  their  presence  and 
threatening  position  before  the  capital  was  felt  to  be  so  humiliating,  that 
General  Augur,  the  military  commandant  of  the  city,  resolved  to  attempt 
to  dislodge  them.  The  garrison  of  the  city  was  not  large,  the  greater  part 
of  the  troops  being  in  Maryland;  but  a  brigade  of  veteran  infantry  was  sent 
out  upon  the  continuation  of  Seventeenth  street,  which  encountered  them, 
and  after  a  sharp  battle  drove  them  off.  They  left  about  a  hundred  dead 
and  wouiided  on  the  field,  and  departed  during  the  night  from  that 
vicinity,  after  burning  some  fine  residences.  The  Union  loss  was  between 
two  and  three  hundred. 

The  number  of  the  enemy  who  thus  audaciously  threatened  the  capital 

I 


746  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

was  undoubtedly  much  smaller  than  the  Union  troops  supposed,  and  be 
fore  morning  they  had  joined  the  remainder  of  Early 's  force,  which, 
pressed  by  a  part  of  Ord's  troops,  was  now  making  its  way  as  rapidly  as 
possible  toward  the  Potomac,  which  it  crossed  in  the  vicinity  of  Harper's 
Ferry.  General  Wright,  with  the  sixth  corps,  and  a  division  of  the  nine 
teenth,  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Edwards's  ferry,  and  moved  to  Leesburg 
in  pursuit ;  while  General  Crook,  with  a  part  of  the  Union  cavalry,  cap 
tured  a  portion  of  one  of  the  Rebel  trains,  and  drove  their  rear  through 
Snicker's  gap,  after  a  sharp  fight.  The  enemy  succeeded,  however,  in 
crossing  the  Snicker's  gap  ferry  over  the  Shenandoah,  and  holding  it,  with 
a  battery,  against  the  Union  cavalry.  On  the  18th,  Wright's  corps  came 
up,  and  attempted  to  force  a  passage  across  the  ferry ;  but  after  a  severe 
fight,  a  part  of  his  troops  having  gained  the  west  side  of  the  Shenandoah, 
he  was  compelled  to  recross,  and  fall  back  toward  Snicker's  gap,  with  a 
loss  of  about  three  hundred.  At  Ashby's  gap,  the  Union  troops  drove 
the  enemy  through  the  gap  and  across  the  river,  but,  crossing  in  pur 
suit,  they  were  compelled  to  retire  to  the  gap,  with  a  loss  of  about  two 
hundred. 

The  Rebel  commander  now  moved  leisurely  toward  Winchester  and 
Strasburg,  and  General  Wright  crossed  the  Shenandoah  with  the  sixth 
corps,  but  soon  halted,  arid  recrossing,  returned  to  Leesburg ;  and  thence 
General  Crook,  with  the  nineteenth  corps,  moved  to  Harper's  Ferry,  and 
General  Wright  to  Washington.  On  the  19th  of  July,  General  Averell 
moved  from  Martinsburg  toward  Winchester,  and  encountered  a  Rebel 
cavalry  force  near  Darks ville.  The  next  morning,  July  20th,  he  pressed 
on  toward  Winchester,  where  he  met  the  enemy,  and  a  severe  battle  en 
sued  for  three  hours — and  Averell  captured  four  guns,  several  hundred 
small  arms,  and  about  two  hundred  prisoners. 

General  Crook,  after  retiring  toward  Harper's  Ferry,  joined  General 
Averell,  and  on  the  23d  of  July  there  was  considerable  skirmishing  at 
Kernstown,  four  miles  beyond  Winchester,  and  the  Union  cavalry  were 
pushed  back  to  the  main  army.  •  On  the  24th  the  enemy  pressed  his  ad 
vantage,  and  the  cavalry  were  driven  in  great  disorder  through  Winches 
ter  toward  Bunker  Hill.  The  breaking  of  his  cavalry  forced  General 
Crook  to  retreat.  His  command  consisted  only  of  the  two  small  divisions 
of  cavalry  under  Generals  Averell  and  Duffie,  and  two  divisions  of  in 
fantry — in  all  not  far  from  ten  thousand  men.  Early's  force  here  exceeded 
somewhat  fifteen  thousand  men,  (he  had  taken  about  that  number  across 
the  Potomac,  and  had  left  a  considerable  force  to  guard  his  rear,)  and 
taking  advantage  of  these  numbers,  he  outflanked  General  Crook  and 
compelled  his  retreat  from  point  to  point.  After  a  brief  battle,  Early 
halted  his  main  force  about  five  miles  north  of  Winchester,  but  his  cavalry 
kept  up  a  hot  pursuit  to  Martinsburg.  General  Crook's  loss  in  all  was 
about  twelve  hundred,  among  whom  was  Colonel  (acting  Brigadier-Gen- 


SKETCH   OF   COLONEL  MULLIGAN.  747 

eral)  Mulligan,  mortally  wounded.*  On  the  next  day  a  sharp  artillery 
engagement  occurred,  but  General  Crook  having  gained  time  to  get  off 
most  of  his  trains,  again  fell  back,  and  on  the  succeeding  day  crossed  the 
Potomac  into  Maryland,  without  molestation  by  the  enemy.  The  losses 
in  killed  and  wounded  in  these  affairs  were  considerable.  The  enemy  now 
held  the  west  bank  of  the  Potomac  from  Williamsport  to  Shepardstown, 
and  the  panic  in  northern  Maryland  and  southern  Pennsylvania  was  re 
newed  with  still  greater  intensity.  The  most  absurd  reports  were  circu 
lated,  and  however  extravagant  they  were,  they  were  readily  believed  by 
the  credulous.  "  Early  was  coming  into  Pennsylvania  with  forty  thousand 
men !  No,  it  was  Lee  himself  who  was  in  command,  with  a  hundred 
thousand — and  Longstreet's,  Hill's,  Early's,  and  Breckinridge's  corps,  were 
certainly  known  to  have  entered  Pennsylvania !"  Meantime,  on  the  27th 
of  July,  the  Union  troops  hnd  rallied,  and  found  that  the  enemy  had  not 
crossed  the  Potomac.  On  the  28th,  General  Kelly  crossed  the  Potomac 
into  Virginia  with  a  small  body  of  Union  troops  and  occupied  Martins- 
burg,  which  the  enemy  had  evacuated.  On  the  29th,  a  small  body  of  the 
enemy,  not  exceeding  twenty-five  hundred,  mostly  cavalry,  crossed  the 
Potomac  below  Martinsburg,  and  advanced  toward  Chambersburg,  Penn- 

*  Colonel  James  A.  Mulligan  had  acted  so  conspicuous  a  part  during  the  war,  that 
he  deserves  a  brief  notice.  He  was  born  at  Utica,  New  York,  June  25,  1830,  and  was 
of  Irish  family,  his  parents  having  emigrated  to  this  country  a  few  years  before  his 
birth.  In  the  autumn  of  1836,  the  family  removed  to  Chicago,  and  after  a  few  years 
residence  he  entered  as  a  student  in  the  University  of  St.  Mary's  of  the  Lake.  He 
graduated  in  1850,  in  the  first  graduating  class  of  the  university,  and  the  same  year 
commenced  the  study  of  the  law.  In  1851  he  accompanied  John  L.  Stephens,  the 
celebrated  author  and  traveller,  on  his  expedition  to  the  isthmus  of  Panama.  After 
remaining  at  Panama  about  a  year,  he  returned  to  Chicago,  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1855,  and  immediately  commenced  practice  in  the  city.  In  the  winter  of  1857  he 
was  appointed  to  a  clerkship  in  the  Department  of  the  Interior  at  Washington.  At 
the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  raised  a  regiment,  mostly  composed  of  Irishmen,  the 
twenty-third  Illinois  infantry,  afterward  known  as  "  Mulligan's  brigade,"  and  being 
appointed  Colonel,  left  for  the  front  in  July,  1861.  He  was  actively  engaged  in  ser 
vice,  first  in  Virginia,  and  afterward  in  Missouri,  till  September,  when  he  was  ordered 
to  the  defence  of  Lexington,  Missouri.  The  particulars  of  that  siege  are  given  in  the 
earlier  portion  of  this  work.  For  nine  days  he  held  the  town  against  heavy  odds,  but 
not  being  reinforced,  and  his  troops  being  cut  off  from  water,  and  pressed  by  an  over 
whelming  force,  he  at  length  surrendered  to  the  enemy.  He  was  exchanged  Novem 
ber  25th,  and  returned  to  Chicago,  where  he  reorganized  his  regiment,  and  in  January, 
1862,  was  ordered  to  New  Creek,  Virginia.  He  was,  during  the  remainder  of  his  career, 
stationed  in  Western  Virginia,  a;ad  participated  in  many  hard-fought  battles,  being 
most  of  the  time  in  command  of  a.  brigade.  He  was  offered  a  commission  as  brigadier- 
general,  but  finding  it  would  taka  him  from  his  gallant  troops,  who  almost  idolized 
him,  he  declined  it.  In  the  battle  of  Winchester,  and  the  retreat  of  General  Crook, 
he  was  mortally  wounded  while  leading  a  charge,  but  seeing  that  the  colors  of  his 
brigade  were  endangered,  he  turned  to  his  bearers,  saying.  "  Lay  me  down  and  save 
the  flag,"  and  repeated  the  order  till  they  obeyed  him.  Before  their  return  he  waa 
borne  off  by  the  enemy,  and  died  soon  after. 


748  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

sylvania.  On  the  30th  they  dispersed  some  troops  at  Carlisle  barracks, 
and  their  advance-guard  of  two  or  three  hundred  men  entered  Chambers- 
ourg,  from  which  place  a  considerable  number  of  the  inhabitants  had  fled 
the  previous  day.  The  Eebels  demanded  a  ransom  of  five  hundred  thou 
sand  dollars,  which  not  being  paid,  they  set  fire  to  the  town,  and  about 
two  thirds  of  it  (about  two  hundred  and  fifty  houses)  was  burned.  The 
inhabitants  who  remained  offered  no  opposition  to  the  Rebels.  During 
the  forenoon  the  enemy  withdrew,  and  within  an  hour  General  Averell, 
who  had  retreated  before  them  two  days  previous,  passed  through  the 
place  in  swift  pursuit,  and  drove  them  back  to  their  reserves,  eight  miles 
below  McConnellsburg,  where  he  skirmished  with  them  till  night.  The 
next  morning  General  Averell  continued  the  pursuit  to  Hancock,  on 
the  upper  Potomac,  where  the  enemy  checked  his  pursuit  by  felling 
trees  and  burning  bridges.  On  the  same  day  on  which  Chambersburg 
was  burned,  Saturday,  July  30th,  Mosby,  the  notorious  partizan  ranger, 
crossed  the  Potomac  with  about  fifty  men,  at  Cheat  ferry,  captured 
pickets,  cut  the  telegraph  wires,  robbed  a  few  stores,  and  retreated  across 
the  Potomac  again,  after  a  slight  skirmish  with  a  superior  force  at 
Conrad's  ferry.  This,  and  the  burning  of  Chambersburg,  increased  the 
panic,  and  business  was  suspended,  and  public  meetings  called  on  Sunday, 
July  31st,  to  prepare  for  defence.  On  the  1st  of  August,  Governor  Curtin 
called  a  special  session  of  the  State  Legislature  for  the  9th  of  August,  to 
take  prompt  measures  in  so  great  a  crisis.  The  defences  on  the  Ohiouand 
Monongahela  rivers  were  examined  by  General  Couch,  and  the  sixth 
corps,  which  was  at  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  on  the  26th  of  July,  marched 
with  all  haste  toward  Harper's  Ferry  to  join  the  nineteenth,  and  Hunter's 
army  of  Western  Virginia,  and  drive  the  Rebels  from  western  Pennsyl 
vania,  which  they  were  said  to  be  ravaging.  They  reached  Halltown, 
three  miles  from  Harper's  Ferry,  on  the  30th,  and  made  long  and  rapid 
marches  on  the  31st  of  July  and  1st  of  August,  notwithstanding  the 
intense  heat,  but  could  find  no  enemy.  On  the  evening  of  August  1st, 
they  arrived  at  Frederick,  Maryland,  greatly  exhausted,  and  rested  for  a 
day.  The  small  force  of  the  enemy  which  Averell  had  pursued  to  Han 
cock,  moved,  on  the  night  of  July  31st,  toward  Cumberland,  Md.,  and 
approached  that  place  on  Monday,  August  1st.,  in  the  afternoon,  when 
they  met  a  Union  force  under  General  Kelly,  and  fighting  till  dark,  were 
repulsed  by  the  Union  troops,  and  fell  back  to  Oldtown,  leaving  their 
killed  and  wounded,  some  wagons  and  ammunition.  There  was  sharp 
skirmishing  the  next  morning  between  them  and  Colonel  Stough,  who 
was  posted  at  Oldtown,  with  about  five  hundred  men,  and  whom  they 
finally  repulsed  and  routed,  with  considerable  loss.  On  Thursday,  August 
4th,  the  enemy  made  an  attack  on  General  Crook,  but  were  foiled,  and 
retreated  toward  Moorefield,  Va.  There  they  were  overtaken  by  General 
Averell,  and  routed,  with  the  loss  of  their  artillery,  the  larger  portion  of 


THE   OPERATIONS   BEFORE   PETERSBURG.  143 

their  train,  and  five  hundred  prisoners.  Meanwhile,  the  panic  continued 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  Governor  Curtin,  calling 
out  thirty  thousand  militia. 

The  Rebels  did  not  again  cross  the  Potomac,  but  the  experience  of  the 
month  of  July  led  to  the  organization  of  an  efficient  army  of  defence  for 
that  region,  to  be  under  a  single  commander,  of  which  we  shall  have 
more  to  say  hereafter. 

We  return  once  more,  and  to  describe  a  single  movement,  to  the  armies 
around  Petersburg.  General  Grant  had,  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  at  the 
suggestion  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Pleasants,  of  the  forty-eighth  Pennsyl 
vania  regiment,  who  had  been  a  mining  engineer  before  the  war,  ordered 
the  running  of  a  mine  under  one  of  the  enemy's  largest  forts  in  front  of 
Petersburg.  The  mine  had  been  commenced  on  the  25th  of  June.  The 
distance  to  be  mined  was  about  five  hundred  feet.  The  tunnel'  rose  as  it 
advanced,  the  fort  being  situated  on  high  ground,  and  when  it  reached 
the  fort,  was  about  twenty  feet  tbelow  its  foundations.  Here  wings  were 
extended  to  right  and  left,  so  as  to  follow  the  outer  walls  of  the  fort.  The 
charge  was  about  four  tons  of  powder,  connected  by  a  fuse  with  the 
exterior.  It  was  completed  about  the  25th  of  July,  and  the  attempts  at 
concealment  had  been  so  well  managed  that  the  enemy  had  no  suspicion 
of  it,  and  only  a  small  part  of  the  Union  troops  were  aware  of  it.  General 
Grant  now  ordered  a  demonstration  in  strong  force  to  be  made  on  the 
north  side  of  the  James,  to  distract  the  attention  of  the  Rebel  commander, 
and  lead  him  to  draw  off  a  part  of  his  troops  from  Petersburg. 

The  Union  right  extended  to  the  north  side  of  the  James,  and  the  ex 
treme  right  wing,  consisting  of  Foster's  division  of  the  tenth  corps,  occu 
pied  a  strongly  intrenched  position  at  Deep  Bottom,  the  valley  of  Deep 
run  or  creek,  a  small  tributary  of  the  James.  The  Rebels  held  Malvern 
Hill  as  the  right  of  their  forces,  north  of  the  James,  but  were  prevented, 
by  the  Union  occupation  of  Deep  Bottom,  from  making  any  efforts  to 
blockade  the  gunboats  and  transports  by  batteries  on  the  river  bank. 
The  Union  position  also  furnished  a  good  base  for  threatening  Richmond 
from  the  southeast,  or  making  feints  in  that  direction.  Such  a  feint 
General  Grant  now  proposed  to  make,  to  call  as  large  a  proportion  of  the 
troops  in  Petersburg  to  the  north  side  of  the  James. 

One  pontoon  bridge,  protected  by  gunboats,  already  crossed  the  James 
in  the  rear  of  General  Foster's  position ;  but  the  proximity  of  the  enemy 
prevented  the  crossing  of  any  considerable  force  over  that  bridge  with 
out  a  battle.  A  second  pontoon  was  thrown  over  at  Strawberry  plains, 
a  little  lower  down,  on  the  21st  of  July,  and  a  brigade  of  the  nineteenth  corps 
crossed  to  support  General  Foster;  there  was  heavy  skirmishing  for 
several  days,  and  the  enemy  sent  a  division  over  to  maintain  their  position. 
On  the  26th  of  July,  a  heavy  cannonading  of  the  Rebel  lines  was  com 
menced,  and  continued  through  the  day,  the  Union  gunboats  joining  in 


750  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

it.  Under  cover  of  this  fire,  the  second  and  fifth  corps  were,  with  great 
pretence  of  secrecy,  marched  across  the  bridges,  which  had  been  muffled 
with  grass.  On  the  27th  and  28th  there  was  considerable  fighting,  and  the 
Rebel  force  were  driven  back  more  than  a  mile,  and  compelled  to  abandon 
some  strong  positions.  On  the  29th  of  July,  about  four  hundred  empty 
wagons  were  driven  across  the  lower  pontoon,  and  the  enemy,  in  great 
alarm,  hurried  a  large  body  of  troops  to  the  James,  to  cross  and  oppose 
the  Union  force  they  supposed  to  be  concentrating  there.  During  the  night, 
the  second  corps  and  the  cavalry  were  withdrawn,  and  before  morning 
had  reached  their  old  position  in  front  of  Petersburg,  the  fifth  corps 
following  rapidly. 

The  early  morning  of  the  3d  of  August  was  the  time  assigned  for  the 
explosion  of  the  mine,  which  was  to  be  followed  immediately  by  an  assault 
by  the  ninth  corps,  supported  by  the  eighteenth,  and  having  the  second 
corps  in  reserve  on  the  right,  and  the  fifth  on  the  left,  the  whole  to  be 
closely  massed.  The  fuse  was  lighted  at'half-past  three  o'clock  A.  M.,  but 
owing  to  dampness,  it  went  out,  without  exploding  the  mine.  It  was 
lighted  again  after  considerable  delay,  but  did  not  explode  till  twenty 
minutes  of  five,  when,  after  a  heaving  and  trembling  of  the  earth,  huge 
masses  of  earth,  and  the  fort,  with  all  its  contents,  guns,  caissons,  and  about 
two  hundred  Rebel  soldiers,  were  suddenly  thrown  into  the  air.  A  crater, 
one  hundred  feet  or  more  in  length,  fifty  feet  wide,  and  twenty  feet  deep, 
yawned  where  the  fort  had  stood.  The  Union  artillery  immediately 
opened  fire  from  a  hundred  guns;  and  the  enemy,  recovering  from  their 
surprise,  soon  began  to  respond.  The  assaulting  column,  headed  by 
Marshall's  brigade  of  Ledlie's  division,  ninth  corps,  now  advanced,  and 
the  supporting  brigades  spread  out,  enveloping  the  flanking  rifle-pits, 
and  capturing  about  two  hundred  prisoners.  Having  gained  the  crater,  the 
troops  began  to  reform  for  the  assault,  but  committed  the  fatal  mistake  of 
stopping  to  throw  up  intrench ments,  and  bringing  two  guns  to  bear  upon 
the  enemy.  The  Rebels  rallied  during  this  delay,  and  poured  a  terrible 
enfilading  fire  from  all  their  adjacent  forts  and  rifle-pits  upon  the  assault 
ing  column,  and  when  it  was  ready  to  move,  its  onward  progress  was  to 
be  made  under  a  front,  fiank,  and  rear  fire,  which  would  speedily  destroy 
every  man  of  the  devoted  band.  The  charge  was  checked  on  the  side  of 
the  crest:  there  was  a  halt,  and  finally  the  whole  line,  wavering  under  the 
terrible  fire,  recoiled  to  the  fort.  The  colored  division  of  the  corps,  which 
had  been  in  reserve,  was  now,  by  the  stupidity  of  some  commander, 
despatched  to  attempt  what  the  other  three  divisions  had  failed  of  accom 
plishing.  It  rushed  forward  over  the  four  hundred  yards  which  had 
separated  it  from  the  enemy,  only  to  share  the  fate  of  its  comrades,  and 
when  once  broken,  plunged  headlong  into  the  crater,  upon  which  the 
enemy  now  concentrated  their  fire.  Attempts  were  made  by  a  division 
of  the  eighteenth,  and  another  of  the  tenth  corps,  to  distract  the  attention 


UNION   LOSSES  BEFORE  PETERSBURG.  751 

of  the  enemy,  so  as  to  enable  the  Union  troops  to  save  this  ill-fated 
division,  but  in  vain  ;  the  crater  was  a  complete  slaughter-pen,  from  which 
all  attempts  to  retreat  were  sure  to  result  in  death.  After  some  hours,  a 
few  succeeded,  in  a  lull  of  the  enemy's  fire,  in  escaping ;  but  the  greater 
part  not  slain  were  captured.  The  whole  affair  had  been  badly  managed, 
and  the  investigation  of  the  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War  indi 
cated  that  the  blame  was  due  to  the  disagreement  of  some  of  the  com 
manding  officers,  and  that  General  Meade  was  not  altogether  without 
fault  in  the  matter.  The  Union  loss  in  this  disaster  was  four  thousand 
and  eight,  of  whom  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  ten  were  missing, 
mostly  prisoners,  four  hundred  and  nineteen  killed,  and  one  thousand  six 
hundred  and  seventy-nine  wounded.  The  losses  in  the  previous  battles 
before  Petersburg,  and  north  of  the  James,  from  June  20th  to  July  30th, 
had  been  five  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixteen ;  but  there  were  gains 
as  well  as  losses  to  count  in  these,  while  this  assault  had  accomplished 
nothing.  Tne  enemy's  loss  was  only  about  one  thousand,  of  whom  two 
hundred  were  prisoners. 


t52  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  fcTATES. 


CHAPTER     LX. 

SHERMAN'S  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN — SHERMAN'S  PREPARATIONS — THE  FORCE  UNDER  HIS  COM 
MAND,  AND  THE  SEVERAL  ARMIES  COMPOSING    IT THE  ARMY  OF  THE  ENEMY — ITS  POSITION 

AND  COMMANDER — SKETCH  OF  JOHNSTON — THE    DEMONSTRATION    ON  ROCKY  FACED  RIDGE, 

AND    BATTLES    THERF FLANKING    MOVEMENT    THROUGH  SNAKE    CREEK  GAP    ON    RESACA 

BATTLES    AT    RESACA — FLANKING    MOVEMENT     TOWARD    KINGSTON CAPTURE    OF    ROME 

CROSSING  THE    ETOWAH MOVEMENT    TOWARD    DALLAS BATTLES     OF    NEW  HOPE    CHURCH 

AND  DALLAS SHERMAN  MOVES  TO  THE    LEFT OCCUPATION  OF  ALLATOONA  PASS,  AND  BIG 

SHANTY THE    PASS    MADE    A    SECONDARY  BASE    OF    SUPPLIES THE    ENEMY  DRIVEN  FROM 

PINE    AND     LOST     MOUNTAINS THE     AFFAIR    OF    "THE    KULP    HOUSE" ASSAULT    ON    THE 

ENEMY    ON    KENESAW    MOUNTAIN REPULSE FLANKING    AGAIN THE    REBELS    COMPELLED 

TO    FALL    BACK  TO    THE    CHATTAHOOCHIE OCCUPATION    OF     MARIETTA — THE    UNION    ARMY 

CROSS  THE  CHATTAHOOCHIE BURNING  OF  ROSWELL  FACTORIES. 

THE  general  order  of  the  War  Department  of  the  12th  of  March, 
1864,  vesting  in  General  Grant,  as  Lieutenant-General,  the  chief  control  of 
the  armies  of  the  United  States,  also  assigned  to  Major-General  W.  T. 
Sherman  the  command  of  the  division  of  the  Mississippi,  the  position 
previously  held  by  Grant.  This  division,  including  the  military  Depart 
ments  of  the  Ohio,  the  Cumberland,  the  Tennessee,  and  for  a  time, 
Arkansas,  comprised  a  force  of  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
troops,  commanded  by  such  able  lieutenants  as  Major-Generals  Thomas, 
McPherson,  Schofield,  Hooker,  Logan,  Hurlbut,  and  Howard,  besides 
many  other  corps  and  division  commanders  equally  distinguished  for  skill 
and  bravery,  such  as  Kilpatrick,  Stoneman,  Palmer,  Wood,  Davis,  Rous 
seau,  Newton,  Williams,  Geary,  and  Baird.  Sherman  at  once  started 
upon  a  tour  of  inspection  of  the  several  armies  and  military  posts  within 
his  command  in  Tennessee  and  Alabama,  holding  interviews  with  his 
generals,  and  arranging  with  them,  in  general  terms,  as  to  the  lines  of 
communication  to  be  guarded,  the  strength  of  the  respective  armies  and 
garrisons,  etc.,  fixing  upon  the  1st  of  May  as  about  the  time  when  the 
advance  was  to  be  made.  Leaving  to  these  officers  the  completion  of  the 
details  of  organization  and  preparation,  he  returned  to  Nashville,  and 
bent  all  his  energies  to  the  work  of  collecting  at  Chattanooga  the  im 
mense  quantities  of  supplies  necessary  to  his  proposed  undertaking.  The 
time  which  remained  to  him  before  the  1st  of  May,  seemed  all  too  brief  for 
the  herculean  task  of  concentrating  at  one  point,  arms,  ammunition,  and 
provisions  ;  of  uniting,  and  reorganizing  the  various  and  widely  scattered 
army  ;  corps  of  mounting  his  cavalry,  and  making  all  the  preparations  for 
a  gigantic  campaign.  Yet  his  remarkable  energy  and  executive  ability, 
aided  by  that  of  his  able  subordinates,  accomplished  the  work  with  such 
celerity  and  success  that,  on  the  6th  of  May,  the  grand  army  of  the 


SKETCH   OF  GENERAL  JOHNSTON.  753 

Mississippi,  fully  organized,  equipped  and  provisioned,  was  ready  for  its 
share  in  the  great  movements  which  were  to  decide  the  fate  of  the  Union. 
It  numbered  ninety-eight  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  ninety-seven 
effective  men,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty-four  pieces  of  artillery,  and  was 
divided  as  follows : 

The  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  Major  General  Thomas  commanding 
— infantry,  fifty -four  thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty-eight;  artillery, 
two  thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy -seven;  cavalry,  three  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  twenty-eight;  total,  sixty  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  seventy-three,  with  one  hundred  and  thirty  guns.  Arrny  of  the 
Tennessee,  Major-General  McPherson  commanding — infantry,  twenty- 
two  thousand  four  hundred  and  thirty-seven  ;  artillery,  one  thousand  four 
hundred  and  four;  cavalry,  six  hundred  and  twenty-four;  total,  twenty- 
four  thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty-five,  with  ninety-six  guns.  Army 
of  the  Ohio,  Major-General  Schofield  commanding — infantry,  eleven 
thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty-three ;  artillery,  six  hundred  and  seventy- 
nine  ;  cavalry,  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-seven;  total,  thirteen 
thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty-nine,  with  twenty-eight  guns.  These 
numbers  continued  relatively  the  same  during  the  campaign,  the  losses  in 
battle  and  from  sickness  being  about  compensated  by  recruits,  and  returns 
from  furlough  and  hospitals.  The  three  Union  armies  on  the  6th  of 
May,  occupied  the  following  positions :  that  of  the  Cumberland,  at  or 
near  Ring-gold ;  that  of  the  Tennessee  at  Gordon's  Mills,  on  the  Chicka- 
mauga ;  and  that  of  the  Ohio  near  Red  Clay,  on  the  Georgia  line,  north 
of  Dalton.  In  and  about  Dalton,  lay  the  Rebel  army,  superior  to  the 
Union  army  in  cavalry,  and  comprising  three  corps  of  infantry  and  ar 
tillery,  viz :  Hardee's,  Hood's,  and  Folk's,  numbering  in  all  about  sixty 
thousand  men,  the  whole  commanded  by  General  J.  E.  Johnston.* 

*  General  Joseph  Eccleston  Johnston,  the  able  commander  of  the  Rebel  forces  which 
were  opposed  to  General  Sherman's  army,  was  born  in  1808,  in  Prince  Edwards  county, 
Virginia.  He  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1829,  ranking  high,  and  was  appointed  011 
the  1st  of  July  of  that  year,  brevet  second  lieutenant  in  the  fourth  artillery.  In  1836 
he  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy,  and  made  commissary  of  subsistence.  In  1838 
he  was  transferred  to  the  corps  of  topographical  engineers,  with  the  rank  of  first 
lieutenant,  and  served  in  that  capacity  in  the  Florida  war,  where  he  distinguished 
himself  for  bravery  and  skill,  and  was  brevetted  captain.  His  regular  promotion  to  a 
captaincy  came  in  September,  1846,  and  in  February,  1847,  he  was  brevetted  lieuten 
ant-colonel  of  voltigeurs,  and  sailed  for  Mexico  with  General  Scott's  expedition.  He 
was  severely  wounded  in  a  daring  reconnoissance  on  the  advance  to  Mexico,  near 
Cerro  Gordo,  but  recovered  sufficiently  to  take  part  in  the  concluding  battles  of  the 
war.  He  distinguished  himself  at  Chapultepec  and  Molino  del  Rey,  and  in  the  latter 
battle  was  again  wounded.  His  regiment  having  been  disbanded,  he  remained  captain 
of  topographical  engineers,  with  a  brevet  of  lieutenant-colonel,  till  March  3.  1855, 
when  he  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  first  cavalry.  In  June,  1860,  he  was 
appointed  quartermaster-general  of  the  United  States,  with  the  rank  of  brigadier- 
general.  This  position  he  held  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  and  retained  it,  to  the  ad- 
48 


f54  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

Dalton  was  in  itself  a  position  of  great  strength,  being  completely  cov 
ered  by  a  ridge  or  spur  of  the  Chattoogata  mountains,  known  as  the 
Rocky  Faced  Ridge,  through  which  a  high  and  narrow  defile,  called 
Buzzard's  Roost  gap — traversed  by  the  railroad  and  wagon-road — offered 
the  only  approach  to  the  town  from  the  northwest.  This  narrow  pass, 
obstructed  by  abatis,  flooded  by  water,  caused  by  dams  across  Mill  creek, 
and  commanded  thoughout  its  whole  length  by  batteries  stationed  on  the 
spurs  on  either  side,  effectually  barred  any  attempt  which  the  Union 
armies  might  make  in  that  direction,  and  the  town,  on  its  northern  aspect, 
was  well  defended  by  strong  lines  of  defence  behind  Mill  creek.  On  their 
left,  however,  General  Sherman  found  in  Snake  Creek  gap — a  crooked 
defile  of  the  Chattoogata  mountain — an  opportunity  to  reach  and  disturb 
the  enemy's  railroad  communication  at  or  near  Resaca,  eighteen  miles 
south  of  Dalton.  The  plan  which  he  quickly  conceived  and  promptly 
put  into  execution,  was  to  send  McPherson's  column,  via  Ship's  gap,  Vil- 
lanow,  and  Snake  Creek  gap,  toward  Resaca,  or  the  railroad  below 
Dalton,  with  orders  to  break  up  the  road  as  thoroughly  as  possible,  after 
which  he  was  to  fall  back  to  some  good  defensive  position  on  Snake  creek, 
and  await  his  opportunity  to  strike  the  enemy's  flank,  in  case  he  should 


vantage  of  the  Rebels,  till  April  22,  1861,  when  he  resigned,  and  immediately  went 
over  to  the  Rebel  army,  where  he  was  commissioned  major-general,  and  placed  in  com 
mand  of  their  army  of  the  Shenandoah,  where  he  confronted  General  Patterson,  and 
eluding  him,  marched  to  Manassas,  which  he  reached  at  noon  of  July  20th,  the  day 
before  the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  He  took  part  in  that  battle,  though  under  command 
of  General  Beauregard.  He  remained  in  command  of  the  army  of  Virginia  through 
the  siege  of  Yorktown  and  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  and  at  the  battle  of  Seven 
Pines  was  severely  wounded,  and  for  three  or  four  months  was  unable  to  resume  com 
mand.  In  November,  1862,  he  was  put  in  command  of  the  Western  army  east  of 
the  Mississippi,  having  Bragg's,  Kirby  Smith's,  and  other  armies,  under  his  command. 
His  health  was  not  fully  recovered,  and  he  therefore  directed  rather  than  commanded 
in  person.  He  commanded  at  Jackson,  in  the  Vicksburg  campaign,  and  it  was  owing 
to  Pemberton's  disobedience  to  his  orders  that  he  was  shut  up  in  Vicksburg,  and 
finally  compelled  to  surrender.  Sherman  compelled  him  to  retreat  from  Jackson  in 
July,  1863.  Directing  the  movements  of  the  Rebel  troops  in  the  West,  he  did  not 
take  active  command  till  General  Bragg  fell  into  disgrace  after  the  battles  of  Chatta 
nooga. 

In  the  Atlanta  campaign  he  proved  himself,  as  the  narrative  shows,  a  skilful  and 
able  strategist;  his  retreats  were  performed  with  great  skill  and  success,  and  without 
loss  of  supplies  or  material,  and  his  removal  and  supersession  by  General  Hood,  was 
regarded  by  General  Sherman  as  a  matter  of  congratulation.  He  was  subsequently 
restored  to  command  in  the  Carolina  campaign,  but  the  Rebel  cause  was  past  hope, 
and  though  he  exhibited  his  abilities  in  the  two  battles  of  Averysboro  and  Benton- 
ville,  he  promptly  made  overtures  for  surrender  on  learning  of  Lee's  capitulation.  Of 
the  conferences  and  propositions  then  submitted,  we  shall  give  a  full  account  in  the 
proper  place.  After  his  surrender,  General  Johnston  indicated  his  disposition  to  return 
fully  and  heartily  to  his  allegiance,  and  has  entered  upon  his  duties  in  civil  life,  in  a 
spirit  which  does  him  credit 


OPERATIONS   OF  SHERMAN'S   ARMY.  755 

retreat.  Meanwhile,  the  enemy's  attention  at  Dalton  was  to  be  diverted 
by  a  strong  feint  of  attack  in  front  from  General  Thomas'  force,  and  the 
approach  of  General  Schofield's  army  from  the  north. 

In  accordance  with  this  programme,  General  Thomas,  on  the  7th,  oc 
cupied  Tunnel  Hill,  opposite  Buzzard  Roost  gap,  with  but  slight  opposi 
tion,  the  enemy's  cavalry  retreating  well  ^  through  the  gap;  General 
McPherson  took  possession  of  Snake  Creek  gap  on  the  8th,  completely 
surprising  a  Rebel  cavalry  brigade  which  was  on  its  way  thither 
with  similar  intent ;  while,  on  the  9th,  General  Schofield  pushed  down 
close  on  Dalton  from  the  north.  Then  Thomas  renewed  his  demonstra 
tion  against  Buzzard  Roost  and  Rocky  Faced  Ridge,  pushing  it  almost 
to  a  battle,  in  the  course  of  which  General  Newton's  division  of  the  fourth 
corps — General  Howard's — carried  the  ridge,  and  turning  south  toward 
Dalton,  found  the  crest  too  narrow,  and  too  well  protected  by  rock  epaul- 
ments,  to  permit  their  approach  to  the  pass ;  while  General  Geary's 
division  (of  Hooker's  command)  making  a  bold  push  for  the  summit,  to 
the  south  of  the  pass,  found  the  road  to  strongly  held  by  the  enemy  to  be 
carried.  This  action,  which  has  received  the  name  of  the  battle  of 
Rocky  Faced  Ridge,  was  fought  with  great  gallantry,  and  was  attended  with 
considerable  loss,  yet  it  was  fully  successful  as  a  feint  to  cover  the  move 
ments  of  McPherson,  who  was  thereby  enabled  to  march  within  a  mile  of 
Resaca,  almost  unopposed.  Finding,  however,  that  Resaca  was  too 
strongly  fortified  to  be  carried  by  assault,  and  being  unable  to  discover 
any  road  passable  for  his  artillery,  by  which  he  could  reach  and  destroy 
the  railroad  between  Dalton  and  Resaca,  he  fell  back  to  a  strong  position 
near  the  west  end  of  Snake  Creek  gap. 

General  Sherman,  who,  although  appreciating  the  advantage  gained, 
was  not  satisfied  with  any  result  which  did  not  fully  accomplish  his  plan 
of  striking  a  decided  blow  upon  the  enemy's  railroad  communications, 
then  sent  Hooker's  and  Palmer's  corps,  of  General  Thomas's  division,  and 
the  whole  of  General  Schofield's  command,  through  Snake  Creek  gap,  to 
the  support  of  McPherson,  leaving  only  Howard's  corps  to  threaten  Dalton 
in  front.  On  the  12th,  the  Union  forces  moved  against  Resaca ;  and 
Johnston,  finding  that  he  was  outflanked,  fell  back  to  that  place  from 
Dalton,  over  excellent  roads  which  he  had  previously  constructed,  How 
ard  following  so  closely  on  his  heels,  that  he  entered  Dalton  as  the  Rebels 
left  it. 

Rasaca,  strong  by  nature,  had  been  rendered  so  impregnable  by  the  six 
months'  labor  which  the  enemy  had  bestowed  upon  its  fortifications,  that 
the  main  body  of  the  Union  army  as  they  approached  it  saw  that  it  was 
useless  to  attempt  its  capture  by  assault.  Sherman  therefore  threw  a  pon 
toon  bridge  across  the  Oostanaula,  at  Lay's  ferry,  near  Calhoun,  over 
which  he  sent  a  division  of  the  sixteenth  corps  to  demonstrate  against 
the  town.  General  Garrard's  division  was  also  moved  from  Villanow 


756  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

down  to  Kome,  where,  crossing  the  Oostanaula,  they  were  instructed  to 
destroy  the  railroad  below  Calhoun  and  above  Kingston,  if  possible,  thus 
compelling  a  further  retreat,  in  any  event,  while,  with  the  main  army, 
Sherman  pressed  against  Kesaca  at  all  points,  his  lines  extending  from 
the  Oostanaula  below  the  town  westward  to  Sugar  valley,  and  then  east 
ward  in  the  form  of  a  semcircle  to  the  railroad — the  ground  thus  occu 
pied  being  mostly  a  dense  forest,  intersected  with  two  or  three  creeks  with 
deep  and  muddy  bottoms.  On  the  13th,  there  was  considerable  fighting 
along  the  lines,  chiefly  by  Schofield's  corps ;  and  again  the  next  day, 
when  the  fourth  corps  pushed  the  enemy  vigorously  toward  Resaca. 

During  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  the  15th,  a  heavy  battle  ensued, 
in  which  General  Hooker  drove  the  enemy  from  several  strong  hills,  and 
captured  four  hundred  prisoners  and  four  guns.  The  most  thrilling  epi 
sode  of  the  day  occurred  in  the  afternoon,  when  Stanley's  brigade,  of  one 
Ohio  and  two  Indiana  regiments,  stationed  on  the  extreme  left,  were 
apprised  that  two  divisions  of  the  Rebels  were  approaching,  with  the 
object  of  breaking  their  line.  As  they  fell  back  from  this  superior  force, 
the  Rebels  dashed  from  the  woods,  across  a  flat  and  tolerably  open  space, 
on  the  left  of  which  were  woods  in  which  were  concealed  a  large  part  of 
Hookers  corps,  just  arrived,  and  Simonson's  Indiana  battery,  of  the  fourth 
army  corps.  As  the  Rebels  emerged  upon  the  open  ground,  this  battery 
opened  rapidly  upon  them  with  grape  and  canister  at  short  range;  and 
before  they  could  recover  from  their  surprise,  Hooker's  men,  from  the 
edge  of  the  wood,  poured  in  volley  after  volley  of  musketry,  until,  appalled 
and  staggered  by  the  murderous  fire  to  which  they  were  exposed,  the 
Rebel  column  broke  and  ran  for  cover.  Riding  to  the  battery,  and  in 
quiring  whose  it  was,  General  Hooker  threw  himself  from  his  saddle,  and 
saying,  "  You  are  heroes,  every  one  of  you,"  shooK  each  man  warmly  by 
the  hand. 

That  same  night,  Johnston,  finding  himself  in  danger  of  being  again 
flanked,  evacuated  Resaca,  and  escaped  southward  across  the  Oostanaula, 
his  retreating  columns  being  treated  to  a  pretty  vigorous  shelling  by 
McPherson.  They  left  in  Resaca  a  large  amount  of  commissary  supplies, 
and  a  four-gun  battery,  and  burned  four  spans  of  the  railroad  bridge, 
besides  making  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  burn  the  turnpike  bridge  over 
the  river.  The  Union  loss  in  these  three  days'  battles  amounted  to 
nearly  thirty-five  hundred  in  killed,  missing,  and  wounded,  while  the 
Rebel  loss  was  somewhat  less,  ow^ng  to  the  fact  that,  except  in  the  battle 
of  the  15th,  they  fought  behind  intrenchments.  As  soon  as  Johnston's 
retreat  was  discovered,  the  whole  army  started  in  pursuit,  General 
Thomas  close  upon  his  heels,  General  McPherson  by  Lay's  ferry,  while 
General  Schofield  made  a  wide  detour  by  obscure  roads  on  the  left,  by 
Fue's  and  Field's  ferries,  across  the  Connasauga  and  Coosawattee  rivers. 
About  nightfall  of  the  17th,  General  Newton's  division,  in  the  advance, 


!Fv       •         S\  /// 

\  ©     £/ f  JONESBORO 

RENFREW     5)    I// 


MOVEMENT    TOWARD    DALLAS.  75T 

overtook  the  Rebel  rear-guard  near  Adairsville,  and  after  a  brisk  action, 
drove  them  from  a  temporary  lodgement  which  they  had  made  in  a  house 
called  "  Oak  Grove." 

Renewing  the  pursuit  the  next  morning,  they  brought  the  Rebel  army 
to  bay  at  a  point  four  miles  beyond  Kingston,  on  ground  comparatively 
open  and  adapted  to  a  general  battl-e.  Again  declining  battle,  the  enemy 
moved  southward  to  Cassville,  six  miles  east  from  Kingston,  where  they 
occupied  intrenchments  in  a  strong  position.  Upon  being  pressed,  how 
ever,  by  our  forces,  they  again  retreated  across  the  Etowah  river,  burning 
the  bridges  near  Cartersville,  and  leaving  the  whole  valuable  region  north 
of  the  Etowah  in  full  possession  of  the  Union  army,  which  rested  from 
its  labors  for  six  days,  during  which  time  General  Sherman  brought  for 
ward  supplies,  and  strengthened  the  communications  with  his  base,  by 
repairs  of  railroads,  roads,  etc. 

Meanwhile,  General  Jefferson  C.  Davis,  who  had  been  sent  by  General 
Thomas  along  the  west  side  of  the  Oostanaula  to  take  possession  of 
Rome,  had  met  with  most  gratifying  success,  capturing  its  forts,  with 
eight  or  ten  heavy  guns,  valuable  mills,  foundries,  and  various  railroad 
communications.  Sherman  then  seized  and  held  two  bridges  over  the 
Etowah,  near  Kingston,  and  having  garrisoned  that  place,  as  well  as 
Rome,  and  supplied  his  wagons  with  twenty  days'  rations,  he  again  set 
his  army  in  motion  toward  Dallas,  nearly  south  from  Kingston,  and  fifteen 
mi]es  west  of  Marietta. 

This  circuit  to  the  right  was  made  for  the  purpose  of  turning  Alla- 
toona  pass,  a  gap  in  the  mountains  through  which  the  railroad  ran,  and  to 
which  Johnston  had  retreated,  in  complete  confidence  that  its  impregnable 
position  protected  him  perfectly  from  any  attack  in  front.  Crossing  the 
Etowah  river,  at  Oonasene  creek,  near  Kingston,  McPherson  moved  to  his 
position  north  of  Dallas,  via  Van  Wert ;  Davis's  division  marched  directly 
from  Rome  to  Dallas,  via  Van  Wert ;  General  Thomas  by  Euharlee  and 
Burnt  Hickory,  and  Schofield  moved  along  other  roads  to  the  eastward, 
designing  to  come  well  up  on  Thomas's  left.  The  country  was  mountain 
ous,  rugged,  densely  wooded,  and  with  but  few  and  obscure  roads.  Gen- 
eral  Thomas's  advance,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy's  cavalry  near  Burnt 
Hickory,  captured  a  courier  with  despatches  from  General  Johnston, 
showing  that  he  understood  the  'movements  of  the  Union  army,  and  was 
prepared  to  meet  them  near  Dallas.  On  the  25th,  General  Thomas,  moving 
on  Dallas,  his  troops  on  three  roads,  General  Hooker  in  the  advance,  as  he 
approached  Pumpkin  Vine  creek,  on  the  main  road,  met  a  considerable 
body  of  Rebel  cavalry  at  a  bridge  on  his  left.  Pushing  them  rapidly  across 
the  creek,  and  saving  the  bridge,  which  was  already  on  fire,  he  drove  them 
about  two  miles  eastward,  where  he  found  infantry,  whose  pickets  he 
pressed  closely,  until  he  met  the  enemy's  line  of  battle,  with  which  his 
leading  division,  General  Geary's,  had  a  smart  encounter.  He  immedi- 


758  THE   CIVIL   WAK  IN  TjIE  LNITED   STATES. 

ately  called  in  General  Hooker's  other  two  divisions,  which  were  on  other 
roads,  and  as  soon  as  that  whole  corps  were  well  in  hand,  about  four 
o'clock  P.  M.,  it  was  ordered  to  make  a  bold  push  for  the  possession  of 
"New  Hope  church,"  at  the  junction  of  the  three  roads  from  Ackworth, 
Marietta,  and  Dallas.  Here  ensued  a  hard  battle,  in  which  the  enemy 
was  driven  back  to  the  church,  where  they  hastily  intrenched  themselves, 
and  a  dark  stormy  night  intervening,  General  Hooker  found  himself  un 
able  to  dislodge  them.  The  next  morning  they  were  well  intrenched, 
mainly  across  the  road  from  Dallas  to  Marietta,  and  Hooker's  corps  being 
inveigled  into  a  narrow  pass,  whose  sides  were  lined  with  concealed 
batteries,  was  met  with  a  terribly  destructive  enfilading  fire,  which  told 
heavily  on  them — especially  on  Geary's  corps — their  loss  being  not  less 
than  four  hundred  and  fifty. 

This  compelled  the  Union  commanders  to  make  more  extensive  dispo 
sitions  of  their  forces.  General  McPherson,  with  Garrard's  cavalry, 
moved  up  to  Dallas,  General  Thomas  looked  after  New  Hope  church,  and 
General  Schofield,  aided  by  Stoneman's  cavalry,  watched  his  opportunity 
to  turn  the  enemy's  right,  while  General  McCook  guarded  the  rear.  The 
density  of  the  forest,  and  the  difficult  nature  of  the  ground,  was  such  that 
several  days  were  employed  in  deploying  close  to  the  enemy,  and 
Sherman  determined  to  work  gradually  toward  the  left,  and,  at  the  proper 
moment,  make  a  push  for  the  railroad  east  of  Allatoona.  While  thus 
slowly  developing  his  plans,  several  sharp  encounters  occurred  with  the 
enemy,  and  on  the  28th,  as  the  Union  lines  were  working  q-uietly  to  the 
left,  with  the  purpose  of  enveloping  the  enemy's  right,  General  McPher- 
son's  men  were  suddenly  attacked  with  great  violence.  Fortunately, 
however,  having  good  breastworks,  they  gave  a  warm  reception  to  the 
Rebels,  who  retired  from  the  contest  with  a  loss  of  over  twenty-five 
hundred  men,  their  own  loss  being  but  two  hundred  and  eighty -six  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  After  a  few  days'  delay,  until  things  should 
become  somewhat  quieted  down,  Sherman  moved  his  lines  successfully 
five  miles  farther  to  the  left,  and,  by  the  1st  of  June,  they  held  all  the 
roads  leading  back  to  Allatoona  and  Ackworth.  General  Stoneman's 
cavalry  was  now  pushed  rapidly  into  the  east  end  of  Allatoona  pass,  while 
General  Garrard's  cavalry  were  sent  to  its  west  end,  and  the  original  de 
sign  of  turning  the  pass  was  accomplished. 

Still  continuing  to  move  his  lines  farther  and  farther  to  the  left, 
Sherman,  by  the  4th  of  June,  had  decided  to  leave  Johnston  in  his  in- 
trenchments  at  New  Hope  church,  and  occupy  Ackworth,  when  suddenly 
Johnston  abandoned  his  position,  and  moved  toward  Kenesaw,  Pine,  and 
Lost  mountains.  Sherman,  therefore,  moved  to  Ackworth,  and  taking 
certain  positionaalong  the  railroad,  proceeded  to  satisfy  himself,  by  personal 
inspection,  of  the  capabilities  of  Allatoona  pass  for  the  purposes  of  a 
secondary  base.  Finding  it  all  that  he  desired,  the  repairs  on  the  railroad 


THE  ENEMY   DRIVEN  FROM   PINE   MOUNTAIN.  759 

were  rapidly  completed,. and  on  the  8th,  supplies  were  brought  into  camp 
by  rail.  On  the  same  day,  also,  General  Blair  arrived  at  Ackworth,  with 
two  divisions  of  the  seventeenth  corps  and  a  brigade  of  cavalry — a  rein 
forcement  which  amply  compensated  for  Sherman's  losses  in  battle,  and 
the  troops  left  in  garrison  at  Resaca,  Rome,  Kingston,  and  Allatoona.  On 
the  next  day,  the  9th,  with  well  secured  communications  to  the  rear,  and 
with  ample  supplies  for  the  advance,  the  entire  army  moved  forward  to 
Big  Shanty,  the  next  station  on  the  railroad.  Here  they  found  themselves 
surrounded  by  scenery  of  peculiar  and  lofty  beauty.  They  were  on  the 
broad  and  uneven  plateau  which  reaches  from  the  base  of  the  easternmost 
hills  of  the  Appalachain  chain  toward  the  Chattahoochee  river.  To  their 
left,  and  on  the  east  of  the  railroad,  were  Sweat  mountain  and  Black  Jack, 
while  to  the  westward,  and  nearly  in  front  of  their  position,  rose  Kenesaw, 
the  bold  and  striking  Twin  mountain.  To  the  right  was  the  smaller  hill, 
known  as  Pine  mountain,  and  still  more  distantly  to  the  right  was  Lost 
mountain.  All  these  mountains,  though  links  in  a  continuous  chain,  had 
sharp  conical  peaks,  which  rendered  them  peculiarly  prominent  in  the 
vast  and  roughly-moulded  landscape  which  surrounded  them.  Here  they 
found  the  Rebel  General  Johnston  holding  a  strongly  fortified  position  on 
the  northern  slopes  of  Pine,  Kenesaw,  and  Lost  mountains — the  first 
named  forming  the  apex,  and  the  two  latter  the  base,  of  a  triangle,  com 
pletely  commanding  the  town  of  Marietta,  and  the  railroad  as  far  as 
the  Chattahoochie.  On  each  of  these  peaks  the  enemy  had  established 
signal  stations,  while  the  summits  were  crowned  with  batteries,  and  the 
spurs  alive  with  men,  busily  engaged  in  felling  trees,  digging  pits,  and 
preparing  for  the  impending  crisis  of  battle.  General  Sherman  says,  in 
his  official  report :  "  The  scene  was  enchanting ;  too  beautiful  to  be  dis 
turbed  by  the  harsh  clamors  of  war ;  but  the  Chattahoochie  lay  beyond, 
and  I  had  to  reach  it."  On  a  closer  approach,  he  found  that  the  enemy 
was  holding  a  line  full  two  miles  long,  and  one  which  he  could  not 
properly  maintain  with  the  force  at  his  disposal.  With  a  view,  therefore, 
to  break  this  over-extended  line  at  some  weak  point,  General  Sherman 
ordered  General  McPherson  to  move  toward  Marietta,  with  his  right  on 
the  railroad,  General  Thomas  on  Kenesaw  and  Pine  mountains,  and  Gen 
eral  Schofield  toward  Lost  mountain ;  while  General  Garrard's  cavalry 
hovered  on  the  left,  General  Stoneman's  on  the  right,  and  General 
McCook  looked  to  the  rear,  and  communications  with  the  depot  at  Big 
Shanty. 

On  the  llth  of  Junp,  having  closed  his  lines  well  up  to  the  enemy's 
position,  Sherman  prepared  to  break  the  line  between  Kenesaw  and  Pine 
mountain — that  point  being  apparently  the  weakest — and  for  a  few  days 
there  was  some  very  severe  and  protracted  skirmishing.  On  the  14th, 
Hooker's  and  Howard's  corps  opened  a  sharp  cannonade  upon  the  Rebels 
on  Pine  mountain,  in  the  course  of  which  the  Rebel  Lieutenant-General 


760  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Polk  was  killed,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  it  was  ascertained  that 
the  enemy  had  abandoned  their  position  at  that  point,  and  had  fallen  back 
upon  the  line  of  rugged  hills  connecting  Kenesaw  and  Lost  mountains. 

McPherson  was  now  thrown  forward,  gaining  substantial  advantages 
on  the  left,  and  constant  pressure  being  firmly  kept  up  on  the  enemy's 
lines,  an  assault  was  ordered  by  Sherman  on  the  17th;  but  the  enemy  had 
abandoned,  that  very  morning,  both  Lost  mountain  and  the  long  line  of 
admirable  breastworks  which  connected  it  with  Kenesaw.  Following 
him  closely,  so  as  to  keep  up  an  uninterrupted  pressure  upon  his  lines; 
skirmishing  amid  dense  forests  and  difficult  ravines,  the  Union  army 
again  came  upon  and  found  Johnston,  strongly  intrenched,  with  Kenesaw 
as  his  salient,  his  right  wing  covering  Marietta,  and  his  left  behind  Nose's 
creek,  in  position  to  protect  the  railroad  as  far  as  the  Chattahoochie — his 
lines  being  thus  contracted  and  greatly  strengthened.  From  his  eyrie  on 
the  twin  summits  of  Kenesaw,  he  could  look  down  upon  the  Union  camp, 
and  watch  every  movement  of  the  troops,  whom  he  constantly  cannonaded, 
although  with  little  effect,  owing  to  the  extreme  elevation  of  his  position. 

Here,  lying  closely  up  against  the  mountain  town,  and  under  the 
constant  fire  of  the  enemy's  guns,  Sherman's  army  passed  three  weeks, 
during  a  season  of  heavy  rains,  which  fairly  flooded  the  whole  surround 
ing  country  and  rendered  a  general  movement  impossible.  The  men, 
however,  kept  daily  working  their  way  closer  to  the  intrenched  foe,  main 
taining  an  incessant  picket  fire,  and  embracing  every  opportunity  of 
advancing  the  general  lines.  Thus,  slowly  gaining,  step  by  step,  McPher 
son  had  reached  within  two  miles  of  Marietta,  Thomas  had  swung  from 
the  left,  where  he  joined  McPherson,  around  to  the  west  and  southwest 
of  Kenesaw,  and  Schofield  was  steadily  pressing  southward  and  eastward 
along  the  old  Sandtown  road. 

Suddenly,  on  the  22d,  the  enemy,  who  were  restive  under  this  inter 
mitting  pressure,  rallied  and  attacked  General  Hooker,  the  blow  falling 
chiefly  on  General  Williams's  division  and  a  brigade  of  Schofield's  army. 
The  ground  was  quite  open,  and  the  enemy  easily  drove  in  the  skirmish 
lines — an  advanced  regiment  purposely  thrown  forward  by  General  Scho 
field  as  a  temporary  check  to  the  assailants.  Their  point  of  attack  was 
evidently  a  wooded  ridge  running  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  and 
diagonally  across  the  front  of  the  Union  lines,  and  which  had  been  gained 
by  Butterfield's  division  that  morning  after  some  severe  and  very  deter 
mined  fighting.  It  was  occupied,  at  the  moment  of  the  attack,  by 
Williams's  division  of  the  same  corps,  who  had  come  upon  it  about  noon, 
but  before  they  had  time  to  fortify  it  the  Rebels  'dashed  out  upon  them 
from  the  distant  woods,  moving  at  the  quick-step,  in  three  lines  of  battle. 
The  danger  was  imminent ;  but  our  batteries  opened  fiercely  upon  them, 
and  as  they  came  within  short  range,  Williams's  men,  who  had  hitherto 
reserved  their  fire,  delivered  such  rapid  and  deadly  vollies  that  they  fell 


ATTACK  ON  KENESAW  MOUNTAIN.  T61 

back,  their  confusion  greatly  increased  by  a  sudden  enfilading  fire,  which 
came  from  some  batteries  placed  in  position  by  General  Geary,  of  the 
same  corps. 

They  rallied,  and  made  repeated  attempts  especially  to  drive  Whit- 
taker's  division  of  the  army  of  the  Ohio  from  its  position  of  the  morning, 
but  each  attempt  was  repulsed  with  very  heavy  loss,  and  they  finally 
retired,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  in  the  hands  of  the  Union  troops. 
This  action  is  known  as  the  battle  of  "Kulp's  house."  With  the  return 
of  fair  weather,  General  Sherman  determined  to  drive  the  foe  from  his 
stronghold,  either  by  assault  or  by  flanking. 

Either  alternative  presented  its  own  difficulties  and  dangers.  If  he 
assaulted  the  Rebel  lines  at  their  weakest  point,  he  might,  by  capturing 
Marietta,  divide  and  defeat  the  enemy's  force  in  detail.  But  then,  the 
attempt  to  carry  by  arms  a  position  so  strong  by  nature,  and  so  improved 
by  military  science,  would  be  attended  with  uncertainty  of  success,  and, 
in  any  event,  with  a  heavy  loss  of  life.  If,  however,  he  should,  as  the 
enemy  and  his  own  officers  evidently  expected  him  to  do,  flank  the  po 
sition  by  a  detour  to  the  right,  and  seize  the  railroad  near  the  crossing 
of  the  Chattahoochie,  he  would  commit  his  army  to  a  single  method  of 
offence,  which  would  involve  much  loss  of  time,  and  would  be  attended 
with  peculiar  hazards.  The  evident  expectation  of  both  friend  and  foe, 
that  he  would  renew  the  flanking  policy  which  had  hitherto  characterized 
his  progress  in  this  campaign,  seems  to  have  decided  him  to  do  just  the 
opposite.  Believing,  as  he  says,  that  "  an  army,  to  be  efficient,  must  not 
settle  down  to  one  single  mode  of  offence,  but  must  be  prepared  to  exe 
cute  any  plan  which  promises  success,"  he  resolved  to  avail  himself  of 
the  moral  effect  which  would  result,  to  friend  and  foe  alike,  from  a  suc 
cessful  assault  upon  the  enemy  behind  his  breastworks,  and  at  that  point 
where  success  would  yield  the  largest  fruits  of  victory.  This  point,  in 
his  opinion,  was  the  Rebel  left-centre,  through  which,  if  he  could  push  a 
strong  column,  it  could  reach  the  railroad  below  Marietta  by  a  bold  and 
rapid  march  of  two  and  a  half  miles,  thus  cutting  off  from  their  line  of 
retreat  the  enemy's  right  and  centre,  either  of  which  could  then  be  over 
whelmed  arid  destroyed. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  General  Sherman  ordered  that  two  assaults  should 
be  simultaneously  made  on  the  27th,  one  by  General  McPherson's  troops 
near  Little  Kenesaw,  and  another  by  General  Thomas's  command,  about 
a  mile  further  south.  The  assaults  were  made  in  the  time  and  manner 
prescribed,  and  both  failed,  in  spite  of  the  indomitable  bravery  and  per 
severance  of  the  troops  engaged,  with  a  loss  of  over  three  thousand 
killed  and  wounded,  including  Generals  Harker  and  McCook.  The 
Rebels,  fighting  behind  breastworks,  suffered  a  comparatively  slight  loss. 

Sherman,  however,  was  not  the  man  to  allow  his  men  to  rest  long  under 
the  influence  of  a  mistake  or  a  failure,  and  he  accordingly  ordered  General 


Y62  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Schofield  to  work  farther  along  toward  the  Rebel  left;  and  relieving  General 
McPherson  in  front  of  Kenesaw  by  General  Garrard's  cavalry,  the  former 
quickly  moved  his  whole  command  by  the  right,  down  to  Nickajack  creek, 
which,  as  well  as  Turner's  ferry,  he  threatened ;  while  Stoneman's  cavalry 
was  also  sent  to  the  river  near  Turner's  ferry.  General  McPherson  com 
menced  his  movement  on  the  night  of  the  2d  of  July,  and  the  effect  was 
instantaneous.  The  next  morning  Kenesaw  was  abandoned  by  the  Rebel 
hosts,  and  at  early  dawn  our  skirmishers  had  occupied  its  summits. 

General  Thomas's  whole  line  was  immediately  moved  forward  to  the 
railroad,  and  turned  southward  to  the  Chattahoochie,  in  pursuit  of  the 
Rebels,  while  General  Sherman  rode  into  Marietta  at  eight  o'clock  that 
morning,  just  as  the  Rebel  cavalry  left  it.  The  rear-guard  of  McPherson's 
army,  under  Logan,  was  ordered  back  to  Marietta,  while  McPherson  and 
Schofield  were  instructed  to  cross  Nickajack  creek,  attacking  the  enemy  in 
flank  and  rear,  and,  if  possible,  to  catch  him  in  the  confusion  of  crossing  the 
Chattahoochie.  Johnston,  however,  foreseeing  this  danger,  had  succeeded 
in  covering  his  movements  well  by  establishing  a  strongly  intrenched  tete 
de  pont  at  the  Chattahoochie,  and  an  advanced  line  of  intrenchments 
across  the  road  at  the  Smyrna  camp-meeting  ground,  five  miles  from  Mari 
etta.  Here,  with  his  front  well  protected  by  good  parapets,  and  his  flanks 
behind  the  Nickajack  and  Rottenwood  creeks,  he  was  found  by  General 
Logan's  advance-guard. 

Detailing  a  garrison  for  Marietta,  and  directing  General  Logan  to  rejoin 
his  own  army,  then  near  the  outlet  of  the  Nickajack,  General  Sherman 
himself  overtook  General  Thomas  at  Smyrna.  On  the  4th  of  July  they 
pushed  a  strong  skirmish  line  down  the  main  road,  capturing  the  entire 
line  of  the  enemy's  rifle-pits,  at  the  same  time  making  strong  demonstra 
tions  against  Turner's  ferry,  and  along  the  Nickajack  creek — and  the  next 
morning  the  enemy  had  fled  across  the  Chattahoochie.  The  Union  army, 
therefore,  moved  down  to  the  river,  General  Thomas's  left  resting  on  it  near 
Paice's  ferry,  General  McPherson's  right  at  the  mouth  of  the  Nickajack, 
while  General  Schofield's  command  was  held  in  reserve.  Opposite  to  them 
lay  the  enemy,  behind  an  intrenched  line  of  unusual  strength,  covering  the 
railroad  and  pontoon  bridges,  and  beyond  the  Chattahoochie ;  and  the 
heavy  skirmishing  along  the  whole  front  during  the  5th,  clearly  demon 
strated  the  strength  of  the  position,  which  could  only  be  turned  by  cross 
ing  the  river,  a  deep  and  rapid  stream,  only  passable  at  that  point  by 
bridges,  and  a  few  very  difficult  fords.  Difficult  as  this  was,  however, 
General  Sherman  wisely  deemed  it  best  to  attempt  it  while  the  enemy 
was  still  suffering  from  the  partial  demoralization  incident  to  their  rapid 
retreat,  and  before  they  should  have  time  to  oppose  further  obstacles,  in 
the  form  of  additional  fortifications.  Acting  under  his  orders,  General 
Schofield's  corps,  on  the  7th,  successfully  crossed  the  Chattahoochie,  near 
the  mouth  of  Soap  creek,  capturing  one  gun,  surprising  the  guard,  laying 


BURNING  OF  ROSWBLL  FACTORIES.  763 

a  good  pontoon  and  a  trestle  bridge,  and  making  a  lodgement  on  the  east 
bank,  on  high  and  commanding  ground,  with  good  roads  leading  east 
ward. 

While  this  was  being  done,  General  Garrard's  cavalry  captured  Roswell, 
and  destroyed  the  factories,  which,  during  the  war,  had  supplied  the 
Rebel  armies  with  cloths.  Over  one  of  these,  the  nominal  owner  had 
hoisted  the  French  flag,  as  a  ruse  for  its  protection,  but  the  building  met 
the  same  fate  as  the  others,  General  Sherman  declining  to  recognize  the 
right  of  neutrals,  any  more  than  our  own  citizens,  to  make  cloth  for  hostile 
uses.  A  shallow  ford  near  Roswell  was  then  secured  by  Garrard,  under 
Sherman's  orders,  and  held  until  relieved  by  General  Newton's  division 
of  Thomas's  corps,  who  were  shortly  after  relieved  in  turn  by  the  whole  of 
General  McPherson's  army,  which  had  been  transferred  from  the  extreme 
right. 

Meanwhile,  General  Howard's  corps  had  built  a  bridge  at  Powers'  ferry, 
two  miles  below  Schofield's,  and  crossing  over,  had  taken  position  on  that 
general's  right.  This  was  effected  on  the  9th,  and  General  Johnston  find 
ing  that  the  Union  army  had  secured  three  good  and  safe  crossings  over 
the  Chattahoochie,  had  no  other  resource,  on  the  10th,  than  to  abandon 
his  tete  de  pout,  burn  his  bridges,  and  leave  the  country,  north  and  west 
of  the  river,  to  the  undisputed  control  of  the  Federal  forces. 


764  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER    LXI. 

ROUSSEAU'S  EXPEDITION  TO  OPELIKA,  AND  THE  WEST  POINT  AND  MONTGOMERY  RAILROAD — 

THE  POSITION  OF  THE  UNION  ARMY FIRST  BATTLE  OF  PEACH  TREE  CREEK,  JULY  20TH 

SECOND  BATTLE  OF  PEACH  TREE  CREEK,  JULY  22D DEATH  OF  MCPHERSON — BIOGRAPHICAL 

SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  MCPHERSON GARRARD'S  EXPEDITION  TO  COVINGTON 8TONEMAN 

AND  MCCOOK  UNDERTAKE  CAVALRY  EXPEDITIONS FAILURE  OF  STONEMAN PARTIAL  SUC 
CESS  OF  MCCOOK — BATTLE  OF  JULY  28TH  BEFORE  ATLANTA — SIEGE  OF  ATLANTA — ITS 

STRENGTH TENACITY  OF  HOOD  IN  HOLDING  THE  .RAILROAD  LINES — SHERMAN  EXTENDS  HIS 

LINE  TO  THE  RIGHT,  BUT  HOOD  HOLDS  THE  RAILROAD BOMBARDMENT  OF  ATLANTA 

WHEELER'S  RAID  TO  CUT  SHERMAN'S  COMMUNICATIONS — SHERMAN  SENDS  KILPATRICK  TO 

CUT  THE  RAILROAD  BELOW  ATLANTA PARTIAL  SUCCESS SHERMAN  RAISES  THE  SIEGE, 

AND  SENDS  WILLIAMS  BACK  TO   THE  CHATTAHOOCHIE,  WHILE   THE   MAIN  ARMY   MOVES 

TOWARD  JONESBORO BATTLES  NEAR  JONESBORO — HARDEE  DEFEATED  AND  DRIVEN  SOUTH 

WARD — HOOD  EVACUATES  ATLANTA — THE  UNION  ARMY  TAKE  POSSESSION  OF  THE  CITY — 
REMOVAL  OF  THE  CITIZENS  FROM  THE  CITY RESULTS  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN. 

ATLANTA,  with  its  fortifications,  its  magazines,  stores,  arsenals,  work 
shops,  foundries,  etc.,  and  especially  its  railroads,  which  converged  there 
from  the  four  cardinal  points,  was  now  only  eight  miles  distant  from  the 
Union  army;  but  General  Sherman  foresaw  that  much  heavy  fighting 
must  ensue  before  he  should  be  able  to  plant  the  flag  of  the  Union  upon 
its  spires.  The  men,  also,  had  been  hard  worked,  and  needed  rest  after 
their  arduous  labors ;  so  that  he  determined  to  give  them  a  little  breathing 
spell  while  he  repaired  the  railroad  and  brought  up  his  supplies  for  the 
final  struggle  of  the  campaign.  Foreseeing  this  necessity  of  resting  his 
army  awhile,  General  Sherman  had  previously  determined  to  employ  the 
time  in  destroying  the  enemy's  communications  and  supplies  from  Mont 
gomery,  Ala.,  as  well  as  from  southern  and  central  Alabama  and  Missis 
sippi. 

To  this  end  he  had  collected  at  Decatur,  Ala.,  a  fine  and  well-equipped 
force  of  cavalry,  two  thousand  strong,  under  command  of  General  Lovell 
H.  Rousseau,  whom  he  had  directed,  on  receiving  orders  by  telegraph,  to 
push  rapidly  south,  cross  the  Coosa  at  the  railroad  bridge,  or  the  Ten 
Islands,  and  make  his  way  by  the  most  direct  route  to  Opelika,  on  the 
Montgomery,  West  Point,  and  Atlanta  railroad,  at  its  junction  with  the 
Columbus  and  Southwestern  road,  from  which  point  he  was  to  destroy  the 
railroad  in  both  directions. 

This  being  the  only  finished  railroad  which  connected  the  channels  of 
trade  and  travel  between  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  Mississippi,  its  destruc 
tion  would  most  effectually  cut  off  the  supplies  of  the  Rebel  army  from 
that  source.  Rousseau  received  his  orders  on  the  9th,  and  started  on  the 
10th,  fulfilling  his  instructions  to  the  very  letter,  whipping  the  Rebel 


BATTLE  OF  PEACH  TREE  CREEK.  765 

General  Clanton,  en  route,  passing  through  Talladega,  and  reaching  the 
railroad  on  the  16th,  about  twenty-five  miles  west  of  Opelika.  He  broke 
it  up  well  at  that  place,  also  at  a  point  three  miles  west  of  the  branch  to 
Columbus,  and  at  another  two  miles  from  West  Point. 

Having  thus  accomplished  his  object,  he  returned  to  Marietta,  where  he 
arrived  on  the  22d,  having,  in  the  space  of  fifteen  days,  marched  four 
hundred  and  fifty  miles,  captured  and  paroled  two  thousand  prisoners, 
brought  off  eight  hundred  able-bodied  negroes,  and  as  many  horses  and 
mules,  having  also  rendered  thirty  one  miles  of  railroad  useless,  burned 
thirteen  depots,  a  large  number  of  cars,  and  two  locomotives,  and  im 
mense  quantities  of  cotton,  tobacco,  quartermaster's  and  commissary  stores, 
all  of  which  he  had  effected  with  a  loss  of  less  than  thirty  of  his  own 
command,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

All  this  time  the  main  army  was  quietly  encamped  on  the  Chattahoochie, 
while  supplies  were  being  collected  at  Allatoona,  Marietta,  and  Vining's 
station,  piers,  bridges,  and  roads  improved,  and  railroad  guards  and 
garrisons  strengthened.  General  Stoneman's  and  McCook's  cavalry  were 
sent  on  a  scout  down  the  river  to  a  considerable  distance,  in  order  to 
divert  the  attention  of  the  Rebels  in  that  direction ;  and  all  things  being 
in  readiness,  Sherman  issued  his  order  for  a  general  advance  on  the  17th 
of  July ;  Thomas,  with  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  crossing  at  Power's 
and  Paice's  ferry  bridges,  and  marching  by  Buckhead;  Schofield's  army 
of  the  Ohio  moving  by  Cross  Keys ;  and  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  under 
McPherson,  proceeding  from  Roswell  directly  against  the  Augusta  road, 
at  some  point  east  of  Decatur,  near  Stone  mountain.  With  this  latter 
division  Garrard's  cavalry  acted  in  concert,  while  General  Stoneman  and 
McCook  watched  the  river  and  the  roads  below  the  railway. 

Thus  the  evening  of  the  17th  found  the  whole  Union  army  in  line  along 
the  Old  Peach  Tree  road.  Continuing  on  a  general  right  wheel,  McPher 
son,  on  the  18th,  reached  the  Augusta  railroad,  at  a  point  seven  miles 
east  of  Decatur,  and  broke  up  a  section  of  about  four  miles,  while  General 
Schofield  pushed  forward  and  captured  the  town.  On  the  19th,  General 
McPherson  entered  the  town  by  the  railroad,  while  Schofield  moved  out  by 
the  distillery  road  toward  Atlanta,  and  General  Thomas's  command  crossed 
Peach  Tree  creek,  by  means  of  numerous  pontoon  bridges,  and  in  the 
face  of  the  enemy's  line  of  intrenchments.  Along  the  whole  line  heavy 
skirmishing  at  once  commenced,  strongly  indicating  a  battle. 

At  this  juncture,  the  Rebel  General  Johnston,  whose  conduct  of  the 
campaign  had  not  met  with  the  approval  of  the  Confederate  authorities, 
was  relieved  of  his  command,  which  was  given  to  General  John  B.  Hood. 
This  general  possessed  the  reputation  of  being  a  bold  leader,  and  desper 
ate  fighter,  but  as  events  subsequently  proved,  he  lacked  the  essential 
qualities  of  skilfulness  and  caution  which  the  peculiar  circumstances  of 
the  campaign  demanded.  He  immediately  inaugurated  his  assumption  of 


766  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

the  command,  by  planning  a  surprise,  by  which  he  hoped  to  arrest  per 
manently  the  steady  advance  of  the  Union  army. 

By  this  time  (the  20th)  all  the  Union  armies  had  closed  in,  converging 
toward  Atlanta,  McPherson  on  the  extreme  left,  Schofield  on  his  right, 
both  facing  nearly  to  the  west ;  between  Schofield's  and  Hooker's  corps 
of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  was  an  interval  of  three  miles  distance, 
occupied  only  by  pickets,  and  to  the  right  of  these  the  balance  of  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland  facing  to  the  south.  This  gap  between  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland  and  Schofield's,  marked  the  position  of  the 
Rebel  lines  on  the  previous  day  along  the  Peach  Tree  creek ;  and 
although  apparently  abandoned,  was  in  reality  occupied  by  them  in 
strong  force. 

Hoods  plan,  then,  was,  by  making  a  feint  on  the  left  of  the  Union  lines, 
to  compel  Schofield  and  McPherson  to  close  up,  and  to  occupy  this  gap 
in  ambush  with  his  main  force.  Then  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  was 
to  be  allowed  to  push  forward,  its  advance  upon  Atlanta,  without  much 
opposition,  and  as  soon  as  the  two  wings  of  the  Union  army  were  thus 
separated,  the  Rebel  force,  arising  from  ambush,  should  be  hurled  upon 
the  flank  of  the  left  wing,  cut  off  the  bridges  in  its  rear,  and  drive  it 
routed  back  to  the  Chattahoochie.  The  plan  was  a  most  excellent  one, 
and  its  progress  at  first  was  encouraging  to  the  Rebel  chief;  his  feint  on 
the  left  compelled  the  closing  up  of  Schofield's  upon  McPherson's 
column ;  Thomas  moved  forward  on  Atlanta,  picking  up  a  few  prisoners, 
who  gave  information  that  there  were  but  few  Rebel  troops  in  the  imme 
diate  vicinity,  and  satisfied  that  his  plans  were  working  favorably,  Hood, 
about  four  o'clock  p.  M.,  threw  his  army  boldly  and  fiercely  upon  Newton's 
division,  which  held  the  above  mentioned  three-mile  gap,  expecting  to 
roll  it  up  and  destroy  it  with  ease.  Much  to  his  surprise,  the  Union  line 
met  the  assault  like  a  rock  of  iron,  for  it  so  happened  that  a  temporary 
defence  of  rails  and  earth  had  been  thrown  up  by  the  men ;  and  only  twenty 
N  minutes  previous  to  the  assault,  ten  pieces  of  artillery  had  been  brought 
over  from  the  north  side  of  the  creek,  which,  together  with  two  pieces 
already  on  the  ground,  opened  a  terrific  storm  of  grape  and  canister 
upon  the  too  confident  Rebels.  Their  column,  torn  and  shattered  by  the 
deadly  vollies,  which  opened  great  gaps  through  their  ranks,  halted 
and  fired  wildly  upon  the  batteries,  with  but  little  effect.  Forming  anew, 
they  again  advanced,  but  four  guns  of  a  Michigan  battery  united  their 
welcome  to  those  previously  in  position,  and  again  dismayed,  they  fled 
from  the  field.  Again  and  again,  with  desperate  courage,  they  "hurled 
their  force  upon  the  Union  lines,  which  now,  reinforced,  became  each 
moment  stronger  and  firmer,  until,  at  length  abandoning  all  hope,  the 
Rebels  re'reated  in  confusion.  While  this  was  going  on,  General  Hook 
er's  corps  were  sustaining  the  impetuous  attacks  of  other  portions  of  the 
Rebel  army,  and  though  fighting  uncovered,  and  on  very  open  ground, 


SECOND  BATTLE  OP  PEACH  TREE  CREEK.  767 

not  only  repulsed  the  enemy,  but  drove  him  fairly  back  to  his  intrench- 
ments.  In  this  melee,  Butterfield's  division,  under  temporary  command 
of  General  Ward,  met  the  Rebel  force  in  a  counter-charge  on  the  crest  of 
a  hill,  from  which  they  drove  them  flying,  and  with  terrible  slaughter, 
while  Williams'  division,  unprotected  by  breastworks,  maintained  a  des 
perate  fight  for  nearly  four  hours,  without  giving  a  foot.  The  enemy  left 
on  the  field  over  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  thirteen  dead,  about  one 
thousand  severely  wounded,  seven  stands  of  colors,  and  a  large  number 
of  prisoners.  His  loss,  probably,  was  not  far  from  six  thousand,  while 
the  Union  loss  was  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing,  the  larger  part  of  which  was  sustained,  in  consequence  of  its 
more  exposed  condition,  by  General  Hooker's  corps. 

During  the  next  day,  July  21st,  both  armies  seemed  disposed  to  keep 
tolerably  quiet,  the  Union  force  having  made  a  slight  advance  along 
their  lines,  and  the  seventeenth  corps,  by  some  hard  fighting,  having  occu 
pied  a  high  hill  southeast  of  the  railroad,  commanding  the  city.  The 
other  corps  also  felt  the  enemy  in  his  intrenchments,  which  crowned  the 
heights  overlooking  the  valley  of  the  Peach  Tree  creek. 

On  the  22d,  General  Sherman,  to  his  surprise,  found  that  the  whole  of 
the  enemy's  line  was  abandoned,  and  that  the  Rebels  were  occupying 
their  first  line  of  finished  redoubts,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  nearer  to 
Atlanta,  and  which  covered  all  the  roads  leading  to  that  city.  These 
redoubts  the  Rebels  were  then  busy  in  connecting  with  curtains,  strength 
ened  by  rifle-pits,  abatis,  and  chevaux  de  frise.  The  Union  army  now 
occupied  a  line  in  the  general  form  of  a  circle  of  about  two  miles  radius 
around  the  city,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  take  possession  of  the 
enemy's  abandoned  intrenchments  ;  which,  as  they  faced  outwardly,  had  to 
be  somewhat  changed  to  render  them  available  defences  against  the  foe. 

The  contraction  of  the  Union  lines  consequent  on  this  advance,  threw 
out  of  line  the  sixteenth  army  corps,  temporarily  commanded  by  General 
Dodge,  who  was  ordered  to  move  to  the  left,  and  take  position  on  the  flank 
of  the  somewhat  more  exposed  seventeenth  corps,  General  Blair's.  This 
position  would  have  taken  him  across  and  nearly  two  miles  below  the 
Augusta  railroad,  and  he  was  on  his  way  thither,  when,  about  eleven 
o'clock  A.  M.  of  the  22d,  the  left  flank  was  attacked  with  great  energy 
by  the  Rebel  General  Hardee.  Had  the  blow  fallen  earlier,  at  daylight, 
as  Hood's  orders  specified,  the  consequences  would  probably  have  been 
very  disastrous.  As  it  was,  however,  the  delay  was  fatal  to  his  hopes. 
His  plan  of  attack  may  be  best  understood  by  a  reference  to  the  position 
of  the  Union  forces  at  the  time.  McPherson,  with  the  army  of  the  Ten 
nessee,  who,  advancing  along  the  railroad  from  Decatur  to  within  two 
miles  of  Atlanta,  had,  with  some  desperate  fighting,  gained  a  high  hill  to 
the  south  and  east  of  the  railroad,  which  gave  him  a  most  commanding 
position  within  easy  view  of  the  very  heart  of  the  city,  and  was  preparing 


768  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

to  fortify  and  occupy  it  with  batteries,  this  being  the  position  to  which 
General  Dodge  was  ordered.  The  sixteenth  corps  at  this  juncture  was 
north  of  the  railroad  and  turnpike,  the  fifteenth  on  either  side  of,  and  the 
seventeenth  south  of,  the  railroad,  with  its  extreme  left  stretching  some  two 
miles  below.  At  the  right  of  the  sixteenth,  although  not  close  up,  was 
the  twenty-third  corps,  and  beyond,  across  the  Western  and  Atlantic  rail 
road,  and  with  a  southward  curve  to  the  Atlanta  and  Sandtown  road,  was 
General  Thomas's  army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Hood's  hope,  therefore,  was  to  repeat  the  manoeuvre  of  the  20th,  by 
massing  his  force  on  McPherson's  left,  which  would  naturally  draw  the 
main  part  of  Sherman's  army  to  its  support,  and  having  turned  this  wing, 
to  face  suddenly  upon  the  weakened  right  wing,  and  demolish  it.  In  pur 
suance  of  this  plan,  Hardee's  (Rebel)  corps,  about  eleven  o'clock  A.  M., 
suddenly  dashed  out  from  the  woods  upon  the  seventeenth  corps,  who  were 
holding  a  slightly  built  line  of  defence  in  an  open  field,  and  rushed  upon 
them  with  the  peculiar  southern  yell. 

Under  the  sudden  and  overpowering  pressure  of  the  Rebel  column, 
massed  in  several  lines,  the  Union  troops,  although  bravely  contesting 
every  inch  of  ground,  were  slowly  pushed  back,  and  the  movement  un 
covered  the  trains  of  the  corps,  upon  which  the  Rebels  rushed  in  great 
fury.  Fortunately,  just  at  the  moment  when  the  rout  of  the  entire 
seventeenth  corps  seemed  most  imminent,  the  fourth  division,  and  a  bri 
gade  of  the  second,  sixteenth  corps,  came  upon  the  field,  and  gave  the  first 
decisive  check  to  the  enemy,  and  gave  time  also  to  the  seventeenth  to 
throw  up  a  slight  line  of  defence  in  the  rear,  which  they  held  during  the 
rest  of  the  day. 

It  was  at  this  time,  and  quite  early  in  the  action,  that  General  McPher- 
Bon  was  mortally  wounded  by  a  Rebel  sharpshooter,  as  he  was  riding 
from  General  Dodge's  column  to  the  left  and  rear  of  General  Giles  A. 
Smith's  position,  being  at  the  time  accompanied  only  by  an  orderly, 
having  dispatched  all  his  staff  officers  on  various  errands  to  different 
parts  of  the  field.  The  last  order  which  he  had  ever  given  was  to  hurry 
Wangelin's  brigade,  fifteenth  corps,  across  the  railroad,  to  fill  up  a  gap 
which  intervened  between  the  head  of  Dodge's  column  and  General 
Blair's  line.  It  came  on  the  double-quick,  and  checked  the  advance  of 
the  foe  in  that  direction.  Hardee's  attack  in  front  was  to  have  been  ac 
companied  with  one  by  Stuart  upon  the  Union  front,  but  fortunately  the 
two  attacks  were  not  made  simultaneously.  Sweeping  over  the  hill  which 
the  Union  troops  were  fortifying,  and  bearing  down  upon  their  left,  the 
enemy  came  upon  General  G.  A.  Smith's  division  of  the  seventeenth 
corps,  which  was  obliged  to  fight  first  from  one  side  of  the  old  rifle-para 
pet  and  then  from  the  other,  until,  gradually  withdrawing  regiment  by 
regiment,  it  was  enabled  to  form  a  flank  to  General  Leggett's  division, 
which  was  holding  the  apex  of  the  hill.  Here,  in  this  position,  and  aided 


SKETCH   OF   GENERAL   McPHERSON.  769 

by  the  sixteenth  corps,  the  Union  forces  stubbornly  held  their  own  for 
nearly  four  hours,  checking  and  repulsing  six  Rebel  attacks,  punishing 
them  so  severely  that  by  four  P.  M.  they  virtually  gave  up  the  attempt  to 
force  that  flank. 

Meanwhile,  taking  advantage  of  the  absence  of  General  Garrard's 
cavalry  division,  which  had  been  despatched  on  a  raid  to  Covington, 
thirty-four  miles  east  of  Atlanta,  the  Rebel  cavalry  General  Wheeler 
made  an  attempt  to  cut  off  and  capture  the  Union  wagon  trains  at  Decatur. 
In  this,  however,  he  was  foiled  by  the  tact  and  coolness  of  Colonel  (since 
General)  Sprague,  who  withdrew,  and  sent  them  to  the  rear  of  Generals 
Thomas  and  Schofield,  with  the  loss  of  only  three  wagons,  which  had 
been  deserted  by  their  drivers,  and  their  horses  cut  loose. 

To  return  to  the  battle.  Up  to  four  o'clock,  the  enemy  had  captured 
eight  guns  ;  and  shortly  after,  breaking  through  the  lines  of  the  fifteenth 
army  corps,  they  captured  twelve  guns  more,  and  drove  back  Lightburn's 
brigade  to  a  considerable  distance.  General  Sherman  immediately  ordered 
forward  some  batteries  from  General  Scho field's  corps  to  a  commanding 
position,  from  which  such  a  constant  fire  was  maintained  upon  the 
enemy's  left  flank  as  most  effectually  prevented  his  reinforcement.  General 
Logan,  who  had  succeeded  the  lamented  McPherson  in  command  of  the 
army  of  the  Tennessee,  was  ordered  to  cause  the  fifteenth  corps  to  regain 
its  old  ground  at  any  cost,  which  was  promptly  done,  by  the  most  des 
perate  hand-to-hand  fighting,  in  which,  while  Wood  and  Schofield  swept 
the  enemy's  parapet  with  grape  and  canister,  the  fifteenth  corps,  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet,  regained  its  position,  and  all  but  two  of  the  guns 
which  it  had  lost.  With  this  fierce  struggle  the  battle  closed,  and  night 
spread  its  sombre  mantle  over  the  retreating  Rebel  foe,  leaving  his  dead 
and  wounded  upon  the  field.  Three  thousand  two  hundred  and  forty  dead, 
and  three  thousand  two  hundred  prisoners  and  wounded  were  left  in  the 
hands  of  the  Union  army,  indicating  a  loss  which  General  Sherman 
estimated  as  exceeding  eight  thousand,  and  General  Thomas  at  over  ten 
thousand.  Three  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-two  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing,  was  the  Union  loss ;  and  the  loss  of  ten  guns  was  offset  in 
some  degree  by  the  capture  of  eighteen  battle-flags.  The  greatest  loss, 
however,  which  was  entailed  upon  our  arms  by  the  second  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  creek,  was  the  death  of  the  gallant  and  beloved  General  McPherson. 

James  Birdseye  McPherson,  born  in  Sandusky  county,  Ohio,  November 
14th,  1828,  was  admitted,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  to  the  military 
academy  at  West  Point,  where  his  success,  was  of  the  most  flattering 
character,  ranking  second  in  the  fourth  class  of  1850,  first  in  the  third 
class  of  1851,  first  in  the  second  class  of  1852,  and  graduating,  June,  1853, 
at  the  head  of  his  class.  He  immediately  received  the  appointment  of 
brevet  second  lieutenant  of  engineers,  and  assistant  instructor  of  practical 
engineering  at  the  academy,  a  compliment  never  before  nor  since  awarded 
49 


770  THE  CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

to  so  young  an  officer.  In  September,  1854,  be  was  made  assistant  engi 
neer  in  the  defences  of  New  York  harbor,  and  on  the  improvement  of  the 
navigation  of  the  Hudson  river,  which  duties  he  fulfilled  until  December, 

1856,  when  he  was  commissioned  full  second  lieutenant  of  engineers.     In 

1857,  he  had  charge  of  the  construction  of  Fort  Delaware,  and  also  of 
fortifications  on  Alcatras  Island,  California,  being  also  connected  with  the 
Pacific  coast  survey ;   and  in  December,  1858,  became   first  lieutenant  of 
engineers.     In  August,  he  was  ordered  to  the  command  of  fortifications 
of  Boston  harbor,  and  was  advanced  to  the  junior  captaincy  of  his  corps. 
When,   in   November,    1861,   General    Halleck   took   command  of  the 
Department  of  the  West,  Captain  McPherson  became  his  aide-de-camp, 
with   rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  and,  until  the  beginning  of  1862,  was 
chiefly  engaged  on  engineer  duty  in  Missouri.     He  was  next  assigned  to 
General  Grant  as  chief  engineer  in  the  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson  expedi 
tions,  in  which  his  services  recommended  him  to  an  appointment  (dated 
February  16th,  1862)  as  brevet  major  of  engineers.     After  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  he  joined  Halleck,  who  had  assumed  the  command  in  the  field, 
and  for  his  services  in  that  conflict  was  nominated  for  brevet  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  engineers,  and  on  may  1st,  was  made  colonel  on  the  staff.     At 
the  investment  of  Corinth,  he  had  charge  of  the  engineering  department, 
in  which  his  abilities  and  skill   resulted  in  driving  the  enemy  from  the 
most  valuable  strategic  point  south  of  the  Ohio,  and  west  of  the  Tennessee 
rivers.     In  May,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  brigadier-general  of  volun 
teers,  and  in  June  following  was  appointed  by  General  Grant  the  general 
superintendent  of  all  the  United  States  military  railroads  in  the  Depart 
ment  of  West  Tennessee.     At  the  battle  of  Corinth,  his  skill  as  a  soldier 
was  displayed  in  successfully  conveying  reinforcements  to  the  besieged 
garrison,  when  the  enemy  was  between  him  and  the  point  to  be  reached, 
and  gallantly  routing  them  from  the  vicinity  in  the  attack  of  the  next 
day.     For  these  and  other  services,  he  was  nominated  as  major-general 
of  volunteers.    Shortly  after,  in  November,  1862,  he  drove  the  Rebels  out 
of  Lagrange,  and  established  his  headquarters  there;  and  on  the  llth  of 
that  month,  making  a  strong  reconnoissance,  he  met  Price's  Rebel  army 
at  Lamar,  fought  and  defeated  them,  and  having  accomplished  his  object, 
returned  safely  to  Lagrange.     In  this,  the  first  battle  in  which  he  was  the 
only  responsible   commander,   McPherson   displayed   that  sagacity  and 
prudence,  combined  with  impetuosity  of  attack,  and  indomitable  tenacity 
of  purpose,  which  his  after  life  developed  upon  a  broader  field ;  and  in 
the  advance  which  followed.through  central  Mississippi,  McPherson  com 
manded  the  entire  right  wing  of  Grant's  army,  with  the  utmost  ability, 
always   in   the  lead  when   advancing,   and   in  the  rear  on  the  retreat. 
When,  in  December,  1862,  General  Grant  made  a  division  of  his  army 
into  four  corps,  one  of  them,  the  "  seventeenth,"  was  awarded  to  McPher 
son,  who,  about  the  same  time,  was  confirmed  a  major-general  of  volun- 


SKETCH   OF  GENERAL  McPHERSON.  77 1 

teers.  In  the  campaign  and  siege  terminating  with  the  fall  of  Vieksburg, 
General  McPherson  filled  a  conspicuous  part.  At  the  battle  of  Port 
Gibson,  it  was  under  his  direction  that  the  enemy  was  driven,  late  in  the 
afternoon,  from  a  position  which  they  had  held  all  day  against  an  obstinate 
attack.  His  corps,  the  advance,  always  under  his  immediate  eye,  were  the 
pioneers  in  the  movement  from  Port  Gibson  to  Hawkinson's  ferry.  From 
the  north  fork  of  the  Bayou  Pierre  to  the  Black  river,  it  was  a  constant 
skirmish,  the  whole  skilfully  managed,  the  enemy  being  so  closely  pressed 
as  to  be  unable  to  destroy  their  boat-bridge  after  them.  From  Hawkinson's 
ferry  to  Jackson,  the  seventeenth  corps  marched  over  roads  not  travelled 
by  other  troops,  fighting  the  entire  battle  of  Raymond  alone,  and  the  bulk 
of  Johnston's  army  was  fought  by  this  corps,  entirely  under  McPherson's 
management.  At  Champion's  hill,  the  battle  was  fought  by  McPherson's 
corps,  and  a  division  of  the  thirteenth  corps.  In  the  assault  of  the  22d 
of  May  on  the  fortifications  of  Vieksburg,  and  during  the  entire  siege, 
General  McPherson  and  his  command  won  unfading  laurels  ;  and  at  the 
conference  which  preceded  the  capitulation  of  that  Rebel  stronghold, 
General  McPherson  was  named  by  General  Grant  as  one  of  the  two, 
besides  himself,  who  were  to  represent  the  national  army,  and  was  subse 
quently  recommended  by  that  general  for  the  rank  of  brigadier-general 
in  the  regular  army,  which  was  awarded  promptly  by  the  Senate,  in 
December,  1863.  The  officers  of  his  corps  also  awarded  him  a  medal  of 
honor  for  the  gallant  manner  in  which  he  had  commanded  them  during 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  After  the  capitulation  of  Vieksburg,  he  attacked 
and  defeated  the  Rebels  near  Canton,  Miss.,  with  great  loss  of  men  and 
stores.  During  the  winter  of  1863-4,  he  had  command  of  all  the  region 
bordering  on  the  Mississippi,  from  Helena,  Ark.,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Red 
river,  with  headquarters  at  Vieksburg.  In  February,  1864,  the  general 
again  entered  the  field  at  the  head  of  his  old  corps,  participating  in 
Sherman's  great  raid  to  Meridian,  Miss.,  bearing  in  this  campaign,  as  in 
all  others,  the  brunt  of  labors  and  fighting. 

In  March  following,  Grant  becoming  Lieutenant-General,  Sherman 
was  raised  to  the  command  of  the  military  division  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
General  McPherson  succeeded  him  in  the  command  of  the  army  of  the 
Tennessee,  which  embraced  the  fifteenth,  sixteenth,  and  seventeenth  corps, 
(w.th  one  exception)  all  the  veteran  corps  of  Grant's  old  army  of  the  Mis 
sissippi.  Postponing  his  intended  marriage,  the  general  hastened  to  his 
new  command,  which,  though  widejy  scattered,  was  concentrated  and 
organized  in  an  incredibly  short  time,  and  occupied  its  place  on  the  right 
of  Sherman'5*  army. 

Of  his  services  in  the  campaign  which  followed,  the  reader  has  been 
informed  in  the  preceding  pages.  Until  his  death  on  the  battle-field  of 
Peach  Tree  creek,  he  was  the  pride  of  the  army,  the  right-hand  of  Sher 
man,  the  idol  of  his  men.  Lieutenant-General  Grant,  when  he  heard  of 


772  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

his  death,  exclaimed,  "  The  country  has  lost  one  of  its  best  soldiers,  and 
I  have  lost  my  best  friend,"  and  retiring  to  his  tent,  gave  way  to  those 
tears  which  only  a  soldier  can  shed. 

General  Sherman  says  of  him  in  his  official  report  of  the  Atlanta  cam 
paign,  "  He  was  a  noble  youth,  of  striking  personal  appearance,  of  the 
highest  professional  capacity,  and  with  a  heart  abounding  in  kindness, 
which  drew  toward  him  the  affections  of  all  men."  As  a  soldier,  he  was 
brave,  almost  to  a  fault,  with  tireless  industry,  and  indefatigable  energy, 
devotion  of  purpose,  and  quickness  of  perception.  As  a  man  he  was 
affable,  corteous,  warm  in  his  friendships,  and  forgiving  toward  his 
enemies.  In  short,  he  possessed  all  the  virtues,  and  very  few  of  the  faults, 
of  a  gentleman  and  an  officer. 

In  the  same  battle  the  Eebels  lost  Major-General  W.  H.  T.  Walker, 
and  Brigadier-General  George  M.  Stevens. 

On  the  day  succeeding  the  battle  (the  23d)  General  Garrard  returned  from 
Covington,  where  he  had  destroyed  the  railroad  bridges  over  the  Ulcofau- 
hatchee  and  Yellow  rivers  (one  of  which  was  five  hundred  and  the  other 
one  hundred  feet  long),  besides  burning  a  train  of  cars,  two  thousand 
bales  of  cotton,  the  depots  and  stores  of  Covington  and  Conyer's  station, 
and  bringing  in  two  hundred  prisoners,  and  a  considerable  number  of 
horses,  losing  in  all  but  two  men,  one  of  whom  was  killed  by  accident. 
The  Augusta,  and  the  West  Point  and  Montgomery  roads,  being  thus 
effectually  crippled,  General  Sherman  next  turned  his  attention  to  the 
destruction  of  the  Macon  road,  which  now  formed  the  only  source  of  sup 
ply  to  the  Rebel  army  at  Atlanta.  Feeling  that  Schofield  and  Thomas 
were  perfectly  competent  to  hold  the  enemy  behind  his  inner  line  of 
intrenchments  at  the  north  of  Atlanta,  he  shifted  the  army  of  the  Tennes 
see  again  to  the  right  wing,  and  ordered  Schofield  to  extend  up  to  the 
Augusta  road.  Shifting  General  Stoneman's  division  of  cavalry  to  the 
left  flank,  he  made  good  his  place  at  the  river  near  Sandtown,  by  General 
Rousseau's  two  thousand  cavalry,  which  had  just  returned,  somewhat  jaded, 
from  Opelika.  Stoneman's  command  was  then  increased  to  an  effective 
force  of  five  thousand  men,  by  the  addition  of  Garrard's  cavalry,  and 
General  McCook  received  the  command,  in  addition  to  his  own,  of  some 
new  cavalry  brought  on  by  Rousseau,  and  Commanded  by  Colonel  Harri 
son  of  the  eighth  Indiana  cavalry,  making  in  all  about  four  thousand. 
To  these  two  well  mounted  and  appointed  bodies  was  assigned  the  task 
of  cutting  the  Macon  railroad,  on  a  designated  night,  the  28th  of  July,  at 
or  near  Lovejoy's  station.  At  the  moment  of  starting,  General  Stoneman 
requested  and  received  permission,  after  destroying  the  road  and  defeating 
Wheeler's  (Rebel)  cavalry,  to  push  on  with  his  own  command  to  Macon 
and  Andersonville,  and  there  release  the  Union  prisoners  of  war  confined 
at  those  places.  Both  bodies  of  co.valry  started  at  the  same  time,  Stone 
man  moving  by  the  left  around  Atlanta  to  McDonough,  and  McCook  by 


EXPEDITIONS   OF  STONEMAN  AND   McCOOK.  773 

the  right  on  Fayetteville.  The  expedition  was  only  a  partial  success 
owing  to  the  strange  divergence  of  General  Stonernan  from  his  proposed 
route  ;  for,  sending  General  Garrard  to  Flat  Rock  to  cover  his  own  move 
ment  on  McDonough,  he  immediately  went  to  Covington,  thence  to  Clin 
ton,  sending  off  detachments  to  the  east,  which  heavily  damaged  the  ene 
my's  railroad  lines,  by  burning  the  bridges  of  the  Walnut  creek  and 
Oconee,  and  destroying  a  large  number  of  cars  and  locomotives,  and 
appeared  in  force  before  Macon,  from  which  the  Union  prisoners  had 
been  previously  removed.  He  did  not  succeed  in  crossing  the  Ocmulgee 
at  that  point ;  nor  did  he,  for  some  reasons,  attempt  to  go  to  Anderson  ville. 
but  finding  himself  surrounded  and  harrassed  by  Rebel  cavalry,  under 
General  Iverson,  he  proposed  to  a  council  of  officers  to  surrender  to  the 
foe.  This  proposition  not  meeting  with  their  approbation,  he  consented 
that  two  thirds  of  his  force  should  escape,  if  they  could,  while  he  with  a 
remainder  of  seven  hundred  men  and  a  section  of  light  artillery,  would 
hold  the  enemy  in  check.  This  strange  plan  was  carried  into  effect,  one 
brigade  escaping  almost  intact,  another  surprised,  scattered,  and  pretty 
well  broken  up  in  the  retreat,  while  the  general,  after  a  sharp  conflict, 
surrendered  his  small  command,  and  was  held  as  a  prisoner  by  the  Rebels 
until  November,  1864.  McCook,  meanwhile,  carried  out  his  part  of  the 
programme,  by  tearing  up  a  portion  of  the  West  Point  road  at  Palmetto 
station ;  then  moving  rapidly  to  Fayetteville,  he  found  and  burned  five 
hundred  wagons,  and  killed  eight  hundred  mules  belonging  to  the  Rebels, 
besides  taking  others  along,  and  capturing  two  hundred  and  fifty  prison 
ers,  and  pushing  on  to  Lovejoy's  station,  reached  it  at  the  appointed 
time. 

Here  he  vigorously  plied  the  work  of  destruction  until  compelled  to 
desist  .by  the  accumulating  numbers  of  the  enemy ;  and  hearing  nothing 
of  General  Stoneman,  he  moved  south  and  west,  to  Newnan,  on  the  West 
Point  road,  where  he  fell  in  with  a  large  infantry  force,  whose  progress 
from  Mississippi  to  Atlanta  had  been  stopped  by  his  destruction  of  the 
railroad  at  Palmetto  station.  Finding  himself  hemmed  in,  he  accepted 
the  wager  of  battle,  and  dropping  his  prisoners  and  captures,  managed  to 
fight  his  way  out  of  the  position,  with  a  loss,  however,  of  five  hundred 
officers  and  men,  and  reaching  the  Chattahoochie,  crossed  and  reached 
Marietta  without  further  loss.  The  raid,  though  General  McCook's  part 
was  well  carried  out,  was  yet,  owing  to  Stoneman's  failure,  only  a  partial 
success ;  for  the  breaks  made  in  the  enemy's  communications  were  so 
slight  that  they  were  soon  repaired,  while  the  slender  advantages  gained 
were  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  heavy  losses  in  men  and  horses 
sustained  by  the  Union  troops. 

In  accordance  with  Sherman's  general  plan  of  operations,  the  army 
of  the  Tennessee,  leaving  its  position  near  the  Decatur  road  during  the 
night  of  the  26th  of  July,  moved  the  next  day  along  the  rear  of  the  main 


THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

army  to  Proctor's  creek,  and  prolonged  its  line  due  south,  facing  to  the 
east.  This  movement,  which  was  under  the  command  of  its  new  com 
mander  General  Howard,  was  made  en  echelon,  the  sixteenth  corps,  Gen 
eral  Dodge,  being  on  the  left,  nearest  the  enemy,  the  seventeenth,  General 
Blair's,  next  on  its  right,  reaching  an  old  meeting-house  known  as  Ezra 
church,  near  some  large  open  fields  near  the  Poor-house,  on  the  Bell's 
ferry  or  Lickskillet  road.  Here  the  fifteenth  corps,  General  Logan's, 
joined  in,  along  a  well  wooded  ridge,  partially  commanding  the  same 
fields.  By  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  the  army  of  the 
Tennessee  was  fully  in  position,  and  was  busily  engaged  in  rapidly 
throwing  up  a  log  barricade,  and  a  temporary  fortification.  About  eleven 
o'clock  the  Union  lines  in  the  vicinity  of  Ezra  church  were  somewhat 
vigorously  shelled  by  the  Rebel  batteries,  and  about  twelve  o'clock  their 
right  was  assailed  by  a  heavy  column  of  Rebels,  who,  coming  out  of  At 
lanta  by  the  Bell's  ferry  road,  advanced  in  magnificent  style  directly 
against  the  fifteenth  corps,  confidently  expecting  to  take  that  flank  "  in 
air."  They  were,  however,  most  bitterly  and  speedily  undeceived. 

Coolly  and  steadily  the  Union  troops  delivered  their  fire,  and  swept 
their  ranks  with  deadly  missiles  until,  despite  the  entreaties  and  threats 
of  their  officers,  the  Rebels  broke  and  fled.  Six  times  they  rallied  to  the 
attack,  and  six  times  were  hurled  back  by  the  same  resistless  line  of  fire, 
the  few  who  did  reach  the  Union  barricade  alive,  being  hauled  over  the 
rails  as  prisoners.  At  length,  about  four  P.  M.,  the  enemy  disappeared, 
leaving  his  dead  and  wounded  upon  the  field,  their  loss  being  over  five 
thousand,  besides  prisoners,  while  that  of  the  Union  army,  all  told,  was 
less  than  six  hundred. 

Expecting  that  the  enemy  would  try  to  repeat  his  game  of  the  22d, 
General  Sherman  had  ordered  General  Davis's  division  of  Palmer's  corps, 
to  move  by  Turner's  ferry  and  Whitehall  or  East  Point,  and  come  in  on 
the  flank  of  General  Howard's  new  line,  so  that,  in  case  of  an  attack,  it 
would  catch  the  attacking  Rebel  force  in  flank  or  rear,  in  an  unexpected 
moment.  This  excellent  plan  was  rendered  abortive  by  the  sickness  of 
General  Davis,  and  the  mistake  of  roads  made  by  Brigadier-General 
Morgan,  who  assumed  the  command  temporarily,  by  which  his  arrival  at 
the  point  designated  was  delayed  from  noon  until  night.  Had  the  division 
arrived  in  time,  the  terrible  repulse  which  the  enemy  received  would 
have  become,  in  all  probability,  a  crushing  rout  of  the  Rebel  army. 

After  the  battle  of  Ezra  church,  Sherman  found  the  enemy  quite  indis 
posed  to  interfere  with  his  attempts  to  extend  by  the  flank,  which  move 
ments  were  thereafter  conducted  with  comparative  ease ;  although  he  met 
our  extensions  to  the  south  by  well  though  hastily  constructed  rifle-pits 
and  forts,  reaching  to  East  Point,  remaining,  however,  entirely  on  the 
defensive.  Subsequent  movements  of  General  Sherman  to  extend  his 
lines  southward,  by  bringing  Schofield's  army  of  the  Ohio,  and  Palmer's 


OPERATIONS  BEFORE  ATLANTA.  775 

fourteenth  corps,  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  further  to  the  right, 
which  were  effected  by  the  1st  of  August,  elicited  no  opposition  from  the 
enemy,  who  contented  himself  with  a  corresponding  extension  of  his  own 
lines  and  fortifications. 

About  this  time  also,  several  changes  of  important  commands  took 
place,  such  as  the  promotion  of  General  Howard  to  the  command  of  the 
army  of  the  Tennessee,  as  McPherson's  successor,  the  appointment  of 
General  Slocum  to  the  command  resigned  by  General  Hooker,  of  the 
twentieth  army  corps ;  the  appointment  of  General  Jefferson  C.  Davis 
to  the  command  of  the  fourteenth  corps,  vice  General  Palmer,  resigned  ; 
and  the  succession  of  General  Stanley  to  the  place  of  General  Howard,  at 
the  head  of  the  fourth  corps. 

From  the  2d  to  the  5th  of  August,  Sherman  continued  the  extension 
of  his  lines  to  the  right,  demonstrating  strongly  on  the  left,  and  along 
the  entire  line,  and  on  the  last  named  day,  General  Reilley's  brigade  of 
Cox's  division,  Schofield's  corps,  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  pierce 
the  enemy's  line  about  a  mile  below  Utoy  creek,  which  cost  them  about 
four  hundred  men. 

The  next  day,  however,  General  Hascall  turned  the  position,  and  Scho- 
field  advanced  his  line  closely  to  that  of  the  enemy  along  the  creek, 
although  without  gaining  the  desired  foothold  upon  either  the  West  Point 
or  Macon  railroads.  These  roads  Hood  had  hitherto  been  able  to  con 
trol  by  means  of  a  large  force  of  State  militia,  and  though  his  line  frum 
Decatur  to  East  Point  was  nearly  fifteen  miles  long,  yet  his  position  was 
so  masked  by  the  natural  advantages  of  the  ground,  as  to  conceal  its  weak 
points.  So  long  as  he  could  hold  these  roads,  he  felt  confident  that  Sher 
man  could  not  flank  Atlanta,  but  Sherman  had  made  up  his  mind  with 
equal  confidence  that  he  must  and  would  break  them  up  in  the  most 
effectual  and  thorough  manner.  Satisfied  that  in  order  to  do  this  he 
would  have  to  move  his  whole  army,  he  resolved,  before  beginning,  to 
try  the  effect  of  four  four-and-a-half  inch  rifled  guns,  which  he  ordered 
down  from  Chattanooga,  in  bombarding  the  city.  These  arrived  on  the 
10th,  and  were  served  night  and  day,  producing  considerable  annoyance 
to  the  enemy  in  the  city,  causing  frequent  fires  and  constant  alarms. 

On  the  16th  of  August,  Sherman  issued  his  orders  for  a  grand  move 
ment  by  the  right  flank,  which  was  to  begin  on  the  18th.  This  movement 
contemplated  the  withdrawal  southward  of  the  whole  army,  except  the 
twentieth  corps,  General  Williams,  who  was  to  occupy  the  intrenched 
position  at  the  Chattahoochie  bridge ;  but  it  was  postponed,  in  conse 
quence  of  the  receipt  of  information  that  the  Eebel  cavalry  Deader 
Wheeler,  with  a  force  variously  estimated  at  from  six  thousand  to  ten 
thousand  men,  had  struck  the  Union  lines  of  communication  near  Adairs- 
ville,  breaking  the  road  at  Calhoun,  and  capturing  nine  hundred  of  their 
beef  cattle.  Pleased  at  such  a  movement,  which  left  the  enemy  deficient 


THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

in  cavalry,  while  he  was  in  a  position  to  dispense  with  railroad  communi 
cation  with  Chattanooga  for  several  weeks  without  injury,  he  suspended 
his  orders  for  a  general  advance  for  the  time  being,  and  despatched  Gen 
eral  Kilpatrick  with  a  force  of  five  thousand  cavalry,  on  the  18th,  to  the 
West  Point  road,  with  orders  to  break  it  thoroughly  near  Fairborn,  then 
cross  to  and  tear  up  the  Macon  road,  avoiding  as  far  as  possible  any  con 
flict  with  the  enemy's  infantry,  but  attacking  the  Rebel  cavalry  whenever 
the  opportunity  afforded. 

Kilpatrick  started,  and  broke  the  West  Point  road;  then  reaching 
the  Macon  road  near  Jonesboro,  whipped  Boss's  cavalry,  and  held  the 
road  for  five  hours,  during  which  he  did  considerable  damage.  The 
sudden  interference  of  a  Rebel  brigade  of  infantry  obliged  him  to  desist, 
and  making  a  detour  eastward,  he  again  struck  the  railroad  near  Love- 
joy's  station,  where,  being  again  annoyed  by  the  enemy,  he  boldly  charged 
upon  their  cavalry,  capturing  seventy  prisoners,  and  a  four  gun  battery, 
which  he  destroyed  with  the  exception  of  one  gun,  which  he  brought 
safely  in,  and  returning  by  a  circuit  north  and  east,  reached  Decatur  on 
the  22d. 

Sherman,  however,  convinced  that  the  damage  done  by  this  gallant 
officer,  was  not  sufficient  to  produce  the  desired  results,  renewed  his  orders 
for  the  movement  of  the  entire  army.  A  train  of  three  thousand  wagons 
with  supplies  for  fifteen  days,  and  one  thousand  ambulances  were  in  readi 
ness  ;  all  surplus  wagons  and  effects,  with  the  sick  and  wounded,  were 
sent  back  to  a  secure  position  at  the  Chattahoochie,  under  a  force  ample 
for  their  protection ;  and  on  the  night  of  the  25th,  the  movement  com 
menced  by  the  withdrawal  of  General  Williams's  corps  to  the  Chattahoo 
chie,  and  the  advance  of  General  Stanley's  fourth  corps  from  their  position 
on  the  extreme  left  to  a  point  below  Proctor's  creek. 

On  the  night  of  the  26th,  the  second  movement  was  made  by  the  army 
of  the  Tennessee  drawing  out  from  their  lines,  and  moving  rapidly  in  a 
circuitous  route  toward  Sandtown  and  across  Camp  creek,  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland,  General  Schofield,  below  Utoy  creek,  remaining  in  position. 
The  third  movement  brought  the  army  of  the  Tennessee  to  the  West 
Point  railroad  above  Fairborn,  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  well  up  to 
Red  Oak,  and  General  Schofield  to  Digs  and  Mins. 

All  this  was  accomplished  with  the  loss  of  only  one  man.  One  day's 
labor  was  then  devoted  to  the  destruction  of  the  West  Point  road,  result 
ing  in  the  tearing  up  of  twelve  and  a  half  miles,  the  ties  being  burned, 
and  the  rails  heated  and  twisted  into  all  conceivable  shapes,  with  all  the 
ingenuity  which  could  be  devised  by  old  hands  at  the  work  ;  while  cuts 
in  the  road  were  filled  up  with  trunks  of  trees,  logs,  rock,  and  earth  in 
which  loaded  shells  prepared  as  torpedoes,  threatened  explosion  to  any 
one  who  should  attempt  their  removal,  all  of  which  was  done  under  Gen 
eral  Sherman's  personal  supervision,  and  to  his  entire  satisfaction. 


BR  *0« 


BATTLE   OF  JONESBORO.  77t 

On  the  following  day,  the  army  moved  eastward  on  several  roada, 
General  Howard  on  the  right  toward  Jonesboro ;  Thomas,  in  the  centre, 
by  Shoal  creek  church  to  Couch's,  along  the  Decatur  and  Fayetteville 
road,  and  General  Schofield  about  Morrow's  mills,  on  the  left.  The 
possession  of  these  points  gave  to  General  Sherman  the  advantage  of 
shorter  and  interior  lines^owing  to  the  peculiar  course  followed  by  the 
railroad  from  Atlanta  to  Macon,  along  the  ridge  dividing  the  Flint  and 
Ocmulgee  rivers,  and  making  a  wide  bend  eastwardly  between  East  Point 
and  Jonesboro. 

General  Sherman  was  by  no  means  slow  to  improve  the  advantage 
which  he  had  thus  obtained,  and  on  the  29th,  the  columns  of  his  army 
moved  forward  punctually.  General  Thomas,  in  the  centre,  reached 
Couch's  early  in  the  afternoon,  having  met  with  but  little  opposition, 
except  such  as  arose  from  the  narrowness  of  the  roads  ;  Schofield  nearer 
to  the  enemy,  who  were  close  to  East  Point,  moved  cautiously  on  a  small 
circle  around  that  place,  coming  into  position  at  Rough-and-Ready.  Gen 
eral  Howard,  having  the  outer  circle,  and  consequently  a  greater  distance 
to  travel,  met  cavalry  which  he  drove  to  Shoal  creek  crossing,  where  the 
enemy  had  artillery.  Here,  after  some  skirmishing,  he  pushed  them  on 
before  him,  and  passing  Renfro  on  the  Decatur  road,  the  position  indicated 
for  him  in  the  orders  of  the  day,  wisely  pressed  on  toward  Jonesboro, 
saved  the  Flint  river  bridge,  and  halted  only  at  nightfall,  within  half  a 
mile  of  Jonesboro. 

The  next  morning,  he  found  the  enemy  in  front  of  him,  in  large  force, 
and  deploying  the  fifteenth  corps,  with  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  on 
its  flanks,  he  threw  up  temporary  fortifications,  and  prepared  to  act 
offensively  or  defensively  as  the  emergency  might  require.  Sherman 
immediately  sent  to  Renfro,  a  division  of  Davis's  corps,  and  Stanley's  and 
Schofield's  corps  marched  toward  Rough-and  Ready,  with  orders  to  recon 
noitre  and  strike  the  railroad  near  that  place.  Meanwhile,  Hood,  who 
until  the  29th  of  August  had  serenely  imagined  that  Sherman  was  in  full 
retreat  across  the  Chattahoochie,  suddenly  had  his  eyes  opened  to  his  own 
real  danger  by  the  news  of  the  Union  operations  on  the  West  Point 
railroad. 

He  found  himself  again  flanked,  and  all  efforts  to  delay  Sherman's 
advance  rendered  futile,  inasmuch  as  that  general,  having  the  interior 
lines,  could  easily  keep  ahead  of  any  force  which  might  be  sent  upon  his 
track.  Consternation  reigned  in  Atlanta  when  the  position  of  affairs 
became  known,  and  catching,  with  the  desperation  of  a  drowning  man,  at 
the  last  hope,  Hood  resolved  to  push  forward  Lee's  and  Hardee's  corps  to 
Jonesboro,  to  hurl  them  upon  the  Union  forces  before  they  should  have 
time  to  intrench,  or  to  damage  the  railroad  line  irretrievably. 

Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  31st  of  August,  Howard,  who,  as 
we  have  before  seen,  had  reached  Jonesboro  the  night  before,  found  him- 


7f8  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

self  suddenly  attacked  by  these  two  Rebel  corps.  He  was,  however,  ad 
mirably  prepared  for  the  onset,  and  after  a  stubborn  contest  of  over  two 
hours,  the  foe  retired,  leaving  over  four  hundred  dead  on  the  field,  with 
some  two  thousand  five  hundred  wounded,  three  hundred  of  whom  were 
left  in  Jonesboro. 

While  this  was  being  done  by  Howard,  the  -left  and  centre  were  vigor 
ously  pushed  forward,  and  before  four  o'clock  P.  M.  Sherman  had  the  satis 
faction  of  hearing  that  Howard  had  thoroughly  defeated  the  Rebels  at 
Jonesboro;  Schofield  had  reached  within  a  mile  of  Rough-and-Ready, 
breaking  up  the  railroad  as  he  advanced ;  that  Stanley,  of  Thomas's  army, 
was  destroying  the  same  road  to  the  south  of  Schofield's  position,  and 
that  General  Baird,  of  Davis's  corps,  was  playing  havoc  on  the  same  line 
of  communication,  still  lower  down,  within  four  miles  of  Jonesboro. 

The  whole  army  was  immediately  concentrated  on  Jonesboro ;  General 
Howard  keeping  the  enemy  busy  while  Thomas  came  down  from  the 
north,  with  Schofield  to  his  left,  destroying  the  road  as  they  went, 
Garrard's  cavalry  watched  the  road  in  the  rear,  on  the  north ;  Kilpatrick 
went  south,  along  the  west  bank  of  the  Flint  river,  menacing  the  railroad 
below  Jonesboro,  and  the  whole  army  was  expected  to  close  upon  that 
town  by  noon  of  the  1st  of  September. 

The  programme  was  promptly  carried  out ;  General  Davis,  having  a 
shorter  line  to  travel,  came  in  on  time,  and  deployed,  facing  south,  his 
right  connecting  with  Howard,  and  his  left  on  the  railroad ;  Stanley  and 
Schofield  were  steadily  doing  their  work  of  destruction  as  they  advanced 
along  the  Rough-and-Ready  road  and  the  railroad. 

General  Blair's  corps,  thrown  into  reserve  by  the  connection  of  Davis's 
line  with  Howard's,  was  sent  to  the  right,  below  Jonesboro,  acting  against 
the  flank  with  Kilpatrick's  cavalry.  At  four  P.  M.,  General  Davis  assaulted 
the  enemy's  lines  handsomely  across  an  open  field,  and  carried  them, 
capturing  Govan's  brigade,  with  its  commander,  and  two  four  gun  batteries. 
Stanley  and  Schofield,  however,  owing  to  the  difficult  nature  of  the 
roads,  and  the  absence  of  roads,  failed  to  get  in  position  before  nightfall ; 
and  the  next  morning  the  enemy  had  disappeared,  having  retreated 
southward. 

About  two  o'clock  that  night,  the  Union  army  heard  the  sounds  of 
heavy  explosions  in  the  direction  of  Atlanta,  twenty  miles  distant,  followed 
by  a  series  of  minor  explosions,  and  by  what  seemed  rapid  vollies  of 
cannon  and  musketry,  continuing  for  nearly  an  hour.  About  four  o'clock 
A.  M.,  there  occurred  another  series  of  similar  detonations,  apparently 
nearer. 

At  daybreak,  finding  the  enemy's  lines  at  Jonesboro  abandoned,  a 
general  pursuit  southward  was  ordered,  General  Thomas  taking  the  left, 
and  General  Howard  the  right  of  the  railroad,  while  Schofield  kept  off 
about  two  miles  to  the  east.  At  Lovejoy's  station,  the  enemy  was  over- 


RESULT   OF  THE   CAMPAIGN.  T79 

taken,  occupying  a  strongly  intrenched  position  on  Walnut  creek,  with 
the  evident  purpose  of  covering  his  communication  with  tfoe  McDonough 
and  Fayetteville  road. 

News  arriving  at  this  juncture  that  Atlanta  had  been  abandoned  on  the 
night  of  September  1st;  that  Hood  had  blown  up  his  ammunition  trains; 
that  Stewart's  corps  had  retreated  toward  McDonough,  and  the  militia 
toward  Covington,  Sherman  ordered  the  destruction  of  the  railroad  to 
cease,  and  held  his  army  in  hand  for  any  movement  which  the  news  from 
Atlanta  might  warrant. 

He  was  not  long  in  suspense.  On  the  night  of  September  4th,  a  courier 
from  General  Slocum  announced  that  he  had  entered  Atlanta  at  eleven 
A.  M.  of  the  2d,  the  enemy  having  evacuated  it  the  night  previous,  retreat 
ing  toward  McDonough,  having  destroyed  his  stores,  and  burned  and  ex 
ploded  seven  trains  of  cars  loaded  with  ammunition.  His  object  being 
now  fully  attained,  and  deeming  it  idle  to  pursue  the  enemy  in  that 
wooded  region  of  country,  Sherman,  on  the  4th,  ordered  the  army  to 
move  slowly  back  to  Atlanta,  and  on  the  8th  the  several  corps  reached 
the  positions  assigned  them,  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  going  into  camp 
near  Atlanta,  the  army  of  the  Tennessee  at  East  Point,  and  the  army  of 
the  Ohio  at  Decatur.  In  this  expedition,  which  formed  the  last  grand 
move  of  the  campaign,  he  had  lost  less  than  one  thousand  five  hundred 
killed,  wounded,  and  taken  prisoners ;  while  the  Rebel  loss  was  fully 
double;  and  the  Union  army  had  captured  <nore  than  three  thousand 
prisoners,  and  twenty-seven  guns. 

Having  decided  to  make  Atlanta  a  strictly  military  post,  General  Sher 
man  issued  an  order,  on  the  14th  of  September,  requiring  the  immediate 
removal  from  it  of  all  families  which  had  male  representatives  in  the 
Rebel  armies,  to  be  sent  within  the  Rebel  lines,  and  for  all  non-combat 
ants  to  go  North,  and  to  expedite  such  removal,  he  entered  into  a  ten 
days  truce  with  General  Hood,  with  whom  he  made  arrangements  for  for 
warding  the  said  citizens  beyond  the  Federal  lines. 

Wheeler's  raid,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  was  planned  against  Sherman's 
lines  of  communications  about  the  middle  of  August,  was  practically 
abortive,  and  after  a  futile  attempt  to  carry  Dalton  by  assault,  he  was 
routed  by  General  Stoneman,  and  fled  to  East  Tennessee,  but  being  hard 
pushed  by  several  Federal  generals,  from  point  to  point,  finally  passed 
southward,  through  Alabama.  Other  expeditions  under  Forrest,  Morgan, 
and  others  were  also  planned,  but  all  failed  in  the  attainment  of  their  ob 
ject,  which  was  to  force  Sherman  to  loosen  his  grasp  upon  Atlanta ;  while, 
on  the  contrary,  several  expeditions  undertaken  by  Union  forces  against 
the  Rebels,  as  an  offset  to  their  raids,  were  almost  uniformly  successful. 

Thus  closed  the  Atlanta  campaign,  which,  although  it  did  not  end  the 
war,  was  at  least  "the  beginning  of  the  end,"  severing  for  a  second  time, 
the  already  divided  Rebel  Confederacy,  so  that  henceforth  neither  frag* 


780  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

ment  could  long  maintain  the  pressure  of  the  Union  arms  Starting  from 
Chattanooga,  a  secondary  base  was  held  by  force  of  arms  in  the  heart  of 
an  enemy's  country,  and  itself  three  hundred  and  thirty-six  miles  distant 
from  Louisville,  the  real  primary  base ;  dependent  for  supplies  almost 
entirely  upon  a  single  line  of  railroad,  General  Sherman  pushed  his  way  one 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  miles  farther  into  the  enemy's  territory,  whose 
topographical  difficulties  was  sufficient  to  intimidate  a  less  courageous 
commander,  and  with  which  his  antagonist  was  perfectly  acquainted, 
and  forced  that  antagonist  to  evacuate  successively  six  almost  impregna 
ble  positions  by  flank  movements,  which  in  boldness  of  conception,  and 
successful  execution,  have  never  been  surpassed  in  the  history  of  any 
wars.  Yet  amid  such  herculean  labors  and  difficulties,  such  was  his  fore 
sight,  tact,  and  care  for  his  soldiers,  that  his  entire  losses  during  the  cam 
paign  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  were  only,  killed,  five  thousand 
two  hundred  and  eighty-four  ;  wounded,  twenty-six  thousand  one  hundred 
and  twenty-nine ;  missing,  five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-six, 
making  a  total  of  thirty-seven  thousand  one  hundred  and  ninety-nine,  and 
very  many  of  the  wounded  returned  to  our  lines  before  the  close  of  the 
campaign  ;  while  the  Rebels  lost  during  the  last  days  of  July  alone, 
over  thirty  thousand,  and  during  the  entire  campaign,  over  fifty  thou 
sand  men,  of  whom  about  thirteen  thousand  were  prisoners,  the  Rebel 
army,  according  to  the  admission  of  the  Rebel  authorities,  having  been 
entirely  changed  within  that  time,  the  losses  of  veterans  being  made  up 
by  conscripts  and  militia.  Atlanta,  thus  gained,  was  a  most  serious  loss 
to  the  Confederate  Government,  and  when  it  fell,  they  felt  the  walls  of 
their  temple  reel  and  totter  around  them.  From  this  point  the  doom  of 
the  Rebellion  was  sealed,  and  from  this  city  Sherman  commenced  upon 
other  campaigns,  which,  as  he  pithily  expressed  it,  "  crushed  through  the 
Confederacy,  as  through  an  egg-shell." 


THE  DEPARTMENT  OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  781 


CHAPTER    LXII. 

THE  DEPARTMENT  OK  NORTH  CAROLINA  AND  SOUTHEAST  VIRGINIA CAPTURE  OF  THE  UNDER 
WRITER—ATTACK  OK  NEWBERN— ATTACK  ON  PLYMOUTH,  NORTH  CAROLINA— DESPERATE 
FIGHTING  BY  THE  GARRISON  OF  THE  FORT — CAPTURE  OF  PLYMOUTH — THE  ALBEMARLE's 

FIRST  APPEARANCE SHE    DRIVES    THE    UNION    GUNBOATS    FROM    THE    RIVER THE    BATTLE 

BETWEEN  THE  ALBEMARLE  AND  THE  SASSACUS — DARING  CONDUCT  OF  COMMANDER  ROE 
THE  ALBEMARLE  CRIPPLED EXPLOSION  OF  THE  BOILER  OF  THE  SASSACUS THE  HERO 
ISM  OF  THE  CREW THE  SASSACUS  DISABLED — RETREAT  OF  THE  ALBEMARLE — HER  SUBSE 
QUENT  FATE — DARING  EXPLOIT  OF  LIEUTENANT  GUSHING MORGAN'S  LAST  RAID  INTO 

KENTUCKY CAPTURE   OF    CYNTHIANA,  AND    SURRENDER    OF    GENERAL    HOBSON's  TROOPS — 

DEFEAT  OF  MORGAN  BY  GENERAL  BURBRIDGE THE    GUNBOAT     DISASTER THE  REBEL  TRAP 

RETREAT  OF  STURGIS THE  TRAIN  IN    A  SLOUGH — COMPLETE    ROUT    AND    DISORDER,  AND 

LOSS  OF  TRAIN  AND  GUNS — BRAVERY  OF  THE  NEGRO  TROOPS — FORREST'S  RAID  ON  MEM 
PHIS THE  FORTS  AT  THE  ENTRANCE  OF  MOBILE  BAY FARRAGUT'S  ANXIETY  FOR  THEIR 

CAPTURE THE    ATTACK    ON    THE     FORTS THE    BATTLE    WITH    THE     RAM   TENNESSEE HER 

SURRENDER — RESULTS  OF  THE  BATTLE — SURRENDER  OF  THE  FORTS — SKETCH  OF  COMMAN 
DER  CRAVEN SKETCH  OF  FARRAGUT. 

IN  passing  in  rapid  review  the  great  events  of  the  battle  summer  of 
1864,  we  have  necessarily  omitted  reference  to  several  Union  opera 
tions,  intended  to  be  subordinate,  on  the  one  side  or  the  other,  to  the 
main  campaigns,  but  occuring  at  a  distance  from  them.  We  will  now 
gather  up  these  broken  threads,  before  proceeding  to  a  continuation  of 
the  general  narrative. 

The  Department  of  North  Carolina  and  southeast  Virginia  had  been 
subject,  before  the  commencement  of  the  May  campaign,  to  occasional 
disturbances  from  the  vigilant  Rebels,  ever  on  the  alert  for  the  opportu 
nity  to  do  the  Union  troops,  garrisons,  or  gunboats,  a  mischief.  Thus 
they  had  on  the  4th  of  February,  1864,  captured  the  Union  gunboat 
Underwriter,  in  the  Neuse  river,  near  Newbern,  North  Carolina,  by  a 
sudden  surprise,  and  had  intended  with  her  to  capture  the  other  Union 
gunboats,  and  transports  in  the  Neuse,  but  she  grounded  opposite  Fort 
Stevenson,  and  the  commandant  of  that  fort,  ascertaining  that  she  was  in 
Rebel  hands,  opened  upon  her  with  shell,  and  soon  set  her  on  fire,  and  the 
Rebels  escaped  in  great  haste,  leaving  some  prisoners.  They  had  during 
the  two  or  three  preceding  days,  made  an  attack  in  strong  force  on  New- 
bern,  but  though  they  captured  some  of  the  outposts,  and  took  two  or 
three  guns,  they  were,  on  their  approach  to  the  city,  effectually  repulsed, 
and  though  they  tried  to  erect  an  earthwork  about  a  mile  west  of  Fort 
Roman,  they  were  speedily  driven  off,  by  the  shells  from  the  steel  guns 
of  the  monitor  iron-clad  car,  which  ran  out  toward  them,  and  made  terri 
ble  havoc  in  their  ranks. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  Hoke's  Rebel  division,  about  ten  thousand  strong, 


782  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 

approached  Plymouth,  N.  C.,  and  at  first  attacked  Fort  Gray,  on  the 
Roanoke,  about  two  miles  above  the  town,  but  were  repulsed  wLh  con 
siderable  loss,  though  they  sunk  a  small  Union  gunboat  in  the  river  by 
their  artillery  fire.  On  Monday,  the  19th,  they  fired  all  day  at  Fort  Wes- 
sels,  a  small  earthwork  one  mile  from  the  town,  having  a  garrison  of 
sixty  men  and  four  thirty-two  pounders,  and  on  Monday  night  carried  it 
by  assault,  after  a  most  desperate  fight,  in  which  the  little  garrison  killed 
more  than  their  own  number  of  the  assailants.  They  next  attacked  Fort 
Williams,  in  which  General  Wessels  had  his  headquarters,  but  were  met 
by  a  fierce  and  determined  resistance,  one  of  the  gunboats  joining  in  the 
fight.  After  more  than  two  hours  of  desperate  fighting,  they  retired  to 
the  woods,  having  suffered  very  heavy  losses.  At  about  four  o'clock  the 
next  morning,  the  Eebel  iron-clad  ram  Albemarle  came  down  and  drove 
the  gunboats  down  the  river,  and  lying  in  front  of  Plymouth,  kept  up  a 
fire  on  the  town  during  the  day.  Early  the  following  morning  five  brig 
ades  of  the  Rebels,  under  command  of  General  Ransom,  assaulted  Cornfer 
redoubt,  on  the  left  of  the  town,  garrisoned  by  two  hundred  men  and 
four  thirty-two  pounders,  and  after  a  long  and  desperate  fight  carried  it,  and 
soon  after  entered  the  town.  Wessels  still  held  out  with  his  garrison  of 
two  hundred  men  in  Fort  Williams,  but  finding  further  resistance  useless, 
surrendered  on  Wednesday  evening,  April  21st,  at  ten  o'clock  p.  M.  The 
entire  Union  force  in  Plymouth  was  not  over  two  thousand.  Of  these 
one  hundred  and  fifty  were  killed,  about  the  same  number  wounded,  and 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  surrendered.  The  Rebel  force  was  full  ten 
thousand,  and  their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  over  one  thousand 
five  hundred.  The  Rebels  shot  many  of  the  colored  soldiers  after  the 
surrender. 

The  Rebel  iron-clad  Albemarle  now  reigned  supreme  on  the  Roanoke, 
having  driven  the  small  Union  gunboats  into  the  sound,  but  her  triumph 
was  destined  to  be  short.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  5th  of  May,  the  Mat- 
tabesett,  Sassacus,  and  Wyalusing,  three  of  the  double-ender  side-wheel 
gunboats  which  had  been  commissioned  to  encounter  and  if  possible 
destroy  the  Albemarle,  cast  anchor  in  Albemarle  Sound,  twenty  miles 
south  of  Plymouth,  and  sent  four  or  five  of  the  small  gunboats  with  the 
Miami  to  decoy  the  Rebel  ram  from  under  the  protecting  batteries  of 
Plymouth  into  the  open  waters  of  the  sound.  They  were  successful  in 
this,  and  soon  after  three  P.  M.,  the  Mattabesett  signaled  to  get  under  way, 
and  the  three  double-enders  proceeded  up  the  sound  in  the  order  already 
named.  The  Albemarle  was  accompanied  by  two  other  Rebel  gunboats 
not  iron-clad,  the  Bombshell  and  the  Cotton-Plant.  As  the  Union  gun 
boats  approached,  stripped  for  action,  and  under  full  steam,  the  Cotton- 
Plant  was  sent  back  to  Plymouth.  As  she  left,  the  other  gunboat,  the 
Bombshell,  closed  up  on  the  ram's  quarters,  in  position  for  the  impending 
action.  As  the  Mattabesett  approached  the  enemy,  she  hauled  up  to  allow 


BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  ALBEMARLE  AND   SASSACUS.       78S 

her  to  come  up,  followed  by  the  Sassacus  and  Wyalusing  in  line,  when 
the  Miami,  which  was  some  distance  astern,  fired  over,  making  a  very 
good  shot,  which  struck  the  Albemarle,  and  to  which  she  quickly  re 
sponded.  When  abreast  of  the  ram  the  Mattabesett  delivered  her  broad 
side,  and  passing  around  the  stern,  ran  by  the  Bombshell  as  that  vessel 
lay  on  the  port-quarter  of  the  ram.  The  Sassacus  now  approached ;  and 
as  she  came  up,  the  ram,  having  failed  to  get  near  the  Mattabesett,  turned 
her  bow  for  her ;  but  the  Sassacus,  measuring  the  distance,  sheered 
slightly,  and  passed  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  ahead  of  the  mon 
ster,  delivering  as  she  went  a  whole  broadside  of  solid  shot,  which 
bounded  off  from  the  iron  armor  of  the  foe  without  penetrating.  Sweep 
ing  around  the  stern  of  the  Albemarle,  she  then  poured  into  the  hull  of 
the  Bombshell  a  full  broadside,  which  brought  its  Rebel  ensign  down,  and 
sent  the  white  flag  up.  Orders  were -given  for  the  vanquished  steamer 
to  drop  out  of  fire  and  anchor,  which  was  promptly  done,  and  the  Sassacus 
moved  on. 

Meantime,  the  Mattabesett  had  again  passed  the  ram,  delivering  a  well- 
directed  fire ;  and  the  Wyalusing,  which  had  previously  passed,  serving 
its  guns  with  a  skill  equal  to  that  of  its  consorts,  had  now  come  up  astern 
of  the  Sassacus,  diverting  the  attention  of  the  Albemarle  from  the  latter, 
to  which  her  whole  side  presented  a  fair  mark.  The  ram  was  steaming 
slowly,  as  if  awaiting  events,  but  using  her  guns  rapidly  all  the  time, 
throwing  shot  and  shell  with  spirit  and  energy.  Fortune  seemed  pro 
pitious,  and  the  intrepid  commander  of  the  Sassacus,  determined  to  close 
with  his  antagonist,  seized  the  opportunity  without  hesitation.  Ordering 
the  pre-arranged  signal,  "four  bells,"  to  be  again  and  again  repeated,  the 
ship  was  headed  straight  for  the  weakest  part  of  the  ram,  the  point  where 
her  casemate  or  house  joined  the  hull.  With  throttle  wide  open,  under 
a  pressure  of  thirty  pounds  of  steam,  the  Sassacus  dashed  at  her  grim 
adversary,  and  with  a  speed  of  nine  or  ten  knots,  struck]her  a  fair,  perfect, 
right-angled  blow,  without  glance  or  slide.  At  the  moment  of  the  col 
lision,  the  Albemarle  drove  a  hundred  pound  Brooke  shot  through  and 
through  her  antagonist,  from  starboard-bow  to  port  side.  But  the  stern 
of  the  Union  vessel  was  forced  into  the  side  of  the  ram,  and  as  the  Sas 
sacus  kept  up  her  headway,  the  Albemarle  was  careened  down,  and  pushed 
forward,  like  an  inert  mass — while  in  profound  silence  the  gunners  of 
the  Sassacus  were  training  their  heavy  ordnance  to  bear  on  the  astonished 
enemy.  The  ram  now  protruded  a  black  muzzle  from  its  open  port,  and 
the  loaders  of  the  Sassacus's  Parrott  rifle,  standing  on  the  slide,  served  the 
gun  within  fifteen  feet  of  that  yawning  cannon-mouth. 

Still  the  Sassacus  pushed  her  adversary,  broadside  to,  before  her,  press 
ing  her  bow  deeper  and  deeper  into  her  side,  and  still  she  gave  way.  The 
other  vessels  dared  not  fire,  lest  their  shot  should  injure  the  Sassacus,  and 
the  interval  which  elapsed  was  too  brief,  though  to  her  anxious  crew 


Y84  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

seeming  an  age,  to  permit  them  to  traverse  the  space  which  intervened 
between  them  and  the  ram.  There  was  not  a  sound — not  a  movement — 
not  a  gun.  All  was  quiet  as  the  grave  throughout  the  fleet.  It  was  a 
grapple  for  life — a  silent  but  fearful  struggle  for  the  mastery — relieved 
only  by  the  sharp  scattering  volleys  of  musketry,  the  whizzing  of  leaden 
bullets,  and  the  deep  muffled  explosions  of  hand-grenades,  which  the 
brave  fellow  in  the  foretop  of  the  Sassacus  was  flinging  into  the  enemy's 
hatch,  driving  back  their  sharpshooters,  and  creating  consternation  and 
dismay  among  the  closely  packed  crew  of  the  iron-clad.  As  yet,  no  one 
on  board  the  Sassacus  had  fallen.  Presently  a  movement  was  felt  in  the 
two  ships.  A  crashing  of  timber  was  heard,  as  at  the  moment  of  col 
lision.  The  ram  was  swinging  under  the  starboard  bow  of  her  antagonist, 
and  the  Sassacus  trembled  with  the  shock  as  her  hundred  pounder  rifle 
and  that  of  the  enemy  thundered,  at  each  other  with  a  simultaneous  roar 
Then  came  another  sound,  more  appalling  than  bursting  shells  or  the  roar 
of  cannon — the  terrible  sound  of  unloosed,  unmanageable  steam,  rushing 
in  tremendous  volumes,  seething  and  hissing  as  it  spread,  till  both  com 
batants  were  hidden  and  enveloped  in  a  dense,  suffocating  cloud  of  stifling 
vapor.  The  shot  of  the  ram  had  pierced  the  boiler  of  the  Sassacus,  and 
all  was  lost.  No,  not  lost  yet !  the  sharp  false  stern  which  had  cut  deeply 
into  the  side  of  the  ram,  had  given  way,  and  the  two  vessels  swung  side 
by  side. 

Then  came  the  fierce  duel  for  life.  The  guns  were  served  and  fired 
muzzle  to  muzzle,  the  powder  from  those  of  the  Albemarle  blackening 
the  bows  and  side  of  the  Sassacus,  as  they  passed  within  ten  feet  of  each 
other.  A  solid  shot  from  the  hundred  pounder  Parrott  struck  the  port  sill 
of  the  Albemarle,  and  crumbling  into  fragments,  one  piece  rebounded  to 
the  deck  from  which  it  had  been  fired,  while  the  rest  flew  into  that  threat 
ening  port-hole  and  silenced  the  enemy's  gun.  A  nine-inch  solid  shot 
and  a  twenty  pounder  shell  followed  through  the  same  opening  in  rapid 
succession,  as  the  ram  drifted  clear  of  its  adversary ;  while  the  starboard 
wheel  of  the  Sassacus  crushed  and  wrenched  its  iron  braces  in  grinding 
over  the  quarter  of  the  ram,  smashing  the  launches  she  was  towing  into 
a  shapeless  mass  of  drift-wood,  and  grating  over  the  sharp  iron  plates 
with  a  most  dismal  sound.  As  the  Albemarle  passed  the  wheel  of  her 
adversary,  the  crew  of  the  after-guns  of  the  latter,  watching  their  moment, 
drove  their  solid  shot  into  her  ports. 

All  this  cool  gunnery  and  precise  artillery  practice  transpired  while  the 
ship,  from  fire-room  to  hurricane  deck,  was  shrouded  in  one  dense  cioud 
of  fiery  steam.  The  situation  was  appalling.  The  shrieks  of  the  scalded 
and  dying,  as  they  rushed  up  frantically  from  below,  with  their  shrivelled 
flesh  hanging  in  shreds  upon  their  tortured  limbs;  the  engine,  beyond 
control,  surging  and  revolving  without  guide  or  check,  abandoned  by 
all  save  one,  who,  scalded,  blackened,  sightless,  still  stood  like  a  hero  at 


DARING  EXPLOIT  OF  LIEUTENANT  GUSHING.  785 

his  post,  alone,  amid  the  mass  of  escaping  steam  and  uncontrollable 
machinery,  the  chief-engineer  of  the  Sassacus  remained,  calling  to  his 
men  to  return  with  him  into  the  fire-room,  and  drag  the  fires  from  beneath 
the  uninjured  boiler,  which  was  now  in  imminent  danger  of  explosion. 
His  calls  were  effectual,  and  the  fires  were  removed  in  season  to  save  two 
hundred  lives  from  destruction. 

All  this  time  the  other  vessels  of  the  fleet,  looking  toward  the  two 
vessels  in  their  deadly  contest,  could  discern  only  a  thick  white  cloud, 
lighted  up  incessantly  by  the  flashes  of  the  rapidly  served  guns  of  the 
Sassacus,  as  she  rose  gloriously  above  the  storm  of  disaster  that  sur 
rounded  her,  and  challenged  the  admiration  of  her  anxious  comrades  by 
the  stubborn  thundering  of  her  battery.  The  ship  still  moved,  working 
slowly  ahead,  on  a  vacuum  alone.  The  cloud  of  steam  at  last  lifted,  and 
revealed  the  grim  enemy  of  the  Sassacus  gladly  escaping  from  that  em 
brace  of  death  in  which  she  had  been  held  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  an 
hour,  and  retreating,  discomfited  and  demoralized,  toward  the  port  from 
which  she  had  sallied  so  defiantly  only  a  few  hours  before.  The  broad 
ensign  which  had  waved  so  proudly  over  her  casemate,  now  lay  draggled 
and  torn,  with  its  shattered  flag-staff  on  her  deck.  The  Sassacus  turned 
around,  and  again  passed  by  her  antagonist.  The  divisions  still  stood  at 
their  guns,  and  her  brave  commander,  the  gallant  Roe,  firmly  enunciating 
his  instructions  and  orders,  and  guiding  every  movement  of  his  ship  with 
a  coolness,  precision,  and  relentless  audacity  that  have  found  no  parallel 
since  the  days  of  Decatur  and  Bainbridge,  kept  his  guns  at  work  on  the 
retiring  foe  as  long  as  they  could  be  brought  to  bear,  till  the  Sassacus  was 
carried  by  her  disabled  engine  slowly,  gracefully,  and  defiantly,  out  of 
range. 

The  contest  was  manifestly  a  most  unequal  one.  The  Sassacus,  a 
delicate  river  steamer,  built  rather  for  speed  than  strength,  had  assailed 
one  of  the  most  formidable  iron-clads  the  Rebels  had  yet  constructed,  and 
exposed  her  slight  wooden  walls  against  the  mailed  and  impenetrable 
sides  of  her  antagonist,  while,  muzzle  to  muzzle,  they  had  fought  a  battle 
hardly  rivalled  since  that  famous  one  of  Paul  Jones  in  the  waters  of  the 
Texel;  yet,  as  a  result,  the  Albemarle  was  compelled  to  retreat,  her  guns 
disabled,  her  hull  shaken,  and  her  frame  so  racked  that  she  leaked  so 
badly  as  to  be  kept  afloat  with  difficulty,  and  never  ventured  out  again 
from  her  moorings.  But,  though  unable  to  patrol  the  sound,  or  even  the 
Roanoke  river,  she  served  to  hold  Plymouth  in  the  possession  of  the 
Rebels.  This  the  Union  naval  officers  felt  to  be  a  reproach,  and  Lieu 
tenant  W.  B.  Gushing,  a  young  officer  of  decided  genius  and  daring, 
volunteered  to  go  in  a  picket  boat  and  sink  her  with  a  torpedo,  as  she 
lay  at  her  wharf.  The  attempt  was  one  of  great  hazard,  but  it  was 
accomplished  successfully  on  the  night  of  the  28th  of  October.  Lieutenant 
Cushing  and  one  of 'the  crew  of  the  picket  boat  escaped,  though  not 
50 


786  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

without  severe  exposure  and  terrible  suffering ;  one  was  drowned,  and 
ten  taken  prisoners. 

Not  long  after,  as  a  military  necessity,  the  garrison  being  insufficient 
to  hold  it,  and  no  troops  being  available  for  a  sufficient  reinforcement, 
Washington,  N.  C.,  was  abandoned  as  a  military  post,  and  almost  imme 
diately  visited  and  plundered  by  Rebel  guerrillas.  In  June,  General 
Palmer,  in  command  of  the  department,  sent  an  expedition  toward 
Kinston,  which  was  partially  successful,  capturing  some  prisoners  and 
several  guns. 

During  Sherman's  Atlanta  campaign,  already  described,  the  Rebel 
commander,  General  Johnston,  who  controlled  the  entire  Rebel  armies  of 
the  Mississippi  valley,  ordered  several  expeditions  to  be  undertaken  in 
Kentucky,  Tennessee,  and  Mississippi,  with  the  intention  of  breaking 
Sherman's  line  of  communications,  or  otherwise  distracting  his  attention, 
and  then  compelling  him  to  relinquish  his  campaign.  These  were  all 
unsuccessful  in  effecting  that  object,  but  some  of  them  were  affairs  of  con 
siderable  importance. 

One  of  these  was  a  raid  by  Morgan,  the  notorious  partizan  chief,  into 
the  Blue  Grass  region,  in  Kentucky,  as  well  as  a  number  of  the  northern 
and  central  counties  of  the  State,  not  usually  reckoned  as  belonging  to 
that  region.  In  each  successive  summer  during  the  war,  Kentucky  was 
visited  by  these  prowling  bands  of  rough  raiders,  and  sometimes  also  by 
the  better  organized  bands  of  the  Rebel  army.  The  object  principally  in 
view  was  plunder,  and  the  horses,  mules,  and  grain  of  the  State  were 
transported  southward  in  large  quantities.  On  the  12th  of  June,  Morgan, 
at  the  bead  of  about  three  thousand  of  his  cavalry,  attacked  two  Ohio 
regiments,  under  command  of  General  Hobson,  at  Cynthiana,  Harrison 
county,  Ky.,  and,  after  a  severe  engagement,  compelled  him  to  surrender, 
on  condition  that  his  men  should  be  immediately  exchanged.  About 
twenty  houses  in  the  village  were  burned  by  the  Rebels.  Hobson's  loss 
in  killed  and  wounded  was  fifty-five,  and  the  number  surrendered  some 
what  more  than  twelve  hundred.  The  following  morning,  General  Bur- 
bridge  came  up  with  a  large  Union  force,  and  attacked  Morgan  at 
Cynthiana ;  after  an  hour's  hard  fighting,  he  completely  routed  the  Rebel 
force,  killing  three  hundred,  wounding  nearly  as  many,  and  taking  four 
hundred  prisoners,  besides  liberating  one  hundred  of  General  Hobson's 
command.  He  also  captured  over  one  thousand  horses.  Burbridge's  loss 
in  killed  and  wounded  was  about'  one  hundred  and  fifty.  Morgan's  band 
was  completely  demoralized  and  broken  up. 

A  serious  disaster  occurred  to  a  body  of  Union  troops  under  General 
Sturgis,  which,  on  the  1st  of  June,  had  left  Memphis  on  an  expedition 
against  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad,  in  retaliation  for  the  numerous 
raids  of  Forrest,  Wheeler,  Rhoddy,  and  S.  D.  Lee.  The  Union  force  com 
prised  two  brigades  of  infantry,  two  of  cavalry,  two  regiments  of  colored 


DISASTER  AT   GUNTOWN,  MISSISSIPPI.  787 

infantry,  and  a  company  of  light  artillery,  numbering  in  all  about  three 
thousand  cavalry  and  five  thousand  infantry.  They  had  with  them  also 
a  train  of  more  than  two  hundred  wagons,  heavily  laden  with  supplies, 
and  eighteen  pieces  of  artillery.  Having  advanced  as  far  as  Salem,  a 
detachment  of  three  hundred  men  was  sent  on  a  raid  through  Kipley, 
Riga,  and  Danville.  The  main  body  remained  at  Salem  for  three  days ; 
and,  on  the  9th  of  June,  moved  through  Ripley  in  a  southwest  direction, 
camping  for  the  night  eight  miles  from  Oldtown  creek.  The  cavalry, 
under  General  B.  H.  Grierson,  which  was  several  miles  in  advance  of  the 
main  body,  crossed  the  creek  on  the  following  morning,  and  soon  after 
became  engaged  with  a  small  force  of  Rebel  cavalry,  which  Forrest  had 
put  forward  as  a  decoy,  and  which  fell  back  after  delivering  a  volley, 
closely  pursued  by  Grierson.  The  Union  infantry  were  thus  left  about 
five  miles  in  the  rear,  but  Grierson  pushed  forward  for  about  two  miles, 
near  the  little  hamlet  of  Guntown,  Miss.,  when  he  suddenly  found  him 
self  in  a  trap,  a  strong  Rebel  force  confronting  him,  and  their  flanks  ex 
tending  through  the  woods  on  both  sides,  so  as  to  be  able  to  pour  front 
and  enfilading  fires  into  his  lines.  Unaware  at  first  of  their  flank  move 
ment,  he  pushed  on  boldly,  and  charged  the  force  in  front,  but  the  cross 
fires  soon  threw  his  command  into  some  confusion,  and  he  gave  the  order 
to  fall  back.  He  succeeded  in  extricating  himself  from  the  difficult 
position,  and  retreated  across  Oldtown  creek  in  tolerable  order,  though 
pursued  closely  by  the  Rebels,  who  somewhat  outnumbered  the  entire 
Union  force.  He  had  hardly  reached  the  western  side  of  the  creek  when 
the  Rebels  appeared  in  full  force  on  the  eastern  side.  Grierson  immedi 
ately  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  the  infantry  began  to  come  up  and 
take  their  places.  The  Rebel  position  was  an  admirable  one,  their  troops 
being  protected  in  a  great  degree  by  the  heavy  timber,  while  the  position 
of  the  Union  troops  was  open,  and  though  otherwise  desirable,  afforded 
no  such  protection.  Finding  that  in  consequence  of  this  the  Rebels  were 
making  sad  havoc  with  his  lines,  General  Sturgis  ordered  a  retreat ;  but 
his  large  train  was  in  the  way.  He  ordered  this  faced  about,  and  when  it 
was  well  under  way,  the  retreat  commenced;  but  the  enemy  pursued 
rapidly,  and  heavy  skirmishing  was  kept  up  for  ten  miles,  when  the 
retreating  column  came  upon  the  train  floundering  in  a  swamp,  through 
which  the  road  led.  Forming  his  line  again,  General  Sturgis  attempted 
to  hold  the  enemy  at  bay,  until  the  teams  could  emerge  from  the  swamp ; 
but  the  Rebels  charged  upon  them  with  such  fury  that  they  gave  way, 
centre  and  flanks.  Then  commenced  a  fearful  rout ;  the  two  negro  regi 
ments  alone  retained  their  organization,  and  fought  like  madmen,  till  they 
were  literally  pushed  along  by  the  surge  of  the  indiscriminately  mingled 
mass  of  pursuers  and  pursued.  The  animals  were  cut  loose  from  the  trains, 
and  the  wagons  burned,  the  artillery  spiked  and  abandoned,  and  the 
remainder  of  the  column  once  more  started  in  retreat,  the  accumulated 


1 


*i 

THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

mass  of  burning  wagons  and  artillery  delaying  the  Rebels  for  an  hour  or 
more ;  but  nearly  a  thousand  killed  and  wounded  were  left  on  the  field, 
and  twelve  or  thirteen  hundred  more  were  prisoners.  The  retreating 
troops  fled  on,  and  still  on ;  all  organization  lost,  and  all  thoughts,  save 
that  of  self-preservation,  banished.  They  only  halted  when,  twenty-five 
miles  distant  from  the  first  battle-field,  they  were  too  much  exhausted  to 
go  further,  and  flung  themselves  upon  the  ground  for  sleep.  In  August, 
Forrest  made  a  raid  upon  Memphis,  and  took  a  few  prisoners  and  some 
plunder. 

In  August,  1864,  one  of  the  most  remarkable  naval  battles  of  the  war 
was  fought  at  the  entrance  to  Mobile  bay.  The  map  shows  the  position 
of  Mobile,  at  the  head  of  the  bay,  about  thirty  miles  from  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  The  bay,  a  broad  but  not  deep  expanse  of  water,  is  almost  en 
tirely  land-locked  by  a  sandy  spit  stretching  westward  from  the  eastern 
shore  of  the  bay,  and  by  Dauphin  island,  a  similar  sandy  barrier,  extending 
almost  to  its  western  shore.  The  strait  between  this  island  and  the  sandy 
cape  we  have  already  named,  is  the  only  one  having  sufficient  water  for 
large  vessels.  On  the  western  extremity  of  this  cape  is  Fort  Morgan,  and 
one  of  the  largest,  strongest,  and  best  equipped  forts  in  the  United  States 
and  which  was  held  by  the  Rebels  with  a  large  garrison,  ample  supplies 
and  ammunition.  It  mounted  sixty  guns.  Opposite  to  Fort  Morgan,  and 
about  four  miles  distant,  on  the  point  of  Dauphin  island,  is  Fort  Gaines, 
a  strong  work  mounting  twenty-six  guns,  and  well  equipped.  A  mile  or 
more  above  Fort  Gaines  is  Fort  Powell,  also  a  strong  work,  mounting 
eighteen  guns,  and  connected  with  its  sister  fort  by  a  water  battery  and 
some  earthworks. 

Fort  Morgan  commands  the  ship  channel  which  passes  close  to  the  point 
on  which  it  is  situated.  A  space  of  fifteen  hundred  yards  of  this  channel 
had  been  left  open,  swept  as  it  was  in  every  foot  of  its  distance  by  the 
guns  of  the  fort,  the  remainder  of  the  distance  to  Dauphin  island  being 
obstructed  by  piles,  chains,  and  torpedoes.  Inside  the  bay,  and  keeping 
still  further  guard  over  this  entrance,  were  four  Rebel  war  vessels,  three 
of  them — the  Gaines,  Selma,  and  Morgan — being  gunboats  of  large  size, 
and  one — the  Tennessee — one  of  the  most  formidable  iron-clad  rams  built 
by  the  Rebels. 

Rear-Admiral  Farragut,  the  able  commander  of  the  West  Gulf  block 
ading  squadron,  had  long  felt  annoyed  and  dissatisfied  at  the  holding  of 
these  forts  by  the  Rebels.  Mobile  was  one  of  the  two  ports  entered  most 
frequently  by  the  blockade-runners,  and  notwithstanding  the  utmost  vigi 
lance  of  the  admiral,  such  was  the  protection  afforded  by  the  forts  to  the 
blockade-runners,  that  they  would  often  slip  into  the  pass  or  strait,  where 
they  were  beyond  his  reach.  If  the  forts  were  once  captured,  the  port  of 
Mobile  would  be  hermetically  sealed  against  blockade-running,  and  thus 
a  grand  step  would  be  taken  toward  crushing  the  Rebellion.  Fully  im- 


ATTACK  UPON  THE   DEFENCES   OF  MOBILE  BAY  789 

pressed  with  the  necessity  of  this,  Rear- Admiral  Farragut  had  repeatedly 
urged  upon  the  Government  the  importance  of  attacking  and  carrying 
the  forts  by  storm,  as  soon  as  possible.  Partial  preparations  for  such  an 
attack  had  been  made  at  different  times,  but  the  pressure  of  other  emer 
gencies  had  caused  them  to  be  abandoned.  In  February,  1864,  the  admi 
ral  had  bombarded  the  forts  for  five  or  six  days,  but  they  were  held  by 
such  strong  garrisons,  that  he  became  convinced  that  a  co-operative  land 
force  would  be  necessary  for  their  reduction.  He  was  promised  this  in 
April,  but  the  demands  of  the  Red  river  expedition  were  considered  para 
mount,  and  he  was  doomed  to  further  disappointment.  At  length,  General 
Cauby,  commanding  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department,  promised  him  the 
necessary  assistance,  and  on  the  4th  of  August  five  thousand  troops  under 
command  of  General  Gordon  Granger,  were  landed  on  Dauphin  island. 
The  enemy  thereupon  threw  a  considerable  number  of  additional  troops 
into  Fort  Gaines,  all  of  whom  were  captured  a  few  days  later.  The 
early  morning  of  the  5th  of  August  was  the  time  selected  for  the  assault, 
and  in  anticipation  of  the  severe  fighting  which  would  occur,  Admiral 
Farragut  had  issued  his  orders  for  the  protection  of  the  wooden  vessels  by 
such  means  as  former  experience  had  proved  desirable,  and  for  rendering 
such  assistance  as  might  be  needed  to  any  vessel  which  should  be  disabled. 
It  was  his  intention  to  lead  the  assault  in  his  flag-ship,  the  Hartford,  but 
the  officers  of  the  other  gunboats,  who  valued  the  life  of  their  noble  com 
mander  higher  than  he  did,  unanimously  protested  against  his  taking  the 
risks  of  the  torpedo  strewn  passage,  and  the  commander  of  the  Brooklyn 
claiming  for  that  vessel  the  post  of  honor,  the  sturdy  old  viking,  with 
great  reluctance,  yielded  the  point.  The  squadron  consisted  of  fourteen 
gunboats  and  sloops  of  war,  and  four  iron-clad  monitors.  By  Admiral 
Farragut's  order  they  were  arranged  as  follows,  the  gunboats  being  lashed 
together  two  and  two :  the  Brooklyn  and  Octorara,  the  Brooklyn  being 
on  the  starboard  side,  or  that  nearest  Fort  Morgan ;  the  Hartford — the 
flag-ship — and  the  Metacomet ;  the  Richmond  and  Port  Royal ;  the  Lack- 
awanna  and  Seminole ;  the  Monongahela  and  Kennebec ;  the  Ossipee  and 
Itasca,  and  the  Oneida  and  Galena;  the  first  named  of  each  pair  being  on 
the  side  nearest  to  Fort  Morgan.  Still  nearer  to  the  fort,  and  in  single 
line,  parallel  to  the  double  line  of  gunboats,  moved  the  monitors,  the  Te- 
cumseh,  Commander  T.  A.  M.  Craven,  taking  the  lead,  followed  by  the 
Manhattan,  Commander  Nicholson,  the  Winnebago,  Commander  Storms, 
and  the  Chickasaw,  Lieutenant-Commander  Perkins. 

The  Rebel  squadron,  the  Tennessee,  the  Selrna,  Morgan,  and  Gaines, 
were  drawn  up  in  battle  array,  just  beyond  Fort  Gaines.  The  Union  fleet 
steamed  steadily  up  the  channel,  the  Tecumseh  firing  the  first  gun,  at 
thirteen  minutes  before  seven  A.  M.  Fort  Morgan  replied  at  six  minutes 
past  seven,  and  the  Brooklyn  answered  its  fire,  after  which  the  action 
became  general. 


f90  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

The  Brooklyn  soon  checked  her  speed,  for  the  monitor  Tecumseh,  near 
her,  had  struck  a  torpedo,  and  its  explosion  perforated  her  bottom,  and 
caused  her  to  careen  and  sink  almost  instantly.  Sending  boats  from  his 
consort,  the  Metacomet,  to  rescue  the  survivors  of  the  ill-fated  vessel  (of 
whom  all  but  twenty-three  were  drowned  or  killed  by  the  explosion). 
Admiral  Farragut,  now  crowding  steam  on  the  Hartford,  took  the  lead, 
though  the  bay  was  thickly  sown  with  torpedoes ;  "  yet,"  he  says  in  his 
report,  "  believing  that  from  having  been  some  time  in  the  water  they 
were  probably  innocuous,  I  determined  to  take  the  chance  of  their  explo 
sion."  The  admiral  had  mounted  the  rigging,  and  lashed  himself  near  the 
maintop,  a  position  of  great  danger,  but  one  which  enabled  him  the  better 
to  witness  the  conflict,  and  there  he  remained  throughout  the  fight.  Turn 
ing  to  the  northwestward  to  clear  the  middle  ground,  the  fleet  were  ena 
bled  to  maintain  such  heavy  and  well  directed  broadsides  upon  Fort 
Morgan,  that  its  fire  did  them  little  injury.  Just  after  they  had  passed 
the  fort,  however,  about  ten  minutes  before  eight  o'clock,  the  ram  Ten 
nessee  came  down  at  full  speed,  intending  to  strike  the  flag-ship  Hartford/ 
but  her  pilot  skilfully  eluded  the  blow,  and  the  fleet-captain  gave  her  a 
full  broadside  as  she  passed,  the  admiral  signaling  at  the  same  time  to 
the  iron-clads  and  gunboats  to  attack  her.  He  also  detached  his  consort, 
the  Metacomet,  to  go  in  .pursuit  of  the  Selrna,  and  ordered  the  Octorara, 
the  Brooklyn's  consort,  to  pursue  one  of  the  others.  The  Selma  was 
captured,  and  the  Gaines  and  Morgan  driven  up  the  bay,  though  the 
former  was  so  much  injured  that  her  crew  were  compelled  to  run  her 
ashore  and  destroy  her.  The  combat  which  followed,  and  which  re 
sulted  in  the  capture  of  the  Tennessee,  is  best  told  in  the  Admiral's  own 
words : 

"  Having  passed  the  forts  and  dispersed  the  enemy's  gunboats,  I  had 
ordered  most  of  the  vessels  to  anchor,  when  I  perceived  the  ram  Tennessee 
standing  up  for  this  ship.  This  was  at  forty-five  minutes  past  eight.  I 
was  not  long  in  comprehending  his  intentions  to  be  the  destruction  of  the 
flag-ship.  The  monitors  and  such  of  the  wooden  vessels  as  I  thought  best 
adapted  for  the  purpose,  were  immediately  ordered  to  attack  the  ram, 
not  only  with  their  guns,  but  bows  on,  at  full  speed ;  and  then  began  one 
of  the  fiercest  naval  combats  on  record. 

"The  Monongahela,  Commander  Strong,  was  the  first  vessel  that  struck 
her,  and  in  doing  so,  carried  away  his  own  iron  prow,  together  with  the 
cutwater,  without  apparently  doing  his  adversary  much  injury.  The 
Lackawanna,  Captain  Marchand,  was  the  next  vessel  to  strike  her,  which 
she  did  at  full  speed ;  but  though  her  stern  was  cut  and  crushed  to  the 
plank  ends  for  the  distance  of  three  feet  above  the  water's  edge  to  five  feet 
below,  the  only  perceptible  effect  on  the  ram  was  to  give  her  a  heavy  lift. 

"  The  Hartford  was  the  third  vessel  that  struck  her ;  but  as  the  Ten 
nessee  quickly  shifted  her  helm,  the  blow  was  a  glancing  one,  and  as  she 


SPANISH    FORT 

ROSE 
ZEB     \ 

0  SHARKS.  LANDING 

'HOWARDS      v 


GREAT  POINT  C/O/?|0VYILLIAMSBURG 
i  \\\\vNsSKx»         ~.n~wo  ,. 


CAPTURE   OF  THE  REBEL   RAM  TENNESSEE.  791 

rasped  along  our  side,  we  poured  our  whole  broadside  of  nine-inch  solid 
shot  within  ten  feet  of  her  casement. 

"  The  monitors  worked  slowly,  but  delivered  their  fire  as  opportunity 
offered.  The  Chickasaw  succeeded  in  getting  under  her  stern,  and  a  fif 
teen-inch  shot  from  the  Manhattan  broke  through  her  iron  plating  and 
heavy  wooden  backing,  though  the  missile  itself  did  not  enter  the  vessel. 

"  Immediately  after  the  collision  with  the  flag-ship,  I  directed  Captain 
Drayton  to  bear  down  for  the  ram  again.  He  was  doing  so  at  full  speed, 
when,  unfortunately,  the  Lackawanna  ran  into  the  Hartford,  just  forward 
of  the  mizzen-mast,  and  cut  her  down  to  within  two  feet  of  the  water's 
edge.  We  soon  got  clear  again,  however,  and  were  fast  approaching  our 
adversary,  when  she  struck  her  colors  and  ran  up  the  white  flag. 

"  She  was  at  this  time  sore  beset ;  the  Chickasaw  was  pounding  away 
at  her  stern,  the  Ossipee  was  approaching  her  at  full  speed,  and  the 
Monongahela,  Lackawanna,  and  this  ship,  were  bearing  down  upon  her, 
determined  upon  her  destruction.  Her  smoke-stack  had  been  shot  away, 
her  steering  chains  were  gone,  compelling  a  resort  to  her  relieving  tackles, 
and  several  of  her  port-shutters  were  jammed.  Indeed,  from  the  time  the 
Hartford  struck  her,  until  her  surrender,  she  never  fired  a  gun.  As  the 
Ossipee,  Commander  Le  Roy,  was  about  to  strike  her,  she  hoisted  the 
white  flag,  and  that  vessel  immediately  stopped  her  engine,  but  not  in 
time  to  avoid  a  glancing  blow. 

"During  this  contest  with  the  Rebel  gunboats  and  the  ram  Tennessee, 
and  which  terminated  by  her  surrender  at  ten  o'clock,  we  lost  many  more 
men  than  from  the  fire  of  Fort  Morgan." 

The  Hartford,  though  seriously  injured  by  the  blow  from  the  Lacka 
wanna,  was  not,  as  was  at  first  feared,  in  a  sinking  condition.  It  is  said 
that  at  the  moment  after  the  collision,  when  the  men,  supposing  her  sink 
ing  inevitable,  were  calling  out  to  each  other  to  save  the  Admiral,  even 
if  all  the  rest  went  to  the  bottom,  Rear- Admiral  Farragut  from  his  perch, 
satisfied  that  she  would  float  long  enough  for  the  work  he  desired  to 
accomplish,  and  thinking  of  that  only,  signalled  to  the  chief  engineer,* 
"  Go  on  with  speed !  Ram  her  again." 

The  Tennessee  proved  a  valuable  prize.  She  was  built  with  great 
strength  and  powers  of  resistance,  though  with  little  regard  to  the  comfort 
of  her  officers  and  crew.  Though  disabled,  her  injuries  were  such  as  could 
be  speedily  repaired.  Her  commander,  Admiral  Buchanan,  was  severely 
wounded,  and  subsequently  lost  a  leg  by  amputation.  A  considerable 
number  of  the  crew  of  the  Rebel  vessel  were  killed  and  wounded.  On 
learning  Admiral  Buchanan's  condition,  Admiral  Farragut,  as  gentle  and 
humane  as  he  was  gallant  in  fight,  ordered  that  he  should  have  the  best 
attention,  and  finding  that  his  case  required  the  care  and  quiet  which 
could  only  be  obtained  at  a  general  hospital,  he  addressed  a  note  to  Briga 
dier-General  Page,  the  commander  of  Fort  Morgan,  asking  permission  to 


V92  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

send  the  Rebel  admiral  and  other  wounded  Rebel  officers,  with  his  own 
wounded,  by  ship,  under  flag  of  truce,  to  the  general  hospital  at  Pensa- 
cola,  where  they  could  be  properly  cared  for.  The  request  was  granted, 
and  the  Metacomet  was  despatched  at  once  on  the  errand  of  mercy. 

The  Union  losses  in  this  engagement  were  about  one  hundred  and- 
twenty  killed,  (eighty  of  them  on  the  Tecumseh,  including  the  lamented 
Commander  Craven,*)  and  eighty-eight  wounded.  The  immediate  results 
were  the  capture  and  destruction  of  the  Rebel  fleet,  except  the  gunboat 
Morgan,  including  among  the  captures,  the  armored  ram  Tennessee,  and 
the  gunboat  Selma,  with  two  hundred  and  eighty  officers  and  men.  On 
the  next  day,  Fort  Powell,  with  eighteen  guns,  was  abandoned ;  on  the  8th 
of  August,  Fort  Gaines  surrendered  with  fifty-six  officers,  eight  hundred 

*  Commander  Tunis  A.  M.  Craven,  of  the  monitor  Tecumseh,  was  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  but  received  his  appointment  to  the  navy  while  a  resident  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  in  February,  1829.  Since  that  time  he  had  seen  about  twenty-two  years 
of  sea  service,  while  much  the  larger  portion  of  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  in  the 
navy  was  spent  in  active  duty  on  shore.  He  served  in  1830  in  the  sloop-of-war 
Boston,  of  the  Mediterranean  squadron,  and  in  1834  joined  the  sloop-of-war  St  Louis, 
in  West  India  waters.  The  following  year  he  received  his  warrant  as  a  passed  mid 
shipman,  and  in  1836  was  for  a  short  time  engaged  at  the  National  Observatory,  but 
soon  asked  to  be  relieved,  and  was,  at  his  own  request,  placed  on  the  coast  survey, 
for  whose  duties  ne  immediately  displayed  rare  aptitude.  In  1841  he  was  promoted  to 
a  lieutenantcy  and  was  attached  to  the  sloop-o£jvar  Falmouth  till  1843,  when  he  was 
transferred  to  the  receiving-ship  North  Carolina,  at  New  York.  A  short  time  after 
he  was  on  the  storeship  Lexington,  and  from  1844  to  1847  was  on  furlough.  In  the 
latter  year  he  was  on  the  cruise  made  by  Dale,  of  the  Pacific  squadron.  From  1850 
to  1858  he  was  employed  on  the  coast  survey,  visited  on  official  business  the  Isthmus 
of  Darien,  and  leaving  the  coast  survey  in  1859,  was  appointed  to  the  command  of 
the  steamer  Mohawk,  of  the  home  squadron,  stationed  off  the  coast  of  Cuba  to  inter 
cept  slavers.  While  in  the  coast  survey  he  won  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  hydro- 
grapher,  and  did  the  country  constant  and  valuable  service. 

When  the  Rebellion  broke  out  Lieutenant  Commander  Craven  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  Crusader,  and  had  an  important  share  in  preserving  for  the  Union 
the  fortress  of  Key  West.  The  Board  of  Underwriters  of  New  York,  presented  his 
wife  with  a  service  of  plate,  and  sent  to  him  a  complimentary  letter,  in  appreciation 
of  the  desire  he  had  always  evinced  to  render  such  assistance  to  the  commerce  of  our 
country,  as  could  properly  be  extended  in  the  performance  of  duty,  and  for  rendering^ 
on  several  occasions,  important  services  to  American  vessels  in  distress,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Key  West,  Florida. 

He  received  his  commission  as  commander  April  24,  1861,  and  in  September,  1861, 
left  the  Crusader,  and  took  command  of  the  new  screw  sloop  Tuscarora,  which  was 
despatched  across  the  Atlantic  to  cruise  for  the  Rebel  pirates.  Though  his  failure  to 
take  the  Alabama  caused  him  much  annoyance,  he  did  good  service  in  blockading  the 
Sumter  at  Gibraltar,  and  compelling  the  Rebels  to  abandon  that  vessel.  He  returned 
in  July,  1863.  Early  this  year  he  was  ordered  to  the  command  of  the  Tecumseh,  and 
sailed  in  her  for  Hampton  Roads,  to  join  Acting  Rear-Admiral  Lee's  James  river  flotilla. 
He  was  among  the  first  to  reach  City  Point,  and,  after  a  somewhat  lengthened  stay 
in  the  James  river,  his  vessel  was  ordered  to  join  Rear- Admiral  Farragut's  squadron, 
and  here  she  met  the  fatal  torpedo. 


SKETCH   OF  VICE-ADMIRAL  FARRAGUT.  793 

and  eighteen  men,  and  twenty-six  guns ;  on  the  23d  of  August,  Fort 
Morgan,  after  a  farther  bombardment  of  twenty-four  hours,  capitulated, 
giving  up  sixty  guns  and  six  hundred  prisoners.  To  have  captured 
Mobile  at  this  juncture,  would  have  been  of  little  service  to  the  Union 
cause,  as  it  would  have  required  a  large  garrison  to  hold  it,  whose  ser 
vices  would  have  been  of  more  value  elsewhere ;  but  the  capture  of  these 
forts  put  an  effectual  end  to  blockade-running,  and  diminished  to  a  single 
port  the  opportunity  of  obtaining,  by  illicit  means,  the  supplies  the 
Rebels  so  much  needed  from  abroad.  It  gave  too,  a  new  impulse  to  the 
nation,  then  somewhat  disheartened  by  repeated  repulses  and  disasters, 
and  was  justly  regarded  as  the  precursor  of  other  and  greater  victories. 
Vice-Admiral  David  Glascow  Farragut,  the  commander  in  this  admira 
bly  managed  naval  battle,  and  the  hero  of  many  gallant  fights,  was 
born  July  5th,  1801,  at  Campbell's  station,  near  Knoxville,  Tennessee. 
His  father  had  been  a  naval  officer,  and  his  predilections  for  the  service 
were  early  manifested.  He  received  a  midshipman's  warrant,  December 
17th,  1810.  lie  doubled  Cape  Horn  with  Commodore  Porter  in  1813  ;  was 
in  the  fight  in  the  harbor  of  Valparaiso,  March  28th,  1814,  and  was 
wounded,  and  was  soon  after  transferred  to  the  Independence,  seventy -four 
gun  ship.  For  some  years  he  was  in  the  Mediterranean  squadron,  and 
was  instructed  by  Rev.  Charles  Folsom,  then  chaplain  of  the  flag-ship.  In 
1821,  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant,  and  ordered  to  the  West  India 
station.  In  1824,  he  was  assigned  to  duty  on  the  receiving  ship  at  Nor 
folk,  Virginia.  Here  he  married  a  lady  of  Norfolk,  of  excellent  family. 
In  1828,  he  was  ordered  to  the  sloop-of-war  Yandalia,  then  in  the  Brazil 
squadron.  In  1830,  he  returned  to  Norfolk,  where  he  remained  till  1833. 
The  death  of  his  wife  (to  whom  he  was  most  tenderly  attached),  from  pro 
tracted  illness,  accompanied  with  terrible  suffering,  plunged  him  in  deep 
grief.  In  1833,  he  was  assigned  to  a  command  in  the  Brazil,  and  subse 
quently  in  the  West  India  squadron,  in  which  he  remained  till  1841,  in 
which  JQSLT  he  was  commissioned  commander,  and  assigned  to  the  Decatur; 
then  in  the  Brazil  squadron.  He  returned  to  Norfolk  in  1842,  and  was 
on  leave  of  absence  until  1845,  when  he  was  ordered  to  the  Norfolk  navy- 
yard,  where  he  remained  till  1847.  Meantime,  he  had  again  married  a 
Norfolk  lady  of  excellent  family,  and  who  proved  worthy  of  the  name 
she  bore,  that  of  "  Virginia  Loyal  1."  In  1847,  he  was  put  in  command 
of  the  Saratoga,  on  the  home  squadron,  and  took  part  in  the  naval  engage 
ments  growing  out  of  the  Mexican  war.  In  1851,  he  was  assistant 
inspector  of  ordnance  at  the  navy -yard.  In  1854,  he  was  made  command 
ant  of  the  new  navy-yard  on  Mare's  island,  California,  and  remained 
there  till  1858,  having,  in  the  meantime,  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
captain  in  the  navy.  In  1858,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  steam 
sloop-of-war  Brooklyn,  then  on  the  home  squadron,  from  which  he  was 
relieved  in  1860.  In  April,  1861,  when  Norfolk  sympathized  with  seces- 


794  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

sion,  and  traitors  seized  the  navy -yard,  he  was  outspoken  in  his  loyalty, 
and  was  compelled  to  leave  the  city  at  two  hours  notice,  in  consequence 
of  his  earnest  devotion  to  the  Union.  He  brought  his  family  to  Hastings, 
on  the  Hudson,  New  York,  and  asked  the  Government  to  employ  him  in 
its  service  in  restoring  the  revolted  portion  of  the  country  to  its  allegi 
ance.  It  was  sometime  before  any  position  commensurate  with  his  known 
ability  could  be  assigned  him,  but  in  the  autumn  of  1861  he  was  order- 
en  to  organize  a  squadron  foi  the  capture  of  New  Orleans.  After  long 
delays,  from  the  want  of  suitable  vessels,  supplies,  ammunition,  &c.,  he 
reached  Pass  L'Outre,  at  the  rnouth  of  the  Mississippi,  in  April  1862, 
bombarded  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  for  six  days ;  ran  past  the  forts, 
destroying  the  Rebel  fleet,  after  a  most  desperate  engagement,  April  24th, 
and  captured  New  Orleans  on  the  26th  of  June.  On  the  27th  of  that 
month,  he  attacked,  but  did  not  capture,  Yicksburg.  He  was  put  in  com 
mand  of  the  West  Gulf  blockading  squadron,  immediately  after  this  en 
gagement,  and  on  the  llth  of  July,  1862,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Rear-Admiral.  In  November,  1862,  he  captured  Galveston,  Texas.  On 
the  14th  of  March,  1863,  he  passed  the  batteries  of  Port  Hudson,  after  a 
most  desperate  engagement,  losing  the  Mississippi,  steamship  of  the  line, 
and  leaving  the  Kineo,  Richmond,  and  Monongahela,  disabled  below,  but 
effecting  the  passage  with  the  Hartford  and  Albatross.  He  rendered 
efficient  service  in  other  naval  operations  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf, 
beside  maintaining  throughout  the  very  difficult  cruising  ground  of  his 
squadron,  as  complete  a  blockade  as  possible.  The  daring  and  gallant 
action  which  we  have  described  in  the  present  chapter,  added  new  laurels 
to  his  already  high  reputation  as  a  naval  commander.  In  the  autumn  of 
1864,  he  was  called  to  Washington,  to  give  his  advice  to  the  Government, 
in  regard  to  some  naval  movements,  and  in  November,  1864,  resigned  his 
command  of  the  West  Gulf  squadron.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1865,  the 
rank  of  Yice- Admiral,  corresponding  in  the  navy,  to  that  of  Lieutenant- 
General  in  the  army,  was  created,  and  he  was  promoted  to  it.  Since  that 
time,  he  has  been,  under  the  President,  commander-in-chief  of  the  navy  of 
the  United  States.  Confessedly  the  ablest  naval  commander  of  the 
century,  and  knowing  no  fear  in  the  performance  of  his  duty,  he  is  as 
modest  as  he  is  brave,  and  shrinks  from  notoriety  or  public  applause  for 
his  great  achievements. 


ORGANIZATION   OF  THE   MIDDLE   MILITARY   DIVISION.       795 


CHAPTER   LXIII. 

THE  MIDDLE  MILITARY  DIVISION  ORGANIZED,  AND  GENERAL  SHERIDAN  APPOINTED  ITS  COM 
MANDER ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  NEW  ARMY  OF  THE  SHENANDOAH — SHERIDAN  CONCEN 
TRATES  HIS  TROOPS  ON  THE  LINE  OF  THE  POTOMAC ADVANCING  AND  RETREATING 

"HARPER'S  WEEKLY" — EARLY'S  MISCONCEPTION  OF  SHERIDAN'S  CHARACTER — HIS  MOVE 
MENT  TO  BERRYVILLE THE  CAVALRY  FIGHT  AT  DARKESVILLE THE  BATTLE  OF  OPEQUAN 

CREEK,  OR  WINCHESTER — EARLY  "  SENT  WHIRLING"  UP  THE  VALLEY BATTLE  OF  FISHER'S 

HILL EARLY    AGAIN    DEFEATED    AND    ROUTED "  SETTLING  A  NEW   CAVALRY  GENERAL" 

ROSSER'S  DEFEAT — EARLY  DEFEATED  AGAIN  AT  LITTLE  NORTH  MOUNTAIN,  ON  THE  12TH  or 

OCTOBER SHERIDAN  VISITS  WASHINGTON EARLY  CREEPS  UP  ON  THE  LEFT  FLANK  OF  THB 

UNION  ARMY — THE  UNION  TROOPS  DEFEATED  BADLY,  AND  DRIVEN  TO  MIDDLETOWN — SHERI 
DAN  COMES  UP,  MAKES  THE  FUGITIVES  "FACE  THE  OTHER  WAY,"  REORGANIZES  THE  ARMY, 
ATTACKS,  DEFEATS,  AND  ROUTS  EARLY,  AND  SENDS  HIM  ONCE  MORE  "  WHIRLING"  UP  THR 

VALLEY,  WITH  THE    LOSS    OF   HIS    ARTILLERY,  WAGONS,  ETC. SUBSEQUENT    OPERATIONS  IN 

THE  VALLEY,  IN  THE  AUTUMN DESOLATING  THE    VALLEY    TO    REPRESS    THE    GUERRILLAS — • 

EARLY  SENDS  A  PART  OF  HIS  FORCE  TO  LEE,  AND  SHERIDAN  RETURNS  THE  SIXTH  CORPS 
TO  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC — BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  SHERIDAN. 

IN  the  account  given  in  a  previous  chapter  of  the  expedition  of  the 
Rebel  General  Early  into  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  it  was  noticeable 
that  there  was  a  want  of  harmony  and  consentaneous  action  on  the  part 
of  the  Union  troops,  strangely  in  contrast  with  their  united  and  vigorous 
movements  in  Virginia.  They  were  numerous  enough  at  any  time  after 
the  battle  of  Monocacy,  to  have  driven  the  Rebels  out  of  Maryland  so 
hastily  that  they  could  not  have  taken  a  wagon-load  of  their  plunder  with 
them,  yet  they  did  nothing  of  the  sort;  they  pursued  the  enemy  in  squads 
and  small  bodies  of  troops,  and  when  they  came  up  with  them,  more  than 
once  were  borne  back  by  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  foe,  who 
always  took  good  care  to  have  his  troops  massed. 

This  want  of  concentration  and  efficiency  resulted  mainly  from  the  con 
flicting  commands,  or  departments,  into  which  the  territory  in  question 
was  divided.  Western  Virginia,  toward  the  Ohio,  constituted  one  small 
department ;  the  Shenandoah  valley,  and  the  route  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  railroad,  another  ;  Washington  and  its  vicinity  was  a  department  by 
itself,  and  the  Department  of  Annapolis  covered  Baltimore  and  part  of 
northern  Maryland ;  while  Pennsylvania  was  divided  into  the  Departments 
of  the  Susquehanna  and  the  Monongahela.  The  commanders  of  these 
several  military  districts  did  not  co-operate  harmoniously  with  each  other, 
and  being  co-equal  in  authority,  there  was  no  end  of  jealousies  and  dis 
cords  on  questions  of  rank  and  precedence.  General  Grant  had  observed 
this  difficulty  and  the  disasters  it  had  occasioned,  and  determined  to  rem 
edy  it.  He  therefore  suggested  to  the  Government  the  organization  of  a 


796  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

Middle  Military  Division,  analogous  in  character  to  the  Military  Division 
of  the  Mississippi,  which  should  include  all  these  departments,  and  have 
control  over  military  affairs  in  the  States  of  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  and 
West  Virginia.  This  suggestion  being  adopted,  he  nominated  for  the 
command  of  that  division,  Major-General  Philip  H.  Sheridan,  the  chief  of 
his  cavalry  corps,  whose  skill,  caution,  and  daring,  he  had  already  tested 
in  the  West,  and  in  his  well  conducted  expeditions  in  Virginia  in  May 
and  June.  The  new  position  required  military  genius  of  a  high  order ; 
but  though  Sheridan  was  the  junior  in  years  of  nearly  every  major-general 
in  his  new  division,  General  Grant  was  satisfied  of  his  capacity  for  the 
command. 

On  the  7th  of  August,  General  Sheridan  received  his  appointment,  and 
on  the  same  day  established  his  headquarters  at  Harper's  Ferry.  His 
first  work  was  to  concentrate  his  troops  as  rapidly  as  possible  along  the 
Potomac,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Shenandoah  valley,  whither 
General  Early  had  withdrawn  with  his  troops  and  his  plunder.  The  force 
assigned  permanently  to  Sheridan  was,  the  army  of  West  Virginia, 
Crook's  corps,  including  the  remainder  of  Hunter's  troops  (Hunter  him 
self  being  relieved),  and  Averell's  cavalry;  the  nineteenth — Emory's — 
corps,  and  the  sixth — Wright's — corps,  together  with  two  divisions  of 
cavalry  from  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  These  were  the  forces  in  the 
field.  Beside  these,  the  garrisons  of  Washington,  Baltimore,  Annapolis, 
Frederick,  and  other  points  in  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  were  subject 
to  his  control.  General  Ord,  lately  in  command  in  Maryland,  was  sent 
back  to  the  army  of  the  James,  and  put  in  command  of  a  corps  there. 
When  General  Sheridan  took  command,  his  troops  were  widely  scattered. 
Crook,  and  a  part  of  his  corps,  were  in  Virginia,  threatening  the  enemy 
at  Snicker's  and  Ashby's  gaps ;  Wright's  corps  was  at  Washington,  and 
along  the  Potomac,  toward  Harper's  Ferry;  and  Emory's  was  still  in 
Maryland,  The  cavalry  from  the  army  of  the  Potomac  had  not  yet  ar 
rived.  It  was  to  be  commanded  by  General  Torbert,  a  young  cavalry 
officer,  who  had  already  achieved  some  reputation  in  southern  Virginia. 

While  awaiting  the  complete  concentration  of  his  troops  along  the  line 
of  the  Potomac,  General  Sheridan  gradually  pressed  the  Rebels  back  from 
the  important  positions  of  Martinsburg,  Williamsport,  &c.,  garrisoning 
these  as  fast  as  they  were  relinquished,  and  establishing  complete  and 
ready  communications  between  his  headquarters  and  his  advanced  posts. 
He  then  began  to  make  feints  of  an  advance,  in  order  to  test  the  enemy's 
strength  and  fighting  qualities.  Early,  suspecting  that  Sheridan  meditated 
the  invasion  of  the  Shenandoah  valley,  and  desiring  to  entrap  him,  fell 
back  gradually,  for  the  purpose  of  luring  him  on ;  but  Sheridan  was  more 
than  a  match  for  Early  in  astuteness,  and  understood  too  fully  Early's 
plots,  and  the  objects  to  be  accomplished,  to  be  hurried  into  any  prema 
ture  movement.  As  Early  retired,  however,  without  appearing  to 


THE  ^CAVALRY  FIGHT  AT   DAEKESYILLE.  797 

pursue  him,  he  gradually  occupied  and  secured  every  important  position, 
seizing  Winchester  on  the  12th  of  August,  and  throwing  out  a  cavalry 
detachment  to  Front  Royal,  where  it  encountered  and  defeated,  after  a 
sharp  battle,  the  Rebel  cavalry.  This  accomplished,  he  fell  back  in  turn, 
abandoning  Winchester,  and  receiving  and  distributing  from  Harper's 
Ferry,  his  now  rapidly  increasing  forces.  As  he  expected,  this  brought 
Early  and  his  troops  northward  again,  and  several  sharp  skirmishes  took 
place,  Sheridan's  cavdlry,  meantime,  reconnoitering  thoroughly  the  enemy's 
position,  and  taking  note  of  all  his  movements.  Finding  that  there  was 
some  danger  of  their  moving  southward  to  join  General  Lee,  a  measure 
seriously  contemplated  by  Early  about  this  time,  under  the  renewed 
pressure  brought  to  bear  upon  Lee  by  General  Grant,  and  being  deter 
mined  to  prevent  this  at  all  hazards,  Sheridan  again  advanced,  as  if  to 
give  Early  battle,  and  thus  arrested  his  progress :  and  then  again  with 
drew  toward  Charlestown,  to  attract  him  nearer  to  the  Potomac.  Early, 
supposing  that  he  had  excited  Sheridan's  fears,  indulged  the  hope  that  by 
skilful  management  he  might  flank  hirn,  and,  entering  Maryland  again, 
reap  another  harvest  of  plunder.  Accordingly,  he  moved  east  to  Berry  - 
ville,  and  issued  a  long  general  order  to  his  troops,  forbidding  straggling 
and  depredations  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  Shenandoah  valley. 

The  Rebel  press,  meanwhile,  made  itself  exceedingly  merry  over  these 
advances  and  retreats  of  Sheridan,  whose  object  they  could  not  compre 
hend.  Some  wag,  who  deemed  himself  extremely  witty,  bestowed  the 
sobriquet  of  "  Harper's  Weekly  "  upon  Sheridan,  in  consequence  of  his 
frequent  movements  to  and  from  Harper's  Ferry.  It  proved  a  sorry  joke 
ere  long,  and  when  it  was  too  late,  the  Rebels  found  that  Sheridan's  move 
ments  were  only  intended  as  manoeuvres  for  a  favorable  position  to  strike 
a  telling  and  decisive  blow. 

Early 's  movement  to  Berry ville  was  made  on  the  16th  of  September, 
and  Sheridan  was  completely  prepared  to  move  upon  him  when  it  occurred. 
Lee  was  too  fully  occupied  by  the  heavy  and  repeated  blows  Grant  was 
inflicting,  to  be  able  to  send  Early  any  reinforcements,  and  Sheridan's 
force  was  more  than  a  match  for  him.  A  part  of  Early's  cavalrjr  were 
west  of  Opequan  creek,  near  Darkesville,  about  three  miles  south  of 
Martinsburg,  and  upon  these,  Merritt's  and  Averell's  cavalry  divisions 
were  hurled  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  while  the  infantry  attacking 
Early's  main  column  at  Berry  ville,  in  flank  and  rear,  pushed  it  westward 
over  the  Opequan  toward  Winchester.  The  cavalry  attack  at  Darkes 
ville  was  a  mere  skirmish,  the  Rebel  cavalry  retreating  like  a  flock  of 
sheep  toward  Winchester.  The  main  column  of  the  Rebels  at  Berry- 
ville,  finding  itself  attacked  in  rear  and  flank,  moved  off  skirmishing,  but 
not  forming  in  line  of  battle  till  it  had  crossed  the  Opequan.  Here  it 
took  up  a  strong  position,  and  made  evident  preparations  for  a  deter 
mined  struggle  the  next  day.  Sheridan  had  now  accomplished  the  object 


798  THE   CIYIL  WAR   IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

for  which  he  had  been  manoeuvering  so  long.  He  had  pushed  Early  west 
of  Opequan  creek,  and  lay  with  his  force  directly  between  the  Rebel  army 
and  their  line  of  retreat  toward  Richmond.  It  remained  now  only  to  de 
feat  them  in  this  new  position,  and  drive  them  into  the  Shenandoah  valley, 
and  into  the  rough  and  precipitous  region  which  formed  the  western 
boundary  of  that  valley,  in  order  completely  to  demoralize  and  destroy 
them.  This  was  the  task  which  Sheridan  undertook  the  next  day.  The 
attack  was  ordered  at  daybreak  of  the  19th  of  September,  and  was  com 
menced  by  the  cavalry  soon  after  that  time,  but  the  infantry  were  detained, 
waiting  for  the  nineteenth  corps,  and  the  delay  had  nearly  been  produc 
tive  of  serious  disaster,  for  though  falling  back  at  first,  yet  finding  them 
selves  pressed  by  an  inferior  force,  the  Rebels  turned  and  drove  back  the 
Union  troops  for  some  distance,  but  the  infantry  coming  up  at  about 
noon,  after  about  three  hours  of  sharp  and  determined  fighting,  the  Rebel 
left  flank  was  turned,  and  they  began  to  fall  back  toward  Winchester,  at 
first  in  good  order,  and  stopping  frequently  to  fight,  but  as  they  were 
pressed  more  and  more  closely,  their  retreat  degenerated,  after  a  time, 
into  a  rout,  and  they  were  driven  into  and  through  Winchester,  or  as 
Sheridan  expressed  it  in  his  despatch  "  sent  whirling  through  Winchester," 
and  pursued  relentlessly  till,  abandoning  guns  and  knapsacks,  cannon 
and  trains,  in  their  mad  frenzy  of  flight,  they  reached  their  fortified  posi 
tion  on  Fisher's  Hill,  thirty  miles  below  Winchester,  where  they  succeeded 
in  rallying  and  making  a  stand.  In  this  disastrous  battle  and  retreat 
three  of  their  ablest  generals,  Major-General  Rhodes,  and  Brigadier-Gen 
erals  Godwin  and  York  were  killed,  and  Brigadier-General  Humphreys 
had  fallen  the  previous  day  at  B^rryville.  Three  others,  among  them 
Fitzhugh  Lee,  since  Stuart's  death  the  commander  of  the  Rebel  cavalry 
corps  of  the  army  of  Virginia,  were  seriously  wounded.  About  three 
thousand  of  their  killed  and  wounded  were  left  on  the  battle-field,  and  the 
Union  troops  captured  twenty-two  hundred  uninjured  prisoners,  five 
thousand  stand  of  arms,  five  pieces  of  artillery,  and  fifteen  battle-flags. 

With  the  celerity  which  has  always  marked  his  movements,  Sheridan 
marched  at  once  to  assault  and  dislodge  the  Rebels  from  their  strong 
position  on  Fisher's  Hill.  To  most  generals  this  would  have  seemed 
an  impossible  task ;  there  are  few  points  stronger  by  nature,  or  better 
fortified  by  art,  than  this,  where  Early,  regarding  himself  as  perfectly 
secure,  was  resting  and  re-forming  his  wearied  and  demoralized  troops. 
His  right  rested  upon  the  north  fork  of  the  Shenandoah  river,  just  where 
the  Massanutten  mountain  terminates  in  a  precipitous  bluff  on  its  eastern 
shore-  his  left  rested  upon  the  equally  precipitous,  and  as  he  believed 
impassable  brow  of  the  North  mountain,  and  the  slope  of  Fisher's  Hill, 
steep,  and  covered  with  a  heavy  undergrowth,  and  swept  at  every  point  by 
his  cannon,  forbade  approach  in  that  direction.  To  Sheridan,  however, 
these  obstacles  were  only  sufficient  to  give  a  zest  to  his  enterprise  of 


DESTRUCTION   OF  SUPPLIES   IN  THE  SHENANDOAH.        799 

dispossessing  his  foe  of  his  stronghold.  On  the  morning  of  the  21st,  his 
army  was  in  position  to  assail  the  enemy.  The  front  was  too  formidable 
to  be  carried  by  a  direct  attack  alone,  and  therefore  he  determined  while 
demonstrating  on  that  with  his  sixth  corps,  to  send  the  eighth — Crook's — 
corps  far  to  the  right,  to  sweep  around  Early's  left,  and  flanking  him 
attack  him  in  rear,  and  drive  him  o*ut  of  his  intrenchments,  and  the  nine 
teenth — Emory's — corps  to  assail  him  on  his  right  flank,  while  Averell 
skirted  along  the  southern  base  of  the  mountain.  Confused  and  disorgan 
ized  by  attacks  at  so  many  different  points,  and  disheartened  at  finding 
that  Crook  had  already  flanked  them,  and  was  pouring  a  destructive  fire 
upon  their  rear,  the  enemy  broke  at  the  centre,  and  the  sixth  corps  sepa 
rating  their  two  wings,  they  fled  in  complete  disorder  toward  Woodstock. 
Artillery,  horses,  wagons,  rifles,  knapsacks,  and  canteens  were  abandoned, 
and  strewn  along  the  road.  Eleven  hundred  prisoners  and  sixteen  pieces 
of  artillery  were  captured.  The  pursuit  was  continued  until  the  25th  of 
September,  and  terminated  only  when  the  enemy  had  been  driven  beyond 
Port  Republic,  and  large  numbers  of  them,  sick  of  the  conflict,  and  de 
termined  to  abandon  it,  had  scattered  in  the  mountains.  The  loss  of  the 
Rebels  from  the  19th  to  the  25th  of  September,  in  killed,  wounded,  miss 
ing,  and  prisoners,  was  certainly  not  less  than  ten  thousand. 

The  President  commissioned  Sheridan  as  brigadier-general  in  the  regu 
lar  army,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  the  lamented 
McPherson,  for  his  gallantry  and  skill  displayed  in  these  battles.  Pausing 
for  a  few  days  at  Port  Republic,  and  making  his  headquarters  there, 
General  Sheridan  sent  his  cavalry  forward  under  General  Torbert  to 
Staunton.  They  succeeded  in  capturing  the  town,  and  destroyed  all  the 
storehouses,  machine  shops,  and  other  buildings  owned  and  occupied  by 
the  Rebel  Government,  and  also  the  saddles,  small  arms,  hard  bread,  and 
other  military  stores  found  in  the  place.  They  then  proceeded  to  Waynes- 
boro,  a  town  on  the  Virginia  Central  railroad,  tore  up  seven  miles  of  the 
railroad  track,  destroyed  the  depot,  the  iron  bridge  over  the  Shenandoah, 
a  government  tannery,  and  other  stores.  General  Sheridan  also  improved 
his  time,  while  holding  possession  of  the  upper  Shenaudoah  valley,  to 
destroy  all  the  grain,  hay,  and  forage  to  be  found  there,  excepting  what 
was  necessary  for  the  subsistence  of  his  own  army.  He  thus  effectually 
crippled  both  Early's  and  Lee's  armies,  as  each  had  depended  upon  this 
fertile  valley  for  the  greater  part  of  their  stores  of  grain  and  forage.  The 
whole  valley  being  thus  rendered  untenable  by  the  Rebel  army,  and  the 
guerrilla  movements,  which  had  been  encouraged  by  the  inhabitants  who 
had  harbored  them,  sternly  repressed,  General  Sheridan  moved  leisurely 
northward,  and  on  the  6th  of  October  made  his  headquarters  at  Wood 
stock.  South  of  this  point,  over  two  thousand  barns,  filled  with  wheat 
and  hay,  and  over  seventy  mills,  stocked  with  wheat  and  flour,  had  been 
destroyed ;  and  a  vast  herd  of  stock,  and  more  than  three  thousand  sheep, 


800  THE  CIVIL  WAR   IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

had  been  reserved  for  the  supply  of  the  army.  The  Luray  valley,  as  well 
as  the  Little  Fort  valley,  were 'subjected  to  the  same  devastation,  the  in 
habitants  of  both,  like  those  of  the  Shenandoah,  having,  while  professedly 
loyal,  engaged  in  guerrilla  operations,  and  the  murder  of  Union  soldiers. 
On  the  8th  of  October,  the  Kebel  General  Kosser,  a  cavalry  officer  of 
considerable  ability,  who  had  just  be£n  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major- 
general,  thinking  that  he  had  found  an  opportunity  to  achieve  a  reputa 
tion,  began  to  harass  Sheridan's  rear.  He  did  succeed  in  achieving  a 
reputation  by  the  movement,  but  it  was  not  an  enviable  one,  for  Sheridan, 
facing  about,  offered  battle,  and  rinding  him  unwilling  to  accept  it, 
ordered  his  cavalry  to  attack  by  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  one 
division  charging  along  the  Strasburg  turnpike,  while  another,  moving 
by  a  back  road,  took  the  enemy  in  flank.  Rosser,  after  a  short  resistance, 
found  himself  severely  beaten,  and  lost  eleven  pieces  of  artillery,  several 
caissons,  a  battery  forge,  forty-seven  wagons,  and  over  three  hundred  pris 
oners.  The  Eebel  cavalry  fled  in  great  terror  at  the  charge  of  Sheridan's 
troopers,  and  were  pursued  ''on  the  jump"  for  twenty -six  miles,  the  pur 
suit  being  continued  beyond  Mount  Jackson  and  across  the  south  fork  of 
the  Shenandoah.  It  would  have  seemed  that  Early  had  received  sufficient 
punishment  to  dispose  him  to  remain  quiet  for  the  rest  of  the  season;  but 
he  evidently  hoped  for  better  fortune  in  making  further  attacks  on  his 
adversary,  and  on  the  12th  of  October,  having  crept  up  quietly  under 
cover  of  the  forest  on  Little  North  mountain,  he  appeared  in  force  on  the 
wooded  slope  south  of  Cedar  creek,  fronting  Snyder's  gap,  and  com 
menced  a  heavy  and  rapid  artillery  fire  on  Sheridan's  lines,  the  Union 
army  having  encamped  on  the  banks  of  the  creek.  He  had  not,  however, 
approached  so  stealthily  that  General  Sheridan  was  unaware  of  his  move 
ments,  and  with  a  promptness  which  showed  that  he  was  not  surprised, 
he  returned  the  artillery  fire,  shot  for  shot,  and  then  ordering  forward 
his  troops,  sprang  upon  the  foe,  and  after  a  sharp  action  of  three  hours, 
terminating  in  a  cavalry  charge,  drove  Early  once  more  in  confusion  up 
the  valley.  Having  thus  once  more  "  settled"  General  Early,  General  Sheri 
dan  made  a  flying  visit  of  inspection  to  his  various  outposts,  and  employed 
a  part  of  bis  cavalry  meantime  in  making  a  thorough  devastation  of 
Luray  valley,  from  Front  Royal  to  Sperryville,  the  inhabitants  of  that 
valley  having  harbored  and  aided  the  guerrillas  and  bushwhackers  who 
were  murdering  the  operatives  along  the  Manassas  Gap  railroad,  which 
General  Sheridan  was  putting  in  repair.  In  this  expedition  sixty-five 
hundred  head  of  cattle  and  five  hundred  horses  were  captured,  and  thirty- 
two  large  flouring  mills,  thirty  distilleries,  four  blast  furnaces,  and  over 
fifty  barns  were  destroyed.  By  holding  Front  Koyal,  and  repairing 
the  Manassas  Gap  railroad,  General  Sheridan  could  open  a  direct  com 
munication  with  Washington,  and  thus  transport  his  supplies  and  troops 
more  expeditiously  than  he  could  do  by  way  of  Harper's  Ferry.  This 


EARLY'S  ATTEMPT  TO   FLANK  THE   UNION   ARMY.          801 

railroad  was  opened  on  the  15th  of  October,  and  General  Sheridan  passed 
over  it  to  Washington. 

While  he  was  thus  absent,  Early,  still  unsatisfied  with  his  past  expe 
rience  in  fighting  the  Union  troops,  planned  another  expedition  against 
them,  which  had  well  nigh  proved  successful,  and  which  was  in  all  respects 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  battles  of  the  war. 

After  the  battle  of  October  12th,  Early  had  fallen  back  to  his  strong 
hold  on  Fisher's  Hill,  where  the  dense  forest  screened  his  movements 
from  the  view  of  the  Union  troops ;  and  here,  on  the  18th  of  October, 
he  had  been  reinforced  by  about  twelve  thousand  fresh  troops,  gathered 
from  southwestern  Virginia  and  Carolina.  Eight  thousand  of  these  were 
without  arms,  but  they  were  organized  and  officered,  and  trusted  to  their 
good  fortune  for  obtaining  arms  from  the  spoils  of  the  battle-field.  This, 
with  previous  reinforcements,  brought  his  army  up  to  twenty-seven  thou 
sand,  of  whom  nineteen  thousand  were  already  armed.  He  had  learned 
of  Sheridan's  visit  to  Washington,  and  believed  that  the  sixth  army  corps 
were  gone  also,  and  were  on  their  way  with  Sheridan  to  join  Grant's  army. 
With  this  impression,  he  regarded  the  occasion  as  an  auspicious  one  to 
make  one  more  attack,  and  effectually  avenge  himself  on  the  army  which 
had  thrice  defeated  him,  and  twice  driven  his  legions  southward  in  wild 
confusion  almost  to  the  sources  of  the  Shenandoah. 

In  point  of  fact,  the  sixth  corps  was  still  a  part  of  the  army  of  the  Shenan 
doah,  and  in  camp  with  the  remainder  of  that  army,  in  the  vicinity  of  Cedar 
creek,  and  General  Sheridan  was  returning  from  Washington,  and  on  the 
night  of  the  18th  of  October  had  reached  Winchester.  Had  Early  been 
aware  of  this,  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  he  would  have  attempted  the 
daring  enterprise  in  which  he  so  nearly  succeeded,  only  to  fail  most  signally. 

The  Union  position  was  an  echelon  of  three  lines,  posted  on  three 
separate  crests  of  moderate  height,  on  the  south  side  of  Cedar  creek,  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  point  where  the  creek  crosses  the  Strasburg  and  Win 
chester  turnpike,  three  miles  or  more  northeast  of  Strasburg.  The  army 
of  Western  Virginia — the  eighth  corps — occupied  the  left,  or  most  ad 
vanced  crest  toward  the  east,  the  nineteenth  corps  came  next  on  a  crest 
half  a  mile  in  rear,  and  the  sixth  corps  occupied  the  right,  still  farther  in 
rear.  The  fronts  and  flanks  in  front  of  the  army  of  Western  Virginia 
and  the  nineteenth  corps,  were  protected  by  breastworks  of  logs  and  earth, 
with  batteries  in  position,  while  the  right  was  guarded  by  Torbert'a 
cavalry.  The  following  diagram  gives  perhaps  a  mere  distinct  idea  of 
their  relative  position,  it  being  understood  that  the  advanced  position  of 
the  army  of  Western  Virginia  was  also  farthest  south. 

TORBBRT'S  CAVALRY. 


SIXTH  CORPS. 


NINETEENTH  CORPS. 


ARMY  OF  WESTBRN  VIRGINIA. 

51 


802  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

In  front  this  position  was  impregnable,  except  by  a  surprise,  and  to  turn 
either  flank  was  an  enterprise  so  rash  and  dangerous  that  it  was  con 
sidered  impossible  by  most  of  the  officers.  In  Sheridan's  absence  the 
command  devolved  on  General  Wright,  of  the  sixth  corps,  as  senior 
corps  commander. 

The  event  proved  that  it  was  not  safe  to  rely  upon  Early's  timidity,  or 
the  difficulty  and  danger  of  a  flank  movement,  as  a  safeguard  against  it. 
With  a  rashness  that  could  only  have  been  inspired  by  desperation,  since 
at  every  point  of  his  progress  except  the  last,  discovery  would  have  been 
inevitable  ruin,  Early  resolved  to  attempt,  by  a  nocturnal  movement,  to 
turn  the  left  flank  of  the  Union  army.  To  do  this  it  was  necessary  to 
descend  into  the  gorge  at  the  base  of  the  Massanutten  mountain,  ford  the 
north  fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  skirt  Crook's  position  for  miles,  pass 
ing  in  some  places  within  four  hundred  yards  of  his  pickets.  Three 
days  previous  the  movement  would  have  been  impossible,  as  a  brigade  of 
Union  cavalry  then  held  the  road  along  which  the  Rebels  now  crept  with 
out  opposition.  As  it  was,  Early's  enterprise  was  hazardous  almost 
beyond  parallel.  Had  the  Union  troops  caught  him  in  the  midst  of  it 
they  would  have  ruined  him ;  their  infantry  would  have  cut  his  in  two, 
while  their  cavalry  would  have  prevented  his  retreat  to  Fisher's  Hill ;  he 
would  have  lost  half  his  army,  and  they  could  not  have  lost  a  thousand 
men. 

Before  midnight  of  the  18th  of  October,  Early's  entire  army  was  in 
motion.  His  cavalry  and  artillery  had  orders  to  advance  upon  the  Union 
right,  so  as  to  occupy  the  attention  of  Torbert  and  the  sixth  corps.  His 
infantry  marched  in  five  columns,  in  which  Gordon's,  Ramseur's,  and  Pe- 
gram's,  were  to  place  themselves,  by  daybreak  of  the  19th,  on  the  left  rear 
of  the  whole  Union  position,  while  Kershaw's  and  Wharton's  should,  at 
the  same  hour,  be  close  to  the  intrenched  crest  held  by  the  army  of 
Western  Virginia.  The  management  of  his  troops  was  admirable;  the 
canteens  of  the  advance  had  been  left  in  camp,  lest  they  should  reveal 
their  approach,  by  clattering  against  the  shanks  of  the  bayonets,  and  the 
men,  comprehending  the  necessity  of  quietness  and  secrecy,  moved  so 
noiselessly  that  the  march  was  accomplished  with  an  almost  miraculous 
success. 

There  was  a  moment,  indeed,  when  the  audacious  column  trod  on  the 
brink  of  destruction.  About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  pickets  of  the 
fifth  New  York  heavy  artillery,  serving  as  infantry  in  Kitch ing's  provi 
sional  division,  which  was  attached  to  the  army  of  Western  Virginia,  heard 
a  rustling  of  underbrush,  and  a  muffled  multitudinous  trampling.  Two 
posts  were  relieved  and  sent  into  camp  with  the  information.  General 
Crook  ordered  his  command  to  be  upon  the  alert,  and  most  of  the  front 
line  went  into  the  trenches.  But  there  was  not  a  private  in  the  army,  and 
hardly  an  officer,  who  believed  that  the  often  defeated  Early  would  venture 


REPULSE   OF  THE    FEDERAL  ARMY.  808 

an  attack.  No  reconnoissance  was  sent  out  to  see  if  the  alarm  was  well 
founded ;  the  gaps  in  the  front  line  caused  by  the  detachment  of  regiments 
on  picket,  were  not  filled  up  from  the  reserves,  and  when  the  assault 
took  place,  it  found  many  muskets  unloaded.  An  hour  before  daybreak 
the  Rebel  infantry,  shivering  with  cold,  but  formed  and  ready  for  battle, 
lay  within  six  hundred  yards  of  the  Union  camps,  which  were  either 
sleeping  or  only  half  awake  with  suspicion.  On  the  extreme  right  was 
Gordon,  diagonally  in  rear  of  the  nineteenth  corps ;  on  the  left  of  Crook, 
facing  Kitch ing's  provisional  division,  which  had  been  placed  at  right 
angles  with  Crook's  main  army  to  prevent  any  flanking  movement,  lay 
Ramseur,  supported  by  Pegram ;  in  front  of  Crook  was  Kershaw,  sup 
ported  by  Wharton.  The  second  division  of  the  nineteenth  corps  were 
under  orders  to  move  at  daybreak  for  a  reconnoissance  of  Fisher's  Hill, 
but  just  as  they  were  formed  for  the  march,  a  terrific  rattle  of  musketry 
burst  forth  with  amazing  suddenness,  far  away  on  their  left,  followed  by 
scream  on  scream  of  the  well  known  Kebel  battle  yell,  revealing  in  an 
instant  that  Early  in  great  force  was  assaulting  the  position  of  the  army 
of  Western  Virginia.  The  men  of  that  division  were  instantly  ordered 
to  move  into  the  trenches.  The  enemy,  with  that  terrible  battle  cry,  had 
flung  themselves  upon  the  flank  and  rear  of  the  army  of  Western  Vir 
ginia  with  such  fury  that  they  had  taken  them  entirely  by  surprise,  and 
in  fifteen  minutes  that  veteran  corps,  the  heroes  of  so  many  bloody  battles, 
were  rushing  back,  a  mass  of  fugitives,  upon  the  centre,  where  the  nine 
teenth  corps,  forewarned,  had  sprung  into  the  trenches,  but  found  them 
selves  almost  immediately  attacked  in  flank  and  rear,  while  the  Rebel 
General  Gordon  had  seized  a  position  which  completely  commanded  their 
camp.  For  an  hour  and  more  of  desperate  and  determined  righting,  that 
corps  held  its  position,  the  sixth  corps,  meanwhile,  being  unable  to  come  to 
its  help,  since  they  could  not  at  that  early  hour,  and  in  the  dim  light,  ascer 
tain  what  was  the  strength  of  the  force  (Early's  cavalry  and  artillery)  which 
had  engaged  them.  At  length  Gordon's  men,  reaching  onward  along  and 
beyond  the  flank  of  the  nineteenth  corps,  turned  it  and  fell  upon  its  rear, 
and  in  its  turn,  it  was  compelled  to  abandon  its  position  and  retreat  to 
ward  Winchester,  or  rather  toward  Middletown,  on  the  Winchester  road. 
The  sixth  corps  had  by  this  time  found  what  was  the  force  in  its  front, 
and  had  turned  them  over  to  Torbert's  cavalry,  who  were  amply  sufficient 
to  take  care  of  them,  while  it  came  up  to  the  support  of  the  nineteenth 
corps;  but  after  hard  fighting,  it  too  was  flanked  by  Gordon's  interminable 
column,  and  though  it  moved  back  slowly  and  in  good  order,  it  was 
compelled  to  retreat  to  a  position  where  it  could  fight  to  better  advantage. 
The  train  had  been,  by  skilful  management,  removed  out  of  harm's  way, 
and  sent  by  by-roads  toward  Winchester ;  but  the  army  had  been  driven 
off  the  Strasburg  and  Winchester  turnpike,  and  it  was  necessary  for  it  to 
fall  back  until  it  could  regain  a  position  upon  it,  and  thus  secure  its  com- 


804  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

munications.  The  enemy  were  in  possession  of  all  its  camps,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  five  hours  from  the  commencement  of  the  attack,  there  was 
a  lull  in  the  fighting,  the  Rebel  troops  being  engaged  in  plundering  the 
camps,  and  those  who  were  unarmed  in  the  morning  were  procuring  from 
the  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  the  arms  they  needed.  At  this  time, 
about  ten  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  army  of  the  Shenandoah  was  for  the  first 
time  defeated ;  not  routed,  but  badly  beaten.  The  Eebels  had  all  the  camps 
and  fortified  positions;  they  had  retreated  full  three  miles,  and  their 
stragglers,  a  multitudinous  host,  had  reached  Winchester,  a  dozen  miles 
farther.  They  had  lost  twenty-four  guns,  and  twelve  hundred  prisoners, 
while  all  that  three  miles  of  their  retreat  was  strewn  thick  with  the  killed 
and  wounded  who  had  fallen  in  the  desperate  struggle. 

It  was  just  at  this  time  that  Sheridan,  who  had  learned  at  Winchester 
of  the  disaster,  came  up  the  pike  at  full  speed,  his  noble  horse  completely 
flecked  with  foam,  swinging  his  cap,  and  shouting  to  the  stragglers, 
"  Face  the  other  way,  boys.  We  are  going  back  to  our  camps.  We  are 
going  to  lick  them  out  of  their  boots."  The  effect  was  magical.  The 
wounded  by  the  roadside  raised  their  hoarse  voices  to  shout ;  the  fugitives, 
but  now  hurrying  forward  toward  Winchester,  turned  about  at  sight  of 
him  who  had  always  led  them  to  victory,  and  followed  him  back  to 
the  battle-ground,  as  hounds  follow  their  master.  Still  riding  rapidly,  he 
reached  the  main  army,  ordered  it  to  face  about,  form  line,  and  advance 
to  the  position  it  had  last  quitted.  They  obeyed  without  hesitation,  and 
for  two  hours  he  rode  along  the  line,  studying  the  ground,  and  encouraging 
the  men.  "  Boys,"  he  said,  in  his  earnest,  animated  way,  "  if  I  had  been 
here,  this  never  should  have  happened.  I  tell  you  it  never  should  have 
happened.  And  now  we  are  going  back  to  our  camps.  We  are  going 
to  get  a  twist  on  them.  We  are  going  to  lick  them  out  of  their  boots." 
The  sixth  corps  now  held  the  turnpike  and  its  vicinity.  *0n  its  right  the 
nineteenth  corps  was  formed  in  double  line,  under  cover  of  a  dense  wood, 
the  first  division  on  the  right,  the  second  on  the  left.  The  rearmost  line 
threw  up  a  rude  breastwork  of  stones,  rails,  and  trees,  covered  by  the 
advanced  line  standing  to  arms,  and  by  a  strong  force  of  skirmishers, 
stationed  two  hundred  yards  to  the  front,  but  still  within  the  forest.  For 
two  hours  all  was  silence,  preparation,  reorganization,  and  suspense. 
Then  came  a  message  from  Sheridan  to  General  Emory,  that  the  enemy, 
in  column,  were  advancing  against  the  nineteenth  corps.  They  came,  and 
were  received  with  so  deadly  a  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry  that  they 
awaited  no  second  fire,  but  fell  back  at  once  out  of  sight.  Emory  imme 
diately  sent  word  to  the  commanding  general  that  he  had  repulsed  -the 
enemy.  The  delight  of  General  Sheridan  at  this  intelligence  was  evident. 
It  assured  him  that  his  army  had  recovered  its  old  courage  and  tone,  and 
that  he  could  now  use  it  to  defeat  and  rout  the  foe  who  had  so  sadly 
defeated  them  in  the  morning.  Sending  the  message  to  Emory,  that  if 


DEFEAT  AND  ROUT   OF  THE  REBEL  ARMY.  805 

they  renewed  the  attack,  he  must  meet  them  by  a  counter  attack,  drive 
them  back,  and  follow  them  up,  he  watched  the  position  of  affairs,  and  at 
half-past  three  issued  this  order:  "The  entire  line  will  advance.  The 
nineteenth  corps  will  move  in  connection  with  the  sixth  corps.  The 
right  of  the  nineteenth  will  swing  toward  the  left,  so  as  to  drive  the 
enemy  upon  the  pike."  The  enemy's  left  was  now  his  strong  position, 
being  supported  by  successive  wooded  crests,  while  his  right  ran  out  to 
the  pike,  across  undulating,  open  fields,  which  offered  no  natural  line 
of  resistance.  Sheridan's  plan  was  to  push  them  oft'  these  crests  by  this 
swinging  movement  of  his  right,  and  then,  when  they  were  doubled  up  on 
the  pike,  to  hurl  his  cavalry  at  them  across  the  Middletown  meadows. 
The  Union  infantry  rose  at  once  from  the  position  where  it  had  been 
lying,  and  advanced  through  the  forest  into  the  open  ground  beyond. 
"  There  was  a  brief  silence  of  suspense  ;  then  came  a  screaming,  cracking, 
humming  rush  of  shell ;  then  a  prolonged  roar  of  musketry,  mingled  with 
the  long-drawn  yell  of  the  Union  charge ;  then  the  artillery  ceased,  the 
musketry  died  into  spattering  bursts ;  and  over  all  the  yell  rose  triumphant. 
Every  thing  on  the  first  Kebel  line,  the  stone  walls,  the  advanced  crest, 
the  tangled  wood,  the  half-finished  breastworks,  had  been  carried."  The 
first  body  of  Kebel  troops  to  break  and  fly  was  Gordon's  division,  the 
same  which  had  so  perseveringly  flanked  the  Union  army  in  the  morning, 
and  was  now  flanked  in  turn  by  the  first  division  of  the  nineteenth  corps. 
Desperate  fighting  now  ensued,  and  the  Kebels  held  their  position  with 
great  tenacity  ;  while  the  Union  soldiers,  who  had  neither  eaten  nor  drank 
any  thing  since  the  evening  of  the  previous  day,  and  had  been  fighting 
since  five  in  the  morning,  were  greatly  exhausted ;  but  they  forgot  their 
hunger,  their  thirst,  and  their  weariness — forgot  every  thing,  but  that 
they  were  Sheridan's  soldiers,  and  that  they  must  drive  the  enemy  back. 
Again  they  charged  on  the  Rebel  second  line,  over  stone  walls,  over  steep 
hill-sides,  and  through  thickets  ;  Sheridan  himself  dashing  along  the  front, 
cheering  them  with  his  confident  smile,  and  his  emphatic  assurances  of 
success,  and  giving  his  orders  in  person  to  brigade,  division,  and  corps 
commanders.  The  result  could  not  be  doubtful ;  the  second  charge 
carried  the  enemy's  second  line  with  the  same  rush,  and  with  greater  ease 
than  the  first ;  and  the  cavalry  swept  on  in  magnificent  line,  and  pushed 
the  routed  foe  into  more  hopeless  confusion  and  speedier  flight  than  in 
the  battle  of  the  19th  of  September.  Desperate  were  the  efforts  of  the 
Rebel  officers  to  rally  their  men,  and  make  another  stand ;  but  they  were 
utterly  in  vain,  and  Early's  army  was  again  "sent  whirling"  up  the 
valley.  The  fighting  soon  swept  far  ahead  of  the  tired  infantry,  who  re 
sumed  their  position  in  their  old  camps,  and  hungry,  thirsty,  and  weary, 
lay  down  amid  the  desolation,  and  the  numerous  dead  bodies  of  their 
comrades  and  their  foes,  and  slept  quietly  and  peacefully.  The  cavalry, 
meantime,  pushed  Early's  jaded  legions  on;  and  still  on,  through  Stras- 


806  THE  CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

burg,  past  Fisher's  Hill,  where,  after  a  brief  rest,  they  remounted,  and 
drove  them  to  Woodstock,  sixteen  miles  from  the  scene  of  the  morning 
battle.  In  their  terror  and  flight,  the  Rebels  abandoned  every  thing; 
cannon,  small  arms,  knapsacks,  great  coats,  baggage  wagons,  caissons, 
ammunition  wagons  and  ambulances,  were  all  thrown  away,  as  impeding 
their  retreat.  The  twenty-four  cannon  which  they  had  taken  from  the 
army  of  the  Shenandoah  in  the  morning,  were  all  recaptured,  and  twenty- 
seven  more  of  Early's  own  were  also  brought  in.  Beside  these,  there 
were  fifty  wagons,  sixty-five  ambulances,  sixteen  hundred  small  arms, 
several  battle  flags,  and  fifteen  hundred  prisoners.  Two  thousand  of  the 
Rebel  killed  and  wounded  were  left  upon  the  field.  The  Union  losses  in 
the  morning  had  been  very  heavy;  they  amounted  in  all  to  about  three 
thousand  killed  and  wounded,  and  twelve  hundred  taken  prisoners,  in 
cluding  about  four  hundred  of  the  wounded.  In  all  the  records  of  modern 
history,  there  is  no  more  remarkable  instance  of  a  battle  retrieved  than 
this.  Marengo,  Shiloh,  and  Stone  river  have  been  compared  to  it,  but  in 
the  two  former  there  were  reinforcements  brought  up  to  change  the 
fortunes  of  the  day,  while  the  first  defeat  was  not  so  complete  or  over 
whelming,  and  in  the  latter,  there  was  an  interval  of  two  days7  rest,  to 
reinspire  the  troops  with  courage.  Here  the  delay  was  but  for  three  or 
four  hours,  and  the  only  reinforcement  brought  up  or  needed  was  one 
man — Sheridan. 

On  hearing  the  particulars  of  this  victory,  Lieutenant-General  Grant 
telegraphed  to  Secretary  Stanton,  on  the  evening  of  the  20th  of  October, 
as  follows : 

"  HON.  E.  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War  : 

"I  had  a  salute  of  one  hundred  guns  fired  from  each  of  the  armies  here, 
in  honor  of  Sheridan's  last  victory.  Turning  what  bid  fair  to  be  a  disas 
ter  into  a  glorious  victory,  stamps  Sheridan,  what  I  have  always  thought 
him,  one  of  the  ablest  of  generals. 

"  U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant- General" 

• 

This  magnificent  victory  led  to  General  Sheridan's  appointment  to  the 
rank  of  major-general  in  the  regular  army,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned 
by  the  resignation  of  Major-General  McClellan,  and  to  an  autograph  letter 
of  thanks  from  the  President. 

For  six  weeks  after  the  battle,  there  were  occasional  skirmishes  of  greater 
or  less  severity,  between  one  or  more  divisions  of  Torbert's  cavalry,  and 
the  Rebel  cavalry  officers  Rosser  and  Lomax  ;  but  Early,  though  moving 
uneasily  up  and  down  the  valley  from  Mount  Jackson  or  New  Market  to 
Fisher's  Hill,  carefully  avoided  every  thing  like  a  general  engagement,  and 
in  December,  sent  a  part  of  his  forces  to  strengthen  General  Lee.  Mean 
time,  the  guerrilla  warfare  continued  with  all  its  vexatious  annoyances  and 
stealthy  murders,  and  General  Sheridan  found  it  necessary  to  desolate  the 


SKETCH   OF  MAJOR-GENERAL  SHERIDAN  807 

valley  of  the  Blue  Ridge  by  his  cavalry,  as  he  had  done  the  valleys  west 
of  it.  In  two  expeditions  undertaken  for  this  purpose,  property  to  tho 
amount  of  nearly  seven  and  a  half  millions  of  dollars  was  either  destroyed 
or  captured,  vast  herds  of  cattle,  sheep,  and  swine,  and  large  numbers  of 
horses  and  mules  were  brought  in.  Driven  from  this  region,  the  guerrilla 
bands  subsequently  concentrated  near  the  upper  waters  of  the  Potomac, 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  Piedmont,  New  Creek,  and  other  points,  did  some 
mischief,  but  their  power  for  evil  was  greatly  crippled  by  the  stem 
and  thorough  measures  adopted  by  General  Sheridan.  In  December,  the 
sixth  corps  was  returned  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  the  army  of 
the  Shenandoah  for  nearly  two  months  acted  principally  as  a  corps  of 
observation. 

Philip  Henry  Sheridan,  the  brilliant  and  able  commander  whose  skilful 
management  and  decided  strategic  ability  were  so  fully  exhibited  in  this 
campaign  of  the  Shenandoah  valley,  was  born  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  in 
1831.  His  parents  were  of  Irish  origin.  He  had  the  advantages  of  a 
good  common  school  education,  and  was  appointed  to  a  cadetship  at  West 
Point  in  1848.  and  graduated  in  1853,  very  low  in  his  class,  his  belligerent 
disposition  reducing  his  standing  in  his  studies,  which  was  otherwise 
above  mediocrity.  He  was  attached  to  the  first  United  States  infantry 
as  brevet  second  lieutenant,  and  ordered  to  Fort  Duncan,  Texas.  In  the 
spring  of  1855,  he  was  exchanged  into  the  fourth  infantry  as  full  second 
lieutenant,  and  ordered  to  San  Francisco  via  New  York.  In  the  latter  city, 
he  was  for  two  months  in  command  of  Fort  Wood.  For  six  years  he 
remained  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  among  the  Indian  tribes,  whose  confi 
dence  he  had  won,  and  whom  he  could  manage  better  than  any  other 
army  officer.  He  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenantcy  in  the  winter  of 
1861,  and  when  the  war  broke  out  to  a  captaincy  in  the  thirteenth  infan 
try,  United  States  army,  and  ordered  to  join  his  regiment  at  Jefferson 
barracks,  near  St.  Louis.  He  was  first  made  acting  quartermaster  under 
General  Curtis,  but  succeeded  indifferently.  During  the  Pea  Ridge  cam 
paign,  he  was  ordered  by  General  Blunt  to  impress  a  large  amount  of 
provender  from  the  citizens  of  Arkansas,  and  refusing,  was  put  under 
arrest,  and  ordered  to  report  to  General  Halleck,  who  relieved  him  from 
arrest,  made  him  his  own  chief  quartermaster,  but  perceiving  that 
he  had  a  decided  vocation  for  the  cavalry,  allowed  him  soon  after  to 
accept  a  commission  as  colonel  of  a  Michigan  cavalry  regiment.  On  the 
14th  of  July,  1862,  with  his  regiment,  he  fought  and  defeated  a  Rebel 
brigade  of  cavalry,  and  for  this  was  made  brigadier-general  of  volun 
teers,  his  commission  dating  from  July  1st,  1862 ;  but  his  command  was 
infantry,  not  cavalry,  to  which  he  was  best  adapted.  He  did  well,  how 
ever,  in  his  new  field  of  activity,  exhibiting  that  combination  of  caution 
and  daring,  and  that  quick  perception  of  the  right  course  to  pursue  in  an 
emergency,  which  made  him  a  favorite,  both  with  his  superiors  and  his 


808  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

own  command.  At  Perryville,  October  8th,  1862,  he  held  the  key  of 
the  Union  position,  and  saved  the  Union  army  from  defeat.  In  the 
battle  of  Stone  river,  his  division  fought  with  the  utmost  desperation  on 
the  first  day,  and  aided  greatly  in  staying  the  rout  which  the  giving  way  of 
the  right  wing  had  caused ;  all  the  brigade  commanders  were  either 
killed  or  severely  wounded,  and  seventy  officers  and  half  the  men  of  the 
division  fell  on  that  bloody  field ;  but  Sheridan  finally  brought  off  the 
remnant  in  good  order,  and  re-forming  it,  did  gallant  service  during  the 
remainder  of  the  battle.  For  his  meritorious  service  here  he  was  made 
major-general  of  volunteers.  At  Chickamauga,  on  the  first  day,  he  pre 
vented  a  serious  disaster  to  Wood's  corps  ;  and  on  the  second  day,  though 
borne  off  the  field  by  the  sudden  assault  of  the  enemy  upon  the  gap  in 
the  Union  lines,  he  fought  his  way  out,  and  re-forming  his  men,  brought 
his  division  into  the  lines  again  before  midnight.  At  Chattanooga,  his 
bravery  and  daring  were  conspucious  in  the  charge  up  Mission  Ridge 
upon  Fort  Bragg ;  his  horse  was  shot  under  him,  and  his  men  were 
ready  under  bis  leadership  to  dare  and  do  any  thing,  however  arduous  or 
seemingly  impossible.  He  was  next  with  Sherman  in  the  severe  and  ar- 
dous  march  to  Knoxville,  to  raise  the  siege  of  that  city.  • 

When  General  Grant  became  Lieutenant-General,  he  called  Sheridan 
to  the  congenial  post  of  chief  of  the  cavalry  corps  of  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  we  have  recorded  in  a  previous  chapter,  the  skill  and  abil 
ity,  the  courage  and  genius,  with  which  he  conducted  the  two  expeditions 
around  the  rear  of  the  "Rebel  army.  Promoted  on  General  Grant's 
nomination  to  the  command  of  the  army  of  the  Shenandoah,  the  present 
chapter  shows  how  he  won  new  laurels,  and  exhibited  that  most  extraor 
dinary  proof  of  good  generalship,  the  turning  defeat  into  victory.  For 
the  ability  displayed  in  this  field  he  was  made  first  brigadier,  and  then 
major-general  in  the  regular  army.  His  subsequent  career,  as  we  shall 
see  hereafter,  was  worthy  of  his  previous  brilliant  record.  In  March, 
1865.  he  ascended  the  Shenandoah  valley  to  Staunton  and  Waynesboro, 
routed  Early  once  more,  and  destroyed  the  railroads,  canals,  and  other 
property  of  the  Rebels,  to  the  value  of  over  fifty  millions  of  dollars. 
Marching  by  way  of  White  House,  he  joined  General  Grant  on  the  27th 
of  March,  and  after  two  days'  rest,  was  ordered  to  the  field  in  the  closing 
campaign,  where  the  capture  of  Five  Forks,  and  the  persistent  pursuit, 
and  eventual  surrender  of  Lee,  were  due  in  a  large  measure,  to  his  perse 
verance,  bravery,  and  strategic  skill.  After  the  war  on  the  Atlantic  coast 
was  over,  he  was  sent  in  command  of  an  army  of  about  eighty  thousand 
men  to  Texas ;  and  the  Rebel  General,  E.  Kirby  Smith,  having  surren 
dered,  he  was  allowed,  after  a  few  weeks  guarding  of  the  border,  to  reduce 
his  army.  On  the  27th  of  June,  he  was  appointed  commander  of  the 
Military  Division  of  the  Gulf,  comprising  the  Departments  of  Mississippi, 
Louisiana,  Texas,  and  Florida,  with  headquarters  at  New  Orleans. 


INFLUENCE  OF  POLITICAL  PARTIES  DURING  THE  WAR.     809 


CHAPTER   LXIY. 

POLITICAL  PARTIES,  AND  THEIR  INFLUENCE  DURING  THE  WAR — "  THE  ERA  OF  GOOD  FEELING" 

ITS  SPEEDY  TERMINATION FERNANDO  WOOD'S  SOMERSAULTS THE  PROFESSIONS  OF  THE 

PRO-SLAVERY  DEMOCRATIC  LEADERS — THEIR  DESIRE  FOR  A  "MORE  VIGOROUS  PROSECUTION 
OF  THE  WAR" "  THE  GREAT  UNREADY" OPPOSITION  TO  EMANCIPATION  NOMINALLY  RE 
LINQUISHED THE  SUSPENSION  OF  THE  HABEAS  CORPUS  ACT,  AND  ARBITRARY  ARRESTS 

THE  CONSCRIPTION THEIR  OBJECTIONS  TO  IT THEIR  HOSTILITY  TO  THE  FINANCIAL  POLICY 

OF  THE  GOVERNMENT — SECRET  ORGANIZATIONS  OPPOSED  TO  THE  GOVERNMENT — THE  PEACE 

PARTY  AND  ITS  LEADER SKETCH  OF  VALLANDIGHAM — HIS  TREASONABLE  ADDRESS  AND  HIS 

ARREST JUDGE  LEAVITT'S  REFUSAL  TO  GRANT  A  WRIT  OF  HABEAS  CORPUS,  AND  HIS  OPINION 

OF  TREASONABLE  UTTERANCES VALLANDIGHAM's  TRIAL  AND  SENTENCE — THE  PRESIDENT 

COMMUTES  IT  TO  TRANSPORTATION  BEYOND  THE  UNION  LINES PROTEST  OF  THE  ALBANY 

COMMITTEE THE  PRESIDENT'S  REPLY PROTEST  OF  THE  COLUMBUS  COMMITTEE THE  PRESI 
DENT'S  PROPOSITIONS THE  OBJECT  OF  THESE  DEMONSTRATIONS VALLANDIGHAM  NOMINA 
TED  FOR  GOVERNOR  AND  DEFEATED HIS  ESCAPE  TO  CANADA  AND  RETURN  TO  OHIO 

CHARACTER  AND  CONDUCT  OF  HIS  ASSOCIATES  IN  CANADA — HE  ATTENDS  THE  CHICAGO 

CONVENTION THE  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THIS  CONVENTION ITS  PLATFORM — ITS  NOMINEES 

GENERAL  MCCLELLAND  LETTER  OF  ACCEPTANCE HE  'ACCEPTS  THE  NOMINATION  BUT  RE 
PUDIATES  THE  PLATFORM,  WHILE  MR.  PENDLETON  ACCEPTS  BOTH UTTER  DEFEAT  OF  THE 

PEACE  PARTY  AT  THE  NOVEMBER  ELECTION — EFFORTS  AT  NEGOTIATIONS  FOR  PEACE — THE 
JACQUES  AND  GILMORE  MISSION — A.  H.  STEPHENS'  APPLICATION  TO  GO  TO  WASHINGTON 

IN  A  REBEL  WAR  STEAMER THE  GREELEY  AND  SANDERS  CORRESPONDENCE — "TO  WHOM 

IT  MAY  CONCERN" — THE  PRETENDED  INDIGNATION  OF  CLAY  AND  HOLCOMBE — SUBSEQUENT 

REVELATIONS   OF  THEIR  CHARACTER  AND   PURPOSES LEE'S  ANNOUNCEMENT  TO  JEFF. 

DAVIS — F.  P.  BLAIR'S  MISSION — REBEL  COMMISSIONERS  APPOINTED — MR.  SEWARD  AND 
MR.  LINCOLN  MEET  THEM — THE  CONFERENCE  AT  HAMPTpN  ROADS — THE  DEMANDS  OF 
DAVIS — IMPOSSIBILITY  OF  CONCEDING  THEM — FAILURE  OF  THE  CONFERENCE. 

AT  the  commencement  of  the  war,  the  great  masses  of  both  political 
parties,  those  who  had  deprecated  the  war,  and  denounced  every  move 
ment  of  the  Government  looking  toward  the  repossession  of  the  seceded 
territory,  as  well  as  those  who  had  been  most  earnest  in  their  support  of 
the  administration,  united  most  cordially  in  volunteering  for  service  in 
the  army,  and  in  voting  appropriations  for  arming,  equipping,  and  main 
taining  the  volunteer  troops  and  their  families.  There  were,  indeed,  a  few 
whose  hostility  to  the  war  and  sympathy  with  the  Rebellion  was,  from 
the  first,  outspoken  and  bitter ;  but  these  were  the  comparatively  rare  ex 
ceptions.  As  a  general  rule,  party  lines  seemed  obliterated,  and  those 
who,  sixty  days  before,  had  declared  that  in  the  event  of  war  they  would 
fight  on  the  side  of  the  South,  now  seemed  most  anxious  to  efface  such  a 
record  by  their  zeal  for  the  war. 

As  might  have  been  expected,  this  "era  of  good  feeling"  did  not  last. 
The  conversion  of  the  pro-slavery  Democratic  leaders,  who  had  for  years 
relied  upon  the  South  to  maintain  them  in  power,  was  too  sudden  to  be 
genuine ;  and  it  was  no  matter  for  surprise  that  Fernando  Wood,  one  of 


810  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

the  most  unscrupulous  of  the  Democratic  politicians,  should  lead  the  pro 
slavery  Democrats  in  opposing  the  war.  Mr.  Wood  had,  in  the  winter 
of  1860-1,  when  mayor  of  New  York,  apologized  to  Mr.  Toombs  of  Geor 
gia,  for  the  seizure  by  the  city  police,  under  the  orders  of  Government, 
of  arms  about  to  be  shipped  for  the  State  of  Georgia,  assuring  him  that 
'  if  he  had  the  power  he  should  summarily  punish  the  authors  of  this  ille 
gal  and  unjustifiable  seizure  of  private  property;"  and  though  he  had  three 
months  later  pledged  his  honor,  his  fortune,  and  his  life,  to  the  national 
cause,  yet  it  was  perfectly  in  keeping  with  his  character  that  he  should 
endeavor  by  every  means  in  his  power  to  obstruct  the  action  of  the  Gov 
ernment,  to  thwart  its  plans,  and  to  give  what  indirect  aid  and  comfort  he 
could,  to  its  enemies.  The  pro-slavery  Democratic  leaders  had,  however, 
the  art  to  veil  their  real  sympathy  with  the  Kebellion  under  the  guise  of 
anxiety  for  the  preservation  of  the  Constitution  and  the  Union  as  it  was ; 
they  deprecated  any  agitation  of  the  status  of  the  slaves,  and  insisted  that 
they  should  be  remanded  to  the  care  of  their  Rebel  masters,  if  they  escaped 
into  the  Union  lines,  and  that  in  no  case  should  they  be  set  free.  Under 
these  limitations  they  had  the  impudence  to  clamor  for  "  a  more  vigorous 
prosecution  of  the  war,"  pretending  that  the  President  and  Cabinet  were 
responsible  for  the  inactivity  of  General  MeClellan,  and  on  this  plea  suc 
ceeded,  in  New  York,  in  the  autumn  of  1862,  in  carrying  the  election  of 
one  of  their  most  artful  politicians,  Horatio  Seymour,  to  the  office  of 
Governor  of  New  York.  They  had  taken  full  possession  of  General 
McClellan,  and  flattering  him  with  the  hope  of  the  Presidency  in  1864, 
led  him  to  maintain,  in  defiance  of  the  remonstrances  of  the  President  and 
his  Cabinet,  that  masterly  inactivity  which  led  to  his  receiving  the  title 
of  the  "  Great  Unready."  His  removal  from  command  in  November,  1862, 
was  a  severe  and  unexpected  stroke  to  their  policy,  and  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation  which  succeeded  it  on  the  first  of  January,  1863,  was  another 
crushing  blow  to  their  plans,  and  one  which  Wood  artfully  attempted  to 
prevent. 

But  though  baffled  in  some  of  their  schemes,  they  were  not  disheartened. 
They  were  fertile  in  resources,  and  unburdened  by  any  conscientious  scru 
ples,  they  no  sooner  found  one  scheme  fail  them  than  they  resorted  to 
another  equally  fallacious,  but  perhaps  quite  as  specious,  to  enable  them 
to  maintain  their  attitude  of  hostility  to  the  Government.  Their  opposi 
tion  to  emancipation  had  lost  them  many  adherents,  especially  among 
those  of  the  party  who  had  actively  participated  in  the  war ;  these  saw  in 
the  measure  a  military  necessity  which  could  not  be  foregone;  the  leaders, 
therefore,  professed  to  acquiesce  in  this,  not  very  cordially,  but  as  a  meas 
ure  which  they  could  not  prevent,  and  turned  their  attention  to  other  acts 
of  the  Government.  They  had,  from  a  very  early  period  of  the  war,  com 
plained  of  the  suspension  of  the  habeas  corpus  act,  and  very  naturally, 
since,  with  that  suspended,  they  could  never  be  sure  that  the  discovery 


ORGANIZATIONS   OPPOSED  TO   THE  GOVERNMENT.  811 

of  their  treasonable  schemes  might  not  be  followed  by  arrest,  imprison 
ment,  and  even  execution.  This  now  became  one  of  their  chief  grievances; 
another  was  the  conscription,  which  could  not  be  so  arranged  as  to  suit 
them.  Before  it  was  ordered,  they  had  been  strongly  in  favor  of  it,  from 
the  belief  that  it  would  bring  odium  on  the  Government;  after  it  was 
ordered,  it  was  all  wrong,  first,  for  exempting  so  many ;  when  this  was 
modified,  then  it  exempted  too  few.  The  provision  for  commutation,  by 
the  payment  of  three  hundred  dollars,  was  grossly  unjust,  as  it  discrimi 
nated  against  the  poor  and  in  favor  of  the  rich.  When  this  provision  was 
repealed,  and  the  price  of  substitutes  rose  to  a  thousand  or  twelve  hundred 
dollars,  the  Government  was  roundly  abused  for  not  retaining  it.  We 
have  already  shown  how  riots  occurred  in  New  York  and  elsewhere  to 
prevent  the  draft.  The  finances  were  another  grievance  with  these  dema 
gogues.  Whatever  Secretary  Chase,  who  was  then  Secretary  of  the  Treas 
ury,  did,  was  wrong,  of  course.  The  first  issue  of  Treasury  demand  notes 
were  pronounced  worthless,  and  some  of  the  banks  would  only  receive 
them  on  deposit  after  a  written  agreement  from  the  depositors  to  receive 
their  money  in  those  notes  only,  an  agreement  which,  when  those  notes 
rose  to  forty  or  fifty  per  cent,  premium,  the  banks  were  very  anxious  to 
cancel.  The  legal  tender  notes,  Democratic  orators  and  brokers  made 
every  attempt  to  depreciate ;  assuring  the  ignorant  classes,  and  those  of 
foreign  birth  especially,  that  they  would  soon  become  utterly  worthless, 
and  exhorting  them  to  get  rid  of  them,  or  they  would  fall  upon  their 
hands.  The  Government  loans  were  systematically  decried,  and  the  price  of 
gold  forced  up,  by  combinations,  in  which  foreign  speculators,  in  the  in 
terest  of  the  Rebels  participated,  and  every  means  which  could  be  adopted 
to  ruin  the  national  credit,  was  resorted  to  by  these  unscrupulous  dema 
gogues  without  hesitation. 

There  had  been,  even  before  the  war,  secret  organizations  in  most  of 
the  States,  pledged  to  extend  and  perpetuate  slavery,  even  at  the  expense 
of  the  Union,  known  as  "  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle."  To  these  most 
of  these  leaders  of  the  opposition  belonged,  but  finding  them  in  bad 
odor,  they  reorganized  them  under  the  names  of  "  Sons  of  Liberty," 
"  The  Order  of  American  Knights,"  &c.,  and  drew  into  their  secret  circles, 
large  numbers  of  those  who,  perhaps  without  any  evil  intent,  were  yet 
enamored  of  secret  societies,  and  who  soon  found  themselves  pledged  to 
treasonable  measures.  They  also  organized  openly,  a  wing  of  the  Demo 
cratic  party,  known  distinctively  as  the  Peace  party,  and  though  their  num 
bers  were  small  in  Congress,  they  continued  to  delay  action  and  occasion 
great  annoyance  to  the  loyal  members  of  that  body.  Their  leader  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  in  the  Thirty-seventh  Congress,  was  Clement  L. 
Vallandigham,*  a  Representative  fron?  southern  Ohio.  His  principal  sup- 

*  Clement  L.  Vallandigham  was  born  in  New  Lisbon,  Columbia  county,  Ohio,  in 
822.    He  is  of  Huguenot  stock,  and  his  father  was  a  Presbyterian  clergyman.    He 


812  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 

porters  were  Daniel  S.  Yoorhees,  of  Indiana ;  George  H.  Pendleton,  of 
Ohio ;  William  A.  Richardson,  of  Illinois ;  Benjamin  Wood,  and  James  E 
Kerrigan,  of  New  York ;  Sydenham  E.  Ancona,  and  Jessie  Lazear,  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  Henry  May,  of  Maryland ;  while  Messrs.  Cox,  Allen, 
and  Noble,  of  Ohio;  Knapp,  Kobinson,  Fouke,  and  Allen,  of  Illinois; 
Hoi  man,  Cravens,  and  Law,  of  Indiana,  and  Corning,  Steele,  and  Vib- 
bard,  of  New  York,  were  occasionally  found  advocating  and  sympathizing 
with  his  views.  The  Senate  had  a  few  members  of  the  peace  party,  but 
none  of  them  men  of  high  abilities.  Messrs.  Powell,  Saulsbury,  Bayard, 
Pearce,  McDougall,  and  Nesmith,  were  the  most  prominent. 

The  efforts  of  Vallandigham  and  his  associates  to  obstruct  the  action 
of  Congress  were  so  far  successful  as  to  cause  some  delay  in  the  passage 
of  important  measures,  but  they  were  powerless  to  accomplish  any  con 
siderable  harm.  At  the  close  of  the  second  regular  session  of  the  Thirty- 
seventh  Congress,  Vallandigham  returned  to  Ohio,  and  made  a  political 
canvass  of  his  district,  in  the  course  of  which  he  gave  utterance  to  trea 
sonable  doctrines.  General  Burnside,  who  was  then  in  command  of  the 
Department  of  the  Ohio,  issued  an  order  (No.  38)  on  the  13th  of  April, 
1863,  in  which,  after  announcing  that  u  hereafter  all  persons  found  within 
our  lines  who  committed  acts  for  the  benefit  of  the  enemies  of  our 
country,  will  be  tried  as  spies  or  traitors,  and  if  convicted,  will  suffer 
death,"  he  added,  "  the  habit  of  declaring  sympathy  for  the  enemy  will 
not  be  allowed  in  this  department.  Persons  committing  such  offences 
will  be  at  once  arrested,  with  a  view  to  being  tried,  as  above  stated,  or  be 
sent  beyond  our  lines  into  the  lines  of  their  friends.  It  must  be  distinctly 

received  a  good  academic  education ;  spent  one  year  in  Jefferson  College,  Ohio,  and 
two  years  as  principal  of  an  academy  at  Snow  Hill,  Maryland.  He  returned  to  Ohio 
in  1840  ;  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1842  ;  was  elected  to  the  State 
Legislature  in  1845  and  1846  ;  was  editor  of  the  Dayton  Enquirer  from  1847  to  1849, 
and  for  some  years  devoted  his  attention  to  his  profession  and  to  politics.  In  1856,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  National  Democratic  Convention  held  in  Cincinnati ;  was  Dem 
ocratic  candidate  for  a  seat  in  the  Thirty-fifth  Congress,  against  L.  D.  Campbell, 
whose  seat  he  successfully  contested ;  was  re-elected  to  the  Thirty-sixth  Congress, 
and  catechised  John  Brown  just  before  his  execution  at  Charlestown,  Virginia,  in  hope 
of  making  capital  for  his  party.  In  the  Thirty-sixth  Congress  he  attempted  by  every 
means  in  his  power  to  aid  the  Rebels,  and  to  obstruct  the  action  of  Congress  and  the 
Government,  and  during  his  term  of  service  in  the  Thirty-seventh  Congress,  to  which 
he  was  re-elected,  he  continually  insisted  on  peace  at  any  price.  He  was  not  re-elected 
to  the  next  (Thirty-eighth)  Congress,  having  been  arrested  on  the  fifth  of  May,  1863, 
by  order  of  General  Burnside,  and  tried  and  convicted  of  using  treasonable  language, 
and  by  order  of  the  President  sent  into  the  Rebel  lines,  from  whence  he  escaped  soon 
after  to  Canada.  His  party  procured  his  nomination  as  Democratic  candidate  for 
Governor  of  Ohio,  but  he  was  defeated  by  John  Brough  by  one  hundred  thousand 
majority.  After  residing  some  time  in  Canada,  he  escaped,  and  returned  to  Ohio,  in 
defiance  of  the  United  States  authorities,  and  again  made  treasonable  speeches.  He 
was  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  Democratic  National  Convention  at  Chicago,  in  Sep 
tember,  1864,  but  has  not  been  prominent  since. 


ARREST  OF    MR.   VALLANDIGHAM.  813 

understood  that  treason,  expressed  or  implied,  will  not  be  tolerated  in  thia 
department."  On  the  1st  of  May,  Vallandigham  delivered  an  address 
at  Mount  Vernon,  Ohio,  in  the  course  of  which  he  denounced  the  Govern 
ment  of  the  United  States,  as  aiming,  in  its  conduct  of  the  war,  not  to  re 
store  the  Union,  but  to  crush  out  liberty,  and  to  establish  a  despotism ;  he 
declared  that  the  war  was  waged  for  the  freedom  of  the  blacks  and  the 
enslaving  of  the  whites ;  that  the  Government  could  have  had  peace  long 
before  if  it  had  really  desired  it ;  that  the  mediation  of  France  should 
have  been  accepted,  and  that  the  Government  had  deliberately  rejected 
propositions  by  which  the  Southern  States  could  have  been  brought  back 
into  the  Union.  He  also  denounced  General  Burnside's  order  No.  38, 
and  proclaimed  his  intention  of  disobeying  it,  and  appealed  to  his  hearers 
to  resist  and  defeat  its  execution. 

For  this  speech,  Mr.  Yallandigham  was  arrested  at  Dayton,  on  the 
4th  of  May,  by  order  of  General  Burnside,  and  brought  to  Cincinnati  for 
trial  before  a  court-martial.     On  the  5th  of  May,  he  applied,  through  his 
counsel,  to  Judge  Leavitt  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States  at  Cin 
cinnati,  for  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  to  which  General  Burnside  responded 
with  a  letter  detailing  the  case  and  justifying  his  arrest.     The  application 
was  argued   at  length,  and  was   refused   by  the  judge,  who  though  a 
member   of  the  Democratic   party,    was  thoroughly  loyal,  and  had  no 
affinities  with  the   peace  party.     In  giving  his   decision,  Judge  Leavitt 
said  that  the  legality  of  the  arrest  depended  upon  the  extent  of  the  neces 
sity  for  making  it,  and  that  was  to  be  determined  by  the  military  com 
mander.     He  added  :    "  Men  should  know  and  lay  the  truth  to  heart,  that 
there  is  a  course  of  conduct  not  involving  overt  treason,  and  not  therefore 
subject  to  punishment  as  such,  which,  nevertheless,  implies  moral  guilt, 
and  a  gross  offence  against  the  country.     Those  who  live  under  the  pro 
tection  and  enjoy  the  blessings  of  our  benignant  Government  must  learn 
that  they  cannot   stab  its  vitals  with  impunity.     If  they  cherish    hatred 
and  hostility  to  it,  and  desire  its  subversion,  let  them  withdraw  from  its 
jurisdiction,  and  seek  the  fellowship  and  protection  of  those  with  whom 
they  are  in  sympathy.     If  they  remain  with  us  while  they  are  not  of  us, 
they  must  be  subject  to  such  a  course  of  dealing  as  the  great  law  of  self- 
preservation  prescribes  and  will  enforce.     And  let  them  not  complain  if 
the  stringent  doctrine  of  military  necessity  should  find  them  to  be  the 
legitimate  subjects  of  its  action.     I  have  no  fear  that  the  recognition  of  this 
doctrine  will  lead  to  an  arbitrary  invasion  of  the  personal  security  or  per 
sonal  liberty  of  the  citizens.     It  is  rare  indeed  that  a  charge  of  disloyalty 
will  be  made  on  insufficient  ground.     But  if  there  should  be  an  occasional 
mistake,  such  an  occurrence  is  not  to  be  put  in  competition  with  the  pre 
servation  of  the  nation ;    and  I  confess  I  am  but  little  moved  by  the  elo 
quent  appeals  of  those  who,  while  they  indignantly  denounce   violation 
of  personal  liberty,  look  with  no  horror  upon  a  despotism  as  unmitigated 


gL4  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

as  the  world  has  ever  witnessed."  The  trial  before  the  military  court 
then  proceeded,  and  full  liberty  of  introducing  evidence  being  granted 
to  his  counsel,  the  trial  occupied  about  ten  days.  The  evidence  having 
been  heard,  the  court — Brigadier-General  B.  B.  Potter  presiding — found 
him  guilty  of  the  charge,  and  not  guilty  as  to  part  and  guilty  as  to  part 
of  the  specification.  He  was  therefore  sentenced  to  be  placed  in  close 
confinement  in  some  fortress  of  the  United  States,  to  be  designated  by  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  department,  there  to  be  kept  during  the  con 
tinuance  of  the  war.  General  Burnside  designated  Fort  Warren,  Boston 
harbor.  The  case  having  been  laid  before  the  President,  he  changed  the 
punishment  by  the  following  order  : 

"  WASHINGTON,  May  19,  1863. 
"To  MAJOR-GENERAL  BURNSIDE,  Commanding  Department  of  the.  Ohio. 

"  SIR  : — The  President  directs  that  without  delay  you  send  C.  L.  Val- 
landigham,  under  secure  guard,  to  the  headquarters  of  General  Rosecrans, 
to  be  put  by  him  beyond  our  military  lines,  and  in  case  of  his  return 
within  our  lines,  he  be  arrested  and  kept  in  close  custody  for  the  term 
specified  in  his  sentence. 

"  By  order  of  the  President : 

"E.  B.  S.  CANBY,  Brigadier- General  and  A.  A.  G." 

This  order  was  executed,  and  created  great  excitement  among  the  mem 
bers  of  the  peace  party  and  their  friends.  These  opponents  of  the  admin 
istration  professed  to  regard  Yallandigham  as  a  martyr,  and  they  called 
public  meetings,  in  which  the  action  of  the  Government  was  denounced  as 
tyrannical,  and  dangerous  to  the  public  liberties.  One  of  these  demonstra 
tions  was  held  at  Albany,  on  the  16th  of  May,  the  very  day  on  which 
the  finding  of  the  court  was  announced,  and  Governor  Seymour  ad 
dressed  a  letter  to  the  meeting,  in  which,  referring  to  the  arrest  of  Yal 
landigham,  he  said:  "If  this  proceeding  is  approved  by  the  Govern 
ment,  and  sanctioned  by  the  people,  it  is  not  merely  a  step  toward  rev 
olution—it  is  revolution.  It  will  not  only  lead  to  military  despotism 
— it  establishes  military  despotism.  In  this  aspect  it  must  be  accepted, 
or  in  this  aspect  rejected.  *  *  *  The  people  of  this  country  now 
wait  with  the  deepest  anxiety  the  decision  of  the  Administration  upon 
these  acts.  Having  given  it  a  generous  support  in  the  conduct  of  the 
war,  we  pause  to  see  what  kind  of  a  Government  it  is  for  which  we  are 
asked  to  pour  out  our  blood  and  our  treasure.  The  action  of  the  Admin 
istration  will  determine  in  the  minds  of  more  than  one  half  the  people  of 
the  loyal  States,  whether  this  war  is  waged  to  put  down  Rebellion  at  the 
South,  or  destroy  free  institutions  at  the  North."  The  meeting,  which  was 
engineered  by  the  peace  party,  and  thus  stimulated  to  treasonable  utterances 
by  Horatio  Seymour,  adopted  a  series  of  resolutions,  which,  while  pledg 
ing  the  Democratic  party  of  the  State  to  the  preservation  of  the  Union, 


THE  PRESIDENTS  PROPOSITIONS.  815 

denounced  in  the  Btrongest  terms,  the  arrest  of  Yallandigham,  and  the 
whole  system  of  arbitrary  arrests,  as  well  as  the  suspension  of  the  writ 
of  habeas  corpus,  and  ordered  the  resolutions  sent  to  President  Lincoln. 

The  President  replied  in  a  clear,  logical  and  forcible  letter,  in  which  he 
overthrew  all  the  sophistries  of  their  resolutions,  and  did  it  in  such  a 
kindly  and  courteous  spirit,  as  to  leave  them  no  ground  of  complaint. 
Governor  Seymour  had  proved  a  false  prophet  in  his  predictions.  The 
action  of  the  military  court  was  approved  by  the  Government  and  sanc 
tioned  by  the  people,  yet  there  were  no  evidences  of  a  revolution,  no 
traces  of  any  military  despotism,  and  more  than  one-half  of  the  people 
of  the  loyal  States  declared,  at  the  first  fitting  opportunity,  their  convic 
tions  that  the  arrest  and  punishment  of  the  abettors  of  treason  did 
not  determine  that  the  war  was  waged  to  put  down  free  institutions  in  the 
North.  But  the  "  Peace  party"  had  not  yet  exhausted  their  efforts  to  make 
political  capital  out  of  the  arrest  and  punishment  of  Mr.  Yallandigham. 
On  the  llth  of  June,  at  their  State  convention  at  Columbus,  they  nominated 
him  for  Governor  of  Ohio,  and  addressed  to  the  President,  through  a  com 
mittee,  a  letter  inclosing  their  resolutions,  and  demanding  peremptorily  that 
the  sentence  against  their  candidate  should  be  revoked,  and  he  returned  to 
Ohio.  There  was  no  use  in  reasoning  with  such  people,  and  the  President 
did  not  attempt  it.  He  explained  to  them,  however,  that  Mr.  Yallan 
digham  was  not  within  his  power;  that  he  had  gone  to  the  society  of  his 
friends ;  but  proposed  that  if  the  committee,  which  was  composed  of  the 
most  prominent  opponents  of  the  Administration  in  each  congressional  dis 
trict,  would  on  their  part  sign  certain  propositions,  which  he  inclosed,  he 
would  interpose  no  objections  to  Mr.  Yallandigham's  return.  The  propo 
sitions  were  as  follows : 

1.  "  That  there  is  now  a  Rebellion  in  the  United  States,  the  object  and 
tendency  of  which  is  to  destroy  the  national  Union:  and  that,  in  your 
opinion,  an  army  and  navy  are  constitutional  means  for  suppressing  that 
Rebellion. 

2.  "That  no  one  of  you  will  do  anything  which,  in  his  own  judgment, 
will  tend  to  hinder  the  increase,  or  favor  the  decrease,  or  lessen  the  effi 
ciency  of  the  army  and  navy,  while  engaged  in  the  effort  to  suppress  that 
Rebellion;  and 

3.  "  That  each  of  you  will,  in  his  sphere,  do  all  he  can  to  have  the 
officers,  soldiers,  and  seamen,  of    the  army  and  navy,  while  engaged  in 
the  effort  to  suppress  the  Rebellion,  paid,  fed,  clad,  and  otherwise  well  pro 
vided  for  and  supported." 

To  have  signed  these  propositions  would  have  been  equivalent  to  avow 
ing  their  repentance  for  their  past  treasonable  conduct,  and  promising  to 
do  justly  hereafter,  and  as  the  committee  had  no  desire  to  do  this,  and  had 
no  idea  of  becoming  bondsmen  for  Yallandigham's  future  good  conduct, 
inasmuch  as  they  did  not  really  wish  his  release,  but  sought  to  make  po- 


816  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

litical  capital  out  of  his  arrest  and  punishment,  they  were  greatly  annoyed 
at  the  President's  propositions,  and  sent  a  rejoinder  so  impertinent  and 
discourteous,  that  self-respect  forbade  any  reply  on  his  part. 

The  canvass  for  Governor  of  Ohio  was  very  animated,  and  the  "  Peace 
party"  used  every  possible  means  to  carry  the  State,  and  boasted  confi 
dently,  that  they  should  do  so,  but  on  the  day  of  the  election  the  op 
posing  candidate,  John  Brough,  had  a  majority  of  one  hundred  thousand 
votes  over  the  treason-loving  Vallandigham,  and  the  advocates  of  peace-at- 
any-price  were  for  the  time  paralyzed  by  their  defeat.  Vallandigham  him 
self,  after  spending  a  short  time  among  the  Kebels,  and  having  interviews 
with  Jefferson  Davis  and  his  Cabinet,  escaped  to  Canada,  via  Nassau,  on  a 
blockade- runner,  and  after  some  months'  residence,  in  Canada,  where  he 
was  on  terms  of  the  closest  intimacy  with  Sanders,  Jacob  Thompson,  Bev 
erly  Tucker,  and  other  prominent  southern  leaders  who  were  plotting  for 
the  injury  of  the  Union,  he  escaped  to  Ohio  on  the  15th  of  June.  Dur 
ing  the  period  of  his  residence  in  Canada,  as  well  as  subsequently,  his 
chosen  friends  and  associates  were  employing  their  willing  agents  to 
make  raids  upon  the  towns  and  villages  of  the  border,  to  murder  and 
rob,  to  seize  and  burn  steamers,  to  set  on  fire  the  largest  buildings  of 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  to  set  at  liberty  the  Eebel  prisoners  at 
Chicago,  Indianapolis,  and  elsewhere,  and  arming  them  and  their  com 
rades,  the  Order  of  American  Knights,  to  sack,  plunder,  and  burn  Chi 
cago,  Indianapolis,  and  Cincinnati,  planning  the  poisoning  of  the  Croton 
water,  which  supplies  New  York  city,  and  sending  through  Dr.  Black 
burn,  their  packages  of  clothing  carefully  infected  with  yellow  fever  and 
small-pox,  to  be  sold  in  the  principal  cities,  to  destroy  by  the  pestilence 
those  who  had  escaped  from  the  flames  and  poisons  they  had  prepared  for 
them.  That  Mr.  Vallandigham  was  privy  to  and  an  actor  in  some  of  these 
schemes  of  fiendish  wickedness,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  and  there  is  pre 
sumptive  evidence  that  he  was  cognizant  of  the  others. 

On  his  return  to  Ohio,  he  made  two  or  three  public  speeches,  breathing 
a  spirit  of  defiance  toward  the  President  and  the  Government,  and  boast 
ing  of  the  number  and  strength  of  those  who  were  associated  with  him, 
and  of  the  terrible  things  they  would  do  if  they  were  middled  with.  His 
prestige  was  gone,  however,  and  thenceforward  he  remained  quiet,  until 
the  meeting  of  the  Democratic  National  Convention  at  Chicago,  when  he 
participated  actively  in  the  debates,  and  made  several  speeches  outside  of 
the  convention ;  but  the  response  of  its  nominee  for  the  Presidency  not 
being  sufficiently  hostile  to  the  war  or  the  Government  to  please  him,  he 
took  but  little  part  in  the  canvass,  and  sunk  almost  immediately  into 
merited  obscurity. 

The  peace  party  were  not  yet  satisfied  of  their  powerlessness.  Through 
the  campaigns  of  the  battle-summer  of  1864,  every  Union  victory  de 
pressed  them,  but  every  defeat  or  repulse  of  the  national  armies  was 


PLATFORM   OF  THE   CHICAGO   CONVENTION.  817 

bailed  by  them  with  rejoicing ;  and  when,  as  for  a  time  in  July  and  the 
latter  part  of  August,  there  seemed  to  be  but  little  progress  made  in  sub 
duing  the  Rebels,  and  occasionally  disasters  occurred,  like  the  defeat  of 
Wallace  at  Monocacy,  the  repulse  of  Sherman's  assault  on  Kenesaw,  or 
the  mismanagement  of  the  Petersburg  mine  explosion,  their  orators  at 
once  proclaimed  that  the  war  was  a  failure,  and  that  the  Government  must 
be  driven  into  making  offers  of  peace  to  the  Rebels  such  as  they  would 
be  willing  to  accept.  They  boasted  that  they  would  control  the  coming 
convention  at  Chicago,  and  that  their  nominee  there  would  be  carried  into 
the  Presidency  by  acclamation. 

The  convention  met  on  the  29th  of  August,  1864.  Governor  Seymour, 
of  New  York,  was  chosen  its  president,  and  in  his  opening  address  he  in 
dicated  his  complete  sympathy  with  the  peace  party.  The  platform 
adopted  by  the  convention,  as  reported  by  Mr.  Guthrie,  of  Kentucky, 
gave  evidence  also  that  the  peace  men  were  exerting  a  controlling  influ 
ence  in*  its  councils.  It  was  as  follows : 

"  Resolved,  That  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  we  will  adhere  with  un 
swerving  fidelity  to  the  Union  under  the  Constitution  as  the  only  solid 
foundation  of  our  strength,  security,  and  happiness  as  a  people,  and  as  a 
framework  of  government  equally  conducive  to  the  welfare  and  prosperity 
of  all  the  States,  both  northern  and  southern. 

"Resolved,  That  this  convention  does  explicitly  declare,  as  the  sense  of 
the  American  people,  that  after  four  years  of  failure  to  restore  the  Union 
by  the  experiment  of  war,  during  which,  under  the  pretence  of  a  military 
necessity  or  war  power  higher  than  the  Constitution,  the  Constitution 
itself  has  been  disregarded  in  every  part,  and  public  liberty  and  private 
right  alike  trodden  down,  and  the  material  prosperity  of  the  country 
essentially  impaired — -justice,  humanity,  liberty,  and  the  public  welfare, 
demand  that  immediate  efforts  be  made  for  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  with 
a  view  to  an  ultimate  convention  of  the  States,  or  other  peaceable  means, 
to  the  end  that  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment,  peace  may  be  restored 
on  the  basis  of  the  Federal  Union  of  the  States. 

"Resolved,  That  the  direct  interference  of  the  military  authorities  of  the 
United  States  in  the  recent  elections  held  in  Kentucky,  Maryland,  Mis 
souri,  and  Delaware,*  was  a  shameful  violation  of  the  Constitution ;  and 
£  repetition  of  such  acts  in  the  approaching  election  will  be  held  as  revo 
lutionary,  and  resisted  with  all  the  means  and  power  under  our  control. 

"Resolved,  That  the  aim  and  object  of  the  Democratic  party  is  to  preserve 
the  Federal  Union  and  the  rights  of  the  States  unimpaired;  and  they 
hereby  declare  that  they  consider  that  the  administrative  usurpation  of 

*  This  referred  to  the  stationing  of  the  military  near  the  polls  in  these  States,  at 
their  congresssional  elections,  to  prevent  open  and  avowed  Rebels  from  voting,  or  in 
terfering  with  loyal  voters.     No  violence,  and  no  influence  for  or  against  any  candi 
date,  was  attempted  or  permitted 
52 


818  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

extraordinary  and  dangerous  powers  not  granted  by  the  Constitution ; 
the  subversion  of  the  civil  by  military  law  in  States  not  in  insurrection  ; 
the  arbitrary  military  arrest,  imprisonment,  trial,  and  sentence  of  Ameri 
can  citizens  in  States  where  civil  law  exists  in  full  force ;  the  suppression 
of  freedom  of  speech  and  of  the  press ;  the  denial  of  the  right  of  asylum  ; 
the  open  and  avowed  disregard  of  State  rights;  the  employment  of  un 
usual  test  oaths ;  and  the  interference  with  and  denial  of  the  right  of  the 
people  to  bear  arms  in  their  defence,*  is  calculated  to  prevent  a  restora 
tion  of  the  Union,  and  the  perpetuation  of  a  government  deriving  its  just 
powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed. 

"Resolved,  That  the  shameful  disregard  of  the  Administration  to  its  duty 
in  respect  to  our  fellow  citizens  who  now  are,  and  long  have  been,  prison 
ers  of  war  in  a  suffering  condition,  deserves  the  severest  reprobation,  on 
the  score  alike  of  public  policy  and  common  humanity. 

"Resolved,  That  the  sympathy  of  the  Democratic  party  is  heartily  and 
earnestly  extended  to  the  soldiers  of  our  army  and  the  sailors  of  our  navy, 
who  are,  and  have  been,  in  the  field  and  on  the  sea,  under  the  flag  of  their 
country ;  and  in  the  event  of  its  attaining  power,  they  will  receive  all  the 
care,  protection,  and  regard,  that  the  brave  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  Re 
public  have  so  nobly  earned." 

This  platform  adopted,  as  the  deliberate  expression  of  their  views  and 
position  with  reference  to  the  Government  and  the  Rebellion,  they  nomi 
nated  General  George  B.  McClellan  for  President,  and  George  H.  Pendle- 
ton,  of  Ohio,  the  friend  and  supporter  of  Yallandigham,  for  Vice  President. 
It  was  the  first  instance  in  the  history  of  the  nation,  in  which  one  of  the 
two  great  parties  composing  its  voting  population,  had  avowed  its  hostili 
ty  in  such  bitter  terms,  not  only  to  the  existing  administration,  but  to  the 
conflict  in  which  it  was  engaged  for  the  maintenance  of  the  nation's  life ; 
and  had  the  party  gone  before  the  people  with  this  platform,  pure  and 
simple,  as  the  only  issue  between  them  and  the  party  of  the  Union,  they 
would  have  been  buried  so  deep  in  the  scorn  and  contempt  of  the  nation, 
that  they  would  never  have  found  a  resurrection ;  but  they  had,  with  sin 
ister  purpose,  while  repudiating  the  war  and  calling  it  a  failure,  nomina 
ted  for  the  Presidency  a  general  who  had  once  possessed  a  large  degree  of 
popularity,  a  little  of  which  yet  clung  to  him,  in  spite  of  his  affiliations  with 
the  "  Peace  party ;"  and  he,  fallen  as  he  was  from  his  former  high  estate, 
could  not  so  entirely  forget  his  old  record  as  to  put  himself  squarely  upon 
such  a  platform  ;  eight  days  later,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  the  committee 
of  this  convention,  in  which,  while  accepting  the  nomination,  he,  though 
in  somewhat  ambiguous  language,  repudiated  the  resolutions  of  the  con- 

*  In  one  or  two  disloyal  districts  in  the  border  States,  on  conclusive  evidence  that 
they  were  engaged  in  bushwhacking,  or  furnishing  arms,  &c.,  to  bushwhackers  ana 
guerrillas,  the  houses  of  known  sympathizers  with  the  Rebels  had  been  searched,  and 
their  arms  taken  fron  them. 


EFFORTS  AT  NEGOTIATIONS  FOR  PEACE.  819 

vention,  and  especially  those  which  demanded  the  immediate  cessation  of 
hostilities,  and  the  offer  of  peace  to  the  States  in  rebellion.  Mr.  Pendleton, 
of  course,  accepted  the  platform  as  it  stood.  Yet,  while  General  McClel- 
lan's  position  in  relation  to  the  platform,  and  his  former  personal  popu 
larity,  served  to  complicate  the  issue,  and  gained  many  thousand  more 
votes  for  the  ticket  than  it  would  otherwise  have  received,  the  party  were 
most  thoroughly  and  terribly  defeated  at  the  polls,  in  November,  1864. 
The  entire  vote  polled  was  4,000,850,  of  which  Mr.  Lincoln  had  2,203,831, 
and  General  McClellan  1,797,019;  Mr.  Lincoln's  majority  being  406,812 
on  the  popular  vote.  In  the  Electoral  College,  McClellan's  defeat  was 
still  more  marked.  Of  the  two  hundred  and  thirty -four  electoral  votes, 
he  received  but  twenty-one ;  Kentucky,  New  Jersey,  and  Delaware  alone 
choosing  Democratic  electors.  Thus  decisively  did  the  people  indicate 
their  disapprobation  of  the  peace  party  and  its  principles. 

It  should  be  acknowledged  that  the  capture  of  Atlanta  by  Sherman, 
the  successful  battle  of  Chaffm's  Farm,  near  Richmond,  and  Sheridan's  re 
peated  defeats  of  Early  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  all  of  which  occurred 
within  a  very  few  weeks  after  the  adoption  of  the  Chicago  platform,  and 
practically  demonstrated  its  falsity,  infused  new  courage  into  the  hearts  of 
the  friends  of  the  Government,  and  depressed,  in  a  corresponding  degree, 
the  leaders  of  the  peace  party,  but  even  without  these,  the  popular  heart 
was  on  the  side  of  the  Government  and  the  hearty  prosecution  of  the 
war. 

There  is  one  topic  in  connection  with  the  resolutions  of  the  Chicago 
Convention,  which  merits  further  elucidation.  We  refer  to  the  matter  of 
negotiations  looking  toward  peace  between  the  United  States  Government 
and  the  States  in  rebellion.  While  maintaining  firmly  the. position  that 
there  could  be  no  peace,  except  through  the  submission  of  the  leaders  of 
the  Rebellion  and  the  relinquishment  of  all  hostile  purposes  on  their  part, 
President  Lincoln  had  always  shown  himself  ready  to  enter  into  negotia 
tions  with  any  parties  duly  accredited,  and  bearing  propositions  which 
embraced  such  terms  as  he  could  rightfully  consider.  Three  efforts,  nei 
ther  of  them  successful,  were  made  to  bring  about  such  negotiations  in 
the  summer  of  1864.  The  first  in  point  of  time,  though  the  three  were 
almost  simultaneous,  was  a  private  mission  on  the  part  of  Colonel  Jaques 
of  Illinois,  and  Mr.  J.  R.  Gilmore  of  Boston,  a  litterateur  of  some  note,  who 
sought  and  obtained  a  safe  conduct  to  Richmond,  to  endeavor  to  induce 
Jefferson  Davis  to  propose  negotiations  with  the  Government,  looking 
toward  peace  and  a  restoration  of  the  Union.  Davis  declined,  insisting 
that  the  recognition  of  southern  independence  was  a  necessary  prelimi 
nary  to  any  negotiations,  and  that  Mr.  Lincoln  would  not  grant  this.  On 
the  4th  of  July,  1864,  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  then  Vice  President  of  the 
so-called  Confederacy,  sent  to  the  admiral  of  the  north  Atlantic  squadron 
a  message,  requesting  permission  to  go  Washington  in  the  Rebel  war 


820  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

steamer  Torpedo,  to  deliver  a  communication  from  Jefferson  Davis.  This 
request  was  denied,  very  properly,  as  the  presence  of  the  Rebel  war 
steamer  in  the  Potomac  river  at  the  national  capital  was  objectionable, 
and  in  no  respect  necessary,  the  ordinary  channels  of  communication  being 
ample  for  the  purpose  desired. 

But  the  most  noted  of  these  attempts  at  opening  negotiations,  was  that 
through  Hon.  Horace  Greeley,  of  the  New  York  Tribune,  about  the  mid 
dle  of  July,  1864.  Mr.  Greeley,  who,  from  principle  as  well  as  from  his 
natural  constitution,  entertained  a  strong  aversion  to  war,  had  repeatedly 
sought  to  arrest  the  conflict,  at  almost  any  cost,  except  that  of  relinquishing 
the  emancipation  of  the  slaves.  "While  at  Niagara  Falls,  early  in  July,  he  had 
fallen  in  with  an  adventurer  by  the  name  of  William  Cornell  Jewett,  who 
had  made  repeated  efforts  to  render  himself  conspicuous  in  connection 
with  the  war.  Jewett  persuaded  Mr.  Greeley  that  Clement  C.  Clay,  Jr., 
of  Alabama,  Professor  James  P.  llolcomb  of  Virginia,  and  George  N.  San 
ders,  a  notorious  southern  adventurer,  who  were  at  the  Clifton  House,  on 
the  Canada  side  of  Niagara  Falls,  were  duly  accredited  from  Richmond, 
as  bearers  of  propositions  looking  to  the  establishment  of  peace ;  and, 
without  waiting  to  ascertain  the  facts  from  them,  Mr.  Greeley  wrote  to 
Washington,  asking  to  be  authorized  to  grant  them  safe-conduct,  should 
such  be  the  case.  To  this  the  President  consented,  and  having  received 
a  letter  from  Sanders,  announcing  the  willingness  of  himself  and  compan 
ions  to  go  to  Washington,  under  complete  and  unqualified  protection, 
Mr.  Greeley  addressed  a  letter  to  Messrs.  Clay  and  Holcomb,  including 
also  Jacob  Thompson,  who,  as  it  afterward  appeared,  was  not  with  them 
at  the  time,  in  which  he  stated  that  he  was  informed  that  they  were  duly 
accredited  as  the  bearers  of  propositions,  &c.,  and  that  if  so,  he  was 
authorized  to  tender  them  safe  conduct,  and  to  accompany  them. 

Messrs.  Clay  and  Holcomb  replied  that  they  had  not  been  accredited 
for  any  such  purpose,  but  as  they  were  in  the  confidential  employment  of 
their  Government,  they  did  not  doubt  that  upon  making  known  the  cir 
cumstances  disclosed  by  his  correspondence  at  Richmond,  they  would  be 
invested  with  the  necessary  authority,  or  other  gentlemen,  clothed  with 
full  powers,  would  be  sent  immediately  to  Washington  to  enter  upon  the 
negotiations.  Mr.  Greeley  felt  it  necessary  to  report  to  Washington, 
before  granting  a  safe  conduct  to  men  not  accredited  by  their  Government ; 
and  the  President,  not  exactly  satisfied  with  the  way  in  which  Mr.  Greeley 
had  managed  the  matter,  despatched  his  private  secretary,  Major  Hay,  at 
once  to  Niagara  Falls,  with  the  following  qualified  safe-conduct,  which 
lie  was  authorized  to  deliver  to  Mr.  Holcomb,  in  Mr.  Greeley's  presence : 

"  EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  July  18,  1864. 
"  To  whom  it  may  concern : 

"Any  proposition  which  embraces  the  restoration  of  peace,  the  integ 
rity  of  the  whole  Union,  and  the  abandonment  of  slavery,  and  which 


REBEL  PEACE   COMMISSIONERS   APPOINTED.  821 

comes  by  and  with  an  authority  that  can  control  the  armies  now  at  war 
against  the  United  States,  will  be  received  and  considered  by  the  Execu 
tive  Government  of  the  United  States,  and  will  be  met  by  liberal  terms 
on  other  substantial  and  collateral  points,  and  the  bearer  or  bearers  thereof 
shall  have  safe  conduct  both  ways. 

"ABRAHAM  LINCOLN." 

This  conditional  safe-conduct  brought  the  pretensions  of  the  soi-disant 
Confederate  commissioners  to  the  test,  and  as  they  well  knew  that  they 
were  not  accredited  with  any  authority,  even  to  discuss  these  questions, 
and  did  not  desire  it,  their  object  being  to  visit  the  capital,  and  while 
amusing  the  President  with  some  pretended  propositions,  avail  themselves 
of  the  opportunity  to  confer  with  their  fellow  conspirators  there,  they 
replied,  with  well  feigned  indignation,  to  the  President's  statement  of  the 
necessary  qualifications  for  peace  commissioners.  They  professed  to  think 
that  it  would  bean  indignity  to  Jefferson  Davis  to  transmit  to  him  these 
terms,  and  that  it  would  bring  down  upon  them  the  well-merited  scorn  of 
their  country  men.  In  the  light  of  subsequent  revelations  of  the  character, 
designs,  and  purposes  of  these  men,  their  virtuous  indignation,  though  a 
very  pretty  piece  of  acting,  seems  to  have  been  somewhat  overdone. 
They  were  implicated  in  the  most  nefarious  schemes  against  the  govern 
ment  and  people  of  the  United  States,  ever  concocted  by  human  do 
pravity;  intended  plans  for  burning,  sacking,  and  plundering  Chicago, 
Cleveland,  Buffalo,  Rochester,  and  New  York  city  ;  the  robberies  and 
murders  at  St.  Albans,  Vermont;  the  seizure  and  piracy  of  the  steamer 
Chesapeake;  the  distribution  of  the  yellow  fever  and  small-pox  infection 
in  Newbern,  Washington,  New  York,  and  Philadelphia,  and  finally  the 
assassination  of  the  President,  and  the  attempts  upon  the  lives  of  the 
Vice  President  and  Cabinet,  were  among  the  projects  in  which  these 
amiable  and  virtuous  gentlemen  were  engaged,  either  as  principals  or 
accessories.  Time  brings  changes  in  opinions,  as  well  as  in  persons. 
The  propositions  these  men  so  indignantly  repudiated,  were,  almost  word 
for  word,  those  which  nine  months  later,  the  Rebel  General  Johnston,  with 
the  advice  and  approval  of  John  C.  Breckinridge,  then  Rebel  Secretary 
of  War,  offered  to  General  Sherman,  at  Durham  station. 

The  President  of  the  United  States  was  sincerely  desirous  of  peace,  if 
it  could  be  obtained  on  terms  which  would  not  dishonor  the  nation.  The 
nation  was  pledged  to  the  unity  of  the  States,  and  could  not  permit  for  a 
moment  the  recognition  of  the  South,  as  a  separate  and  independent  gov 
ernment  ;  it  was  pledged  also  most  solemnly  to  the  emancipation  of  the 
slaves  and  the  abandonment  of  slavery,  and  it  could  not  yield  this  point. 
All  else  was,  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  mind,  of  comparatively  slight  moment;  the 
amnesty  of  individuals,  the  restoration  of  power  and  authority  to  the 
South ;  all  else,  indeed,  except  these  two  vital  points,  he  was  at  this  time 


822  THE   CIVIL  WAK  Itf  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

willing  to  allow  the  party  in  rebellion  to  make  almost  their  own  terms 
for,  but  in  relation  to  the  two  vital  points,  he  was  as  immovable  as  the 
Rocky  mountains. 

But  there  were  other  overtures  for  peace  made  by  the  Rebel  Govern 
ment  a  few  months  later,  when  the  consciousness  of  its  speedy  decadence 
had  somewhat  mollified  the  bitterness  of  its  hostility  to  the  North,  the 
history  of  which  may  properly  be  given  at  this  time.  In  the  latter  part 
of  December,  1864,  General  Lee  had  informed  Mr.  Davis  and  his  cabinet 
that  unless  extraordinary  measures  were  adopted,  or  there  should  be  some 
unexpected  change  in  the  condition  of  their  affairs,  it  would  be  impos 
sible  for  the  Confederacy  to  last  six  months  longer  ;  and  it  is  said  that  he 
privately  urged  upon  Mr.  Davis  to  make  the  best  terms  possible  with  the 
United  States  Government  while  they  were  in  a  condition  to  do  so.  Davis 
himself,  opinionated,  self-willed,  and  stubborn,  was  not  much  inclined  to 
treat  this  advice  with  respect,  but  the  Yice  President  (Mr.  Stephens), 
Judge  Campbell,  and  some  of  the  members  of  the  Cabinet,  were  deeply 
impressed  by  it.  Intimations  were  sent  to  Francis  P.  Blair,  senior,  who 
had  formerly  been  a  personal  friend  of  some  of  the  magnates  of  Rich 
mond,  requesting  him  to  visit  that  city  with  reference  to  some  nego 
tiations  on  the  subject  of  peace.  On  Mr.  Blair's  application  to  President 
Lincoln  for  permission  to  go  to  Richmond  and  return,  he  was  furnished 
with  a  pass  for  that  purpose,  but  with  the  special  stipulation  that  he 
should  in  no  way  treat  with  the  Rebels  in  behalf  of  the  Government. 
On  his  return,  Mr.  Blair  brought  a  letter  from  Mr.  Davis,  dated  Jan 
uary  12th,  1865,  in  which  he  stated  that  he  was  willing  to  enter  into 
negotiations  for  the  restoration  of  peace,  that  he  would  appoint  a  com 
missioner,  "and  renew  the  effort  to  enter  into  a  conference,  with  a  view  to 
secure  peace  to  the  two  countries"  The  intent  of  this  artfully  worded 
letter  was,  evidently,  to  entrap  Mr.  Lincoln,  should  he  respond  by  the 
appointment  of  a  commissioner,  into  the  acknowledgment  of  the  assumed 
independence  of  the  rebellious  Confederacy.  The  attempt  failed.  Mr.  Lin 
coln's  reply  was  as  follows : 

"  WASHINGTON,  January  18th,  1865. 

"  F.  P.  BLAIR,  ESQ. — Sir :  You  having  shown  me  Mr.  Davis's  letter  to 
you  of  the  12th  instant,  you  may  say  to  him  that  I  have  constantly  been, 
am  now,  and  shall  continue,  ready  to  receive  any  agent  whom  he  or  any 
other  influential  person  now  resisting  the  national  authority  may  in 
formally  send  me,  with  a  view  of  securing  peace  to  the  people  of  our  com 
mon  country.  Yours,  etc.,  A.  LINCOLN." 

Mr.  Blah  returned  to  Richmond  with  this  letter,  and  Mr.  A.  H.  Ste 
phens,  then  Yice  President  of  the  Rebel  Government,  being  consulted 
upon  the  subject,  most  earnestly  advised  a  conference,  but  thought  the 
parties  to  it  should  be  Mr.  Davis  and  President  Lincoln,  and  that  the 


THE  CONFERENCE  AT  HAMPTON  ROADS.  823 

utmost  secrecy  should  be  maintained,  Generals  Grant  and  Lee  alone 
being  cognizant  of  the  interview.  This  advice  was  not  followed,  but 
Davis  appointed  Stephens,  B.  M.  T.  Hunter,  senator  in  the  Rebel  Con 
gress,  and  a  former  member  of  Davis's  cabinet,  and  Judge  Campbell,  then 
Assistant  Secretary  of  War  in  the  Rebel  war  department,  as  commissioners. 
Stephens  and  Campbell  were  known  to  be  in  favor  of  peace  and  conces 
sion,  and  Davis  was  desirous  of  throwing  the  odium  of  any  failure  on 
them  ;  while  Hunter  sympathized  fully  with  Davis,  and  would  make  no 
concessions.  The  commissioners,  however,  decided  to  go,  and  applied 
through  General  Grant  to  the  national  Government  for  permission  to 
enter  the  Union  lines  as  quasi  commissioners  from  the  Eebel  Government 
to  confer  informally  with  the  President  at  Washington,  in  order  to  ascer 
tain  upon  what  terms  the  war  could  be  terminated  honorably.  Permission 
was  granted,  with  the  understanding  that  the  parties  named  were  not  to 
be  allowed  to  land,  a  fact  which  caused  much  annoyance  to  the  Rebel  com 
missioners,  who  were  very  desirous  of  visiting  Washington.  They  were 
furnished  quarters  on  board  a  steamer  anchored  in  Hampton  Roads,  off' 
Fortress  Monroe,  and  the  Secretary  of  State  was  sent  by  the  President  to 
meet  them,  with  the  following  instructions  : 

"  EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  January  3d,  L865. 

"IIo*.  WILLIAM  H.  SEWAKD,  Secretary  of  State. 

"You  will  proceed  to  Fortress  Monroe,  Virginia,  there  to  meet  and  in  for 
mally  confer  with  Messrs.  Stephens,  Hunter,  and  Campbell,  on  the  basis 
of  my  letter  to  F.  P.  Blair,  Esq.  of  January  18th,  1865,  a  copy  of  which 
you  have.  You  will  make  known  to  them  that  three  things  are  indispen 
sable,  to  wit : 

"First.  The  restoration  of  the  National  authority  throughout  all  the  States ; 

'Second.  No  receding  by  the  Executive  of  the  United  Statesman  the  slavery 
question  from  the  position  assumed  thereon  in  the  late  annual  message  to  Con 
gress,  and  in  the  preceding  documents  ; 

"  Third.  No  cessation  of  hostilities  short  of  the  end  of  the  war,  and  the  disband, 
ing  of  all  the  forces  hostile  to  the  Government. 

"  You  will  inform  them  that  all  propositions  of  theirs,  not  inconsistent 
with  the  above,  will  be  considered  and  passed  upon  in  a  spirit  of  sincere 
liberality.  You  will  hear  all  they  may  choose  to  say  and  repeat  it  to  me. 
You  will  not  assume  definitely  to  consummate  any  thing. 

"Yours,  etc.,  A.  LINCOLN." 

The  next  morning,  February  1st,  in  order  to  prevent  any  attempt  at 
trickery  by  the  Rebels,  the  President  sent  a  cipher  despatch  to  General 
Grant,  informing  him  that  nothing  then  transpiring  was  to  "  change,  hinder 
or  delay"  any  of  his  military  movements  or  plans.  In  reply,  General 
Grant  intimated  to  Secretary  Stanton,  that  it  might  be  as  Well  if  the  Presi 
dent  oould  be  personally  present  at  the  conference,  as  he  believed  that  the 


824  THE   CIYIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

commissioners  were  sincerely  desirous  to  restore  peace  and  union.  Mr. 
Lincoln  hereupon  telegraphed  to  Secretary  Seward : "  Induced  by  a  despatch 
from  General  Grant,  I  join  you  at  Fortress  Monroe  as  soon  as  I  can  come," 
and  to  General  Grant :  '•  Say  to  the  gentlemen,  that  I  will  meet  them  per 
sonally  at  Fortress  Monroe,  as  soon  as  I  can  get  there." 

The  conference,  however,  accomplished  nothing.  The  commissioners, 
though,  as  we  have  intimated,  two  of  them  were  personally  desirous  of 
peace  with  such  concessions  as  might  have  effected  it,  were  bound  by  their 
instructions  from  Davis,  and  at  the  outset  and  throughout  the  conference, 
declared  their  entire  lack  of  authority  to  make,  receive,  or  consider  any 
propositions  whatever  looking  toward  a  close  of  the  war,  except  on  the 
basis  of  a  recognition  of  the  independence  of  the  Confederate  States  as  a 
preliminary  condition.  The  President  presented  the  subject  to  them  in 
every  conceivable  form,  suggesting  the  most  liberal  and  considerate  modi 
fications  of  whatever,  in  the  existing  legislation  of  the  United  States 
Government,  might  be  regarded  as  specially  hostile  to  the  rights  and 
interests,  or  wounding  to  the  pride  of  the  southern  people, — even  going 
so  far  as  to  intimate  that  by  a  concession  at  that  time,  they  might  secure 
a  fair  compensation  from  the  Government  for  the  emancipated  slaves ;  but 
the  commissioners  plead  that  their  instructions  were  peremptory,  that 
they  could  not  swerve  a  hair's  breadth  from  their  demand  for  recognition^ 
There  could  of  course  under  the  circumstances  be  no  negotiation,  for  the 
recognition  of  their  independence  could  not  be  thought  of  for  a  moment 
by  the  President,  and  the  parties  separated,  distinctly  understanding  that 
the  attitude  of  each  Government  was  not  in  the  slightest  degree  affected 
or  changed  by  the  conference. 

Davis,  in  a  special  message  to  his  Congress,  attempted  to  make  capital  out 
of  the  failure  of  this  conference,  whose  discussions  he  misrepresented,  but  the 
attempt  proved  futile.  The  questions  at  issue  were  now  left  to  the  stern 
arbitrament  of  war,  and  were  quickly  decided. 


THE  NAVY   OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  825 


CHAPTER    LXV. 

TUB  NAVY  OF  THK  UNITED  STATES  AT  THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  WAR — ITS  INADEQUACY 

FOR  THE  WORK  TO  BE  DONE THE  DUTY  REQUIRED  OF  THE  NAVY THE  PURCHASK  AND 

CONSTRUCTION  OF  VESSELS  FOR  THE  NAVY THE  NUMBER,  CHARACTER,  AND  ARMAMKNT  OF 

THK  VESSELS  OF  THE  NAVY  DURING  THE  WAR  AND  AT  ITS  CLOSE — THE  IRON-CLADS — PREF- 
KRENCE  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT  FOR  THE  MONITORS — THEIR  EFFICIENCY  IN  NA^IL  BATTLES 

THE  RIVER  IRON-CLADS,  TURTLE-BACKS  AND  TIN-CLADS — WHAT  WAS  ACCOMPLISHED  BY 

THE  RIVER  SQUADRONS — THE  WORK  OF  THE   BLOCKADERS  OF  THE  ATLANTIC  COAST TUB 

REBEL  NAVY STOLEN  VESSELS — THEIR  PRIVATEERS — THEIR  IRON-CLADS — FATE  OF  THEIR 

VESSELS THE  ANGLO-REBEL  PRIVATEERS THEIR  NAMES  AND  CHARACTER THE  ATTEMPTS 

TO  BUILD  ARMED  SHIPS  FOR  THE  REBELS  IN  ENGLAND  AND  FRANCE THEIR  FAILURE — THE 

HISTORY  OF  THE  ALABAMA HER  PERFIDIOUS  ATTACK  ON  THE  HATTERAS — SHE  ENTERS  TUB 

PORT  OF  CHERBOURG,  AND  FINDING  ESCAPE  WITHOUT  A  FIGHT  IMPOSSIBLE,  HER  COM 
MANDER  CHALLENGES  THE  KEARSARGE  TO  A  BATTLE — THE  COMPARATIVE  SIZE,  ARMAMENT 
AND  CRF.W  OF  THE  TWO  VESSELS,  AND  THEIR  MEANS  OF  RESISTANCE — CAPTAIN  SEMMKS* 
"  PREPARATIONS" — THE  DEERHOUND — THE  BATTLE — DESPICABLE  CONDUCT  OF  THE  OWNER 
OF  THE  DEERHOUND — SEMMES  RECEIVES  OVATIONS RAGE  OF  THE  ENGLISH  AT  THE  SINK 
ING  OF  THE  ALABAMA — CAUSES  OF  IT — THE  CAPTURE  OF  THE  GEORGIA — HISTORY  OF  THK 
FLORIDA HER  CAPTURE — COMMANDER  COLLINS  CENSURABLE  FOR  SEIZING  HER  IN  A  NEU 
TRAL  PORT — ACTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT BRAZIL  SATISFIED LIEU 
TENANT  REED'S  ADVENTURES  AS  A  PIRATE — CAPTURING  FISHING  SMACKS  AND  COASTERS — 

CUTTING  OUT  THE  CUSHING — CAPTURE  OF    THE    LIEUTENANT    AND  HIS  CREW THE   SEIZURK 

OF  THE  CHESAPEAKE HER  RE-CAPTURE CAREER  OF  THE  TALLAHASSEE,  THE    OLUSTEE  AND 

THE  CHICKAMAUGA THE  SHENANDOAH  AND  HER  PIRACIES — SHE  COMES  TO  LIVERPOOL  AND 

DELIVERS  HERSELF  UP  TO  THE  BRITISH  GOVERNMENT COURSE  ADOPTED  BY  THAT  GOVERN 
MENT THE  CAREER  OF  THE  STONEWALL  OR  OLINDE HER  SURRENDER  TO  THE  SPANISH 

GOVERNMENT  AND  FINAL  TRANSFER  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES — LOSSES  OF  THE  MERCANTILE 
MARINE  BY  THE  REBEL  CRUISERS. 

WHEN  the  war  commenced,  the  United  States  navy  was  almost  power 
less  to  aid  in  the  conflict.  It  had  been  for  nearly  fifty  years  on  a  peace 
footing,  and  was  far  below  that  of  other  commercial  powers  in  the  number 
and  armament  of  its  ships.  Mr.  Buchanan's  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  sym 
pathizing  fully  with  the  Rebels  in  their  schemes  of  secession,  had  sent  all 
the  best  vessels  to  the  Pacific  or  Indian  oceans,  on  one  errand  or  another, 
and  of  those  that  remained,  several  were  destroyed  at  the  burning  of  the 
Navy  Yard  at  Portsmouth,  Virginia ;  and  others  were  out  of  commission, 
and  required  extensive  repairs.  Only  forty -two  vessels  of  all  sizes  and 
qualities  were  found  to  be  in  a  serviceable  condition,  or  capable  of  being 
made  so,  and  only  sixty-nine  were  in  existence,  including  ships  upon  the 
stocks,  receiving  ships,  tenders,  school  ships,  &c.  After  deducting  those 
which  must  be  kept  on  foreign  stations,  and  the  receiving  ships,  tenders, 
store  ships,  &c.,  there  remained  but  little  more  than  a  dozen,  and  some  of 
them  of  small  size  and  armament,  for  all  the  service  which  would  be 


826  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

required  of  them.  There  was  a  blockade  to  be  maintained  along  four 
thousand  miles  of  coast ;  forts  were  to  be  attacked;  naval  battles  fought 
with  such  ships  as  the  Eebels  might  be  able  to  purchase  or  build ;  and 
the  Atlantic,  Pacific,  and  Indian  oceans  to  be  cruised  over,  in  pursuit  of 
the  privateers  which  bore  the  Rebel  commission,  though  they  never  had 
entered  a  Rebel  port.  Of  course,  more  vessels,  many  more,  were  needed, 
and  needed  at  once.  The  blockade,  once  proclaimed,  must  be  enforced 
with  rigor,  or  it  would  not  be  recognized ;  the  national  flag  must  be 
maintained  in  foreign  seas,  even  if  not  with  a  full  squadron,  at  least  with 
one  or  two  ships ;  and  the  cruisers  of  the  Union  must  be  constantly  on 
the  alert.  Then,  too,  England  and  France  had  their  iron-clads ;  and  the 
Rebels  were  known  to  be  exerting  their  energies  to  build  armed  ships  for 
their  own  warfare,  and  the  United  States  Government  could  not  afford  to 
be  behind  other  nations  in  such  provision  for  offensive  and  defensive 
naval  warfare. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  while  ordering  as  much  force  as  possible  to 
be  employed  in  building  and  fitting  out  war  vessels  in  the  government 
Navy  Yard,  and  contracting  with  responsible  private  builders  for  iron 
clads  and  other  war  vessels,  found  it  necessary  to  purchase,  for  blockading 
purposes,  as  many  steam  ships  and  sailing  vessels  as  could  be  found 
adapted  to  his  purpose ;  and  fitting  them  up  as  rapidly  as  possible,  put 
them  at  once  in  commission.  The  greater  part  of  the  vessels  thus  pur 
chased,  (one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  were  bought  during  the  year  1861,) 
proved  to  be  staunch  and  efficient  vessels ;  some  of  them,  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  bringing  more  than  their  original  cost,  at  auction ;  a  few  were 
bad  bargains,  not  generally  from  the  negligence  or  connivance  of  the  pur 
chasing  agents,  but  from  the  fraudulent  misrepresentations  of  the  sellers. 
Beside  the  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  purchased,  fifty-two  steamers, 
three  of  them  iron-clads,  were  built  during  the  year  1861,  at  a  cost  exceed 
ing  ten  millions  of  dollars.  At  the  close  of  1862,  there  were,  including 
the  river  fleets,  four  hundred  and  twenty-seven  vessels  in  commission. 
At  the  close  of  1863,  the  number  was  five  hundred  and  eighty-eight,  of 
which  forty-six  were  iron-clads  for  sea  service ;  twenty-nine,  iron-clads  for 
lake  and  river  service  ;  two  hundred  and  three,  side- wheel  steamers  ;  one 
hundred  and  ninety-eight,  screw  steamers  ;  and  one  hundred  and  twelve, 
sailing  vessels.  On  the  10th  of  March,  1865,  the  number  of  vessels  in 
commission  was  six  hundred  and  eighty -three  ;  of  these,  seventy-one  were 
iron-clads,  four  of  them  of  the  first  class,  or  over  thirty-three  hundred  tons ; 
six,  including  the  Puritan  and  Dictator,  of  the  second  class,  or  from  two 
thousand  to  thirty-three  hundred  tons;  six,  third  rates,  from  twelve  hun 
dred  to  two  thousand  tons ;  and  fifty-five,  fourth  rates,  or  under  twelve 
hundred  tons.  Beside  the  iron-clads,  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven 
steam  vessels  had  been  built  for  the  navy,  and  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  steamers,  and  a  considerable  number  of  sailing  vessels,  had  been 


THE  DUTY   REQUIRED  OF  THE  NAVY.  82T 

purchased  or  captured.  This  formidable  navy  carried  four  thousand 
seven  hundred  guns,  a  large  proportion  of  them  eleven  and  fifteen  inch 
smooth  bores  and  one  hundred  and  two  hundred  pound  rifles,  making 
the  weight  of  metal  on  their  armament  greater  than  that  of  any  other 
navy  in  the  world.  This  navy  had  cost  for  its  construction  and  purchase 
over  two  hundred  millions  of  dollars.  After  the  close  of  the  war  most  of 
the  purchased  vessels,  and  some  others,  were  sold,  those  already  built  and 
building  being  sufficient  for  its  service.  The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  had 
early  perceived  the  necessity  of  constructing  armored  ships  for  the  new 
exigencies  of  naval  warfare,  and  though  Congress,  at  first,  was  reluctant  to 
appropriate  money  for  this  purpose,  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  means 
for  building  three  during  the  first  session  of  Congress,  after  the  inception 
of  the  war.  Of  these,  one,  the  first  monitor,  built  on  a  plan  entirely  origi 
nal,  and  differing  in  all  respects  from  any  war  vessel  afloat,  yet  proved 
of  the  greatest  possible  service.  Sent  to  Fortress  Monroe  on  its  first  trip, 
it  arrived  just  in  time  to  defeat  and  drive  back  the  monster  Rebel  iron 
clad,  Virginia  or  Merrimac,  and  save  the  steamship  Minnesota  from  the 
fate  which  had  befallen  the  Congress  and  Cumberland  the  day  before. 
The  Galena,  another  of  the  three,  proved  less  serviceable,  her  armor  being 
less  complete  ;  while  the  third,  the  New  Ironsides,  a  ship  of  the  line,  pro 
tected  by  armor  amidships,  and  firing  its  heavy  armament  in  broadside, 
was  not  completed  till  several  months  later ;  but  performed  valuable  ser 
vice  in  the  South  Atlantic  Gulf  Squadron,  and  the  bombardment  of  the 
forts  in  Charleston  Harbor.  There  was  no  subsequent  difficulty  in  ob 
taining  appropriations  for  iron-clad  ships,  and  the  department  ordered  the 
construction  of  large  numbers,  and  of  various  designs,  giving  the  prefer 
ence  to  the  monitors  with  such  modifications  as  experience  suggested ; 
though  ordering  some  broadside  ships.  Of  the  latter,  the  Dunderberg 
was  the  largest  and  most  costly,  but  was  not  completed  till  the  close  of 
the  war.  The  Puritan  and  Dictator  were  gigantic  monitors  with  two 
turrets,  defended  by  iron  plate  bearing  an  aggregate  thickness  of  twelve 
inches,  and  possessing  excellent  sea-going  qualities.  Other  of  the  monitors, 
as  for  example,  the  Monadnock,  possessed  buoyancy  and  speed  even  in  a 
rough  sea ;  but  some  of  them  failed  in  these  particulars.  In  the  earlier 
vessels  there  was  defective  ventilation,  especially  for  hot  climates,  and 
other  errors  of  construction,  which  were  remedied  when  discovered.  A 
class  of  light  draught  monitors,  ordered  in  the  latter  part  of  the  war, 
proved  nearly  worthless.  Several  of  the  older  officers  were  prejudiced 
against  the  monitors  from  their  novelty  of  structure,  and  could  not  be 
fully  convinced  of  their  good  qualities. 

The  earlier  naval  battles  of  the  war  were  mostly  fought  with  wooden 
vessels,  as  for  instance,  that  of  Roanoke  Island,  the  capture  of  Port  Royal 
and  the  Rebel  forts,  and  the  siege  and  passing  of  the  forts  on  the  Mississippi 
below  New  Orleans ;  though,  in  the  latter  case,  the  Union  fleet  encountered 


828  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

Rebel  armored  ships  and  destroyed  them.  But  in  the  attack  on  Fort 
McAllister,  the  repeated  bombardment  of  the  forts  in  Charleston  Harbor, 
and  the  naval  battle  at  the  entrance  of  Mobile  Bay,  the  monitors  and  other 
iron-clads  took  an  active  part,  and  in  most  cases  with  excellent  effect. 

The  armored  vessels  on  the  great  western  rivers  were  not,  with  one  or 
two  exceptions,  monitors,  but,  as  they  were  generally  called,  turtle-backs 
having  a  casemate  heavily  plated  with  iron,  extending  amidships,  and 
protecting  their  machinery,  as  well  as  their  guns.  Those  first  built  were 
not  plated  with  more  than  two  and  a  half  or  three  inches  of  iron,  and 
their  armor  was  occasionally  penetrated.  Those  built  subsequently  were 
generally  better  protected,  though  the  light  draft  iron-clads,  intended  for 
the  smaller  rivers,  were  only  covered  with  a  light  armor,  sufficient  to 
protect  them  from  rifle  balls,  and  the  lightest  artillery,  and  were  popularly 
distinguished  as  tin  dads.  The  armored  river  steamers  were  very  efficient, 
and  proved  of  great  service  throughout  the  war.  Fort  Henry  was  cap 
tured  by  them ;  they  rendered  essential  aid  in  the  reduction  of  Fort  Donel- 
son,  and  contributed  to  the  fall  of  Nashville,  and  the  restoration  of  the 
towns  along  the  Tennessee  and  Cumberland  rivers  to  Union  authority. 
Island  Number  Ten  was  reduced,  partly  through  their  efforts,  and  Mem 
phis  was  captured  by  them  alone ;  at  Shiloh,  their  bombardment  of  the 
enemy  turned  the  scale  from  defeat  to  victory ;  at  Vicksburg  and  Grand 
Gulf,  at  Port  Hudson  and  Baton  Rouge,  though  not  immediately  success 
ful,  they  contributed  largely  to  the  success  of  the  land  forces.  At  Arkan 
sas  Post,  their  bombardment  aided  materially  in  compelling  a  surrender, 
The  Red  river,  the  Arkansas,  the  Atchafalaya,  and  the  other  navigable 
waters  of  Louisiana,  were  frequent  witnesses  of  their  prowess;  at  Helena, 
at  Milliken's  Bend,  and  at  Doualdsonville,  they  gained  decisive  victories 
over  the  Rebel  land  forces.  At  Nashville,  in  December  1864,  and  on  the 
Tennessee,  during  the  preceding  spring  and  summer,  they  prevented  the 
passage  of  the  enemy,  and  silenced  his  batteries. 

On  the  Atlantic  coast  and  its  bays  and  rivers,  the  blockading  squadron, 
except  at  Charleston,  had  been  for  the  most  part  wooden  vessels,  and 
these  had,  at  one  point  or  another  of  the  extended  coast  line,  been  almost 
constantly  engaged  in  conflict,  and  won  a  high  reputation  for  daring  and 
skill,  in  both  offensive  and  defensive  warfare. 

The  Rebels  had  comparatively  few  war  vessels  built  or  fitted  up  by 
themselves.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war  they  seized  several  revenue 
cutters  and  ocean  and  river  steamers,  which  they  converted  into  war 
vessels.  Most  of  these  were  not  well  adapted  to  privateering,  and  nearly 
all  of  them  were  soon  destroyed.  The  Lewis  Cass,  Dana,  and  Dodge,  small 
coast  survey  or  revenue  steamers,  did  not  go  to  sea,  and  were  captured  or 
blown  up  by  the  enemy.  The  Star  of  the  West,  originally  an  ocean 
Bteamer  on  the  New  York  and  New  Orleans  route,  was  seized,  but  used 
mainly  as  a  blockade  runner.  The  Sumter,  originally  a  Mexican  war 


THE   REBEL   NAVY.  829 

steamer,  under  the  name  of  the  Marquis  de  ITabana,  belonging  to  the 
Mexican  General  Miramon,  and  captured  by  the  United  States  vessels,  was 
seized  by  the  Rebels  at  New  Orleans,  and  converted  into  a  steam  sloop-of- war. 
This  was  the  most  successful  and  formidable  of  any  of  their  vessels  which 
sailed  from  an  American  port,  making  many  captures  of  merchant  vessels, 
but  avoiding  carefully  all  the  Union  cruisers.  She  attempted,  on  the  31st 
of  August,  1863,  after  a  career  of  two  years,  to  run  into  Charleston,  but 
was  sunk  in  the  harbor.  The  Jefferson  Davis,  a  small  ocean  steamer, 
which,  in  a  short  career  of  two  months,  had  done  considerable  mischief, 
was  wrecked  on  St.  Augustine  bar,  Florida.  The  Nashville,  after  a  brief 
experience  as  a  privateer,  became  a  blockade  runner.  The  Petrel,  the 
Judith,  and  the  Beauregard,  all  small  river  steamers,  were  captured  or 
destroyed  in  the  summer  and  autu-mn  of  1861.  The  gunboats  and  iron 
clads  built  or  fitted  up  on  the  western  rivers,  or  on  the  eastern  river 
ports,  had  invariably  a  very  brief  career,  and  no  one  of  them  ever  succeeded 
in  getting  out  to  sea,  though  many  attempted  it.  The  Louisiana  and 
Manassas,  two  iron  rams  built  on  the  Mississippi,  were  destroyed  in  Admiral 
Farragut's  great  naval  battle,  near  Fort  Jackson.  The  Merrimac  or 
Virginia,  was  blown  up  in  Hampton  Roads,  and  her  consorts,  the  Rich 
mond  and  Jamestown,  were  never  able  to  accomplish  any  mischief,  but 
were  destroyed,  when  Richmond  surrendered,  as  was  another  iron-clad 
which  had  been  long  in  preparation ;  the  Rebel  squadron  at  Port  Royal 
was  destroyed  when  the  forts  were  taken,  and  that  at  Charleston,  only 
sufficed  for  an  occasional  fright  to  the  wooden  vessels  of  the  blockading 
squadron.  The  Fingal  or  Atlanta,  was  captured  below  Savannah  after  an 
action  of  fifteen  minutes,  and  two  iron-clad  rams  and  three  gunboats  blown 
up  or  sunk  when  Savannah  was  taken.  The  Tennessee  was  captured  at 
the  naval  battle  at  the  entrance  of  Mobile  Bay,  as  well  as  one  of  the  gun 
boats,  and  of  the  others,  one  was  destroyed  and  the  other  escaped  to  Mobile, 
where  that  and  six  or  eight  more  were  surrendered,  when  the  city  was 
captured.  The  Arkansas  was  blown  up  and  sunk  by  Commodore  Porter's 
shells,  and  of  the  fifteen  or  twenty  more  on  the  waters  of  the  Yazoo, 
Mississippi,  Red,  Atchafalaya  and  Teche  rivers,  every  one  came  to  grief. 
The  Albemarle,  after  a  single  foray  on  the  Union  fleet  in  Albemarle  sound, 
was  so  much  crippled  by  the  Sassacus,  that  she  never  ventured  out  again, 
and  in  October,  1864,  was  blown  up  by  Lieutenant  Gushing. 

Finding  that  they  were  not  making  much  headway  against  the  formid 
able  Union  navy,  and  appreciating  the  necessity  of  preying  upon  the 
commerce  of  the  Union,  as  an  effectual  means  of  impairing  the  national 
strength,  the  Rebel  President  issued,  at  an  early  day,  letters  of  marque 
and  reprisal,  commissioning  privateers  from  the  ships  of  other  nations  to 
assail  the  commerce  of  the  United  States.  This  measure,  at  the  best  only 
a  legalized  piracy,  had  been  abolished  by  the  principal  nations  of  Europe 
•o  far  as  their  wars  with  each  other  might  extend,  from  a  conviction  of 


830  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED  STATES. 

its  piratical  character ;  but  it  was  specially  piratical  in  an  insurgent  party 
where  there  were  no  ports  accessible,  into  which  its  prizes  could  be  taken, 
and  no  court  before  which  they  could  be  condemned  and  adjudicated. 

But  notwithstanding  these  disabilities,  the  British  Government  had 
made  haste  to  recognize  them  as  belligerents,  and  among  the  large  ship 
builders  of  Liverpool,  they  found  no  difficulty  in  procuring  the  construc 
tion  of  steamers,  swift,  easily  handled,  and  capable  of  carrying  a  formidable 
armament,  which  they  might  arm  and  equip  for  cruising  the  ocean  as 
privateers  without  their  having  ever  entered  a  port  of  the  insurgent 
territory.  The  Alabama  was  the  first  of  these  private  ships,  built  and 
fitted  out  in  an  English  port,  by  Laird  &  Sons,  English  shipbuilders, 
armed  with  British  guns,  manned  with  British  seamen,  and  supplied  with 
stores  and  ammunition  by  British  subjects.  The  British  Government  was 
warned,  by  the  American  minister  and  consul,  of  the  character  of  this 
vessel,  and  her  purpose,  but  the  British  laws  prohibiting  the  building  and 
equipping  a  war  vessel  against  a  friendly  power  were  too  imperfect,  or 
the  administration  of  them  too  lax,  to  prevent  her  from  slipping  out  of 
the  port  of  Liverpool,  on  her  errand  of  rapine  and  plunder,  without  any 
effort  on  the  part  of  the  British  Government  to  arrest  her. 

'The  United  States  Government  repeatedly  remonstrated  with  that  of 
Great  Britain  for  its  disregard  or  neglect  of  the  rights  of  a  friendly  nation, 
and  its  prompt  assistance  to  the  insurgents,  whom,  with  unbecoming  haste, 
and  in  violation  of  national  etiquette  and  good  faith,  it  had  elevated  to  the 
rank  of  belligerents,  and  apprized  that  government  in  temperate  lan 
guage  that  it  should,  at  the  proper  time,  press  its  claims  for  remuneration 
for  the  damages  done  to  its  commerce  by  the  Alabama,  and  the  other 
vessels  which  had  been  fitted  out  in  British  ports  for  these  piratical  pur 
poses.  At  first  this  demand  was  treated  with  contempt,  then  with  threats 
of  defiance,  and  finally,  as  its  justice  became  too  evident  for  denial,  with 
a  somewhat  sullen  consideration,  but  without  any  promise  of  redress ;  but 
the  end  has  not  yet  come,  and  it  will  eventually,  probably  be  submitted  to 
arbitration  and  the  award  be  accepted,  though  reluctantly,  by  the  British 
Government.  The  Alabama,  being  successful  in  her  purpose,  was  followed 
by  several  other  British  built  vessels,  constructed  as  gunboats,  with  the 
design  of  driving  from  the  seas  the  American  mercantile  marine.  The 
Florida  or  Oreto,  the  Rappahannock,  the  Tallahassee,  and  the  Shenandoah, 
as  well  as  the  Georgia,  originally  a  British  blockade  runner,  were  also 
products  of  British  skill.  Laird  &  Sons,  the  Liverpool  shipwrights,  elated 
by  their  success,  undertook  to  build  another  gunboat  on  the  model  of  the 
Alabama,  and  two  iron-clad  rams  of  great  power  for  the  Rebels,  which 
they  hoped  might  be  able  to  enter  and  destroy  some  of  the  American 
seaports.  The  British  Government  thought  this  was  going  a  little  too  far, 
and  finding  that  the  navigation  laws  of  the  realm  were  capable  of  easy 
evasion  the  rams  were  seized,  and  though  a  decision  was  made  against 


THE   REBEL  STEAMER  ALABAMA.  831 

the  Government  on  technical  grounds,  the  matter  was  finally  settled  by 
the  purchase  of  the  rams  for  the  British  navy.  The  French  Government, 
at  the  same  time,  interposed  to  prevent  the  furnishing  to  the  Rebels  of  two 
iron-clad  rams,  building  for  them  by  Armand,  a  French  ship  builder. 
These  Armand  ships  were  subsequently  sold  to  the  Danish  Government, 
but  one  of  them,  proving  unfit  for  their  use,  was  returned  upon  the 
builder  and,  by  some  trickery,  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Rebels, 
though  too  late  to  be  of  service  to  them. 

Let  us  now  trace,  briefly,  the  history  of  the  English  built,  or  as  we  might 
appropriately  name  them,  the  Anglo-Rebel  privateers.  The  Alabama  left 
Liverpool  on  the  29th  of  July,  1862,  and  though  occasionally  calling  in 
at  British  colonial  ports  for  supplies  and  coal,  or  to  land  its  prisoners,  was 
kept  afloat  most  of  the  time  for  two  years.  During  this  period  it  com 
mitted  serious  havoc  with  the  American  commerce,  having  captured, 
plundered,  and  boarded  or  burned  more  than  sixty  merchant  ships, 
destroying  or  stealing  property  to  the  amount  of  nearly  seven  millions  of 
dollars.  She  carefully  avoided,  and  by  her  great  speed,  succeeded  in 
escaping  from  collisions  with  American  war  vessels,  preferring  to  plunder 
the  weak  and  defenceless,  rather  than  to  fight  a  vessel  which  was  her 
match  in  size,  crew,  and  armament.  She  had,  indeed,  attacked  the  gun 
boat  Hatteras  off  Galveston,  a  vessel  decidedly  her  inferior,  but  it  was  done 
with  a  perfidy  in  keeping  with  her  entire  career ;  she  hoisted  English 
colors,  and  on  being  hailed,  professed  to  be  her  majesty's  ship  Petrel,  and 
invited  an  approach ;  the  Hatteras,  unsuspicious  of  the  deception,  came 
nearer,  and  when  she  was  sufficiently  near  and  in  position  to  be  raked  by 
it,  the  Alabama  poured  in  a  full  broadside  without  warning,  which  sunk 
her  almost  immediately. 

The  United  States  cruisers  had  sought  for  this  piratical  craft  in  every 
sea,  and  more  than  once  had  drawn  so  near  to  her  in  some  of  the  foreign 
ports,  that  but  for  the  provision  which  kept  them  from  pursuing  her  for 
twenty-four  hours  after  she  left  the  port,  they  would  have  ended  her  career. 
A  time  finally  came  when  she  could  no  longer  escape  their  pursuit. 
Early  in  June,  1864:,  the  Alabama  put  into  the  port  of  Cherbourg,  France, 
asking  the  privilege  of  refitting  there.  The  Kearsarge,  an  American  steam 
sloop  of  war,  ranking  as  a  third  rate,  built  in  the  first  year  of  the  war, 
and  very  nearly  a  match  for  the  Alabama,  though  slightly  inferior  in 
size,  tonnage,  and  the  number  of  her  guns,  had  been  following  the  Ala 
bama  for  nearly  a  year  most  persistently,  her  commmander,  Captain  (now 
Commodore)  John  A.  "Winslow,  being  determined  if  possible  to  bring  the 
pirate  to  bay.  On  learning  that  the  Alabama  was  at  Cherbourg,  Captain 
Winslow  sailed  at  once  for  that  port,  and  arrived  there  on  the  14th  of 
June. 

The  commander  of  the  Alabama,  Captain  Raphael  Semmes,  found  him 
eelf  cornered,  and  believing  that  a  fight  was  inevitable,  and  that  by  adding 


832  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

to  his  crew  he  would  be  an  overmatch  for  the  Kearsarge,  resolved  to  put 
a  bold  face  upon  the  matter,  and  accordingly  sent  a  request  to  Captain 
Winslow  "that  he  would  not  leave  the  port,  as  he  would  in  a  day  or  two, 
as  soon  as  he  could  make  the  necessary  preparations,  come  out  of  the 
harbor  and  fight  him."  Captain  Winslow  had  no  intention  of  leaving  the 
port  so  long  as  the  Alabama  remained  there,  so  he  quietly  waited  for  "the 
preparations "  to  be  completed.  These,  which  occupied  five  days,  con 
sisted  mainly  in  sending  onshore  his  valuables,  including  upward  of  sixty 
chronometers,  taken  from  American  merchant  ships,  and  in  receiving 
from  England  trained  gunners  from  her  majesty's  ship  Excellent,  officers 
and  men,  to  serve  his  guns.  The  Deerhound,  a  steel  vessel  belonging  to 
the  royal  yacht  squadron,  the  property  of  a  Mr.  John  Lancaster,  arrived 
during  this  time,  and  acted  as  a  tender  to  the  Alabama,  both  before  and 
after  the  engagement.  The  Alabama  had  been  put  in  good  repair  during 
her  stay  at  Cherbourg,  and  had  taken  in  her  supply  of  coal,  three  hundred 
and  fifty  tons,  and  her  coal  bunkers  being  between  the  frame  and  the  ma 
chinery  of  the  ship,  protected  the  engines,  boilers,  and  steam  chest ;  to  this 
also  the  weight  of  the  coal,  which  brought  her  low  down  in  the  water, 
contributed.  The  Kearsarge  being  light,  stopped  her  chain  cables  up  and 
down  her  sides,  amidship,  to  partially  protect  her  engines  and  boilers  from 
the  enemy's  shot.  The  two  vessels  as  we  have  said  were  nearly  matched, 
though  the  Alabama  had  a  slight  advantage;  her  dimensions  were,  length 
over  all,  two  hundred  and  twenty  feet;  lengthon  the  water  line,  two  hun 
dred  and  ten  feet;  breadth  of  beam,  thir  ty- two  feet ;  depth,  seventeen  feet; 
she  had  two  engines  of  three  hundred  horse-power  each  ;  her  tonnage  was 
one  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  she  carried  eight  guns,  one  one 
hundred  and  ten  pounder  Blakely  rifle,  and  one  sixty-eight  pounder 
English  navy  gun,  which  the  British  admiralty  had  not  long  before 
pronounced  the  best  gun  in  existence  for  naval  warfare,  and  six  thirty- 
two  pounders.  The  crew  of  the  Alabama,  including  their  additions  just 
before  the  engagement,  must  have  numbered  about  one  hundred  and  sixty. 

The  dimensions  of  the  Kearsarge  were,  length  over  all,  two  hundred  and 
fourteen  and  a  quarter  feet ;  length  on  water  line,  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
eight  and  a  half  feet ;  breadth  of  beam,  thirty-three  feet ;  depth  sixteen  feet ; 
horse-power,  two  engines  of  one  thousand  horse  power  each  ;  tonnage,  one 
thousand  and  thirty-one  tons.  The  armament  of  the  Kearsarge  was  two 
eleven  inch  smooth  bore  guns,  (Dahlgren) ;  one  thirty  pounder  rifle ;  four 
thirty-two  pounders.  Her  crew  numbered  one  hundred  and  sixty-two 
men. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  Sunday,  June  19,  1864,  the  Alabama  was  ob 
served  making  preparations  to  cast  loose  from  her  moorings,  with  the 
evident  design  of  putting  out  to  sea.  Hereupon,  the  Deerhound  steamed 
up  and  left  Cherbourg  at  nine  A.  M.  An  hour  and  a  half  later,  the  Ala 
bama  followed,  and  the  French  iron-clad  Couronne'  moved  out  and  took  a 


THE  KEARSARGE  AND  ALABAMA.  833 

position  three  miles  from  shore,  to  prevent  fighting  in  neutral  waters 
Captain  Winslow,  perceiving  these  movements,  headed  the  Kearsarga 
seaward,  and  steamed  out  till  he  had  attained  a  point  about  seven  miles 
from  the  shore,  the  Alabama  following  in  his  wake,  at  a  distance  of  about 
a  mile  and  a  half. 

The  head  of  the  Kearsarge  was  now  turned  short  around,  and  the  ship 
steered  directly  for  the  Alabama,  Captain  Winslow's  purpose  being  to  run 
her  down,  or,  if  circumstances  should  not  warrant  it,  to  close  in  with  her. 

We  can  hardly  do  better  than  to  allow  the  gallant  captain  of  the  Kear 
sarge  to  relate  the  story  of  the  engagement  in  his  own  graphic  words,  every 
point  being  abundantly  verified  by  the  testimony  of  eye  witnesses : 

"  Hardly  had  the  Kearsarge  come  round  before  the  Alabama  sheered, 
presented  her  starboard  battery,  and  slowed  her  engines.  On  approach 
ing  her  at  long  range  of  about  a  mile,  she  opened  her  full  broadside,  the 
shot  cutting  some  of  our  rigging  and  going  over  and  alongside  of  us. 

"  Immediately  I  ordered  more  speed ;  but  in  two  minutes  the  Alabama 
had  loaded  and  again  fired  another  broadside,  and  following  it  with  a 
third,  without  damaging  us  except  in  rigging. 

"  We  had  now  arrived  within  about  nine  hundred  yards  of  her,  and  I 
was  apprehensive  that  another  broadside — nearly  raking  as  it  was — would 
prove  disastrous.  Accordingly,  I  ordered  the  Kearsarge  sheered,  and 
opened  on  the  Alabama.  The  position  of  the  vessels  was  now  broadside 
and  broadside ;  but  it  was  soon  apparent  that  Captain  Semmes  did  not 
seek  close  action.  I  became  then  fearful,  lest  after  some  fighting,  he 
would  again  make  for  the  shore.  To  defeat  this,  I  determined  to  keep 
full  speed  on,  and  with  a  port  helm  to  run  under  the  stern  of  the  Alabama 
and  rake  her,  if  he  did  not  prevent  it  by  sheering  and  keeping  his  broad 
side  to  us.  He  adopted  this  mode  as  a  preventive,  and,  as  a  consequence, 
the  Alabama  was  forced  with  a  full  head  of  steam  into  a  circular  track 
during  the  engagement. 

The  effect  of  this  manceuvre  was  such  that,  at  the  last  of  the  action, 
when  the  Alabama  would  have  made  off,  she  was  near  five  miles  from  the 
shore ;  and  had  the  action  continued  from  the  first  in  parallel  lines,  with 
her  head  in  shore,  the  line  of  jurisdiction  would  no  doubt  have  been 
reached.  The  firing  of  the  Alabama  at  the  first  was  rapid  and  wild ; 
toward  the  close  of  the  action  her  firing  became  better.  Our  men,  who 
had  been  cautioned  against  rapid  firing  without  direct  aim,  were  much 
more  deliberate ;  and  the  instructions  given  to  point  the  heavy  guns 
below  rather  than  above  the  water-line,  and  clear  the  deck  with  the  lighter 
ones,  was  fully  observed. 

"  I  had  endeavored,  with  a  port  helm,  to  close  in  with  the  Alabama ; 

but  it  was  not  until  just  before  the  close  of  the  action,  that  we  were  in 

position  to  use  grape.     This  was  avoided,  however,  by  her  surrender. 

The  effect  of  the  training  of  our  men  was  evident ;  nearly  every  shot  from 

53 


834  THE  CTYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

our  guns  was  telling  fearfully  on  the  Alabama,  and  on  the  seventh  rota 
tion  on  the  circular  track  she  winded,  setting  for etry sail  and  two  jibs,  with 
head  in  shore.  Her  speed  was  now  retarded,  and  by  winding,  her  port 
broadside  was  presented  to  us,  with  only  two  guns  bearing,  not  having 
been  able,  as  I  learned  afterward,  to  shift  over  but  one.  I  saw  now  that 
she  was  at  our  mercy,  and  a  few  more  guns  well  directed  brought  down 
her  flag.  I  was  unable  to  ascertain  whether  it  had  been  hauled  down  or 
shot  away ;  but  a  white  flag  having  been  displayed  over  the  stern,  our 
fire  was  reserved.  Two  minutes  had  not  more  than  'elapsed  before  she 
again  opened  on  us  with  the  two  guns  on  the  port  side.  This  drew  our 
fire  again,  and  the  Kearsarge  was  immediately  steamed  ahead  and  laid 
across  her  bows  for  raking.  The  white  flag  was  still  flying,  and  our  fire 
was  again  reserved.  Shortly  after  this,  her  boats  were  seen  to  be  lowering, 
and  an  officer,  in  one  of  them,  came  alongside,  and  informed  us  the  ship 
had  surrendered,  and  was  fast  sinking.  In  twenty  minutes  from  this  time 
the  Alabama  went  down,  her  mainmast,  which  had  been  shot,  breaking 
near  the  head  as  she  sunk,  and  her  bow  rising  high  out  of  the  water  as 
her  stern  rapidly  settled. 

"  The  fire  of  the  Alabama,  although  it  is  stated  she  discharged  three 
hundred  and  seventy  or  more  shell  and  shot,  was  not  of  serious  damage 
to  the  Kearsarge. 

"  Some  thirteen  or  fourteen  of  these  had  taken  effect  in  and  about  the 
hull,  and  sixteen  or  seventeen  about  the  masts  and  rigging.  The  casual 
ties  were  small,  only  three  persons  having  been  wounded ;  yet  it  is  a 
matter  of  surprise  that  so  few  were  injured,  considering  the  number  of 
projectiles  that  came  abroad.  Two  shot  passed  through  the  ports  in  which 
the  thirty-twos  were  placed,  with  men  thickly  stationed  around  them,  one 
taking  effect  in  the  hammock  netting,  and  the  other  going  through  the  port 
on  the  opposite  side,  yet  no  one  was  hit,  the  captain  of  one  of  the  guns 
being  only  knocked  down  by  the  wind  of  the  shot,  as  supposed. 

"  The  fire  of  the  Kearsarge,  although  only  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
three  projectiles  had  been  discharged,  according  to  the  prisoners'  accounts, 
was  terrific.  One  shot  alone  had  killed  and  wounded  eighteen  men  and 
disabled  a  gun.  Another  had  entered  the  coal-bunkers,  exploding,  and 
completely  blocking  up  the  engine-room ;  and  Captain  Semmes  states 
that  shot  and  shell  had  taken  effect  in  the  sides  of  his  vessel,  tearing  large 
holes  by  explosion,  and  his  men  were  everywhere  knocked  down." 

The  boats  of  the  Kearsarge  were  at  once  lowered  to  endeavor  to  save 
the  crew  of  the  Alabama  from  drowning,  and  the  Deerhound  coming  up, 
Captain  Winslow,  supposing  her  to  be  a  neutral,  requested  her  to  aid  in 
picking  up  the  drowning  men.  Her  owner  complied  with  the  request, 
picking  up  forty-one  men,  and  Semmes  among  them ;  but  having  rescued 
them,  he  bore  off  at  once  for  the  English  shore,  where  he  landed  them, 
and  where  Semmes  was  received  with  the  honors  due  to  a  conqueror  • 


THE  REBEL  SEMMES   RECEIVES   OVATIONS.  835 

ovations  being  tendered  to  him,  and  sympathy  for  his  misfortune,  all  of 
which  he  accepted  with  great  complacency.  Such  was  the  neutrality  of 
Great  Britain !  Captain  Winslow,  having  rescued  seventy  of  the  crew  of 
the  Alabama,  three  of  whom  died  of  their  wounds,  returned  to  Cherbourg, 
where  the  wounded  were  placed  in  hospital,  and  the  uninjured  paroled, 
as  he  had  no  place  in  which  he  could,  confine  them.  Semmes  soon  after 
returned,  on  a  blockade  runner,  to  the  South,  where  he  was  put  in  com 
mand  of  a  naval  brigade,  and  was  connected  with  Johnston's  army  at  the 
time  of  the  surrender. 

The  casualties  on  the  Alabama  were  probably  about  forty-eight  killed 
or  drowned,  and  fifteen  wounded,  who  were  saved  by  Captain  Winslow. 

Great  efforts  were  made  by  sympathizers  with  the  Rebels  in  Great 
Britain  to  excite  sympathy  for  the  Alabama  and  its  commander  and  crew 
by  the  grossest  misrepresentations  in  regard  to  the  size,  armament,  crew; 
and  management  of  the  Kearsarge,  but  these  were  very  thoroughly  and 
completely  refuted  by  Mr.  Frederick  Milnes  Edge,  who  investigated  with 
great  care  all  the  circumstances  of  the  engagement,  taking  the  testimony 
of  the  crews  of  both  vessels  and  the  statements  of  those  who  were  spectators 
of  the  fight,  and  published  the  result  of  his  examination  in  a  pamphlet, 
which  was  extensively  circulated. 

The  loss  of  the  Alabama  was  a  serious  blow  to  the  Eebel  cause,  for 
though  perhaps  the  ships  she  had  captured  gave  up  no  portion  of  their 
spoil  to  the  Rebel  Government,  yet  it  was  much,  that  they  had  been  able  to 
drive  a  large  proportion  of  the  mercantile  marine  of  the  United  States  to 
seek  protection  under  a  foreign  register  and  flag.  But  the  blow  was  felt 
still  more  severely  in  Great  Britain,  where  a  large  section  of  the  nobility, 
the  greater  part  of  the  army  and  navy  officers,  and  most  of  the  commercial 
class,  were  sympathizers  with  the  Rebellion.  The  Alabama,  as  an  English 
built  ship,  armed  and  equipped  in  England,  and  having  an  almost  exclu 
sively  British  crew,  was,  they  felt,  their  representative  in  the  cause  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  their  rage  knew  no  bounds,  when,  after  an  hour's  fight,  the 
Kearsarge,  her  inferior  in  every  respect,  except  in  the  weight  of  metal 
and  admirable  service  of  her  large  guns,  sent  her  to  the  bottom  of  the  channel, 
herself  receiving  such  slight  injuries  as  to  be  ready  for  further  naval  battles 
the  next  day. 

The  rejoicing  in  the  United  States  over  the  destruction  of  the  Alabama 
was  not  over  when  news  came  that  the  Georgia  or  Japan,  (most  of  these 
Anglo-Rebel  priva^ers  had  an  alias,)  had  been  captured  by  Commander 
T.  T.  Craven  of  the  United  States  steamer  Niagara.  This  steamer,  after  a 
not  remarkably  successful  career,  as  a  privateer,  had  been  nominally 
(perhaps  realli-)  sold  to  English  parties,  as  a  merchant  vessel,  but  as  she 
was,  under  international  law,  open  to  capture  and  condemnation  as  lawful 
prize  of  war,  she  was  pursued  by  the  Niagara,  and  captured  off  the  coast 


836  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

of  Portugal.     The  officers  and  crew  then  on  board,  not  being  implicated 
in  privateering,  were  set  at  liberty. 

The  Florida  or  Oreto,  another  of  the  Eebel  privateers,  built,  manned, 
and  equipped  in  Great  Britain,  had  succeeded  once  in  running  the  blockade 
of  Mobile  harbor  and  entered  that  port,  from  which  she  soon  after  made 
her  escape,  to  enter  upon  a  course  of  piracy,  more  marked,  though  perhaps 
not  quite  as  destructive,  as  that  of  the  Alabama.  Her  commander,  Capt 
J.  N.  Maffitt,  had  been  an  officer  of  the  United  States  navy,  but  had  failed 
to  acquire  there  that  high  sense  of  honor,  which  should  and  generally  does 
characterize  the  officers  of  the  navy.  His  career  during  the  two  years  in 
which  he  was  in  command  of  the  Florida,  was  one  of  falsehood,  petty 
tyranny  and  theft.  In  the  summer  of  1864,  he  left  the  vessel  in  Europe, 
and  a  Captain  Morris  was  put  in  command  of  her ;  a  large  part  of  her 
depredations  had  consisted  in  seizing,  plundering,  and  burning  small 
fishing  vessels  off  the  eastern  coast  of  the  United  States,  a  class  of  vessels 
always  previously  left  untouched  by  privateers,  or  the  legitimate  navy  of 
contending  powers,  as  being  engaged  in  a  calling  which  did  not  minister 
to  the  maintenance  of  war.  After  a  few  more  seizures  of  this  kind,  the 
Florida,  under  her  new  captain,  sailed  for  the  South  American  coast, 
probably  with  the  intention  of  effecting  the  destruction  of  the  seal  fishing 
and  whaling  fleet.  On  the  5th  of  October,  1864,  she  put  into  the  Brazilian 
port  of  Bahia  for  some  repairs,  and  at  firs-t  lay  in  the  offing,  the  Wachusett, 
a  United  States  sloop-of-war,  being  at  the  time  in  the  harbor.  The  Bra 
zilian  local  authorities  were  very  cordial  to  the  Eebel  ship,  and  invited 
her  to  come  up  to  the  harbor,  though  the  United  States  Consul,  Mr.  Wilson 
protested  against  it.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  October,  the 
Wachusett  shipped  her  cables,  and  ran  down  upon  the  Florida  under 
full  force  of  steam,  with  the  intention  of  crushing  in  her  side  and  sinking 
her.  She  failed,  however,  to  strike  her  amidships,  but  hit  her  in  the  stern 
and  carried  away  her  mizzen  mast  and  mainyard.  About  one  half  of  the 
Kebel  crew  were  on  shore,  and  the  remainder  were  entirely  unprepared 
for  such  an  attack.  There  was,  after  the  collision,  some  pistol  shooting, 
but  without  effect,  and  Commander  Collins  called  out  to  the  lieutenant  in 
command  of  the  Florida,  "  Surrender,  or  I  will  blow  you  out  of  water." 
The  lieutenant  replied,  "  Under  the  circumstances,  I  surrender."  The 
Wachusett's  crew  immediately  boarded  the  Kebel  steamer,  made  her  fast 
to  their  own  vessel,  with  a  hawser,  and  turning  their  course  seaward, 
towed  her  out.  of  the  harbor  at  full  speed,  passing  between  the  Brazilian 
war  vessels  in  their  passage.  These  challenged  the  two  vessels,  but 
received  no  reply,  and  opened  upon  them  with  the  guns  of  the  fort,  but 
without  effect ;  the  Brazilian  naval  commander  immediately  sent  out  two 
vessels  of  his  fleet  in  pursuit,  but  they  could  not  overtake  the  fleet  Wachu 
sett,  and  she  brought  her  prize  in  safety  to  Hampton  Koads,  where,  how 
ever,  it  soon  sank,  from  a  leak  which  was  said  to  have  been  increased  by 


LIEUTENANT   REED'S   ADVENTURE  AS   A  PIRATE.  837 

an  accidental  collision  with  a  war  transport.  The  conduct  of  Commander 
Collins  in  this  matter,  though  prompted  by  patriotic  motives,  was  liable 
to  censure,  for  though  the  Florida  was  entitled  to  no  consideration  in  the 
matter,  yet  respect  was  due  to  Brazil  as  a  neutral  power.  The  Govern 
ment  of  the  United  States,  when  the  matter  was  brought  to  their  cogni 
zance  by  the  Brazilian  minister,  promptly  suspended  Commander  Collins, 
and  tried  him  before  a  court-martial,  (which  however,  did  not  pass  a  very 
severe  sentence  upon  him),  and  removed  the  Consul,  who,  it  appeared,  had 
counselled  the  attack.  They  also  offered  to  salute  the  Brazilian  flag  and 
let  the  captured  crew  of  the  Florida  at  liberty  i»  a  foreign  port ;  at  the 
same  time  the  Secretary  of  State  administered  to  the  Brazilian  Government 
a  sharp  reproof  for  her  recognition  of  the  Kebels  as  belligerents,  and  for 
the  partiality  manifested  to  them  on  this  and  other  occasions.  The  Em 
peror  of  Brazil  was  fully  satisfied  with  the  amende,  offered  by  the  United 
States,  though  the  prominent  English  newspapers  in  the  interest  of  the 
Kebels  officiously  endeavored  to  incite  the  Brazilian  Government  to 
greater  and  unreasonable  demands.  It  had  been  the  habit  of  Captain 
Maffitt,  when  in  command  of  the  Florida,  to  fit  out  some  of  the  vessels 
which  he  captured  as  privateers  to  prey  upon  the  coast  and  fishing  vessels. 
One  of  these,  the  Clarence,  captured  in  May,  1863,  was  supplied  with  a 
crew  and  armament,  and  put  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Charles 
W.  Keed,  formerly  a  midshipman  in  the  United  States  navy.  After 
taking  and  burning  several  coasters,  Lieutenant  Eeed,  on  the  12th  of  June, 
captured  the  bark  Tacony,  off  the  capes  of  Virginia,  and  transferring  his 
armament  to  her,  abandoned  the  Clarence,  and  captured  during  the  next 
twelve  days  a  large  number  of  coasting  and  fishing  vessels.  Learning 
that  the  United  States  cruisers  were  on  his  track,  Lieutenant  Eeed  burned 
the  Tacony,  transferring  his  armament  to  the  schooner  Archer,  one  of 
his  latest  captures,  and  sailed  for  Portland,  Maine,  with  the  intention  of 
burning  two  gunboats  building  there,  and  cutting  out  the  revenue  cutter 
Gushing,  then  lying  in  Portland  harbor.  He  did  not  succeed  in  burning 
the  gunboats,  but  boarded  and  captured  the  cutter  and  started  for  sea 
immediately. 

With  commmendable  promptness  the  collector  of  the  port  organized  a 
volunteer  force  and  sent  them  in  pursuit  on  two  ocean  steamers,  the  Ches 
apeake  and  the  Forest  City,  then  in  port.  They  overhauled  the  Gushing 
a  short  distance  from  the  harbor,  and  as  they  had  no  heavy  guns,  made 
preparations  to  run  her  down  and  board  her,  when  the  Rebels  set  the 
cutter  on  fire  and  took  to  their  boats.  She  blew  up  before  the  Union 
vessels  could  reach  her,  but  they  captured  the  Archer  and  the  boats  and 
put  the  Rebel  oflbers  and  crew  in  confinement.  The  Rebels  entertained 
a  bitter  hostility  to  the  Chesapeake,  an  ocean  steamer  plying  between 
Portland  and  New  York,  for  the  part  which  she  had  taken  in  this  affair, 
and  threats  were  freely  made  in  regard  to  her,  but  they  were  not  heeded. 


838  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

On  the  6th  of  December,  1863,  a  party  of  sixteen  Eebels,  some  of  them 
bearing  commissions  from  the  Eebel  Government  at  Eichmond,  who  had 
shipped  as  passengers  on  the  Chesapeake  at  New  York,  rose  upon  the 
officers  of  the  ship,  seized  it,  put  the  Captain  in  irons,  killed  the  first  mate 
and  one  of  the  passengers,  and  threw  the  body  of  the  latter  overboard. 
They  retained  the  remainder  of  the  crew  and  a  part  of  the  passengers  on 
board  for  awhile,  but  finally  sent  them  ashore  in  a  boat,  and  sailed  to  the 
eastward.  On  the  receipt  of  intelligence  of  her  capture,  a  fleet  of  war 
vessels  were  immediately  sent  in  pursuit  of  her,  and  on  the  17th  of  De 
cember  she  was  captured  by  the  Ella  and  Anna,  in  Sambro  harbor,  and 
with  a  portion  of  her  crew,  carried  to  Halifax  and  delivered  up  to  the 
provincial  authorities.  A  mob  gathered  at  once  (Halifax  being  largely 
interested  in  blockade  running,)  and  rescued  and  liberated  the  prisoners. 
The  provincial  court,  on  the  demand  of  the  owners,  gave  up  the  vessel 
to  them.  Several  other  attempts  were  made  soon  after  in  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  and  on  the  lakes,  to  seize  steamers  in  the  same  way  and  transform 
them  into  Kebel  privateers,  but  none  of  them  met  with  much  success.  In 
August,  1864:,  another  of  a  new  fleet  of  privateers  built  for  the  Kebels  in 
Great  Britain  by  their  sympathizing  friends,  the  Tallahassee,  made  her 
appearance  on  the  coast  of  New  England  and  the  Middle  States,  and  in 
ten  days  destroyed  thirty-three  vessels,  mostly  coasting  and  fishing  vessels., 
Pursued  by  numerous  cruisers,  she  finally  managed  to  slip  into  Wilming 
ton,  North  Carolina,  from  whence  she  never  came  out  again.  In  Novem 
ber,  two  others  of  the  same  fleet,  the  Olustee  and  Chickamauga,  both  iron 
vessels,  built  in  the  Clyde,  and  of  great  speed,  appeared  on  the  coast  and 
did  some  mischief.  The  Chickamauga  was  soon  compelled  to  take  refuge 
in  Wilmington,  and  the  Olustee  disappeared  mysteriously.  When  Fort 
Fisher  was  taken,  in  January,  1865,  both  the  Chickamauga  and  Tallahassee 
were  blown  up  by  the  Eebels.  The  Shenandoah,  or  Sea  King,  which  had 
been  built  at  Glasgow  in  October,  1863,  and  on  the  20th  of  September, 
1864,  transferred  to  a  Eebel  sympathizer  in  London,  who  authorized  the 
captain  of  the  vessel  to  sell  her  for  fifteen  thousand  pounds,  at  any  port 
out  of  the  United  Kingdom.  She  was  then  entered  and  cleared  as  a 
merchant  vessel  in  ballast,  for  Bombay.  Meantime,  her  armament  and 
crew  had  been  sent  out  in  another  vessel,  the  Laurel,  and  by  agreement, 
the  two  vessels  met  at  Madeira,  where  the  armament  and  crew  were  put 
on  board  the  Sea  King  and  her  name  changed  to  the  Shenandoah,  and  she 
started  on  a  piratical  cruise  around  the  world.  Her  armament  consisted 
of  six  guns,  four  of  them  sixty-eight  pounders,  and  two  thirty-two 
pounders.  Her  crew  were  all  British  sailors.  She  cruised  first  in  the 
South- Atlantic,  and  then  in  the  Bay  of  Bengal,  and  in  February,  1865, 
entered  the  port  of  Melbourne,  Australia,  where,  in  accordance  with 
British  ideas  of  neutrality,  she  was  coaled,  provisioned,  and  received  a 
reinforcement  of  men.  After  sometime  spent  there,  and  in  that  vicinity, 


THE  CAREER   OF  THE  STONEWALL   OR   OLINDE.  839 

she  sailed  for  the  northwest  coast  and  commenced  making  terrible  havoc 
among  the  American  whale  ships.  The  President  of  the  United  States  had 
made  proclamation  in  April  against  her  as  a  pirate,  but  the  British  Gov 
ernment  delayed  making  any  proclamation  until  June,  and  then  gave  a 
month's  grace  after  she  received  the  proclamation  before  she  was  to  be 
considered  as  a  pirate.  Meantime,  she  destroyed  twenty-five,  and  bonded 
four  whaling  vessels,  from  the  beginning  of  April  to  the  last  of  June, 
1865,  and  several  others  subsequently.  In  the  latter  part  of  August,  her 
captain,  who  had  been  repeatedly  informed  by  the  crews  of  the  ships  he 
had  taken,  that  the  Confederacy  had  ceased  to  exist,  but  refused  to  believe 
it  until  he  had  been  so  informed  by  British  authority,  left  the  Arctic 
ocean,  and  on  the  6th  of  November,  arrived  in  the  Mersey,  and  delivered 
himself  and  his  vessel  up  to  a  British  man-of-war,  lying  in  Liverpool 
harbor.  The  British  Government,  actuated  probably  by  the  same  neutral 
spirit  which  had  influenced  them  through  the  war,  set  the  captain  and 
crew  at  liberty,  but  decided  that  the  vessel  must  be  given  up  to  the 
American  consul. 

With  the  history  of  one  other  ship  of  war  furnished  to  the  Eebels  by 
European  neutrality,  we  close  this  record  of  the  Eebel  navy.  The 
Olinde  or  Stonewall  was  one  of  the  two  iron-clad  rams  built  by  Armand, 
a  French  ship  builder,  for  the  Eebels,  which  the  French  Government  com 
pelled  him  to  sell  to  the  Danish  Government.  She  did  not  prove  satisfac 
tory  to  that  government,  and  was  returned  upon  the  hands  of  the  builder. 
By  some  trickery,  not  creditable  to  Armand  or  others  concerned  in  it,  she 
was  finally  transferred  to  the  Eebels,  and  on  the  28th  of  January,  1865, 
sailed  from  Nantes,  France.  On  the  4th  of  February,  she  put  into  the  port 
of  Ferrol,  Spain,  where  the  Niagara  blockaded  her  for  some  time.  On 
the  21st  of  March  she  came  out,  but  the  Niagara  pursuing  her  she  re 
turned,  evidently  fearing  her  formidable  antagonist.  On  the  27th  of 
March  she  escaped  to  Lisbon,  but  was  ordered  away  from  that  port  by  the 
Portuguese  authorities,  and  the  Niagara  and  Sacramento,  which  had  fol 
lowed  her  thither,  were  fired  upon  by  the  Portuguese  forts,  on  the  suppo 
sition  that  they  intended  following  her  before  twenty-four  hours  after  her 
departure  had  elapsed.  Having  thus  escaped  from  her  pursuers,  she  sailed 
for  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  taking  Bermuda  in  her  way,  but  finding  the 
Niagara  and  Sacramento  still  in  her  wake,  she  put  into  Havana,  and  be 
coming  convinced  that  there  was  no  hope  of  her  escape,  and  that  the 
Eebel  Confederacy  had  exploded,  her  captain  surrendered  her  to  the 
Captain-General  of  Cuba,  who  received  her  on  deposit,  and  awaited  in 
structions  from  the  Spanish  Government  as  to  the  future  disposition  to  be 
made  of  her ;  that  Government  ordered  her  to  be  given  up  to  the  United 
States,  but  requested  the  payment  of  indebtedness  incurred  by  the  Eebel 
commander  in  her  behalf.  This  was  granted,  and  the  vessel  transferred  to 
the  navy  of  the  United  States. 


840  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

The  number  of  merchant  vessels  destroyed  by  these  Eebel  cruisers 
during  the  war  was  more  than  three  hundred,  and  the  value  of  the  ships 
and  cargoes  not  far  from  thirty  millions  of  dollars ;  but  this  was  by  no 
means  the  only  injury  inflicted  upon  American  commerce  thereby ;  the 
war  risk  for  insurance  was  very  greatly  enhanced ;  seven  Lundred  and 
fifteen  American  vessels,  with  a  total  capacity  of  four  hundred  and  eighty 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-two  tons  were,  during  the  war,  trans 
ferred  to  the  British  or  other  foreign  flags,  to  avoid  capture  by  these 
cruisers,  and  the  carrying  trade,  under  the  American  flag,  fell  off  two 
thirds  in  amount,  while  that  under  foreign  flags  increased  in  a  like  ratio. 


t! 


i . 

£ 


DISTURBANCES   IX   MISSOURI.  841 


CHAPTER   LXYI. 

DISTURBANCES  IN  MISSOURI — TUB  SMALL  NUMBER  OF  TROOPS  IN  THE  DEPARTMENT — GENERAL 
ROSECRANS  IN  COMMAND  THERE PRICE  THINKS  THE  OPPORTUNITY  FAVORABLE  FOR  AN 
OTHER  INVASION  OF  MISSOURI MARMADUKE  SENT  TO  TEST  ITS  FEASIBILITY — HE  IS 

REPULSED  AND  DRIVEN  BACK  TOWARD    ARKANSAS PRICE'S    EXPEDITION    IN    SEPTEMBER 

THE  NUMBER  OF  HIS  TROOPS — THE  UNION  FORCE  COLLECTED  TO  OPPOSE    HIM THE    BATTLE 

OF    PILOT    KNOB FIGHT     AT     HARRISON'S     STATION SKILFUL     MANAGEMENT    OF    GENERAL 

EWING ROLLA  SECURELY  GARRISONED — GENERAL    PLEASONTON    TAKES  COMMAND    OF    THK 

CAVALRY CONDITION  OF  ST.  LOUIS  AND  JEFFERSON  CITY PRICE  MAKES  A    FATAL  DELAY 

HE  THREATENS  JEFFERSON    CITY,  BUT  FINDING  IT    TOO  STRONGLY  DEFENDED,  TURNS    ASIDE 

TO    BOONEVILLE SANBORN     FOLLOWS     AND    HARASSES    HIM PLEASONTON     JOINS    IN    THK 

PURSUIT — THE  BATTLES  OF  THK  BIG  BLUE — LITTLE  OSAGE  CROSSING,  AND  MARAIS  DES 
CYGNES — PRICE  COMPLETELY  ROUTED — HE  IS  DEFEATED  ONCE  MORE  AT  NEWTONIA — RE 
SULTS INDIAN  TROUBLES  ON  THE  FRONTIER THE  LEAGUE  AMONG  THE  TRIBES  OF  THE 

SIOUX  NATION GENERAL    POPE'S  IDEAS  OF  THE  BEST  METHOD  OF  BREAKING  THEIR    POWER 

— GENERAL  SULLY  SENT  WITH    A    LARGE    CAVALRY    FORCE    TO    ATTACK    THEM,    AND    POSTS 

ESTABLISHED  ALONG  THE  FRONTIER HIS  CAMPAIGN THE  BATTLE    NEAR    THE    LITTLE    MIS. 

SOURI THE  DEFEAT    AND    FLIGHT   OF    THE    INDIANS SULLY    FALLS    BACK    TO    HIS    TRAINS 

AND  PURSUES  THEM  TO  THE  "  BAD  LANDS" — DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  "  BAD  LANDS" — HE 
ATTACKS  AND  DEFEATS  THE  INDIANS  AGAIN — THEY  ARE  COMPLETELY  SCATTERED  AND 
BROKEN — GENERAL  POPE'S  PLANS  FOR  PEACE  WITH  THEM  IN  FUTURE — THE  MASSACRE  OF  THK 
CHEYENNESBY  COLONEL  CHIVINGTON DETAILS  OF  THE  SURPRISE  AND  SLAUGHTER INVESTI 
GATION  BY  THE  COMMITTEE  ON  THE  CONDUCT  OF  THE  WAR CHIVINGTON  ORDERED  ARRESTED 

REBEL  PLOTS  AGAINST  THE  CITIZENS    OF    THE    NORTHERN    STATES THE     SCHEME    FOR     THK 

RELEASE  OF  THE  JOHNSON'S  ISLAND  PRISONERS,  AND  THE  BURNING  OF  BUFFALO,  CLEVE 
LAND,  ETC. HOW  BAFFLED BLACKBURN'S  PLAN  FOR  DISSEMINATING  YELLOW  FEVER  AND 

SMALL-POX JOHN    T.    BEALL'S     RAID    UPON     LAKE    STEAMERS HIS    CAPTURE,    TRIAL,    AND 

EXECUTION THE  RAID  ON  ST.  ALBANS ARREST  AND    DISCHARGE    OF    THE    ROBBERS — THB 

PLOT    FOR    RELEASING    THE    PRISONERS    AND    DESTROYING    CHICAGO HOW    DISCOVERED 

ATTEMPT  TO  BURN  THE  HOTELS  IN  NEW  YORK ARREST  TRIAL  AND  EXECUTION  OF  KENNEDY. 

DURING  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1864,  there  were  considerable  dis 
turbances  from  the  Rebels  in  Missouri.  On  the  30th  of  January,  1864, 
General  Rosecrans  had  been  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Department 
of  Missouri,  relieving  General  Schofield,  who  was  transferred  to  the  Depart 
ment  of  the  Ohio.  The  necessity  of  raising  a  large  force  for  Sherman's 
Meridian  expedition,  and  after  that  general  became  commander  of  the 
Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi,  the  gathering  of  the  larger  part  of  his 
troops  for  the  campaign  in  Georgia,  compelled  the  reduction  of  the  force 
in  Missouri  to  the  lowest  number  which  would  suffice  for  holding  the 
position.  The  old  Missouri  State  militia,  a  part  of  which  had  proved  un 
reliable,  had  been  disbanded,  and  but  few  of  the  enrolled  Missouri  militia, 
a  more  loyal  and  efficient  organization,  were  now  in  the  service.  In  June, 
General  Rosecrans'  entire  effective  force  consisted  of  six  thousand  five 
hundred  mounted  men  for  field  duty,  scattered "  over  a  country  four  hun- 


842  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

dred  miles  long  and  three  hundred  broad,  and  a  few  partially  organized 
new  infantry  regiments,  and  dismounted  men.  This  was  the  entire  force 
for  the  protection  of  the  great  depots  at  St.  Louis,  Jefferson  city,  St.  Joseph, 
Macon,  Springfield,  Kolla,  and  Pilot  Knob. 

The  same  force  were  also  required  to  guard  the  railroad  lines  and 
bridges  against  invasion,  and  to  protect,  as  far  as  possible,  the  lives  and 
property  of  citizens  from  the  guerrillas,  who  swarmed  over  the  whole 
country  bordering  on  the  Missouri  river.  As  the  preservation  of  St.  Louis 
and  its  vicinity  from  Rebel  attack  was  of  the  first  importance,  General 
Eosecrans  felt  it  necessary  to  concentrate  the  larger  part  of  his  force,  in 
the  neighborhood  of  that  city,  and  along  the  line  of  the  principal  railroads 
radiating  from  it.  The  country  south  of  the  Maramec  was  thus  left  a 
prey  to  anarchy. 

This  state  of  things  was  speedily  known  to  the  Kebel  General  Sterling 
Price,  and  though  he  had  been  so  often  repulsed,  he  thought  he  now  saw 
before  him  the  opportunity  of  invading  Missouri  with  success,  and  of 
accomplishing  what  had  long  been  his  highest  ambition,  the  subjugation 
of  St.  Louis,  his  own  former  residence.  His  long  experience  of  the  supe 
riority  of  the  Union  troops  to  his  own,  in  pluck,  endurance,  and  resolute 
courage,  had  made  him  cautious,  and  he  accordingly  sent  Marmaduke 
forward  with  a  mixed  force,  partly  bushwhackers,  of  about  six  thousand 
infantry  and  oavalry  and  three  batteries,  about  the  first  of  June,  186-i,  to 
penetrate  into  southern  Missouri,  and,  if  possible,  reach  the  Missouri  river 
and  interrupt  its  navigation.  Marmaduke  pushed  forward,  and  occupied 
Lake  Village,  from  whence  he  began  to  annoy  the  boats  on  the  Missouri, 
but  his  operations  were  speedily  cut  short.  General  A.  J.  Smith,  (with 
portions  of  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  corps,)  who  was  on  his  way  from 
the  disastrous  Red  river  expedition,  to  join  Sherman's  army,  was  ordered 
to  ascend  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri,  and  put  an  end  to  Marmaduke's 
foray.  On  the  oth  of  June,  this  force,  consisting  of  Mower's  division  of 
the  sixteenth  corps,  and  one  brigade  of  the  seventeenth,  disembarked  at 
Sunnyside,  and  marched  rapidly  upon  Marmaduke,  attacked,  defeated,  and 
drove  him  back  toward  Arkansas,  and  on  the  7th  of  June  re-embarked  for 
Memphis.  During  the  summer,  Price  remained  tolerably  quiet,  but  in 
September,  attracted  by  the  offers  and  promises  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Golden  Circle  and  other  disloyalists  in  Missouri  and  Illinois,  who  pledged 
their  co-operation  and  aid  in  killing  off  the  Union  citizens,  and  preventing 
the  ballot  for  President,  which  was  to  take  place  on  the  8th  of  November, 
he  again  made  preparations  to  enter  Missouri. 

He  crossed  the  Arkansas  river  on  the  21st  of  September,  with  two 
divisions  of  cavalry,  and  three  batteries  of  artillery ;  and  at  Batesville,  Arkan 
sas,  was  joined  by  the  Rebel  General  Shelby,  who  had  previously  been 
confronting  General  Steele.  The  combined  Rebel  force  was  about  fifteen 
thousand  men,  the  greater  part  cavalry.  Their  first  movement  northward, 


PRICE'S   EXPEDITION  IN  SEPTEMBER.  843 

was  a  feint  toward  Springfield,  Missouri,  but  after  proceeding  a  shoit  dis 
tance  in  that  direction,  they  turned  off  toward  Pilot  Knob.  St.  Louis 
was,  as  we  have  said,  Price's  objective  in  this  expedition.  No  sooner  had 
Price  commenced  his  march,  than  Steele  followed,  having  been  reinforced 
by  Mower's  division  of  the  sixteenth  corps,  and  Winslow's  cavalry,  which 
had  been  sent  from  Memphis  by  General  Washburne.  General  A.  J. 
Smith,  who  was  on  his  way  from  western  Arkansas  to  join  Sherman's 
army,  with  a  force  of  four  thousand  five  hundred  men,  crossed  to  Browns 
ville,  Arkansas,  and  thence  by  a  severe  march  of  three  hundred  and  twelve 
miles,  occupying  nineteen  days,  reached  Cape  Girardeau,  Missouri,  and 
embarking  his  men  on  transports  was  conveyed  to  Jefferson  City,  Missouri. 
On  the  23d  of  September,  Price's  advance,  under  Shelby,  occupied 
JBloomfield,  which  had  been  evacuated  by  the  Union  troops  two  days 
before.  Price  now  pushed  on  for  Pilot  Knob,  which  was  occupied  by 
the  Union  General  Ewing,  with  two  regiments  of  volunteers,  and  detach 
ments  from  three  militia  regiments.  General  Ewing  had  sent  off  his 
stores  to  St.  Louis,  which  was  now  strongly  garrisoned,  having  nearly 
ten  thousand  troops,  the  greater  part  of  them  militia  and  hundred  days' 
men,  guarding  it.  But  though  he  had  secured  his  stores  from  danger, 
Ewing  was  too  brave  an  officer  to  abandon  his  post,  while  there  was  a 
possibility  of  holding  it.  The  Rebel  advance  was  repulsed  promptly, 
and  then  as  their  main  body  came  up,  he  took  his  position  in  the  fort,  a 
strong  one,  mounting  fourteen  guns,  but  unfortunately,  commanded  by 
Shepherd's  Mountain,  an  eminence  near  by.  The  Rebels  assaulted  the 
fort  without  delay,  but  the  terrible  fire  of  his  artillery  and  musketry,  re 
served  till  they  came  within  short  range,  drove  them  back  with  heavy 
loss,  and  greatly  enraged  at  their  repulse,  they  presently  moved  off  and 
occupied  Shepherd's  Mountain,  and  Ewing  finding  that  he  would  be  com 
pelled  to  evacuate  the  fort,  spiked  his  guns,  blew  up  his  magazine,  and 
fell  back  to  Harrison  station,  on  the  southwest  branch  railroad,  where 
were  some  breastworks  previously  occupied  by  militia.  His  retreat  to 
this  point  was  a  running  fight  for  the  whole  distance,  and  the  enemy 
were  only  kept  at  bay  by  the  skilful  and  constant  use  of  his  artillery. 
At  Harrison,  he  made  a  brave  stand  and  fought  the  enemy  for  a  longtime, 
but  they  had  cut  the  railroad  on  both  sides  of  him,  and  were  about  sur 
rounding  his  little  force,  when  Colonel  Beveridge  came  up  with  a  rein 
forcement  of  five  hundred  men,  which  the  Rebels  supposed  to  be  the 
advance-guard  of  a  large  body  of  troops,  and  hesitated  to  attack.  Avail 
ing  himself  of  this  hesitation,  General  Ewing  marched  rapidly  for  Rolla, 
where  he  arrived  next  morning.  In  this  two  days'  fight,  the  Rebels  had 
lost  over  one  thousand  in  killed  aud  wounded,  and  had  been  delayed,  at 
a  time  when  every  moment  was  of  great  value  to  the  Union  commanders 
at  St.  Louis  and  Jefferson  City,  in  hurrying  forward  their  troops.  Rolla, 
to  which  point  General  Ewing  had  retreated,  was  now  strongly  garrisoned ; 


844  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

General  Sanborn,  who  was  stationed  at  Springfield,  having  ascertained 
that  the  enemy  had  no  intentions  on  that  place,  had  brought  the  greater 
part  of  his  garrison  to  Eolla,  to  reinforce  General  McNeil.  At  St.  Louis, 
General  Pleasonton,  one  of  the  best  cavalry  officers  in  the  army,  had 
relieved  General  Frank  P.  Blair  in  command  of  the  cavalry,  and  Senator 
B.  Gratz  Brown  had  been  put  in  command  of  the  militia,  by  General  Kose- 
crans.  St.  Louis  was  by  this  time  so  strongly  fortified  and  defended  that 
Price  durst  not  assail  it.  At  Jefferson  City,  the  enrolled  militia  were  gath 
ered  under  command  of  General  E.  B.  Brown,  and  General  Clinton  B.  Fisk 
had  drawn  thither  all  the  available  troops  from  northern  Missouri.  These, 
with  General  A.  J.  Smith's  veterans,  forty-five  hundred  in  number,  made 
the  State  capital  so  strong  that  its  capture  would  require  more  and  better 
troops  than  Price  had  at  command,  while  McNeil  and  Sanborn  at  Kolla 
were  within  reasonable  supporting  distance.  Price  committed  the  mis 
take  of  remaining  for  two  or  three  days  at  Richwood,  near  Pilot  Knob, 
and  threatening  St.  Louis,  while  he  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  people 
of  Missouri,  in  which  he  stated  that  he  had  come  into  the  state  with  the 
intention  of  remaining ;  that  he  desired  to  make  friends,  and  not  enemies, 
and  that  the  depredations  which  he  had  committed  were  a  military  neces 
sity.  About  the  5th  of  October,  he  moved  toward  Jefferson  City,  and 
Generals  McNeil  and  Sanborn,  apprized  promptly  of  his  movements 
moved  at  once  with  all  their  available  cavalry,  and  making  forced 
marches,  reached  the  capital  a  few  hours  before  him,  and  finding  himself 
confronted  by  so  formidable  a  force,  Price  turned  aside  toward  Boone- 
ville.  General  Pleasonton,  who  had  taken  command  at  Jefferson  City, 
sent  a  cavalry  force  under  General  Sanborn  in  pursuit  of  him,  and  he, 
hanging  upon  Price's  rear,  harrassed  him,  driving  in  his  rear-guard,  and 
gleaning  many  prisoners.  On  the  17th  of  October,  General  Pleasonton, 
who  had  followed  with  the  main  body  of  his  army,  moved  from  Sedalia 
with  the  determination  of  bringing  Price  to  an  engagement.  On  the  19th 
of  October,  he  formed  a  junction  with  Winslow's  cavalry,  which  had 
followed  Price  from  Arkansas,  and  now  came  up  with  his  troops.  This 
addition  gave  him  sixty-five  hundred  mounted  troops,  beside  a  consid 
erable  infantry  force. 

On  the  22d  of  October,  Pleasonton  overtook  Price  at  the  Little  Blue 
river,  and  drove  him  thence  to  the  Big  Blue,  at  Independence,  where  he 
attacked  his  rear-guard,  and  captured  two  guns.  Price's  advance  had 
met,  on  the  21st,  General  Blunt,  with  a  small  force,  near  the  Big  Blue, 
and  had  repulsed  him,  causing  him  to  fall  back  to  his  reserves,  which 
were  under  command  of  General  Curtis,  and  had  come  from  Kansas  to 
attack  Price. 

On  the  23d,  Curtis,  who  held  Westport,  was  attacked  by  Shelby,  who 
commanded  Price's  advance,  and  compelled  to  fall  back,  when  Pleasonton 
came  up  and  defeated  Price's  forces,  and  compelled  them  to  retreat  south- 


PRICE   COMPLETELY   ROUTED.  845 

ward  on  the  Fort  Scott  road.  Pleasonton  and  Curtis,  having  joined  forces, 
pursued  briskly,  and  at  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  25th,  struck  the 
foe  and  routed  them,  capturing  their  camp  equipage,  one  cannon,  twenty 
wagons  full  of  plunder,  and  fifteen  hundred  head  of  cattle.  Still  following 
them,  they  attacked  them  again  at  the  Little  Osage  crossing,  after  a 
march  of  sixty  miles,  where  two  advanced  brigades,  under  the  command 
of  Colonels  Benteen  and  Phillips,  charged  two  Kebel  divisions,  routed 
them  after  a  brief  action,  and  captured  eight  guns,  fifteen  hundred  stand 
of  arms,  one  thousand  prisoners,  including  Generals  Marmaduke  and 
Cabell,  and  six  colonels.  The  pursuit  was  resumed,  and  the  enemy  were 
overtaken  on  the  Marais  des  Cygnes.  A  sharp,  brief  battle  ensued,  and 
Price  was  again  routed,  and  compelled  to  burn  over  two  hundred  wagons, 
and  to  explode  all  his  artillery  ammunition.  His  flight  from  this  time 
forward  was  disorderly,  and  his  troops  abandoned  most  of  their  plunder, 
and  every  thing  which  could  impede  their  progress.  The  Kansas  troops 
now  took  the  lead  in  the  pursuit,  together  with  Benteen's  brigade,  while 
Sanborn  followed  in  a  march  more  rapid  than  any  other  on  record,  mak 
ing  one  hundred  and  four  miles  in  thirty-six  hours.  At  Newtonia,  near 
the  southwestern  border  of  Missouri,  Price  once  more  made  a  stand 
against  the  Kansas  troops,  which  were  getting  worsted,  when  Sanborn 
came  up  and  drove  them,  with  the  loss  of  their  remaining  guns,  and 
nearly  all  their  train,  a  demoralized  mob,  into  Arkansas.  Price,  in  a 
subsequent  general  order,  endeavored  to  make  the  best  of  his  expedition, 
claiming  that  he  had  been  reinforced  to  an  amount  fully  equal  to  his 
losses,  by  citizens  of  Missouri.  It  is  possible  that  some  of  the  Rebel 
bushwhackers  of  that  State,  finding  it  uncomfortable  to  reside  there  after 
the  numerous  outrages  they  had  committed,  did  accompany  him  to 
Arkansas ;  but  the  loyal  citizens  of  Missouri  would  willingly  have  spared 
a  much  larger  number  of  them  if  they  would  have  promised  never  to 
return.  But  Price's  losses,  irrespective  of  such  doubtful  reinforcements 
as  these,  had  been  two  thousand  prisoners,  nine  hundred  killed,  and 
twenty -eight  hundred  wounded,  ten  guns  (all  he  had),  his  entire  ammuni 
tion  train,  and  most  of  his  wagons  and  plunder,  and  over  four  thousand 
stand  of  arms.  The  Union,  loss  was  but  little  more  than  one  thousand. 
This  expedition  ended  the  Rebel  attempts  to  conquer  Missouri,  and  the 
State  thenceforth  enjoyed  a  greater  tranquillity  than  it  had  known  since 
the  commencement  of  the  war. 

The  Indians  in  the  Department  of  the  Northwest,  not  satisfied  with  the 
punishment  they  had  received  in  the  two  preceding  years,  were  still 
sullen  and  revengeful,  and  bent  on  mischief.  The  half-breeds  and  traders 
of  the  Selkirk  and  Red  river  settlements,  in  British  Columbia,  fostered 
this  hostile  feeling  for  the  sake  of  winning  their  trade,  and  furnished  them 
with  arms  and  ammunition  to  continue  their  warfare  during  the  summer 
of  186-4. 


846  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

During  thfe  winter  and  spring  of  that  year,  the  principal  chiefs  of  the 
Yanktonnais,  Unkpapas,  and  other  tribes  of  the  Sioux  nation,  which  had 
been  most  active  in  their  previous  hostility  to  the  whites,  visited  the  other 
tribes,  and  by  great  exertions  succeeded  in  uniting  almost  the  entire 
nation  in  a  league  to  fight  and  destroy  the  whites  on  the  frontier ;  and, 
with  a  forethought  and  self-denial  remarkable  in  the  Indian  race,  accumu 
lated  a  large  stock  of  provisions,  and  assembled  their  warriors,  to  the 
number  of  about  six  thousand,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  upper  Missouri. 

General  Pope,  the  commander  of  the  Department  of  the  Northwest,  had 
had  early  information  of  the  extent  of  this  conspiracy,  and  made  no  attempt 
to  thwart  it,  from  the  conviction  that  if  they  concentrated  their  forces, 
and  staked  the  result  on  one  or  more  great  battles,  their  power  would  be 
so  thoroughly  broken  that  they  would  never  again  be  able  to  rally  and 
seriously  annoy  the  settlers  on  the  frontier.  He  therefore  made  thorough 
preparations  for  an  early  campaign  with  a  large  force  into  their  territory. 
His  plan  of  operations,  as  determined  in  February,  1864,  was  to  put  into 
the  field  an  active  column  of  about  twenty-five  hundred  men,  entirely 
cavalry,  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  Alfred  Sully,  to 
advance  against  the  Indians  wherever  they  could  be  found,  and  deliver 
battle  against  them.  At  the  same  time  he  determined  to  follow  up  the 
movements  of  this  column  with  a  force  of  infantry  sufficiently  large  to 
establish  strong  posts  in  the  Indian  country. 

These  posts  were  to  be  so  located  as  to  cover  the  frontier  lines  of  Iowa 
and  Minnesota,  and  the  frontier  settlements  of  Dakota  Territory  at  a  long 
distance ;  to  interpose  between  the  different  tribes,  so  as  to  prevent  con 
certed  action  between  them  ;  to  command  the  hunting-grounds  of  the 
Indians,  so  that  they  would  be  constantly  under  the  supervision  and  in 
the  power  of  the  military  forces,  which,  by  concerted  action,  could  easily 
and  promptly  march  a  heavy  cavalry  force  upon  any  portion  of  the  region 
in  which  the  Indians  are  obliged  to  hunt  for  subsistence ;  to  command 
the  Indian  trails  toward  the  frontier  settlements,  so  as  to  detect  the  pas 
sage  of  even  the  smallest  parties  attempting  to  make  raids  upon  the 
settlers,  and  to  follow  them  up ;  and  so  far  as  military  necessities  would 
allow,  to  protect  an  emigrant  route  from  the  upper  Mississippi  river  to 
the  Territories  of  Idaho  and  Montana.  For  the  garrison  duties,  and  for  a 
part  of  his  mounted  force,  General  Pope  received,  though  not  until  late 
in  the  summer,  a  considerable  body  (about  two  thousand  in  all)  of  men 
who  had  been  Kebel  prisoners  of  war,  but  who  had  taken  the  oath  of 
allegiance,  and  been  mustered  into  the  United  States  service.  As  it  was 
manifestly  not  desirable  that  they  should  be  confronted  with  the  Kebel 
armies  to  which  they  had  formerly  belonged,  they  were  assigned  to  duty 
in  the  northwest,  greatly  to  their  satisfaction. 

General  Sully  collected  the  forces  under  his  command  from  the  various 
posts  and  stations  in  his  district,  early  in  the  spring,  and  commenced  to 


INDIAN  TROUBLES   ON  THE  FRONTIER.  84T 

move  up  the  Missouri  river,  leaving  only  such  detachments  as  were  neces 
sary  to  cover  the  frontier  from  small  Indian  raids  during  his  absence. 
He  was  reinforced  by  about  fifteen  hundred  mounted  men  from  Minne 
sota,  leaving  General  Sibley  with  about  seven  hundred  effective  men  to 
protect  the  frontier  settlements  of  Minnesota  during  the  summer.  The 
mouth  of  Burdache  creek,  on  the  upper  Missouri,  was  selected  as  the 
point  where  the  Minnesota  troops  should  join  the  forces  of  General  Sully 
moving  up  the  Missouri,  and  the  junction  of  these  forces  was  made  on 
the  30th  of  June.  The  spring  rise  in  the  Missouri  river  did  not  come 
down  until  very  late  in  the  season,  and  Sully  only  reached  the  mouth  of 
Cannon  Ball  river,  at  which  point  he  was  to  establish  a  strong  post, 
which  was  to  be  his  depot  of  supplies,  on  the  7th  of  July.  He  estab 
lished  Fort  Bice  at  that  point,  distant  from  Sioux  City  four  hundred  and 
fifty  miles,  and  garrisoned  it  with  five  companies  of  the  thirtieth  Wis 
consin  volunteers.  The  Indians,  who  had  been  concentrated  on  and  near 
the  Missouri  river  about  fifty  miles  above  this  post,  had  meantime  crossed 
to  the  southwest  side  of  the  river,  and  occupied  a  strong  position  in  a 
very  difficult  country  near  the  Little  Missouri  river,  due  west  and  about 
two  hundred  miles  from  Fort  Eice. 

On  the  26th  of  July,  General  Sully  marched  upon  these  Indians,  with 
the  following  forces :  the  eighth  Minnesota  volunteers  (mounted),  and  six 
companies  of  the  second  Minnesota  cavalry,  with  four  light  guns,  under 
command  of  Colonel  M.  T.  Thomas,  eighth  Minnesota  volunteers;  eleven 
companies  sixth  Iowa  cavalry,  three  companies  seventh  Iowa  cavalry, 
two  companies  Dakota  cavalry,  four  companies  Brackett's  battalion 
cavalry,  one  small  company  of  scouts,  and  four  mountain-howitzers,  the 
whole  force  numbering  twenty-two  hundred  men.  A  small  emigrant 
train  for  Idaho,  which  had  accompanied  the  Minnesota  troops  from  that 
State,  followed  Sally's  forces.  At  the  head  of  Heart  river  he  corralled  his 
trains,  and  leaving  a  sufficient  guard  with  them,  marched  rapidly  to  the 
northwest,  where  the  combined  forces  of  the  Indians  were  assembled. 
On  the  morning  of  July  28th  he  came  upon  them,  between  five  and  six 
thousand  warriors,  strongly  posted  in  a  wooded  country  very  much  cut  up 
with  high  rugged  hills,  and  deep  impassable  ravines.  He  had  an  hour's 
talk  with  some  of  the  Indian  chiefs,  who  were  very  defiant  and  impudent, 
after  which  he  moved  rapidly  forward  against  their  strong  position. 

The  action  for  a  time  was  sharp  and  severe ;  but  the  artillery  and  long- 
range  small  arms  of  the  Union  troops  (many  of  whom  were  armed  with 
repeating  rifles)  were  very  destructive,  and  the  Indians  began  to  give  way 
on  all  sides.  They  were  so  closely  pressed  by  Sully's  forces  that  they 
abandoned  their  extensive  camps,  leaving  all  their  robes,  lodges,  colts, 
and  utensils  of  every  description,  and  all  the  winter  supply  of  provisions 
they  had  been  so  long  collecting.  The  action  resulted  in  a  running  fight 
of  nine  miles,  the  Indians  finally  scattering  3ompletely,  and  escaping  with 


848  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

nothing  except  their  wounded,  which,  according  to  Indian  custom,  they 
carried  off,  together  with  as  many  of  their  killed  as  they  could.  One 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dead  warriors  were  left  on  the  field.  An  im 
mense  quantity  of  Indian  goods  and  supplies  were  captured  by  General 
Sully  in  their  deserted  camps,  and  as  he  had  no  means  of  transportation 
for  them  they  were  destroyed. 

Finding  the  country  almost  impracticable,  and  having  only  a  small 
supply  of  provisions,  or  means  to  carry  them,  and  ascertaining  that  the 
retreat  of  the  mass  of  the  Indians  was  toward  the  southwest,  General 
Sully  returned  to  his  train  at  the  head  of  Heart  river,  and  resumed  his 
march  westward  through  an  unknown  and  unexplored  region  toward  the 
Yellowstone,  which  he  expected  to  reach  near  Fort  Alexander,  at  which 
point  it  had  been  proposed  to  establish  a  military  post.  On  the  5th  of 
August  he  came  in  sight  of  the  Bad  Lands  (Mauvaises  Terres)  which 
border  the  little  Missouri  on  both  sides.  The  country  was  exceedingly 
rugged  and  difficult,  and  so  cut  up  with  deep  perpendicular  ravines  that 
it  was  with  the  utmost  labor,  and  considerable  loss  of  time,  that  a  narrow 
winding  way  between  the  ravines,  in  places  barely  ten  feet  wide,  was 
made  for  his  wagons.  The  country  was  most  remarkable  in  its  character, 
and  is  thus  depicted  by  General  Sully : 

"  I  have  not  sufficient  power  of  language  to  describe  the  country  in 
front  of  us.  It  was  grand,  dismal,  and  majestic.  You  can  imagine  a 
deep  basin,  six  hundred  feet  deep,  and  twenty-five  miles  in  width,  filled 
with  cones,  and  oven-shaped  knolls  of  all  sizes,  from  twenty-five  to 
several  hundred  feet  in  height,  sometimes  by  themselves,  sometimes  piled 
up  into  large  heaps,  on  top  of  each  other,  in  all  conceivable  shapes  and 
confusion.  Most  of  these  hills  were  of  a  gray  clay,  but  many  of  a  light 
brick  color  (of  burnt  clay),  and  with  little  or  no  vegetation.  Some  of 
the  sides  of  the  hills,  however,  were  covered  with  a  few  scrub  cedars. 
Viewed  in  the  distance  at  sunset,  it  looked  exactly  like  the  ruins  of  an 
ancient  city.  It  was  covered  with  pieces  of  petrified  wood,  and  on  the 
tops  of  some  of  the  hills  we  found  petrified  stumps  of  trees,  the  remains 
of  a  great  forest.  In  some  cases  these  trees  were  from  sixteen  to  eighteen 
feet  in  diameter.  Large  quantities  of  iron  ore,  lava,  and  impressions  in 
the  rocks  of  leaves  of  a  size  and  shape  not  known  to  any  of  us,  were 
also  found  throughout  this  region." 

General  Sully  found  it  necessary  to  dig  down  the  hills  and  make  a  road 
for  his  wagons,  on  the  west  as  well  as  on  the  east  side  of  the  Little  Mis 
souri  ;  and  here,  on  the  6th  of  August,  he  found  that  a  part  of  the  Indians 
whom  he  had  defeated  on  the  28th  of  July,  were  congregated.  Carefully 
guarding  his  flanks  and  rear  against  surprise,  he  moved  forward  on  the 
7th  of  August,  and  attacking  them,  defeated  them  again,  leaving  over  one 
hundred  of  them  dead  on  the  field,  beside  large  numbers  whom  they  car 
ried  away.  After  this  hopeless  battle,  in  which  they  manifested  none  of 


GENERAL  POPE'S  POLICY.  849 

the  spirit  or  audacity  which  characterized  the  fight  of  the  28th  of  July, 
the  Indians  scattered  and  broke  up  their  combination  entirely.  The 
Tetons,  separated  into  small  fragments,  fled  toward  the  southwest ;  the 
Yanktonnais,  one  of  the  most  warlike  and  troublesome  tribes  of  the  Sioux 
nation,  with  other  confederated  tribes  from  the  north  and  east  of  the 
Missouri,  crossed  that  river  and  retreated  rapidly  into  the  British  posses 
sions  by  way  of  Moose  river.  General  Sully  followed  them  nearly  to  the 
British  line  later  in  the  season. 

Finding  the  country  west  of  Fort  Rice,  in  the  direction  of  the  Yellow 
stone,  impracticable  for  wagon  roads,  the  general  decided  not  to  establish 
a  post  so  high  up  on  that  river,  but  placed  a  garrison  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Yellowstone,  and  another  at  the  trading  post  of  Fort  Berthold,  lower  down 
on  the  Missouri,  and  returned  slowly,  by  way  of  the  Missouri  river  valley, 
to  Fort  Rice,  and  leaving  that  post  well  garrisoned  and  in  good  condition, 
descended  the  river  to  Sioux  City.  The  chiefs  of  the  combined  Sioux 
tribes  west  of  the  Missouri,  which  he  had  defeated,  soon  began  to  come  in 
to  the  forts  along  the  Missouri  river  and  ask  for  peace,  acknowledging 
that  they  could  not  fight  against  the  whites,  and  that  they  had  lost  every 
thing,  and  would  be  in  a  starving  condition.  They  were  informed  by  the 
commanding  officers  of  these  posts  that  the  only  conditions  of  peace  re 
quired  from  them  were,  that  they  would  behave  themselves,  and  not  molest 
the  whites.  Surprised  and  gratified  at  such  easy  terms,  they  immediately 
returned  to  their  tribes,  to  bring  in  the  principal  chiefs  to  meet  General 
Sully  at  Fort  Randall.  Peace  was  made  with  the  tribes  west  of  the 
Missouri  on  this  basis ;  but  with  the  Yanktonnais  and  other  tribes  of  Sioux, 
north  and  east  of  the  Missouri,  there  was  more  difficulty.  They  had  gone, 
as  we  have  already  said,  into  British  Columbia;  and  it  suited  the  purposes 
of  the  half-breeds  and  traders  there,  who  were  desirous  of  securing  their 
trade,  to  inflame  their  hatred  of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  and 
furnish  them  with  arms  and  ammunition  to  aid  them  in  carrying  on  the 
war.  There  were,  however,  no  further  troubles  with  them  in  either 
Dakota  or  Minnesota,  the  frontier  being  carefully  guarded  by  General 
Sibley's  force. 

It  was  the  policy  of  General  Pope,  by  frank  and  honest  dealing  with  the 
Indians,  treating  them  fairly  and  honorably,  and  requiring  them  to  act  in 
the  same  way  toward  the  whites,  to  maintain  peace  and  good  order  with 
them.  The  system  of  annuities  and  presents  he  regarded  as  entirely 
wrong  in  principle,  and  calculated  to  impress  them  with  the  belief  that  the 
whites  desired  to  buy  their  favor.  He  was  in  favor  of  compelling  the 
traders  to  locate  themselves  only  at  the  military  stations,  in  order  that  the 
Indians  might  make  their  homes  so  near  the  garrisons  as  to  be  constantly 
under  their  supervision  and  control. 

But  while  the  commanding  general  of  the  department  was  seeking  to 
establish  these  beneficent  measures,  looking  to  the  complete  pacification 
54 


850  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

and  future  welfare  of  the  Indian  tribes,  a  subordinate  officer,  Colonel 
Chivington,  of  Colorado,  commanding  at  Fort  Lyon,  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  Colorado  territory,  on  the  reservation  of  the  Cheyennes  and 
Arapahoes,  was  guilty  of  a  most  inhuman  massacre  of  a  body  of  friendly 
and  innocent  Indians,  the  greater  part  of  them  women  and  children.  A 
part  of  the  Cheyennes  and  Arapahoes  had  been  hostile  to  the  whites ;  but 
one  band  of  the  Cheyennes,  under  the  command  of  Black  Kettle,  their 
head  chief,  and  a  part  of  the  Arapahoes,  under  Little  Eaven  and  Left 
Hand,  their  first  and  second  chiefivhad  been  uniformly  friendly,  and  could 
not  be  seduced  into  any  measures  of  hostility  against  the  Union  garrisons. 

There  had  been  some  massacres  and  captures  of  whites  in  the  territory, 
and  these  friendly  chiefs  succeeded  in  securing  the  prisoners,  and  came  to 
Fort  Lyon  and  offered  to  give  them  up.  They  were  given  up  to  Major 
Wynkoop  soon  after,  and,  at  his  suggestion,  several  of  the  chiefs  and  prin 
cipal  men  of  the  Cheyennes  and  Arapahoes  went  to  Denver,  and  had  an 
interview  with  Governor  Evans  and  Colonel  Chivington,  and  desired 
peace  for  their  tribes.  Governor  Evans  told  them,  Colonel  Chivington 
assenting  to  it,  that  if  they  desired  peace,  they  must  bring  in  their  families 
and  seek  the  protection  of  the  military  posts  on  the  reservations,  as  the 
whites  could  not  discriminate  between  Indians  on  the  plains.  He  further 
told  them,  that  their  going  upon  the  military  reservations  would  be  the 
best  evidence  of  their  friendly  feeling  toward  the  whites.  Accordingly, 
the  friendly  chiefs,  with  their  followers  and  families,  to  the  number  of 
four  or, five  hundred,  came  to  the  reservation  at  Fort  Lyon.  Major 
Wynkoop  treated  them  cordially,  and  allowed  them  some  provision,  as 
they  were  destitute  of  food;  and  they,  in  return,  warned  him  of  any 
scnemes  of  the  hostile  Indians  for  his  injury.  Major  Wynkoop  was  soon 
after  removed,  and  Major  Anthony  sent  to  the  fort  in  his  place.  This 
officer  told  the  Indians  that  he  could  not  issue  any  provisions  to  them,  as 
his  orders  forbade  it,  but  expressed  himself  as  friendly  to  them,  and 
advised  them  to  remove  to  Sand  creek,  about  forty  miles  from  the  fort, 
where  they  would  be  able  to  hunt  buffaloes  for  their  subsistence.  He 
promised  them  that  their  families  should  not  be  disturbed,  and  that  he 
would  represent  their  feelings  to  the  higher  authorities,  who,  he  doubted 
not,  would  renew  kindly  intercourse  with  them.  The  Indian  village,  thus 
located  at  Sand  creek,  numbered  about  one  hundred  lodges,  or  five  hun 
dred  persons,  of  whom  fully  two  thirds  were  women  and  children. 

On  the  28th  of  November,  Colonel  Chivington  reached  Fort  Lyon  with 
somewhat  more  than  seven  hundred  men  of  the  first  and  third  regiments 
Colorado  cavalry,  and  ordering  Major  Anthony  to  join  him  with  one  hun 
dred  and  twenty-five  men  and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  made  a  forced  march 
that  day  and  night  to  Sand  creek,  and  early  in  the  morning  of  the  29th 
of  November,  surprised  the  Indian  village,  and  though  the  Indians  made 
some  resistance,  butchered  the  women  and  children,  and  as  many  men  as 


PLOTS   OF  THE  REBELS  IN   CANADA.  851 

he  could  reach.  About  seventy  or  eighty  of  the  Indians,  mostly  women 
and  children,  were  murdered,  and  their  bodies  mutilated  as  shamefully  as 
the  Indians  in  Minnesota  had  mutilated  the  bodies  of  those  they  murdered 
in  1862.  Colonel  Chivington  had  been  repeatedly  informed  that  these 
were  friendly  Indians,  but  paid  no  attention  to  it,  and  took  every  precau 
tion  to  prevent  intelligence  from  reaching  them  of  his  intended  attack. 
The  result  of  this  unrighteous  and  shameful  massacre  has  been  to  create 
a  feeling  of  bitterness  and  distrust  in  the  minds  of  the  Indian  tribes 
throughout  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  and  Arizona,  which  has  led  to  abun 
dant  murders  and  outrages.  Colonel  Chivington's  commission  had  ex 
pired  at  the  time  of  his  committing  this  outrage,  and  he  had  no  legitimate 
authority  to  engage  in  any  military  movement.  The  Congressional  Com 
mittee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War  investigated  this  case  very  thoroughly, 
and  presented  their  evidence  to  the  public  without  comment;  but  the 
bare  recital  of  the  circumstances  was  sufficient  to  render  the  name  of  its 
perpetrator  forever  infamous.  Congress  made  such  restitution  as  was  in 
its  power,  and  the  Government  ordered  the  arrest  of  Chivington. 

The  Eebels  who  had  domiciled  themselves  in  Canada,  were,  as  we  have 
already  seen,  active  and  zealous  in  their  efforts  to  do  injury  to  the  Gov 
ernment  and  people  of  the  United  States.  If  they  could  not  benefit  the 
Eebel  cause  directly,  they  reasoned  that  they  were  benefiting  it  indirectly 
by  every  injury  they  inflicted,  or  caused  to  be  inflicted  upon  the  citizens 
of  the  loyal  States.  Halifax,  St.  Johns,  Montreal,  Quebec,  and  Toronto, 
were  so  many  centres  of  Kebel  activity,  so  many  nests  in  which  treason 
able  and  wicked  schemes  were  hatched. 

In  the  autumn  of  1863,  these  vile  plotters  set  on  foot  a  plan,  under  in 
structions  from  the  Rebel  Government  at  Richmond,  to  release  twenty- 
five  hundred  Rebel  officers  who  were  imprisoned  on  Johnson's  island,  in 
Lake  Erie,  and  then  these,  in  conjunction  with  a  body  of  Rebels  in  Canada, 
were  to  attack  and  destroy  Buffalo,  Cleveland,  and  other  lake  cities.  The 
American  Consul-General  at  Montreal,  having  received  timely  notice  of 
this  plot,  laid  the  details  before  the  Governor-General  of  Canada,  by  whom 
they  were  communicated,  on  the  4th  of  November,  to  the  United  States 
Government. 

The  prompt  measures  taken  by  the  latter  to  guard  against  the  danger, 
prevented  the  plot  from  being  carried  into  execution.  The  British  Gov 
ernment,  however,  seems  to  have  taken  no  measures  to  arrest  and  punish 
the  participators  in  this  scheme.  But,  though  baffled,  in  this  attempt,  the 
Rebels  in  Canada  did  not  relax  their  efforts  for  an  instant  to  harass  and 
injure  the  citizens  of  the  Union.  A  Doctor  Blackburn,  one  of  their  tools, 
visited  the  Bermudas,  where  yellow  fever  prevailed,  and  secured  large 
quantities  of  clothing  infected  with  the  virus  of  the  disease,  and  sent  it  to 
his  agents  in  Baltimore,  Washington,  Norfolk,  and  Newbern,  to  be  sold  at 
auction,  in  order  to  disseminate  the  disease  in  those  localities.  He  was  sue- 


852  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

cessful  in  communicating  it  in  Newbern,  and  it  was  very  fatal  there.  He 
also  infected  large  quantities  of  clothing  with  the  small-pox  virus,  and 
effected  its  distribution  in  the  northern  cities,  and  thus  contributed  un 
doubtedly  to  the  spread  of  that  loathsome  and  fatal  disease  in  those  cities. 

In  September,  1861,  John  Y.  Beall,  an  officer  in  the  Eebel  army,  well- 
connected,  both  in  Virginia  and  in  England,  organized  a  force  in  Canada 
to  make  a  raid  upon  the  lakes,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  and  destroying 
two  steamboats  owned  by  citizens  of  the  United  States.  In  the  following 
December  he  crossed  the  Niagara  river,  and  attempted  to  throw  a  passen 
ger  railroad  train  from  Buffalo  to  Niagara  Falls,  off  the  track,  but  was 
arrested  in  the  act.  He  claimed  to  have  perpetrated  this  act  by  virtue  of 
his  commission  from  the  Rebel  Government.  For  this,  and  his  previous 
crime  against  the  Government,  in  the  destruction  of  the  steamers,  he  was 
tried  and  executed  as  a  pirate,  spy,  and  murderer,  on  Governor's  island, 
New  York,  February  24th,  1865. 

On  the  afternoon  of  October  19th,  1864,  a  body  of  forty  well  armed 
men,  headed  by  one  Young,  suddenly  attacked  the  village  of  St.  Albans, 
Vermont,  fifteen  miles  from  the  Canadian  frontier,  and  after  robbing  the 
banks  of  over  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  firing  upon  the  defence 
less  and  thoroughly  astonished  inhabitants,  one  of  whom  was  mortally 
wounded,  they  rode  off  to  Canada,  where  nearly  the  whole  gang  was  sub 
sequently  arrested.  They  were  brought  before  the  court  of  Quarter  Ses 
sions  at  Montreal,  and  discharged  by  Justice  Coursol  on  the  ground  of  a 
want  of  jurisdiction.  Subsequently,  on  being  re-arrested  and  tried  before 
the  Superior  Court  of  Lower  Canada,  they  were  all  discharged.  The  St. 
Albans  banks  recovered  a  part  of  the  money  stolen  from  them,  but  no 
reparation  was  made  to  the  United  States  for  this  incursion  upon  their 
territory  from  a  friendly  State. 

There  had  been  for  some  months  a  plot  concocted  for  releasing  the 
Rebel  prisoners  at  Camp  Douglas,  Chicago,  about  eight  thousand  in  num 
ber,  and  then,  with  the  aid  of  the  Rebel  sympathizers  in  Chicago,  sacking 
and  plundering  the  city,  securing  arms  from  its  arsenals,  and  proceeding  in 
a  grand  foray  upon  Indianapolis,  setting  at  liberty  the  Rebels  imprisoned 
there,  and  marching  thence  to  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  and  St.  Louis,  burning 
and  plundering  everywhere.  At  first,  the  time  set  for  the  consummation 
of  this  fiendish  plan  was  the  day  of  the  commencement  of  the  session  of 
the  Democratic  national  convention  at  Chicago,  in  August,  1864,  when  it 
was  thought  there  would  be  an  unusually  large  number  of  Rebel  sympa 
thizers  there  ;  but  whether  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  superintendent  of 
the  Rebel  prisoners  there  had  received  warning  and  had  made  such  prepa 
rations  as  to  render  it  impossible  for  the  conspirators  to  carry  out  their 
schemes,  or  whether  the  more  cautious  of  the  Democratic  leaders  were 
opposed  to  such  a  movement  as  too  perilous  to  their  cause,  is  not  now 
known.  At  all  events,  it  was  postponed  to  a  more  fitting  opportunity, 


ATTEMPT  TO  BURN  THE   HOTELS  IN  NEW  YORK.  853 

but  not  relinquished.  Sanders,  Beverly  Tucker,  Jacob  Thompson,  and 
other  of  the  Kebel  refugees  in  Canada,  were  implicated  in  this  plot,  and  it 
was  strongly  suspected  and  generally  believed  that  Mr.  Vallandigham  was 
also  cognizant  of  it.  The  time  finally  fixed  upon  was  the  day  of  the  presi 
dential  election,  Tuesday,  November  8th,  1864.  All  their  preparations 
had  been  made,  and  the  villains  were  rejoicing  in  the  expectation  that  be 
fore  evening  of  that  day  the  fair  Queen  City  of  the  lakes  would  be  sacked, 
plundered,  and  burned,  and  their  legion  of  ruffians  well  on  their  way 
southward,  when,  on  the  evening  before  the  election,  th,e  ringleaders  were 
arrested,  parks  of  artillery  drawn  up  around  the  prison,  the  guards  in 
creased,  and  such  precautions  taken  as  showed  conclusively  that  the  whole 
conspiracy  had  been  revealed.  It  was  communicated  to  the  superinten 
dent  of  the  prison  seventy  hours  before  the  time  set  for  its  consummation, 
by  one  of  the  pri^ners,  who,  though  a  Rebel,  had  too  much  manhood  to 
be  willing  to  participate  in  so  diabolical  a  scheme.  Some  of  the  parties 
were  tried  and  condemned  to  death,  but  their  punishment  was  subse 
quently  commuted  to  a  life-long  imprisonment. 

Another  of  the  schemes  of  this  nest  of  conspirators  was  that  of  firing 
the  principal  hotels  and  theatres  of  New  York  city.  This  was  attempted 
on  the  night  of  November  25th,  and  had  the  attempt  proved  successful, 
might  have  resulted  in  a  frightful  sacrifice  of  property  and  life ;  but  the 
wretches  selected  to  perpetrate  the  crime  were  either  timid  or  unskilful, 
and  the  fires  which  they  kindled  were  soon  extinguished.  One  of  them, 
a  Captain  Robert  C.  Kennedy,  of  the  Rebel  service,  was  subsequently 
arrested  in  Detroit,  and  his  complicity  in  this  plot  being  proved,  he  wa^ 
tried  and  executed  at  Fort  Lafayette,  in  New  York  harbor,  March  24, 
1865. 

These  are  but  specimens  of  the  schemes  which  were  hatched  in  the 
fertile  brains  of  these  conspirators,  but  very  few  of  their  plans  reached 
fruition.  The  good  providence  of  God,  watchful  over  the  Republic,  turned, 
in  many  instances,  their  counsels  to  foolishness,  and  thwarted  their  most 
skilfully  devised  plans.  We  shall  see,  by  and  by,  that  another  of  their 
plots,  more  fiendish,  if  possible,  than  any  which  had  preceded  it,  was  per 
mitted  by  the  wise  Arbiter  of  human  affairs  to  attain  a  partial  consumma 
tion,  and  plunge  the  nation  in  gloom  and  sorrow;  but  even  in  this  their 
purposes  were  not  accomplished,  and  they  only  brought  added  infamy 
upon  themselves  by  their  connection  with  it. 


854  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER   LXVIL 

HOOD  ATTEMPTS  TO  CUT  SHERMAN'S  LINE  OF  COMMUNICATION,  AND,  MOTING  FROM  MACON, 

FIRST  GOES  TO  DALLAS,  AND  THEN  FALLS  BACK  UPON  THE  RAILROAD  AT  BIG  SHANTY 

SHERMAN  FOLLOWS,  AND  WITNESSES,  AND  DIRECTS  THE  BATTLE  AT  ALLATOONA  PASS, 

WHERE  THE  REBEL  TROOPS  ARE  DEFEATED  BY  GENERAL  CORSE DESCRIPTION  OF  BATTLE 

OF  ALLATOONA HOOD  CAPTURES  DALTON,  BUT  IS  COMPELLED  TO  ABANDON  IT,  AND  RETREATS 

BEFORE  SHERMAN  TO  GADSDEN,  ALABAMA SHERMAN  PURSUES  TO  GAYLESVILLE,  AND  THEN 

DETACHING  THOMAS  TO  NASHVILLE,  AND  SENDING  HIM  TWO  CORPS,  RETURNS  TO  KINGSTON 
— DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  RAILROAD — RETURN  TO  ATLANTA — ITS  DESTRUCTION — SHERMAN'S 

TELEGRAPHIC  DESPATCH HIS  GENERAL  ORDERS  TO  HI^  ARMY THE  MARCH THE  ENEMY 

DECEIVED  AND  CONFUSED THE  REORGANIZATION  OF  HIS  ARMY — SKETCHES  OF  THE  LEADERS 

OF  THE  TWO  WINGS,  GENERALS  HOWARD  AND  SLOCUM DISPOSITION  OF  THE  TROOPS 

FORAGING THE  ROUTE  OF  THE  TROOPS  VEILED  BY  THE  CAVALRY UNION  OF  THE  COLUMNS 

AT  MILLEDGEVILLE — REST  AND  COLLECTION  OF  SUPPLIES — SKIRMISHING  AND  FIGHTING  AT 

BUCKHEAD  CREEK  AND  WAYNESBORO THE  ATTEMPT  TO  RESCUE  THE  UNION  PRISONERS  AT 

MILLEN IT  IS  FOILED  BY  THEIR  REMOVAL APPROACH  TO  SAVANNAH THE  POSITION  OF 

THE  TROOPS — ASSAULT  AND  CAPTURE  OF  FORT  MCALLISTER  BY  HAZEN's  DIVISION — COM 
MUNICATION  OPENED  WITH  THE  FLEET — SHERMAN  SUMMONS  HARDEE  TO  SURRENDER,  BUT 

HE  DECLINES PREPARATIONS  FOR  A  SIEGE  OF  THE  CITY HARDEE  EVACUATES  IT  AND 

ESCAPES  TO  CHARLESTON — SAVANNAH  OCCUPIED  AND  GOVERNED  BY  GENERAL  GEARY 

THE  QUIET  AND  GOOD    ORDER  OF  THE    CITY SHERMAN'S  CHRISTMAS  PRESENT  TO  THE 

PRESIDENT — SHERMAN'S  ENCOMIUMS  ON  HIS  GENERALS  AND  TROOPS — THE  RESULTS  OF  THE 

CAPTURE  OF  SAVANNAH,  AND  OF  THE    CAMPAIGN SHERMAN'S    GENERAL    ORDERS HIS 

INTERVIEW  WITH  THE  LEADING  MEN  OF  THE  COLORED  PEOPLE THE  ASSIGNMENT  OF  THS 

SEA  ISLANDS  TO  THE  NEGROES  DURING  THE  WAR. 

WHILE  General  Sherman's  army,  now  encamped  in  and  around  Atlanta, 
were  resting  from  the  fatigues  of  the  late  campaign,  the  active  mind  of 
their  commander  was  already  occupied  with  new  plans  for  annoying  the 
enemy,  and  of  strengthening  his  own  position.  Numerous  changes 
occurred  \n  the  composition  of  the  armies  under  his  command,  owing  to 
the  expiration  of  the  time  of  service  of  many  of  the  regiments ;  but  the 
opportunity  was  speedily  embraced  to  consolidate  the  fragments,  reclothe 
and  equip  the  men,  strengthen  garrisons,  and  perfect  lines  of  communica 
tion  in  the  rear,  construct  new  lines  of  fortification  at  Atlanta,  and  make 
other  preparations  for  the  future  campaign.  Hood's  first  movement  was 
to  Macon,  which  seemed  to  be  threatened  by  the  Union  forces,  and  from 
thence,  September  26th,  to  Powder  Springs,  near  Dallas,  Ga.,  which  he 
reached  about  the  1st  of  October.  As  soon  as  he  became  convinced,  Septem 
ber  28th,  that  the  enemy  intended  to  assume 'the  offensive,  Sherman  sent 
General  Thomas,  who  was  his  second  in  command,  as  well  as  commander 
of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  to  Nashville,  for  the  purpose  of  organiz 
ing  the  new  troops  expected  at  that  point.  Then,  on  the  3d,  having  rein 
forced  the  garrisons  along  the  line  of  the  railroad  between  Atlanta  and 


THE  BATTLE  AT  ALLATOONA  PASS.          855 

Chattanooga,  he  started  in  pursuit  of  the  Rebel  force,  whose  cavalry  by 
this  time  had  cut  the  telegraph  wires  and  railroad  at  Big  Shanty,  and 
with  French's  division  of  infantry,  were  moving  against  Allatoona.  At 
this  point  were  stored  over  a  million  of  rations,  the  redoubts  being  garri 
soned  by  three  small  regiments,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Tourtel- 
lotte,  of  the  fourth  Minnesota.  In  anticipation  of  this  movement,  how 
ever,  General  Corse  had  been  signalled  and  telegraphed  to  reinforce  this 
post  from  Borne,  and  reached  Allatoona  at  the  head  of  a  brigade,  during 
the  night  of  the  4th,  just  in  time  to  meet  the  attack  by  French's  division 
on  the  morning  of  the  5th.  The  battle  had  commenced  before  Sherman's 
arrival  at  Kenesaw,  eighteen  miles  distant,  about  ten  A.  M.  of  that  day, 
and  signalling  to  General  Corse  the  fact  of  his  presence  in  that  vicinity, 
he  ordered  the  twenty-third  corps,  Brigadier-General  Cox  in  command, 
to  move  rapidly  due  west  from  the  base  of  Kenesaw,  with  a  view  to  reach 
the  road  from  Allatoona  to  Dallas  in  the  rear  of  the  Rebel  forces  engaged 
in  the  attack  on  Allatoona.  These  consisted  of  French's  division,  supported 
by  two  other  divisions  in  reserve,  and  to  the  summons  for  surrender,  "to 
avoid  a  useless  effusion  of  blood,"  which  the  Rebel  general  sent  in  to  the 
garrison,  with  five  minutes'  opportunity  for  an  answer,  the  reply  of  General 
Corse  was  prompt  and  defiant.  The  attack  which  followed  lasted  five 
hours,  and  ended  in  the  complete  discomfiture  of  the  Rebels,  who  left  over 
two  hundred  dead  and  four  hundred  prisoners  upon  the  field,  and  in  the 
hands  of  the  garrison.  The  retreat  was  also  greatly  accelerated  by  the 
approach  of  General  Cox's  division,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  had  been 
despatched  by  General  Sherman  to  fall  upon  their  rear.  This  battle, 
although  it  has  not  been  so  prominently  noticed  as  other  battles  of  smaller 
consequence,  was  indeed  a  contest  of  no  small  importance.  The  post 
itself,  aside  from  the  vast  stores  of  supplies  which  it  held,  was  a  vital 
link  in  the  Union  communications.  And  the  tenacity  with  which  the 
brave  Union  band  of  fifteen  hundred  only,  fought  not  less  than  six  thou 
sand  Rebels  from  dawn  until  noon,  is  worthy  of  enduring  remembrance. 
It  was  a  hard,  desperate  fight,  foot  to  foot  and  hand  to  hand,  where  the 
Union  soldiers  were  driven,  by  desperate  and  overwhelming  numbers  of 
assailants,  from  their  intrenchments  to  the  hill,  and  from  the  hill  to  the 
fort,  where,  with  half  their  number  killed  and  wounded,  and  their  brave 
leader  bleeding,  and  at  times  insensible,  they  fought  on  with  indomitable 
courage,  until  victory  rested  upon  their  banners.  Well  did  that  gallant 
leader  deserve  the  words  uttered  by  Sherman  that  morning,  as  he  looked 
anxiously  from  a  distance  upon  the  conflict :  "  I  know  Corse ;  so  long  as 
he  lives,  the  Allatoona  pass  is  safe." 

Crossing  the  Etowah  and  Oostanaula  rivers  by  forced  marches,  Hood 
hastily  attacked  Dalton,  which  was  foolishly  surrendered  by  its  cowardly 
commandant,  but  which  the  rapid  approach  of  Sherman  did  not  permit 
him  tc  retain  long  enough  to  effect  much  damage.  Next,  suddenly  ap- 


856  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

pearing  before  Kesaca,  Hood;  in  person,  demanded  its  surrender ;  but  the 
place  having  already  been  reinforced  from  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  he 
was  repulsed,  although  he  succeeded  in  breaking  the  railroad  between 
that  place  and  Dalton.  Sherman  arrived  at  Kesaca  on  the  evening  of  the 
14th,  and  determined  to  strike  Hood's  flank;  or  force  him  to  battle ;  but 
the  enemy  had  fled.  Impeding  the  advance  of  his  pursuer  as  much  as 
possible  by  obstructing  Snake  Creek  gap,  the  most  available  pass  through 
Eocky  Face  Kidge,  Hood  next  moved  through  Ship's  gap,  in  Pigeon 
mountain,  and  toward  Lafayette,  and  avoiding  the  appeal  to  arms,  which 
was  several  times  offered  him  by  the  Union  commander,  encumbered 
with  few  trains,  and  marching  with  great  activit}^,  he  retreated  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Gadsden,  Ala.,  where  he  strongly  intrenched  himself  in 
the  Wells  Creek  gap  of  the  Lookout  range.  Sherman,  who  fully  compre 
hended  the  enemy's  designs,  followed  him  as  far  as  Gaylesville,  in  the 
rich  valley  of  the  Chattooga,  abounding  in  corn  and  meat,  where  he 
paused  to  watch  his  movements,  and  enjoy  the  excellent  supplies  gathered 
ad  libitum  by  the  numerous  foraging  parties  which  scoured  the  surround 
ing  country.  In  all  these  movements,  Hood's  desire  had  been  to  cut 
Sherman's  communications  with  his  base,  and  then  pushing  forward  into 
Tennessee,  wrest  it  from  the  Union  power,  which  had  held  it  securely 
for  two  years,  and  thus  compel  Sherman  to  leave  Georgia,  under  the 
penalty  of  losing  Tennessee.  Sherman,  on  the  contrary,  seeing  that  Hood's 
army,  while  it  was  sufficient  to  endanger  his  communications,  was  unable 
to  meet  him  in  open  fight,  was  too  wary  to  be  thus  decoyed  away  from 
Georgia  by  a  foe  whom  there  was  little  prospect  of  overtaking  or  defeating. 
As,  however,  it  would  have  been  bad  policy  to  have  kept  his  large  and 
splendid  army  merely  on  the  defensive,  he  resolved  to  carry  out  a  design 
•which  he  had  previously  submitted  to  the  commander-in-chief,  and  which 
he  again  renewed  from  Gaylesville,  although  with  certain  modifications, 
suggested  by  more  recent  events.  This  plan  involved  substantially,  (1), 
the  destruction  of  Atlanta,  which,  being  a  railroad  centre,  had,  since  the 
demolition  of  the  railroads,  workshops,  foundries,  etc.,  lost  all  its  strategic 
value ;  (2)  the  destruction  of  the  railroad  back  to  Chattanooga,  and,  (3),  the 
march  of  a  great  army  from  Atlanta  through  the  very  heart  of  Georgia, 
to  capture  one  or  more  of  the  principal  Atlantic  seaports.  By  November 
1st,  Hood's  army  had  moved  from  Gadsden,  making  a  feint  on  Decatur, 
and  had  laid  a  pontoon  bridge  opposite  Florence.  Sherman  then  began 
his  preparations  for  the  march  through  Georgia,  which  had  received 
the  sanction  of  the  commander-in-chief.  His  forces  having  been  largely 
augmented  by  the  levy  of  September,  1864,  he  found  himself  perfectly 
able  to  spare  thirty  thousand  of  his  best  veteran  soldiers,  which  he  placed 
under  command  of  General  Thomas,  at  Kingston,  to  attend  to  Hood  in 
case  he  should  attempt  to  carry  into  effect  his  threatened  invasion  of 
Tennessee  and  Kentucky. 


SHERMAN   RE-ORGANIZES  HIS  ARMY.  857 

The  Rebel  force,  at  that  time,  was  estimated  at  about  forty-five  thousand, 
of  whom  ten  thousand  were  cavalry.  Thomas  was  instructed  to  draw 
Hood  on,  as  far  as  possible,  into  middle  Tennessee,  so  that  at  a  distance 
from  his  base,  he  might  be  more  effectually  overwhelmed,  when  the 
moment  arrived  to  strike  him  a  heavy  blow.  With  the  balance  of  his 
army,  comprising  the  fifteenth  and  seventeenth  corps,  known  as  the 
army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  the  fourteenth  and  twentieth,  now  designated 
as  the  army  of  Georgia,  numbering  in  all  about  sixty  thousand  men,  he 
repaired  to  Kingston  on  the  2d  of  November.  From  that  point,  all  sur 
plus  baggage  and  artillery,  the  sick  and  wounded,  refugees,  etc.,  were  sent 
back  to  Chattanooga ;  the  Eebel  barracks,  guns,  cotton,  mills,  warehouses, 
bridges,  and  supplies  of  evjry  description  captured  at  Eome  were  burned ; 
the  railroads  in  and  about  Atlanta,  and  between  the  Etowah  and  Chatta- 
hoochie,  were  utterly  demolished  ;  the  garrisons  from  Kingston  northward 
were  ordered  back  to  Chattanooga,  carrying  with  them  all  public  property 
and  railroad  stock  from  Resaca  back,  and  leaving  untouched  only  the  rail 
road  between  the  Etowah  and  Oostanaula,  which,  it  was  possible,  might 
be  again  needed.  Thus  by  the  12th  of  November,  his  army  stood  detached 
and  cut  off  from  all  communication  with  the  rear,  and  by  the  14th  moved 
rapidly  and  grouped  around  Atlanta.  It  consisted  of  four  corps,  the 
fifteenth  and  seventeenth  forming  the  right  wing,  under  Major-General 
Howard  ;  the  fourteenth  and  twentieth,  the  left  wing,  under  Major-General 
Slocuin.  The  cavalry  division,  five  thousand  five  hundred  strong,  was 
under  command  of  General  Kilpatrick,  who  received  his  orders  directly  from 
the  commander-in-chief.  All  the  troops  were  provided  with  good  wagon- 
trains,  loaded  with  ammnuition  and  supplies,  approximating  twenty  days' 
bread,  forty  days'  sugar  and  coffee,  a  double  allowance  of  salt  for  twenty 
days,  and  beef  cattle  for  forty  days'  supplies,  besides  three  days'  forage  in 
grain,  to  each  wagon.  While  soldiers  were  strictly  prohibited  from  all 
unnecessary  trespass,  a  judicious  system  of  foraging  was  to  be  maintained, 
in  order  that  the  army  might  live  chiefly  upon  the  country,  which  was 
known  to  abound  in  corn,  sweet  potatoes,  and  meats.  Guerrilla  depreda 
tions  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  were  to  be  met  with  swift  and  severe  retal 
iatory  measures,  although  the  inoffensive  citizens  of  the  country,  and 
their  property,  were  to  be  respected  as  much  as,  under  the  circumstances, 
was  possible.  Horses,  mules  and  wagons,  were  to  be  taken,  when  needed, 
and  able-bodied  negroes  were  to  be  allowed  to  join  the  army,  and  employed 
in  pioneer  and  other  work.  Each  wing  of  the  army  had  its  own  pontoon 
bridge.  Sherman,  on  the  4th  of  November,  had  telegraphed  to  the  Gov 
ernment,  "  Hood  has  crossed  the  Tennessee,  Thomas  will  take  care  of  him 
and  Nashville,  while  Schofield  will  not  let  him  into  Chattanooga  or  Knox- 
ville.  Georgia  and  South  Carolina  are  at  my  mercy,  and  I  shall  strike. 
Do  not  be  anxious  about  me.  I  am  all  right."  On  the  12th  the  right 
wing,  under  General  Howard,  moved  out  from  Atlanta,  followed,  on  the 


858  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

14th,  by  the  left  wing,  under  General  Slocum.  On  the  same  day,  the 
torch  was  applied  to  the  public  buildings,  fortifications,  depots,  &c.,  of 
Atlanta,  and  turning  his  back  upon  its  smouldering  ruins,  General  Sher 
man  and  staff,  in  company  with  the  fourteenth  corps — General  Davis's — 
took  the  road  to  Macou,  and  the  "  great  march  to  the  sea  "  had  commenced. 
Compact,  self-reliant  and  cheerful,  the  well  appointed  host,  guided  by  a 
master-mind  and  led  by  able  generals,  moved  grandly  forward  to  the  ful 
filment  of  its  high  mission.  As  it  moved,  the  last  message  which  flashed 
across  the  telegraph  wire  to  General  Thomas,  ere  communication  was 
severed  with  the  north,-  was  "  All  is  well ;"  and  the  last  music  which 
echoed  along  the  burning  streets  of  Atlanta  was  the  noble  anthem  of 
"John  Brown's  soul  goes  marching  on,"  played  by  the  fine  band  of  a 
Massachusetts  colored  regiment. 

We  intermit,  for  a  moment,  the  course  of  our  narrative,  to  present  our 
readers  with  brief  sketches  of  Sherman's  two  able  lieutenants,  Generals 
Slocum  and  Howard,  to  whom  so  much  of  the  success  of  this  campaign 
was  due. 

Major-General  Henry  W.  Slocum,  born  in  Delphi,  New  York,  Septem 
ber  24,  1827,  entered  West  Point  in  the  year  1848,  and  graduated  in 
June  1852,  with  the  rank  of  seventh  in  his  class.  Entering  the  United 
States  army  as  a  brevet  second  lieutenant  of  the  first  artillery,  he  had,  by 
the  3d  of  March,  1855,  gained  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant,  but  not  alto 
gether  satisfied  with  the  prospects  of  further  promotion,  he  resigned  in 
October,  1856,  retired  from  military  service  and  engaged  in  business  in 
Syracuse,  New  York.  When  the  Eebellion  broke  out,  however,  he 
responded  to  his  country's  need,  and  was  appointed  Colonel  of  the 
twenty -seventh  New  York  volunteers,  May  21,  1861,  with  whom  he 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Bull  Eun.  In  August,  1861,  he  was  made  a 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  occupied  a  position  on  the  extreme 
left  of  General  McClellan's  army,  beyond  Alexandria,  where  he  remained 
during  the  winter  of  1861-62.  When  the  army  of  the  Potomac  began 
to  move  in  March,  1862,  he  held  command  of  the  third  brigade  of  the  first 
division  of  McDowell's  corps,  but  this  division  being  detached  in  April 
following,  he  became  its  acting  major-general.  During  the  advance  up 
the  Peninsula,  in  1862,  he  moved  up  to  West  Point,  Virginia,  taking 
part  in  the  affair  at  Brick  House ;  and  then  moved  on  to  White  House 
on  the  Pamunkey,  where  he  helped  to  hold  the  railroad  between  West 
Point  and  Richmond.  Afterward  holding  the  advance  of  McClellan's 
extreme  right  wing,  about  the  middle  of  June,  he  occupied  the  Virginia 
Central  railroad  bridge  across  the  Chickahominy ;  and  took  part  in  the 
early  portion  of  the  seven  days'  fight,  more  especially  at  Games'  Mills. 
His  division,  also,  was  in  the  battles  under  Pope,  in  the  latter  part  of 
August ;  and  in  the  Maryland  campaign  he  had  command  of  the  first 
division  of  Franklin^  wing,  and  was  engaged  at  Antietam,  September 


SKETCH   OF  MAJOR   GENERAL  HOWARD.  859 

17th,  1862.  Subsequently;  a  new  corps  of  raw  troops,  called  the  12th, 
having  been  created,  General  Slocum  was  made  a  major-general  of  volun 
teers,  commission  dating  from  July  4th,  1862,  and  organized  and  led  it  to 
the  field.  At  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  it  formed  half  of  Sigel's  reserve 
grand  division,  and  when  this  was  broken  up,  Slocum  still  retained  the 
command  of  his  corps.  In  Hooker's  advance  upon  Chancellorsville, 
April,  1863,  General  Slocum  commanded  the  three  corps  composing  the 
right  wing,  and  consisting  of  nearly  sixty  thousand  men ;  but  when 
Hooker  arrived  at  the  front,  Slocum  resumed  the  command  of  his  own 
corps,  and  during  the  battle  days  of  Chancellorsville,  from  May  1st  to  4th, 
fought  with  skill  and  bravery.  At  Gettysburg,  he  commanded  on  the 
right  wing,  and  repulsed  the  furious  and  persistent  assaults  of  Swell's 
corps,  with  a  courage  and  resolution  not  surpassed  in  that  terrible  conflict. 
In  September  his  corps,  as  well  as  the  eleventh,  was  ordered  to  Chatta 
nooga,  but  he  was  detached  from  it  and  soon  after  placed  in  command  of 
the  important  post  of  Yicksburg,  where  he  remained  till  August  1864, 
when  General  Sherman  called  him  to  Georgia,  to  take  command  of  the 
twentieth  corps,  formed  by  the  consolidation  of  the  eleventh  and  twelfth. 
He  arrived  in  season  to  receive  'the  surrender  of  Atlanta,  after  its  evac 
uation  by  Hood,  and  his  corps  were  the  first  to  enter  it.  In  the  Savan 
nah  campaign,  General  Sherman  placed  him  in  command  of  the  left  wing 
of  his  army,  the  fourteenth  and  twentieth  corps,  under  the  name  of  the 
army  of  Georgia,  which  command  he  also  retained  in  the  campaign  of 
the  Carolinas,  in  which  he  distinguished  himself  for  bravery  and  skilful 
generalship.  After  the  war  was  over,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  Department  of  the  Mississippi,  with  headquarters  at  Yicksburg, 
but  resigned  his  commission  in  the  army,  in  September,  1865,  to  accept 
the  nomination  of  the  Democratic  party  in  the  State  of  New  York  to  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  State.  At  the  election  in  November,  1865,  he  was 
unsuccessful. 

Major-General  Oliver  Otis  Howard,  was  born  in  Kennebec  county, 
Maine,  November,  8th  183Q,  and,  with  his  brothers, was  educated  at  Bowdoin 
college,  where  he  became  first  in  his  class,  and  in  his  senior  year  (1850), 
was  admitted  to  West  Point,  graduating  there  in  June,  1854,  with  the 
fourth  rank  in  his  class,  he  received  the  brevet  of  a  second  lieutenant  of 
ordnance.  He  served  for  some  time  in  Texas  and  Florida,  then  at  the 
United  States  arsenal  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  and  afterward  in  that  in 
Maine.  Promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy,  July  1st,  1857,  he  also  received 
the  appointment  of  acting  assistant  professor  of  mathematics  at  the  mili 
tary  academy,  which  position  he  held  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Eebellion.  Eesigning  his  position  in  the  regular  army,  he  accepted  the 
colonelcy  of  the  third  Maine  volunteers,  and  led  them  into  the  battle  of 
Bull  Kun,  July  21st,  1861.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  pro 
moted  to  a  brigadier-generalship  of  volunteers,  and  ordered  to  McClellan's 


860  THE   CIVIL  WAK  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

army,  where  tie  served  on  the  Peninsula,  and  at  Fair  Oaks.  May  31st, 
1862,  received  a  wound  which  caused  the  amputation  of  an  arm.  After 
his  recovery  he  returned  to  his  brigade,  then  in  French's  division,  and 
which  formed  a  part  of  Sumner's  wing  in  the  battle  of  Antietam,  Septem 
ber  17th,  1862.  We  next  find  him  in  command  of  the  first  division  of 
Couch's— second — army  corps,  and  leading  his  men  at  Fredericksburg, 
December  13th,  1862,  his  brigade  losing  nearly  one  thousand  men.  In 
the  ensuing  spring  he  was  made  a  major-general  of  volunteers,  his  com 
mission  dating  from  November  29th,  1862,  and  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  second  division  of  the  second  corps  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 
Holding  this  position  until  April,  1863,  he  relieved  General  Sigel  in  the 
command  of  the  eleventh  army  corps.  His  corps  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Chancellorsville,  May  1st  to  4th,  1863,  where  a  part  of  them  broke 
and  nearly  caused  a  panic  in  the  whole  army  ;  but  at  Gettysburg,  July 
1st  to  3d,  1863,  they  covered  themselves  with  honor.  In  July,  1863,  Gen 
eral  Howard  was  placed  in  command  of  the  second  corps,  whose  leader, 
General  Hancock,  had  been  severely  wounded  at  Gettysburg.  In  Septem 
ber,  1863,  he  was  ordered  with  his  corps  to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  to  re 
inforce  General  Kosecrans,  and  arrived  at  Bridgeport,  in  company  with  the 
twelfth  corps,  in  October:  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Wauhatchie, 
October  28th,  and  sent  a  part  of  his  troops  to  aid  Hooker  in  his  famous 
battle  on  Lookout  mountain,  but  was  himself  engaged  with  two  divisions 
of  his  corps  in  Sherman's  movement  on  Fort  Buckner  on  the  25th  of 
November.  He  also  accompanied  Sherman  in  his  expedition  to  raise  the 
siege  of  Knoxville.  He  took  part  in  yearly  every  battle  of  the  Atlanta 
campaign,  commanding  the  fourth  corps  till  the  death  of  McPherson, 
when  he  was  appointed,  at  General  Sherman's  instance,  commander  of  the 
army  of  the  Tennessee.  In  the  final  movements  around  Jonesboro,  he 
displayed  great  energy  and  courage  and  skilful  generalship.  General 
Sherman,  a  capital- judge  of  men,  prized  him  very  highly  and  on  the  cam 
paign  described  in  this  chapter,  as  well  as  in  that  through  the  Carol  inas, 
placed  him  in  command  of  the  right  wing  of  his  army.  In  the  latter 
campaign  he  distinguished  himself  in  the  battles  of  Averysborough  and 
Bentonville.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Presi 
dent  commissioner  of  the  bureau  of  freedmen,  refugees,  and  abandoned 
lands.  A  man  of  strong  religious  convictions  and  of  most  exemplary 
life,  General  Howard  has  never  hesitated  to  avow  his  principles,  and  his 
consistent  piety  has  won  the  respect  even  of  the  irreligious. 

Sherman's  real  destination  was  known  only  to  himself,  to  the  Lieuten 
ant-General,  and  the  War  Department.  Rebels,  and  the  people  of  the 
North,  were  alike  mystified  as  to  whether  Savannah  or  Charleston  was  his 
"objective,"  while  the  idea  of  an  army  thus  cutting  boldly  loose  from  its 
base,  on  a  march  of  three  hundred  miles,  through  the  very  heart  of  a 
hostile  country,  fairly  staggered  their  comprehension,  and  challenged  their 


SHERMAN'S  AKMY  AT  MILLEDGEVILLE.  861 

credulity.  The  mystery  of  his  movements  was  still  further  obscured  by 
the  adroitness  with  which  he  used  his  large  cavalry  force  to  scour  the 
country  for  a  wide  distance  on  either  side  of  his  line  of  march,  thus  veil 
ing  the  route  of  his  infantry.  His  first  object  was,  of  course,  to  place  his 
army  in  the  very  heart  of  Georgia,  between  Macon  and  Augusta,  thus 
obliging  the  enemy  to  divide  his  forces  in  the  defence  of  those  points,  as 
well  as  Millen,  Savannah,  and  Charleston,  and  the  event  justified  his  ex 
pectations. 

Marching  his  army  in  three  columns,  with  cavalry  on  his  extreme 
right,  upon  eccentric  lines,  he  diverted  the  enemy's  attention  so  that  they 
concentrated  their  forces  upon  the  widely  separated  cities  of  Macon  and 
Augusta,  leaving  the  country  open  to  the  advance  of  the  central  column. 
Slocum  and  the  twentieth  corps  arrived  at  Milledgeville  on  the  twenty  - 
second,  preceding  Davis,  with  the  fourteenth  corps,  by  one  day.  At  the 
same  time,  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  reached  the  Macon  and  Western  road, 
destroying  the  Walnut  creek  bridge,  and  the  day  following,  Howard, 
with  the  fifteenth  and  seventeenth  corps,  arrived  at  Gordon,  and  began  to 
tear  up  the  Georgia  Central  railroad.  While  this  was  going  on,  Novem 
ber  22d,  General  Walcott,  with  a  cavalry  force  and  an  infantry  brigade, 
was  sent  forward  to  demonstrate  near  Griswoldville,  and  while  occupying 
temporary  breastworks,  with  a  section  of  battery  in  position,  he  was  sud 
denly  attacked  by  a  Rebel  force  of  about  five  thousand  from  Macon,  which 
attacked  him  furiously,  but  were  coolly  received  with  grape  shot  and 
musketry,  at  point  blank  range,  and  finally  fled  the  field,  with  a  loss  of 
over  twenty-five  hundred  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  among  them 
General  Anderson.  The  Union  loss  was  about  forty  killed  and  wounded. 
Meantime,  Howard  and  the  right  wing  had  moved  to  Milledgeville,  the 
State  capital,  via  Jackson,  Monticello,  and  Hillsboro.  Here  he  was  joined, 
on  the  twenty-third,  by  the  left  wing,  under  General  Slocum,  which  had 
destroyed  the  great  railroad  bridge  over  the  Oconee,  fifteen  hundred  feet 
in  length,  as  well  as  many  miles  of  railroad,  shops,  mills,  stores,  and  cot 
ton,  beside  the  line  of  railroad  to  Greensboro.  At  Milledgeville,  whence 
the  Governor,  Legislature,  and  most  of  the  white  population  had  fled, 
General  Sherman's  army  rested  for  a  few  days,  during  which  no  unneces 
sary  destruction  of  property  was  allowed,  but  the  time  was  occupied  in 
securing  large  supplies  of  food  and  forage  from  the  rich  surrounding 
country  ;  and  Thanksgiving  day  was  kept  by  the  soldiers  in  the  midst  of 
a  profusion  of  good  fare,  and  even  delicacies.  On  the  2-ith,  the  left  wing, 
under  General  Slocum,  left  Milledgeville",  marching  by  two  roads  on 
Sandersville,  where,  on  the  25th,  he  met  and  routed  Wheeler's  cavalry 
in  a  brief  but  sharp  fight,  and  on  the  28th  struck  the  Georgia  railroad  at 
Tennille,  breaking  up  every  thing  as  they  advanced  to  the  Ogeechee. 
Kilpatrick,  moving  eastwardly  from  Milledgeville,  was  busily  engaged  in 
tearing  up  the  railroad  from  Millen  to  Augusta,  with  the  purpose  of  there 


862  THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

making  an  attempt  to  rescue  our  prisoners  confined  at  the  former  place, 
the  latter  town  being  at  the  same  time  threatened  by  Davis's — fourteenth 
— corps.  The  right  wing,  also,  had  moved  down  the  Georgia  railroad  from 
Gordon,  crossed  the  Oconee  river  at  Oconee,  and  skirmished  briskly  with 
the  Rebel  cavalry  under  Wheeler  and  Wagner.  The  possession  of 
Waynesboro,  after  Millen  the  chief  station  on  the  Savannah  and  Augusta 
railroad,  and  the  destruction  of  Walker's  bridge,  over  Brier's  creek,  a  tribu 
tary  of  the  Savannah  river,  were  now  matters  of  importance  to  the  Union 
commander,  and  Kilpatrick  accordingly  advanced  from  Louisville,  skir 
mishing  heavily  with  Wheeler's  cavalry  during  the  27th,  28th,  and  29th ; 
then  falling  back,  he  again  advanced,  December  1st,  supported  by  an  in 
fantry  division,  and  after  a  sharp  encounter  with  the  enemy,  succeeded  in 
destroying  the  railroad  south  of  the  town.  Having  finally  accomplished 
their  designs  against  the  bridge  and  railroad  on  the  third,  they  returned 
to  Millen,  where  the  whole  army  again  concentrated,  except  Osterhaus's 
command,  of  the  right  wing,  which  was  yet  south  of  the  Ogeechee.  In 
the  period  of  eight  days,  between  their  leaving  Milledgeville  (November 
24th)  and  reaching  Millen  (December  2d),  they  had  secured  an  ample 
supply  of  forage  and  provisions  for  forty  days,  a  large  amount  of  available 
ammunition,  with  horses,  mules,  and  wagons  quite  sufficient  for  all  the 
wants  of  army  transportation.  They  failed  only  in  one  cherished  plan, 
viz,  the  liberation  of  their  comrades  imprisoned  at  Millen,  owing  to 
their  removal  from  that  place  some  time  previous ;  the  officers  being  sent 
to  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  and  the  privates  further  south. 

The  Union  army  now  commenced  the  third  stage  of  its  progress  sea 
ward,  from  Millen  to  Savannah,  and,  pivoted  upon  the  former  place, 
swung  slowly  around  from  its  eastern  course,  until,  by  December  3d,  it 
was  in  full  motion  southward,  in  six  columns,  upon  parallel  roads — 
General  Davis  following  the  Savannah  river  road ;  General  Slocum  on 
the  middle  road,  via  Springfield ;  General  Blair  along  the  railroad,  de 
stroying  the  track  as  he  went ;  and  General  Howard  still  south  and  west 
of  the  Ogeechee.  Up  to  this  time  the  enemy  appears  to  have  been  com 
pletely  deceived,  and  expecting  an  attack  on  Macon  and  Augusta,  had 
concentrated  at  those  points,  and  found  themselves  shut  closely  up  there 
by  the  general  destruction  of  railroads,  bridges,  and  roads,  caused  by 
Sherman  on  his  march.  Suddenly  they  discovered  that  Sherman  was 
marching  straight  upon  Savannah,  and  that  they  were  helpless  to  prevent 
him,  or  to  do  more  than  feebly  harass  his  progress.  As  the  Union  army 
approached  Savannah,  the  country  became  more  marshy  and  difficult,  and 
they  came  more  frequently  upon  obstructions,  in  the  shape  of  felled  trees 
at  the  crossings  of  roads,  swamps,  or  narrow  causeways,  which,  however, 
were  removed  in  an  incredibly  short  time  by  the  efficient  pioneer  corps. 
Without  meeting  any  considerable  opposition  from  the  enemy,  the  heads 
of  the  several  columns  arrived  within  fifteen  miles  of  Savannah,  at  which 


ASSAULT   AND   CAPTURE   OF  FORT  McALLISTER.  863 

point  all  the  roads  leading  to  the  city  were  found  to  be  obstructed  by 
felled  timber,  with  earthworks  and  artillery.  These,  however,  were  easily 
turned,  and  by  the  10th  of  December  the  enemy  was  fairly  driven  within 
his  lines,  which  substantially  followed  the  course  of  a  swampy  creek 
emptying  into  the  Savannah  river  some  three  miles  above  the  city,  and 
across  to  the  head  of  another  stream  emptying  into  the  Little  Ogeechee. 
Both  of  these  streams  afforded  the  enemy  a  peculiarly  favorable  cover, 
as  they  were  very  marshy,  and  bordered  by  rice-fields  flooded  either  by 
the  tide-water  or  by  inland  ponds,  the  gates  to  which  were  controlled  by 
heavy  artillery.  The  only  approaches  to  the  city  were  five  narrow  cause 
ways,  viz  :  two  railroads,  and  the  Augusta,  Louisville,  and  Ogeechee 
roads,  all  commanded  by  heavy  ordnance.  Deeming  it  unwise  to  assault 
an  enemy  of  unknown  strength  at  such  disadvantage,  with  an  army  which 
he  had  successfully  brought,  almost  unscathed,  for  so  great  a  distance, 
and  knowing  that  he  could  surely  attain  the  desired  result  by  the  opera 
tion  of  time,  Sherman  contented  himself  by  establishing  a  complete 
investiture  of  the  city  from  north  to  west,  while  he  awaited  the  opening 
and  establishing  of  communication  with  Admiral  Dahlgren's  fleet,  which 
he  knew  to  be  waiting  for  him  in  Tybee,  Wassau,  and  Ossabaw  sounds. 

In  approaching  Savannah,  the  left  wing,  under  General  Slocum,  had 
struck  the  Charleston  railroad  near  the  bridge,  and  occupying  the  river 
bank  had  captured  two  Eebel  river-boats,  and  cut  off  two  gunboats  from 
communication  with  the  city.  The  right  wing,  General  Howard,  had 
broken  the  Gulf  railroad  at  Fleming's,  occupying  the  line  of  the  road,  so 
that  no  supplies  could  reach  Savannah,  by  any  of  the  accustomed  channels. 
The  Union  army,  however,  while  thus  cutting  off  supplies  from  the  enemy, 
rejoiced  in  large  herds  of  cattle,  gathered  on  their  march,  while  their 
wagons  were  loaded  with  ample  quantities  of  bread-stuffs  and  other  pro 
visions,  and  the  fine  rice-crops  which  bordered  the  Savannah  and  Ogeechee 
rivers  yielded  quantities  of  rice  and  rice-straw.  In  addition  to  this,  they 
controlled  the  country  west  and  south  of  the  Ogeechee,  as  foraging  ground. 
Although  thus  conveniently  and  advantageously  situated,  Sherman  realized 
the  vital  importance  of  a  communication  with  the  fleet,  from  which  he 
wished  to  obtain  siege  guns  for  the  reduction  of  Savannah  ;  and  the  Ogeechee 
river,  a  navigable  stream,  close  to  the  rear  of  his  camps,  was  the  proper 
avenue  for  this  purpose — but  this  was  controlled  by  Fort  McAllister,  a 
strong  enclosed  redoubt,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  opposite  to  Savannah, 
and  six  miles  above  Ossabaw  sound,  manned  by  some  two  hundred  troops, 
and  mounting  twenty-three  guns  en  barbette,  and  one  mortar.  This  fort, 
nearly  two  years  before,  had  successfully  withstood  a  lengthy  bombard 
ment  by  three  monitors,  and  its  reduction  now,  was  the  next  step  to  be 
taken  in  the  operations  against  Savannah.  Sherman  decided  that  it  must 
be  carried  by  assault,  and  this  undertaking  he  committed  to  the  second, — 
Hazen's — division  of  the  fifteenth  corps,  which  he  had  himself  commanded 


864  .THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

at  Yicksburg.  Crossing  to  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  on  the  13th  of 
December,  Hazen  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  fort  about  one  o'clock  p.  M., 
deployed  his  division  with  both  flanks  resting  upon  the  river,  posted  his 
skirmishers  judiciously  behind  the  trunks  of  trees,  whose  branches  had 
been  used  by  the  Kebels  for  alattis,  and  made  all  his  dispositions  for  the 
desperate  attempt  in  the  most  skillful  manner.  While  this  was  going  on, 
the  signal  officers  who  for  two  days  had  been  anxiously  watching  for  the 
appearance  of  the  fleet,  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  descried  the 
smoke  and  the  spars  of  a  steamer  creeping  along  over  the  salt  marshes 
and  rice  fields,  in  the  direction  of  Ossabaw  sound ;  and  signals  were  speed 
ily  and  joyfully  exchanged  between  the  army  and  the  vessels.  About 
five,  P.  M.J  as  the  sun  was  sinking  slowly  behind  the  tree-tops,  General 
Sherman  signalled  to  Hazen  to  assault  at  once,  if  possible.  As  the  little 
fla^g  ^fluttered  back  the  reply,  "lam  ready,  and  will  assault  at  once,"  a 
long  line  of  blue  coats  and  bright  bayonets  emerged  from  the  woods  sur 
rounding  the  fort,  moving  to  the  attack  in  three  columns.  Through  the 
thick  abattis,  over  the  deep  ditch,  wrenching  away  the  palisades  with 
which  its  bottom  was  planted,  Hazen's  gallant  troops  rushed  at  the  double- 
quick — and  though  the  Eebels  gallantly  defended  their  position,  yet  such 
was  the  dash  and  splendid  daring  of  the  Union  troops,  fighting  as  they 
well  knew  under  the  very  eye  of  their  great  commander,  that  in  less  than 
thirty  minutes  from  the  start,  the  stars  and  stripes  floated  victoriously 
from  the  ramparts  of  McAllister.  With  a  loss  of  less  than  a  hundred 
men  they  had  won  this  strong  earthwork  fortification,  capturing  its  garrison, 
its  full  complement  of  heavy  guns,  large  stores  of  subsistence  and  ordnance* 
together  with  all  its  camp  and  garrison  equipage.  As  soon  as  Sherman 
saw  the  attacking  party  mount  the  parapet,  he  ordered  his  boat  and  started 
for  the  fort,  where  he  briefly  congratulated  the  successful  General  Ilazen, 
and  then  pursued  his  way  to  the  fleet. 

Meeting  with  General  Foster's  vessel  on  the  Ogeechee,  the  two  officers 
proceeded  down  to  Wassau  sound,  where,  about  noon  of  the  following 
day,  they  met  Admiral  Dahlgren,  with  whom  Sherman  enjoyed  a  full 
and  free  conference,  and  then  returned,  on  the  15th,  to  Fort  McAllister, 
and  the  lines  in  the  rear  of  Savannah.  On  the  17th,  having  received  a 
number  of  thirty-pound  Parrott  guns  from  Port  Eoyal,  Sherman  des 
patched,  by  flag  of  truce,  a  formal  demand  for  the  surrender  of  Savannah, 
to  which,  on  the  day  following,  he  received  a  refusal  from  General  Hardee. 
Further  reconnoissances  from  the  left,  satisfied  General  Sherman  that  it 
would  be  both  impracticable  and  unwise  to  push  any  large  force  across 
the  Savannah  river,  inasmuch  as  it  would  be  isolated  by  the  enemy's  iron 
clad  gunboats,  which  held  the  river  opposite  to  the  city,  and  could  destroy 
any  pontoons  which  his  men  might  throw  across  from  Hutchinson's  island 
to  the  South  Carolina  shore.  He  therefore  ordered  his  siege  guns  to  be 
placed  in  position,  made  arrangements  for  an  assault,  and  opened  a  water 


RESULTS   OF  THK   CAPTURE   OF   SAVANNAH.  865 

base  at  King's  bridge,  on  the  Ogeechee,  from  which  point  his  line 
stretched  across  to  the  Savannah,  his  left  being  about  three  miles  above 
the  city,  thus  cutting  off  all  the  railroad  supplies  by  which  the  Rebel  citi 
zens  and  soldiery  were  to  be  subsisted.  The  Rebel  force  thus  locked  up 
in  Savannah,  amounted  to  about  fifteen  thousand  men,  mostly  militia, 
and  although  General  Gustavus  W.  Smith,  with  a  force  of  eight  thousand 
Confederate  troops,  approached  the  Ogeechee,  he  was  easily  kept  from 
coming  any  nearer  to  the  beleaguered  city,  by  Sherman's  possession  of 
Fort  McAllister,  and  the  Union  gunboats  in  the  river.  Such  was  the  atti 
tude  of  aftairs,  when,  on  the  morning  of  the  20th  of  December,  it  was  dis 
covered  that  Savannah  had  been  evacuated  by  Ilardee  and  his  army  on 
the  previous  night,  under  cover  of  a  heavy  fire  which  had  been  opened 
upon  our  lines,  and  soon  its  streets  echoed  to  the  tread  of  the  veterans  of 
General  Blair's — seventeenth — corps.  The  sudden  collapse  of  the  Rebel 
defence  of  this  important  city  and  port,  seems  to  have  been  due  mainly  to 
two  causes :  1st,  the  moral  influence  produced  on  the  enemy  by  the  cap 
ture  of  Fort  McAllister,  by  direct  assault,  which  demoralized  both  citizens 
and  soldiers  to  an  extent  which  could  not  have  been  produced  simply  by 
a  regular  investiture  of  the  city ;  2dly,  their  knowledge  of  a  flank  move 
ment,  operating  in  connection  with  General  Foster,  by  way  of  Black  river, 
which,  in  two  days,  would  have  shut  them  up  beyond  all  hope  of  escape. 
Ilardee,  therefore,  wisely  concluded  to  withdraw  while  opportunity  re 
mained,  and  did  so  through  swamps  hitherto  considered  impassable.  The 
prize  which  the  Union  army  had  thus  obtained  was  a  magnificent  one— 
the  city,  with  its  valuable  harbor  and  river ;  the  forts  and  heavy  ordnance 
in  its  vicinity;  eight  hundred  prisoners;  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  guns; 
thirteen  locomotives  and  one  hundred  and  ninety  cars,  in  good  order; 
immense  supplies  of  ammunition  and  materials  of  war;  three  steamers, 
and  over  thirty-eight  thousand  bales  of  cotton,  and  other  supplies.  On 
the  morning  of  the  21st,  General  Sherman  received  the  formal  surrender 
of  the  city  from  its  Mayor  and  municipal  authorities,  and  immediately 
telegraphed  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  offering  him  uas  a 
Christmas  gift,  the  city  of  Savannah,"  with  all  its  contents.  General 
Geary,  commanding  a  division  in  the  20fch  corps,  was  made  military  gov 
ernor  of  the  city  ;  and,  under  his  judicious  management,  order,  protection, 
and  improved  sanitary  condition,  and  a  general  sense  of  comfort  and 
security,  delighted  the  citizens,  and  caused  them  to  honor  the  Union 
name.  The  army,  flushed  with  its  triumph,  well  received  by  the  inhab 
itants — who  yielded  gracefully  and  gladly  to  the  restoration  of  the  National 
authority — and  enjoying  superb  quarters,  fish,  oysters  and  other  good 
things,  relished  exceedingly  the  position  of  affairs,  and  plumed  its  wings 
afresh  for  other  and  no  less  glorious  flights. 

The  campaign  through  Georgia,  which  we  have  thus  briefly  sketched 
has  no  precedent  in  a  military  point  of  view,  for  the  history  of  war 
55 


866  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

records  no  similar  conditions.  Its  success  was  due  not  so  much  to  any 
lack  of  force  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  opposed  to  the  Union  army  as  to 
the  masterly  plan  of  operations,  as  developed  in  the  direction  of  columns, 
the  disposition  of  troops,  and  the  selection  of  lines  of  travel,  by  which 
Sherman  confused  and  deceived  that  enemy,  so  that  concentration  and 
effective  resistance  was  only  made  when  it  was  too  late.  In  twenty-seven 
days,  sixty  thousand  men  swept  across  the  State  of  Georgia,  for  a  distance 
of  three  hundred  miles,  and  in  a  track  fifty  miles  wide,  devastating  and 
scarring  all  they  touched.  Railroads  in  every  direction ;  factories  which  had 
supplied  the  Rebel  Government  with  arms,  ammunition,  railroad  stock, 
clothing,  &c.,  were  utterly  destroyed.  Fifteen  thousand  cattle,  and  five 
thousand  horses  and  mules,  besides  hogs,  sheep,  and  poultry,  were 
captured;  corn  and  fodder  along  the -entire  length  of  the  route  was  con 
sumed,  while  at  Savannah  the  enemy  was  obliged  to  destroy  his  iron 
clads,  navy  yards,  ordnance  and  stores.  Freedom  was  given  to  over 
twenty  thousand  negroes,  who  followed  their  deliverers  to  Savannah ;  and 
Sherman,  with  good  reason,  estimated  the  damage  done  to  the  State  of 
Georgia  and  its  military  resources  at  one  hundred  million  dollars,  of 
which  eighty  million  was  "  waste  and  destruction,"  the  balance  having 
enured  to  the  advantage  of  the  army.  And  the  army  which  had  done 
this  lived  mainly  on  the  enemy's  country,  and  its  entire  loss  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners,  did  not  exceed  one  thousand  six  hundred !  Of 
the  officers  who  commanded,  their  general,  in  his  official  report,  speflks 
kindly  and  enthusiastically;  while  of  the  "rank  and  file,"  he  says,  "they 
seem  so  full  of  confidence  in  themselves  that  I  doubt  if  they  want  a  com 
pliment  from  me;  but  I  must  do  them  the  justice  to  say  that,  whether 
called  on  to  fight,  to  march,  to  wade  streams,  to  make  roads,  clear  out 
obstructions,  build  bridges,  make  'corduroy,'  or  tear  up  railroads,  they 
have  done  it  with  an  alacrity  and  a  degree  of  cheerfulness  unsurpassed. 
A  little  loose  in  foraging,  they  '  did  some  things  they  ought  not  to  have 
done,'  yet,  on  the  whole,  they  have  supplied  the  wants  of  the  army  with 
as  little  violence  as  could  be  expected,  and  as  little  loss  as  I  calculated. 
Some  of  these  foraging  parties  had  encounters  with  the  enemy  which 
would,  in  ordinary  times,  rank  as  respectable  battles.  The  behavior  of 
our  troops  in  Savannah  has  been  so  manly,  so  quiet,  so  perfect,  that  I 
take  it  as  the  best  evidence  of  discipline  and  true  courage.  Never  was  a 
hostile  city,  filled  with  women  and  children,  occupied  by  a  large  army 
with  less  disorder,  or  more  system,  order,  and  good  government."  Four 
co-operative  movements  of  the  Union  forces,  which  took  place  during  this 
campaign,  are  worthy  of  our  notice,  of  which,  however,  only  two  had 
much  practical  importance ;  (1)  General  Foster's  demonstration  upon  the 
Charleston  and  Savannah  railroad ;  and  (2)  a  cavalry  expedition  from  the 
Mississippi  river  to  Selina,  Ala.,  both  unsuccessful ;  (3)  Stoneman's  cavalry 
raid  up  the  Tennessee  valley,  admirable  and  successful  in  its  execution 


SHERMAN'S   GENERAL  ORDERS.  867 

and  destructive  results ;  and  (4)  Thomas's  management  of  Hood,  which,  in 
reality,  assumed  the  dignity  of  a  separate  campaign.  It  will  be  recollected 
that  when  Sherman  conceived  the  plan  of  his  "  march  to  the  sea,"  he  pro 
ceeded,  in  direct  violation  of  that  universally  accepted  axiom  in  the  art 
of  war,  forbidding  the  division  of  forces  in  the  face  of  an  enemy,  to  detach 
a  portion  of  his  army  to  General  Thomas,  with  orders  to  lure  Hood  into 
Tennessee.  This  Thomas  successfully  accomplished,  and  turning  on  him 
at  the  proper  moment  crushed  him.  All  these  operations  formed  separate 
links  in  the  great  chain  of  strategy,  by  which  Lee,  in  the  Kebel  stronghold 
of  Richmond,  was  bound  hand  and  foot,  and  delivered  into  the  hands  of 
the  national  authority. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  1865,  General  Sherman  issued  a  congratulatory 
order  to  his  troops,  in  which  he  reviewed  their  services  during  the  two 
months  previous,  both  in  this  campaign  and  in  that  under  General  Thomas, 
at  Nashville  (the  troops  in  which,  it  will  be  remembered,  belonged  also  to 
his  military  division  of  the  Mississippi),  and  authorized  the  regiments  in 
both  armies  to  inscribe  at  their  pleasure  "Savannah"  or  "Nashville"  on 
their  colors,  thus  as  was  just,  dividing  the  honors  of  the  two  great  victories 
equally. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  he  published  another  general  order  directing 
the  adoption  of  measures  for  putting  down  guerillas,  and  providing  for 
the  protection  and  liberty  of  trade  of  farmers  and  others  who  were  loyally 
inclined.  This  order  met  with  very  general  approval  by  the  citizens. 
But  his  most  important  action,  while  in  Savannah,  was  that  in  reference  to 
the  freedmen.  Though  not  technically  an  abolitionist,  and  indeed  before 
the  war  regarded  as  pro-slavery  in  his  views,  General  Sherman  had  been 
greatly  impressed  with  the  loyalty  and  fidelity  of  the  negroes,  whether 
slave  or  free,  to  the  Union.  He  had  found  them,  in  his  two  Georgia 
campaigns,  as  well  as  in  Mississippi,  the  warm  and  confiding  friends  of  the 
Union  army,  and  they  manifested  a  most  touching  and  implicit  faith  in 
him  and  his  army. 

Secretary  Stanton  of  the  War  Department  visited  Savannah  while 
General  Sherman  was  there,  and  taking  advantage  of  his  presence,  the 
General  assembled  the  leading  men  among  the  negroes — men  in  whose 
integrity,  intelligence  and  character,  they  themselves  had  perfect  confidence, 
and  in  whom  they  were  willing  to  recognize  as  their  representatives,  and  had 
a  free  conference  with  them,  as  to  their  views  concerning  the  future  con 
dition  and  social  position  of  these  people,  the  Secretary  taking  part  in  the 
interview.  It  was  found  that  they  were  uniformly  desirous  of  colonizing 
the  islands  along  the  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  coast,  and  cultivating 
cotton,  rice,  and  other  crops  for  themselves.  As  a  result  of  this  interview, 
and  for  the  purpose  of  responding  to  their  views,  the  general  issued,  on 
the  18th  of  January,  1865,  the  following  general  order: 


868  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

"  HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  IN  THE,  FIELD  SAVANNAH,  GA. 

January  IGth,  1865. 

"I.  The  islands  from  Charleston,  south,  the  abandoned  rice-fields  along 
the  river,  for  thirty  miles  back  from  the  sea,  and  the  country  bordering 
the  St.  Johns  river,  Florida,  are  reserved  and  set  apart  for  the  settlement 
of  the  negroes  now  made  free  by  the  acts  of  war  and  the  President  of  the 
United  States. 

"II.  At  Beaufort,  Hilton  Head,  Savannah,  Fernandina,  St.  Augustine 
and  Jacksonville,  the  blacks  may  remain  in  their  chosen  or  accustomed 
avocations;  but  on  the  islands  and  in  the  settlements  hereafter  to  be  estab 
lished,  no  white  person  whatever,  unless  military  officers  and  soldiers, 
detailed  for  duty,  will  be  permitted  to  reside ;  and  the  sole  and  exclusive 
management  of  affairs  wrll  be  left  to  the  freed  people  themselves,  subject 
only  to  the  United  States  military  authority  and  the  acts  of  Congress. 
By  the  laws  of  war,  and  orders  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  the 
negro  is  free,  and  must  be  dealt  with  as  such.  He  cannot  be  subjected  to 
conscription  or  forced  military  service,  save  by  the  written  orders  of  the 
highest  military  authority  of  the  department,  under  such  regulations  as  the 
President  or  Congress  may  prescribe.  Domestic  servants,  blacksmiths, 
carpenters,  and  other  mechanics,  will  be  free  to  select  their  own  work  and 
residence ;  but  the  young  and  able-bodied  negroes  must  be  encouraged  to 
enlist  as  soldiers  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  to  contribute  their 
share  toward  maintaining  their  own  freedom,  and  securing  their  rights  as 
citizens  of  the  United  States.  Negroes  so  enlisted  will  be  organized  into 
companies,  battalions  and  regiments,  under  the  order  of  the  United  States 
military  authorities,  and  will  be  paid,  fed  and  clothed,  according  to  law. 
The  bounties  paid  on  enlistment  may,  with  consent  of  the  recruit,  go  to 
assist  his  family  and  settlement,  in  procuring  agricultural  implements, 
seeds,  tools,  boats,  clothing,  and  other  articles  necessary  for  their  liveli 
hood. 

"  III.  Whenever  three  respectable  negroes,  heads  of  families,  shall  desire 
to  settle  on  land,  and  shall  have  selected,  for  that  purpose,  an  island  or  a 
locality  clearly  denned  within  the  limits  above  designated,  the  Inspector 
of  Settlements  and  Plantations  will  himself,  or  by  such  subordinate 
officer  as  he  may  appoint,  give  them  a  license  to  settle  such  island  or 
district,  and  afford  them  such  assistance  as  he  can,  to  enable  them  to 
establish  a  peaceable  agricultural  settlement.  The  three  parties  named 
will  subdivide  the  laud,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Inspector,  among 
themselves,  and  such  others  as  may  choose  to  settle  near  them,  so  that 
each  family  shall  have  a  plot  of  not  more  than  forty  acres  of  tillable 
ground,  and  when  it  borders  on  some  water  channel,  with  not  more  than 
eight  hundred  feet  front,  in  the  possession  of  which  land  the  military 
authorities  will  afford  them  protection  until  such  time  as  they  can  protect 
themselves,  or  until  Congress  shall  regulate  their  title.  The  quartermaster 


DESTITUTION    OF  THE  WHITES  AT  SAVANNAH.  8C9 

may,  on  the  requisition  of  the  Inspector  of  Settlements  and  Plantations, 
place  at  the  disposal  of  the  Inspector  one  or  more  of  the  captured  steam 
ers,  to  ply  between  the  settlements  and  one  or  more  of  the  commercial 
points  heretofore  named  in  orders,  to  afford  the  settlers  the  opportunity  to 
supply  their  necessary  wants,  and  to  sell  the  products  of  their  land  and 
labor. 

"  IV.  When  a  negro  has  enlisted  in  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States,  he  may  locate  his  family  in  any  of  the  settlements,  at  pleasure,  and 
acquire  a  homestead,  and  all  other  rights  and  privileges  of  a  settler,  as 
though  present  in  person.  In  like  manner,  negroes  may  settle  their  fami 
lies,  and  engage  on  board  the  gunboats,  or  in  fishing,  or  in  the  navigation 
of  the  inland  waters,  without  losing  any  claim  to  land,  or  other  advan 
tages  derived  from  this  system.  But  none,  except  an  actual  settler,  as 
above  defined,  or  unless  absent  on  government  service,  will  be  entitled  to 
claim  any  right  to  land  or  property  in  any  settlement  by  virtue  of  these 
orders. 

"  Y.  In  order  to  carry  out  this  system  of  settlement,  a  general  officer 
will  be  detailed  as  Inspector  of  Settlements  and  Plantations,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  visit  the  settlements,  to  regulate  their  police  and  general 
management,  and  who  will  furnish,  personally,  to  each  head  of  a  family, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  a  possessory 
title  in  writing,  giving,  as  near  as  possible,  the  description  of  boundaries, 
and  who  may  adjust  all  claims  or  conflicts  that  may  arise  under  the  same, 
subject  to  the  like  approval,  treating  such  titles  as  altogether  possessory. 
The  same  general  officer  will  also  be  charged  with  the  enlistment  and 
organization  of  the  negro  recruits,  and  protecting  their  interests  while  so 
absent  from  their  settlements,  and  will  be  governed  by  the  rules  and  regu 
lations  prescribed  by  the  War  Department  for  such  purpose. 

"  VI.  Brigadier-General  K.  Saxton  is  Ijereby  appointed  Inspector  of 
Settlements  and  Plantations,  and  will  at  once  enter  on  the  performance  of 
nis  duties.  No  change  is  intended  or  desired  in  the  settlement  now  on 
Beaufort  Island,  nor  will  any  right  to  property,  heretofore  acquired,  be 
affected  hereby. 

By  order  of  Major-General  W.  T.  SHERMAN." 

Soon  after  the  promulgation  of  this  order,  an  "  Educational  Associa 
tion"  was  formed  among  the  freedmen,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing 
schools  for  the  education  of  their  children.  The  first  evening  these  poor 
people  subscribed,  in  sums  of  three  dollars  each,  more  than  seven  hun 
dred  dollars,  and  in  a  few  days  five  hundred  colored  children  were  assem 
bled  in  their  schools. 

There  was  found  to  be  great  destitution  among  the  whites  in  Savannah, 
nee  being  almost  the  only  article  of  food  which  was  to  be  had  in  any 
considerable  quantities.  General  Sherman  gave  of  this  twenty  thousand 
bushels  from  his  stores,  and  permitted  a  former  officer  of  his  army  to  visit 


THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

New  York  to  exchange  it  for  other  articles  of  food.  On  his  arrival  the 
generous  citizens  of  New  York  allowed  it  to  be  sold  and  the  pro 
ceeds  invested  in  food,  but  they  added  to  the  cargo  of  the  government 
vessel  which  bore  those  supplies  back,  fifty  thousand  dollars'  worth  of 
provisions  for  the  suffering  poor  of  Savannah.  Generous  contributions 
to  the  same  object  were  also  forwarded  from  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and 
other  cities. 


THE  NASHVILLE  CAMPAIGN.  871 


CHAPTER     LXVIIL 

THE  NASHVILLE  CAMPAIGN SHERMAN'S  RESOLVE DAVIS'S  BOAST HOOD  TRIES  TO  FULFIL  IT 

THE  OFFER  TO  GIVE  HOOD  HIS  RATIONS MOVEMENTS  OF  GENERAL  THOMAS'S  COMMAND 

THE  FOURTH  AND  TWENTY-THIRD  CORPS  ASSIGNED  TO  GENERAL  THOMAS — SHERMAN'S  ORDER 

HIS  INSTRUCTIONS — A  PART  OF  HOOD'S    FORCE    CROSSES    THE    TENNESSEE — THE    NUMBER 

OF  HOOD'S  TROOPS — EFFECTIVE  FORCE  OF  THOMAS CHEATHAM'8  CORPS  CROSSES  THE  TEN 
NESSEE — FORREST'S  RAID  ON  JOHNSONVILLE — SCHOFIELD  PASSES  THROUGH  JOHNSONVILLK 
TO  PULASKI HOOD  ADVANCES  ON  PULASKI SCHOFIELD's  AND  THOMAS'S  MEASURES FALL 
ING  BACK  TO  COLUMBIA — CALLING  IN  THE  GARRISONS THE  CROSSING  OF  DUCK  RIVER — 

HOOD  ATTEMPTS  TO  FLANK  SCHOFIELD  AT  SPRING  HILL  BUT  FAILS  TO  DO  SO CAUSES  OF 

THE  FAILURE THE  RACE  FOR  FRANKLIN SCHOFIELD  WINS THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  THE 

STAKE — SCHOFIELD  KEEPS  THE  REBELS  AT  BAY  TILL  HIS  MEX  HAVE  THROWN  UP  TEMPORARY 

DEFENCES — HOOD'S  ADDRESS  TO  HIS  TROOPS HIS  PLAN ITS  PARTIAL  SUCCESS — HEROISM 

OF  GENERAL  STANLEY RESULTS  OF  THE  BATTLE SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  STANLEY — SCHO 
FIELD  FALLS  BACK  TO  NASHVILLE,  AND  MILROY  TO  MURFREESBORO THOMAS'S  REINFORCE 
MENTS  COME  UP — POSITION  OF  THE  TWO  ARMIES HOOD'S  BLUNDER — THE  EXPKDITION 

AGAINST  MURFREESBORO' — ITS  FAILURE — THOMAS  PREPARES  TO  ATTACK  HOOD'S  LEFT,  AT 

THE  SAME  TIME  DEMONSTRATING  UPON  HIS  RIGHT THE  BATTLE  OF  NASHVILLE FIRST  DAY 

RESULTS — HOOD'S  CONDITION  AND  HOPES gECOND  DAY DISPOSITION  OF  THE  TROOP8 

CAVALRY  ATTACK  ON  THE  REAR — THE  GENERAL  ADVANCE THE  ASSAULT REPULSE — • 

ADVANCING  AGAIN — THE  ENEMY'S  LINES    BROKEN,  AND  HE  COMPELLED   TO  FLY    IN    THE 

UTMOST  DISORDER — THE  RETREAT THE  PURSUIT ITS  RELENTLESS  CHARACTER — RESULTS 

• — GALLANT    CONDUCT   OF    COLONEL   PALMER — LYON's    DEFEAT    AND    CAPTURE SKETCH 

OF  GENERAL  SCHOFIELD SKETCH  OF  HOOD THE  CAMPAIGN  OF  GILLEM,  BURBRIDGE,  AND 

STONEMAN,  IN  EAST  TENNESSEE  AND  WESTERN  VIRGINIA BATTLES  OF  KINGSPORT,  ABINGTON, 

AND  MARION — CAPTURE  OF  WYTHEVILLE  AND  SALTVILLE BURBRIDGE's  RETURN  TO  KEN 
TUCKY. 

OUR  narrative  of  Sherman's  campaign  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea,  left  Hood 
at  Gadsden,  Alabama,  whither  he  had  retreated  from  Sherman's  pursuit, 
and  where,  behind  strong  fortifications,  he  awaited  Sherman's  attack.  It 
was  at  this  point,  in  accordance  with  his  previously  matured  purpose,  that 
Sherman  determined  not  to  be  drawn  out  of  Georgia,  nor  to  suffer  his 
communications  to  be  longer  at  Hood's  mercy.  He  had  become  satisfied 
that  Hood  had  a  force  sufficient  to  trouble  his  communications,  but  not  to 
meet  and  cope  with  him  in  battle.  Jefferson  Davis  had  boasted  at  Macon, 
that  the  soil  wrested  from  the  Rebels  in  Tennessee  should  be  regained, 
and  Hood  was  about  to  attempt  the  fulfilment  of  that  boast,  by  an  expe 
dition  thither.  The  sailors  have  a  proverb  that  "a  stern  chase  is  a  long 
chase,"  and  Sherman  was  well  aware  that  if  he  attempted,  with  his  large 
army,  to  pursue  Hood,  the  chase  would  be  a  long  and  wearisome  one,  and 
Hood  would  be  able  to  do  a  great  deal  of  mischief  before  he  could  over 
take  him.  If,  on  the  contrary  he  detached  the  skilful  and  resolute  Thomas 


872  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

to  hold  Tsnnessee  with  a  sufficient  force,  to  draw  him  on,  till  he  was  away 
from  his  base  of  supplies,  and  finally  to  grapple  with  and  destroy  his  army, 
while  Sherman  himself,  with  the  remainder  of  his  army,  cut  loose  from 
his  base,  and  marched  through  Georgia  to  the  sea,  he  would  accomplish. 
far  more  for  the  overthrow  of  the  Rebel  power  than  he  could  do  by  re 
maining  on  the  defensive.  He  had  communicated  his  views  and  plans 
to  the  Lieutenant-General,  who  gave  them  his  full  approval.  "If,"  said 
Sherman  to  his  generals,  at  this  stage  of  the  contest,  "Hood  will  go  into 
Tennessee,  I  will  give  him  his  rations."  To  his  comprehensive  and  astute 
intellect,  it  was  already  evident  that,  in  this  move  of  Hood's,  prompted  by 
the  Rebel  President,  he  had  thrown  away  his  last  hope  of  success,  his  last 
chance  even  of  prolonging  the  war,  and  that  for  this  phantom  of  an  invasion, 
he  had  relinquished  the  great  and  controlling  advantage  of  interior  lines  of 
movement. 

Early  in  October,  1864,  General  Thomas,  then  commanding  the  army 
of  the  Cumberland,  had  disposed  his  forces  in  such,  a  way  as  to  oppose 
the  greatest  resistance  in  his  power  to  Hood's  contemplated  forward  move 
ment  from  Gadsden,  either  upon  Bridgeport  or  Chattanooga,  both  which 
were  thought  to  be  threatened.  Decatur,  Huntsville,  Stevenson,  and  the 
rest  of  northern  Alabama  were  left  to  the  care  of  their  ordinary  garrisons, 
but  General  Thomas  caused  Rousseau  to  recall  his  mounted  troops  from 
their  pursuit  of  Forrest,  who  was  at  his  favorite  work  of  making  raids  on 
the  Union  lines  of  communications,  and  concentrate  them  at  Athens ; 
Croxton's  brigade  of  cavalry  was  ordered  to  observe  and  protect  the  cross 
ings  of  the  Tennessee  river,  from  Decatur  to  Eastport;  Morgan's  division 
of  Jefferson  C.  Davis's — fourteenth — corps,  to  move  by  rail  to  Chattanooga, 
where  were  already  Morgan's  and  Newton's  divisions  of  the  fourth — 
Stanley's— corps;  and  Steedman  was  ordered  to  follow  Morgan  to  Bridge 
port.  On^the  14th  of  October,  Morgan  reached 'his  designated  position, 
and  Steedman's  destination  was  also  changed  to  Chattanooga.  Hood,  how 
ever,  did  not  move  for  some  time,  and,  on  the  26th  of  October,  General 
Sherman  detached  the  fourth  corps,  under  Major-General  Stanley,  and 
ordered  him  to  proceed  to  Chattanooga  and  report  to  General  Thomas,  at 
Nashville.  On  the  30th  of  October  he  also  detached  the  twenty-third  corps, 
Major-General  Schofield,  with  the  same  destination.  On  the  28th  of 
October  he  had  delegated  to  General  Thomas  full  power  over  the  fourth 
and  twenty-third  corps,  the  two  divisions  of  the  sixteenth  corps  under 
command  of  General  A.  J.  Smith,  then  in  Missouri,  but  on  their  way  to 
Tennessee,  and  all  the  garrisons  in  Tennessee,  as  well  as  all  the  cavalry 
of  the  military  division  of  the  Mississippi,  except  Kilpatrick's  division. 
His  special  field  order  for  this  purpose  was  as  follows : 

"  In  the  event  of  military  movements  or  the  accidents  of  war  separating 
the  general  in  command  from  his  military  division,  Major-General  George 
H.  Thomas,  commanding  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland,  will  exercise 


EFFECTIVE  FORCE   OF  GENERAL  THOMAS.  873 

command  over  all  the  troops  and  garrisons  not  absolutely  in  the  presence 
of  the  General-in-Chief." 

Brevet  Major-General  Wilson  had  been  ordered  from  the  army  of  the 
Potomac  to  report  to  General  Thomas,  and  take  command  of  the  cavalry 
of  his  army,  and  he  was  sent  back  to  Nashville  with  all  dismounted  de 
tachments,  and  with  orders  to  collect  as  rapidly  as  possible  the  cavalry 
serving  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  to  mount,  organize  and  equip  them, 
and  report  for  duty  at  the  earliest  moment.  These  forces  General  Sherman 
believed  sufficient  to  enable  General  Thomas  to  defend  the  railway  from 
Chattanooga  to  Nashville,  and  Decatur,  and  to  give  him  an  army,  capable 
of  coping  successfully  with  Hood,  should  he  cross  the  Tennessee  north 
ward.  General  Sherman  also  informed  General  Thomas  of  his  entire 
plans  for  the  campaign,  and  instructed  him  that  he  was  expected  to  defend 
the  line  of  the  Tennessee  river,  to  hold  Tennessee  in  any  event,  and  to 
pursue  Hood  should  he  follow  Sherman. 

On  the  26th  of  October,  the  enemy  appeared  in  some  force  before 
Decatur,  but,  after  skirmishing  for  three  days,  withdrew.  On  the  31st,  in 
spite  of  all  the  efforts  of  Croxton's  cavalry,  which  was,  as  we  have  said, 
guarding  the  river  from  Decatur  to  Eastport,  the  enemy  succeeded  in 
effecting  a  lodgment  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Tennessee,  about  three 
miles  above  Florence.  Only  a  small  portion  of  Hood's  army  crossed  at 
this  time,  the  greater  part  remaining  in  Florence,  perhaps  because  their 
commander  was  perplexed  by  the  movements  of  Sherman,  or,  more  prob 
ably,  was  engaged  in  making  preparation  for  the  advance  into  Tennessee, 
on  which  he  was  fully  determined.  Hood  had  caused  the  Mobile  and 
Ohio  railroad  to  be  repaired,  and  he  now  occupied  Corinth,  so  that  his 
supplies  could  be  brought  by  rail  from  Selma  and  Montgomery  to  that 
point,  and  thence  by  way  of  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad  to 
Cherokee  station.  His  force  now  consisted  of  the  remnant  of  his  three 
old  corps  under  Lee,  Stuart,  and  Cheatham,  estimated  at  from  thirty  to 
thirty-five  thousand  men,  and  Forrest's  cavalry,  supposed  to  number 
twelve  thousand. 

General  Thomas's  effective  force  (A.  J.  Smith,  with  his  ,two  divisions, 
not  having  yet  arrived,  and  only  a  small  part  of  Wilson's  cavalry  being 
remounted)  numbered  twenty-two  thousand  infantry,  and  seven  thousand 
seven  hundred  cavalry,  exclusive  of  numerous  detachments,  garrisoning 
Murfreesboro',  Stevenson,  Bridgeport,  Huntsville,  Decatur,  and  Chatta 
nooga,  and  distributed  along  the  railways  to  guard  them. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  12th  of  November,  the  last  telegraphic  despatch 
was  received  from  General  Sherman,  and  all  railway  and  telegraphic  com 
munication  with  his  army  thenceforth  ceased.  From  that  day  until  the 
17th  of  November,  was  an  anxious  period  for  General  Thomas,  for  he 
was  uncertain  whether  he  should  be  under  the  necessity  of  pursuing 
Hood,  as  would  be  the  case  if  he  followed  Sherman,  or  whether  he  should 


874  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

have  to  defend  Tennessee  against  invasion ;  but,  on  the  17th,  Cheatham's 
corps  crossed  to  the  north  side  of  the  Tennessee,  and  suspense  was  at  an 
end.  The  Rebel  general  could  not  now  follow  Sherman  if  he  were  dis 
posed  to  do  so,  for  he  was  already  three  days'  march  beyond  Atlanta,  on 
his  way  to  the  sea. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  Forrest  had  come  from  Corinth,  with  seven 
teen  regiments  of  cavalry,  and  nine  pieces  of  artillery,  and  having  cap 
tured  a  gunboat  and  two  transports,  on  the  Tennessee  river,  and  burned 
a  third  transport  at  Fort  Heiman,  seventy-five  miles  above  Paducah, 
planted  batteries  above  and  below  Johnsonville,  which  was  an  extensive 
depot  of  Union  stores,  and  connected  by  railroad  with  Nashville.  He  had 
been  compelled  to  destroy  the  gunboats  he  had  captured,  and  one  of  the 
transports  was  recaptured.  By  the  position  of  his  batteries,  he  was  able 
to  isolate  three  gunboats,  eight  transports,  and  about  a  dozen  barges. 
On  the  4th  of  November,  he  opened  with  his  artillery  on  the  gunboats 
and  transports,  as  well  as  upon  the  town,  and  the  gunboats,  which  were 
wooden  vessels,  having  become  disabled,  their  officers,  fearing  they  would 
fall  into  Forrest's  hands,  unwisely  fired  them  and  the  transports,  and  the 
flames  communicating  to  the  government  storehouses  on  the  levee,  which 
were  filled  with  commissary  and  quartermaster's  stores,  those  also  were 
burned,  involving  a  loss  of  about  one  and  a  half  millions  of  dollars.  The 
garrison  of  Johnsonville,  however,  showed  no  disposition  to  yield  to 
Forrest,  whose  previous  exploits  at  Fort  Pillow  and  elsewhere,  had  caused 
his  name  to  be  greatly  loathed,  yid  after  a  somewhat  protracted  bombard 
ment  of  the  town,  he  withdrew,  and  crossing  the  river  just  above  the  town, 
hastened  southward. 

General  Schofield  with  the  twenty-third  corps,  arrived  at  Johnsonville 
from  Nashville,  the  night  after  Forrest's  withdrawal,  and  leaving  a  rein 
forcement  to  the  garrison  at  Nashville,  went  on  to  Pulaski,  to  join  the 
fourth  corps  there.  On  the  19th  of  November,  Hood  began  his  advance 
northward,  on  parallel  roads  from  Florence  to  Waynesboro'.  General 
Schofield,  who  had  command  of  the  two  corps  at  Pulaski,  had  orders  to 
obstruct  and  delay  Hood's  progress  as  much  as  possible,  without  bringing 
on  a  general  engagement,  in  order  to  afford  more  time  for  the  arrival  of 
Smith's  two  divisions  from  Missouri,  and  to  enable  Wilson  to  remount 
and  equip  more  completely  his  cavalry.  Finding  that  Hood  was 
approaching  Pulaski,  General  Schofield  removed  the  public  property  from 
that  town,  and  sent  back  his  trains  to  Columbia,  preparatory  to  falling 
back  thither  with  his  troops. 

Two  divisions  of  the  fourth — Stanley's — corps  had  already  been  de 
tailed  to  proceed  as  far  as  Lynnville,  fifteen  miles  north  of  Pulaski,  to 
cover  the  passage  of  the  wagons,  and  protect  the  railway.  Capron's 
brigade  of  cavalry  was  at  Mount  Pleasant,  covering  the  approach  to  Colum 
bia  from  that  direction ;  and  in  addition  to  the  regular  garrison,  there  was, 


WAYNESBORO 

**< 

LAWRENCEBURG:^' 


HOOD   ADVANCES   ON   PULASKI.  875 

at  Columbia,  a  brigade  of  Kuger's  division  of  the  twenty-third  corps.  The 
two  remaining  brigades  of  Ruger's  division,  then  at  Johnsonville,  were 
ordered  to  move,  one  by  railway  around  through  Nashville  to  Columbia, 
the  other  by  turnpike  by  way  of  Waverly  to  Centreville,  to  occupy  the 
crossings  of  Duck  river  near  Columbia,  Williamsport,  Gordon's  ferry  and 
Centreville.  About  five  thousand  men,  belonging  to  Sherman's  column, 
had  collected  at  Chattanooga,  comprising  convalescents  and  furloughed 
men  returning  to  their  regiments.  These  men  had  been  organized  into 
brigades,  to  be  made  available  at  such  points  as  as  they  might  be  needed. 
General  Thomas  had  also  been  reinforced  by  twenty  new  one  year 
regiments,  most  of  which,  however,  were  absorbed  in  replacing  old 
regiments,  whose  term  of  service  had  expired. 

On  the  23d  of  November,  General  R.  S.  Granger,  commander  of  the 
garrisons  along  the  line  of  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad,  in 
accordance  with  instructions  previously  given  him,  commenced  withdraw 
ing  the  garrisons  from  Athens,  Decatur,  and  Huntsville,  Alabama,  and 
moved  off  toward  Stevenson,  sending  five  new  regiments  of  this  force  to 
Murfreesboro,  and  retaining  at  Stevenson,  the  original  troops  of  his 
command.  This  movement  was  made  by  rail  with  great  rapidity,  and 
without  any  opposition  on  the  part  of  the  enemy. 

General  Schofield  evacuated  Pulaski,  on  the  evening  of  the  23d  of 
November,  and  reached  Columbia  on  the  24th.  The  commanding  officer 
at  Johnsonville  was  directed  to  evacuate  that  post  and  retire  to  Clarks- 
ville.  During  the  24th  and  25th,  the  enemy  skirmished  with  General 
Schofield's  troops  at  Columbia,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  his  infantry 
came  up  and  pressed  Schofield's  line  strongly,  during  that  day  and  the 
27th,  but  without  assaulting.  As  the  enemy's  movements  showed  an  un 
doubted  intention  to  cross  Duck  river,  General  Schofield  withdrew  to  the 
north  bank  of  that  river,  during  the  night  of  the  27th.  Two  divisions  of 
the  twenty-third  corps  were  placed  in  line  in  front  of  Columbia,  holding 
all  the  crossings  in  its  vicinity ;  while  the  fourth — Stanley's — corps,  posted 
in  reserve  on  the  Franklin  turnpike,  was  held  in  readiness  to  repel  any 
vigorous  attempt  the  enemy  should  make  to  force  a  passage ;  and  the 
cavalry,  under  Wilson,  held  the  crossings  above  those  guarded  by  their 
infantry.  About  two  A.  M.,  on  the  29th,  the  enemy  succeeded  in  pressing 
back  General  Wilson's  cavalry,  and  effected  a  crossing  on  the  Lewisburg 
turnpike;  at  a  later  hour,  part  of  his  infantry  crossed  at  Huey's  mills,  six 
miles  above  Columbia,  convinced  that  it  was  Hood's  intention  to  attempt 
to  flank  him  at  Spring  Hill.  General  Schofield  now  made  preparations 
to  fall  back  to  Franklin,  where  his  position  would  be  much  stronger. 
He  sent  General  Stanley  promptly  in  the  early  morning  to  Spring  Hill 
fifteen  miles  distant,  with  one  division  of  the  fourth  corps,  to  cover  the 
trains,  and  hold  the  road  open  for  the  passage  of  the  main  force ;  and  dis 


8f6  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

positions  were  made  preparatory  to  a  withdrawal;  to  meet  any  attack  coming 
from  the  direction  of  Huey's  mills. 

Hood  had  despatched  Forrest,  with  the  greater  part  of  his  cavalry, 
across  Duck  river,  a  few  miles  above  Columbia,  on  the  evening  of  the 
28th,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  29th  he  followed  with  Stewart's  and 
Cheatham's  corps,  and  Johnson's  division  of  Lee's,  in  light  marching  order, 
with  only  one  battery  to  each  corps,  leaving  the  other  divisions  of  Lee's 
corps  in  front  of  Schofield's  troops  at  Columbia.  His  object  was,  of  course 
to  throw  his  force,  or  the  greater  part  of  it,  upon  the  trains  of  the  Union 
army,  and  cut  it  off,  as  well  as  the  troops  which  guarded  it,  from  the 
remainder  of  Schofield's  force,  which  he  hoped  to  hold  at  Columbia  till 
this  was  accomplished.  The  plan  was  well  conceived,  and  came  near 
proving  successful.  General  Stanley  reached  Spring  Hill  just  in  time  to 
drive  off  Forrests'  cavalry,  and  save  the  trains  ;  but  he  found,  in  the  after 
noon,  that  Cheatham's  corps  had  come  up,  and  renewing  the  attack  in  con 
nection  with  Forrest,  they  had  at  onetime  nearly  succeeded  in  dislodging 
him  from  his  position.  General  Stanley,  was,  however,  just  the  man  for 
this  emergency,  firm  and  unyielding  as  well  as  daring,  he  withstood  the 
fearful  odds,  and  kept  the  roads  open  for  the  passage  of  the  long  train, 
notwithstanding  the  terrible  pressure  of  the  Kebel  force.  Hood,  indeed, 
blamed  Cheatham  severely  for  his  failure  to  crush  Stanley  at  this  time,  and 
speaks  of  his  attack  as  but  feeble  and  partial ;  but  the  failure  was  probably 
due  to  Stanley's  splendid  fighting  powers,  rather  then  to  any  lack  of 
energy  or  zeal  on  the  part  of  Cheatham. 

The  divisions  which  Hood  left  in  Schofield's  front  at  Columbia,  fought  all 
day,  attempting  to  cross  Duck  river,  but  were  repulsed  many  times,  and 
suffered  severe  loss :  giving  directions  for  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops 
from  Columbia,  so  soon  as  the  darkness  would  cover  the  movement, 
General  Schofield  started,  late  in  the  afternoon,  with  Kuger's  division  of 
the  twenty-third  corps  to  the  relief  of  General  Stanley,  at  Spring  Hill,  and 
when  near  that  place  came  upon  a  body  of  Rebel  cavalry,  bivouacking  within 
eight  hundred  yards  of  the  road,  but  easily  drove  them  off.  Posting  a 
brigade  to  hold  the  road  at  this  point,  against  the  coming  up  of  the  re 
mainder  of  his  troops,  General  Schofield,  with  Kuger's  division,  pushed  on 
to  Thompson's  station,  three  miles  beyond,  where  he  found  the  enemy's 
camp  fires  still  burning,  a  cavalry  force  having  occupied  the  place  till  dark; 
when  they  were  removed.  General  Hood  states  that,  at  dark,  he  furnished 
Lieutenant-General  Stewart  with  a  guide,  and  ordered  him  to  move  his 
corps  beyond  (or  to  the  left)  of  Cheatham's  and  place  it  across  the  road 
beyond  Spring  Hill.  Shortly  after  this,  General  Cheatham  came  to  his 
headquarters,  and  when  Hood  informed  him  of  Stewart's  movement,  he 
said  that  Stewart  ought  to  form  on  his  right ;  Hood  asked  if  that  would 
throw  Stewart  across  the  turnpike.  Cheatham  answered  that  it  would,  and 
a  mile  beyond.  Accordingly  one  of  Cheatham's  staff  officers  was  sent  to 


SCHOFIELD  KEEPS  THE  REBELS  AT  BAY.  87 Y 

show  Stewart  where  his  right  rested.  In  the  darkness  and  confusion, 
Stewart  did  not  succeed  in  getting  the  position  desired,  and  about  eleven 
P.  M.  went  into  bivouac.  About  twelve  P.  M.,  General  Hood,  ascertaining 
that  the  Union  troops  were  moving  past  in  great  confusion  (such  are  his 
words) — artillery,  wagons  and  troops  intermixed — sent  instructions  to 
General  Cheatham  to  advance  a  heavy  line  of  skirmishers  against  them, 
and  still  further  impede  and  confuse  their  march.  For  some  reason, 
Cheatham  did  not  attempt  this,  and  the  column  which  left  Columbia  after 
nightfall  on  the  evening  of  the  29th,  passed  Spring  Hill  about  midnight, 
Generals  Stanley  and  Schofield,  with  the  divisions  they  commanded  in 
person,  having  preceded  them,  and  though  within  hearing  of  Hood's  army 
nearly  all  night,  were  unmolested.  The  night  march  of  twenty-five  miles 
was  made  in  safety,  and  the  whole  command  were  in  position  at  Franklin, 
at  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the  30th,  the  cavalry  moving  on  the 
Lewisburg  turnpike  on  the  right  of  the  infantry.  Finding  that  Hood  was 
pursuing  him  rather  closely,  General  Schofield  made  a  feint  of  an  intention 
of  giving  battle  on  the  hills  four  miles  south  of  Franklin,  but  when  the 
Rebels  had  paused  and  begun  to  deploy  their  troops  for  the  attack,  he 
fell  back  slowly  to  Franklin.  This  had  been  a  race  for  the  possession  of 
Tennessee,  of  whose  importance  and  moment  both  commanders  were  fully 
aware.  Franklin  once  reached  by  Schofield  and  his  troops  put  in  order 
of  battle  there,  the  odds  were  strongly  against  Hood.  The  Union  general 
was  near  his  base — Nashville — and  could  without  serious  difficulty  reach 
it,  while  his  adversary  was  moving  constantly  farther  from  his  base,  and 
in  the  topography  of  the  country,  as  well  as  in  the  large  force  which 
would  then  oppose  him,  his  chances  of  success  would  be  greatly  dimin 
ished.  If,  on  the  contrary,  he  had  been  successful  in  dividing  and 
defeating  Schofield's  army  at  Spring  Hill,  it  would  have  been  difficult  and 
perhaps  impossible  to  prevent  him  from  overrunning  Middle  Tennessee 
and  Kentucky,  and  though,  in  the  end,  this  triumph  might  not  have 
greatly  prolonged  the  war,  it  would  have  caused  immense  losses  in  troops 
and  property  to  have  repelled  the  invasion. 

Franklin,  which  place  General  Schofield  had  reached  with  his  troops 
without  serious  loss,  is  situated  on  the  Nashville  and  Decatur  railroad, 
eighteen  miles  south  of  Nashville,  in  a  bend  of  the  Big  Harpeth  river, 
an  affluent  of  the  Cumberland.  The  river  encircles  the  town  on  three 
sides,  and  General  Schofield  stretchetl  his  army  across  the  bend,  and 
hastened  the  crossing  of  his  trains  over  the  bridge  on  the  north  side  of 
the  town,  toward  Nashville.  In  the  position  which  he  had  selected  for 
his  line  of  battle,  there  were  already  some  fortifications  and  rifle-pits,  and 
General  Schofield  kept  his  skirmishers  engaged  in  pushing  back  the 
advance-guard  of  Hood?s  army,  while  the  troops  were  completing  a  line  | 
of  temporary  defences.  By  their  skilful  manoeuvring,  the  enemy  were 


gfg  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES 

kept  at  bay  until  four  p.  M.,  when  Hood  having  massed  his  troops  in  front 
of  Schofield's  position,  battle  could  be  no  longer  delayed. 

Eiding  along  his  lines,  Hood  encouraged  his  troops  to  make  a  desper 
ate  attack;  telling  them  that  the  Union  force  in  their  front  was  greatly  in 
ferior  to  their  own,  and  that  if  they  once  succeeded  in  breaking  it,  they 
could  drive  the  Yankees  out  of  Tennessee.  His  plan  of  battle  was  to 
hurl  his  force,  massed  as  it  was,  upon  the  Union  centre,  break  it,  seize 
upon  the  trains,  and  if  possible  destroy  the  Union  army  before  it  could 
cross  the  Harpeth  river.  But  Schofield's  position  was  an  admirable  one, 
and  though  his  force  was  greatly  inferior  to  Hood's,  it  could  and  did  repel 
his  attacks,  with  terrible  loss.  At  four  p.  M.,  Hood  appeared  with  his 
troops,  advancing  out  of  the  woods  into  the  plain  in  front  of  the  Union 
position,  Schofield's  skirmishers  meantime  falling  back  slowly  toward  the 
main  army,  and  maintaining  a  sharp  musketry  fire  as  they  retreated. 

As  the  Bebels  advanced,  the  Union  troops  opened  a  heavy  and  destruc 
tive  cannonade  upon  them,  and  as  they  came  nearer,  in  dense  lines,  four 
deep,  the  deadly  grape  and  canister,  and  the  severe  musketry  fire  at  short 
range  made  fearful  havoc  with  them.  But  though  the  .ieadly  missiles  cut 
wide  swaths  in  their  advancing  columns,  they  struggled  on,  and  at  last 
Maury's  division  of  Cheatham's  corps  reached  the  Union  outworks,  held 
by  Wagner's  division,  and  after  a  fierce  struggle,  drove  it  back  upon  the 
second  and  stronger  line,  held  by  Cox's  and  Eugers  divisions  of  the 
twenty-third  corps.  Withdrawing  a  short  distance,  and  reforming  their 
lines,  the  Eebel  troops  flung  themselves  with  great  fury  upon  this  second 
line,  and  after  a  desperate  and  terrible  contest,  forced  their  way  inside  of 
it  also,  and  captured  two  guns.  At  this  critical  moment,  when  the  tide 
of  battle  seemed  turned  against  the  Union  forces,  General  David  S.  Stan 
ley,  the  commander  of  the  fourth  corps,  put  himself  at  the  head  of 
Opdyke's  brigade,  with  Conrad's  in  support,  and  rushing  with  intense 
energy  upon  the  enemy,  after  a  fierce  hand  to  hand  encounter,  with 
bayonets  and  clubbed  muskets,  succeeded  in  driving  them  out  of  the 
works,  though  not  until  he  had  himself  been  severely  wounded.  Infuri 
ated  at  this  discomfiture,  just  at  the  moment  of  success,  Hood  and  his 
corps  commanders  urged  on  their  troops  to  renewed  attacks,  and  for  more 
than  five  hours  they  surged  up,  again  and  again,  against  the  Union  lines, 
but  in  vain.  The  Union  soldiers  stood  like  a  wall  of  adamant,  and  their 
artillery,  served  with  the  utmost  precision,  and  at  short  range,  dealt  de 
struction  to  the  foe  at  each  advance.  At  length,  at  ten  o'clock  at  night, 
finding  that  he  was  only  sacrificing  his  men  to  no  purpose,  the  Eebel  com 
mander  desisted,  and  fell  back  out  of  range.  The  Union  trains  were  by 
this  time  well  on  their  way  to  Nashville,  and  a  part  of  them  already 
Arrived  there,  and  at  midnight,  Schofield  withdrew  with  his  army  in  per 
fect  order,  and  marching  swiftly  over  the  excellent  roads  reached  Nash 
ville  on  the  morning  of  December  1st. 

. j 


HEROISM  OP   GENERAL  STANLEY.  879 

The  battle  of  Franklin  had  been  one  of  the  severest  actions  for  the 
time  it  occupied  and  the  number  of  troops  engaged,  in  the  annals  of  the 
war.  Hood  reported  it  as  a  victory  on  his  part,  on  the  ground  probably 
of  Schofield's  retreat  to  Nashville  during  the  night,  but  it  was  a  victory 
dearly  bought  and  almost  ruinous  in  its  losses.  His  killed  numbered, 
according  to  his  official  report,  seventeen  hundred  and  fifty,  his  wounded, 
three  thousand  eight  hundred,  and  seven  hundred  and  two  of  his  officers 
and  men  were  captured  by  the  Union  troops,  making  his  total  casualties 
six  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty-two.  Among  the  killed,  were  Major- 
General  Patrick  E.  Cleburne,  one  of  his  best  division  officers,  and  five 
brigadier-generals,  viz :  Williams,  J.  Adams,  Gist,  Strahl,  and  Granbury. 
Major-General  Brown,  and  Brigadier-Generals  Carter,  Mauigault,  Quarles, 
Cockerell,  and  Scott,  were  wounded ;  and  Brigadier-General  Gordon  cap 
tured.  The  Union  losses  were  one  hundred  and  eighty-nine  killed,  one 
thousand  and  thirty-three  wounded,  and  one  thousand  one  hundred  and 
four  missing,  making  an  aggregate  of  two  thousand  three  hundred  and 
twenty-six.  The  Union  troops  captured  thirty-three  stands  of  colors,  and 
seven  hundred  and  two  prisoners.  Major-General  Stanley*  was  the  only 
Union  general  officer  wounded.  The  Union  army  were  compelled  to 
leave  their  slain  and  severely  wounded  upon  the  field,  but  they  were  cared 
for  by  the  people  of  Franklin. 

On  the  evacuation  of  Columbia,  General  Thomas  sent  orders  to  General 

*  Major-General  David  S.  Stanley,  was  born  in  Cedar  Valley,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
June  1st,  1828  ;  he  received  a  good  english  education,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  in  1847,  but  entered'  West  Point  the  next  year,  and  graduated  in  1852, 
eighth  in  his  class.  He  was  appointed,  July  1852,  brevet  second  lieutenant  of  the 
second  dragoons ;  received  his  commission  as  full  second  lieutenant,  in  1853 ;  was 
promoted  to  be  first  lieutenant  of  the  first  cavalry,  in  March  1855  ;  was  assigned  to 
duty  on  the  frontier  in  New  Mexico,  Texas,  Missouri  (now  Dakotah)  territory,  &c., 
and  had  several  engagements  with  the  Indians,  from  1853  to  1861.  On  the  16th  of 
March,  1861,  he  was  promoted  to  tee  captain  of  the  fourth  cavalry,  and  removed  the 
United  States  garrisons  in  Texas,  to  Leavenworth,  Kansas.  He  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Dug  Spring  and  Wilson's  creek,  Missouri,  in  August  1861 ;  was  commis 
sioned  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  September  28,  1861  ;  commanded  a  brigade  and 
ere  long  a  division,  and  distinguished  himself  in  the  sieges  of  New  Madrid,  Island 
Number  Ten,  and  Corinth ;  and  in  the  battles  of  luka,  September  19, 1862,  and  Corinth, 
October  3d  and  4th,  1862 ;  was  appointed  by  General  Rosecrans  his  chief  of  cavalry, 
and  won  distinction  in  several  minor  engagements,  and  in  the  battle  of  Stone  river, 
December  31st,  1862,  to  January  3d,  1863 ;  was  commissioned  major-general  of  volun 
teers,  dating  from  November  29th,  1862  ;  participated  in  the  pursuit  of  Bragg  in 
June,  1863;  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga,  September  19th,  and  20th,  1863;  Mission 
Ridge,  November  25th,  1863,  and  Knoxville,  December  4th,  1863.  He  continued  to 
command  a  division  in  the  fourth  corps  till  August,  1864,  when  he  succeeded  General 
Howard  as  commander  of  that  corps.  He  took  part  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Atlanta 
campaign,  and,  as  we  have  seen,  returned  to  Tennessee  in  November,  and  was  severely 
wounded  in  this  battle.  He  resumed  the  command  of  his  corps  late  in  the  winter,  but 
was  unable  to  engage  in  active  service. 


880  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 


Milroy  at  Tullahoma  to  abandon  that  point  and  retire  to  Murfreesboro, 
joining  forces  wjth  General  Rousseau  at  the  latter  place,  but  to  maintain 
the  garrison  at  the  block  house  at  Elk  river  bridge. 

Nashville  was  placed  in  a  state  of  defence,  and  the  fortifications  man 
ned  by  the  garrison,  reinforced  by  volunteers  from  the  employees  of  the 
quartermaster's  and  commissary  departments,  who  had  previously  been 
organized  into  a  division,  under  brevet  Brigadier-General  J.  L.  Donaldson. 
This  force,  aided  by  railway  employees,  the  whole  under  the  direction  of 
Brigadier-General  Tower,  worked  dilligently  in  constructing  addititional 
defences.  Major-General  Steedman,  with  the  five  thousand  men  isolated 
from  General  Sherman's  column  and  a  brigade  of  colored  troops,  started 
from  Chattanooga  by  rail,  on  the  29th  of  November,  and  reached  Cowan 
on  the  morning  of  the  30th,  when  orders  were  sent  to  him  to  proceed 
directly  to  Nashville.  At  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the  30th,  the 
advance  of  Major-General  A.  J.  Smith's  command  arrived  at  Nashville, 
on  transports  from  St.  Louis.  Thus  General  Thomas  had,  with  Schofield's 
army,  an  infantry  force  superior  in  numbers  to  that  of  Hood,  though  one 
fourth  of  them  or  more  were  new  troops,  while  Hood's  were  all  veterans ; 
the  Rebel  cavalry  was,  as  yet,  more  numerous  than  that  of  the  Union 
army,  but  Wilson  was  fast  remounting  his  troops,  having  received  an 
order  from  the  War  Department  to  impress  horses  in  Kentucky  and  Ten 
nessee  for  the  purpose,  and  in  a  few  days  he  would  be  able  to  match 
Forrest  both  in  numbers  and  efficiency. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  1864,  Schofield's  army  was  drawn  up  in  line 
of  battle  on  the  heights  south  of  Nashville,  connecting  with  the  rest  of 
the  army  under  General  Thomas's  command  ;  A.  J.  Smith's  corps  occu 
pied  the  right,  on  the  Cumberland  river  below  the  city  ;  the  fourth  corps 
temporarily  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  Thomas  J.  Wood,  in  con 
sequence  of  General  Stanley's  wound,  the  centre ;  and  Schofield's— 
twenty-third — corps,  the  left,  extending  to  the  Nolensville  turnpike.  The 
cavalry,  under  General  Wilson,  took  post  on  the  left  of  Schofield,  thus 
securing  the  interval  between  that  flank  and  the  river,  above  the  city. 
Nashville,  it  should  be  said,  is  situated  in  a  bend  of  the  Cumberland 
much  as  Franklin  is  in  that  of  the  Harpeth.  General  Steed  man's  troops 
reached  Nashville  on  the  evening  of  the  1st  of  December,  and  on  the  3d. 
when  the  cavalry  was  moved  to  the  north  side  of  the  river,  to  watch  and 
protect  the  railroad  against  the  Rebel  cavalry,  occupied  the  space  on  the 
left  of  the  line  which  it  had  vacated. 

On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  after  skirmishing  during  the  two  preceding 
days,  Hood  succeeded  in  gaining  a  position,  on  a  line  of  hills  south  of  the 
Union  lines,  with  his  salient  on  the  summit  of  Montgomery  hill,  within 
six  hundred  yards  of  the  Union  centre,  his  main  line  occupying  the  high 
ground  on  the  southeast  side  of  Brown's  creek,  and  extending  from  the 
Nolensville  turnpike,  on  which  his  extreme  right  rested,  across  the 


THE   EXPEDITION  AGAINST  MURFREESBORO.  881 

Franklin  and  Granny  White  roads,  in  a  westerly  direction  to  the  hills 
south  and  southwest  of  Richland  creek,  and  down  that  creek  to  the  Hills- 
boro'  road,  with  cavalry  extending  from  both  flanks  to  the  river.  Hood 
had  hitherto  been  notable  for  his  reckless  daring,  and  the  fury  of  his  sud 
den  attacks  upon  an  enemy,  and  had  won  a  renown  which  such  hardihood 
and  daring  deserves;  but  in  this  campaign  he  seemed  anxious  to  imitate 
Sherman,  but  without  possessing  Sherman's  clear  head  and  magnificent 
strategic  ability.  He  might,  had  he  flung  his  troops  against  Nashville, 
when  he  first  came  up,  before  Steedman's  division  had  arrived,  and  while 
Schofield's  two  corps  were  worn  out  with  fighting  by  day  and  marching 
by  night,  have  had  some  chance  of  success  in  breaking  through  Thomas's 
lines,  and  pushing  him  to  and  across  the  Cumberland.  The  outlook  was 
but  an  indifferent  one,  even  then,  but  when  he  neglected  his  opportunity, 
and  sat  down  to  besiege  Nashville,  with  its  river  and  railroad  communi 
cations  yet  perfect,  he  forfeited  all  prospects  of  success,  and  was  as  really 
though  not  as  tangibly  defeated  as  when,  a  fortnight  later,  he  commenced 
his  winter  flight  toward  the  Tennessee. 

Between  the  4th  and  7th  of  December,  Hood  sent  one  division  each 
from  Cheatharn's  and  Lee's  corps,  and  two  thousand  five  hundred  of 
Forrest's  cavalry,  to  attempt  the  capture  of  the  blockhouse  at  the  railway 
crossing  of  Overall's  creek,  and  Fort  Eosecrans,  at  Murfreesboro,  but  they 
were  repulsed  at  both  points  by  Generals  Milroy  and  Rousseau,  who 
commanded  the  garrisons.  The  Rebel  loss  here  was  thirty  killed,  one 
hundred  and  seventy -five  wounded,  two  hundred  and  seven  prisoners  and 
two  guns.  Buford's  Rebel  cavalry  entered  Murfreesboro,  but  was  speed 
ily  driven  out  by  a  regiment  of  infantry  and  a  section  of  artillery,  and  on 
retiring  moved  northward  to  Lebanon,  and  along  the  south  bank  of  the 
Cumberland,  threatening  to  cross  to  the  north  side  of  the  river,  and  inter 
cept  the  railway  communications  with  Louisville,  which  was  at  that  time 
the  only  source  of  supplies  for  Thomas's  army,  the  river  below  Nashville 
being  blockaded  for  transports,  by  Rebel  batteries  along  the  shore.  The 
Union  gunboats,  under  Lieutenant-Commander  Le  Roy  Fitch,  patrolled  the 
Cumberland,  above  and  below  Nashville,  and  prevented  the  enemy  from 
crossing.  General  Wilson  also  sent  a  cavalry  force  to  Gallatin,  to  guard 
the  country  in  that  vicinity. 

General  Thomas  had  been  waiting  impatiently  for  an  opportunity  to 
attack  Hood  and  punish  him  for  his  temerity ;  but  the  intense  cold,  which 
had  covered  the  hills  around  Nashville  with  ice,  prevented  any  military 
movements  on  either  side.  On  the  14th  of  December,  there  being  indi 
cations  of  a  thaw  and  of  milder  weather,  General  Thomas  called  together 
his  corps  commanders,  announced  his  intention  of  attacking  on  the  mor 
row,  should  the  weather  prove  propitious,  and  explained  his  plan  of  opera 
tions.  A.  J.  Smith,  holding  the  right,  was  to  form  on  the  Harding  road, 
and  make  a  vigorous  attack  on  the  enemy's  left,  supported  by  three  divi- 
56 


882  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

sions  of  Wilson's  cavalry,  ready  to  assail  the  enemy  as  occasion  might 
serve.  Wood,  with  the  fourth  corps,  leaving  a  strong  skirmish  line  on 
Laurens'  hill,  was  to  form  on  the  Hillsboro'  road,  supporting  Smith's  left, 
and  act  against  the  left  and  rear  of  the  enemy's  advanced  post  on  Mont 
gomery  hill.  Schofield  was  to  be  in  reserve,  covering  Wood's  left. 
Steedman's  troops  from  Chattanooga,  the  regular  garrison  of  Nashville, 
under  Brigadier-General  Miller,  and  the  quartermaster's,  commissary's, 
and  railway  employees,  under  brevet  Brigadier-General  Donaldson,  were 
to  hold  the  interior  line,  constituting  the  immediate  defences  of  the  city, 
the  whole  under  the  command  of  Major-General  Steedman. 

Hood's  right  was  known  to  be  his  strongest  point,  and  General  Thomas's 
plan  was  to  demonstrate  so  vigorously  on  this,  as  to  lead  him  to  bring 
still  more  of  his  troops  to  that  wing ;  and  then,  massing  the  Union  forces 
upon  the  enemy's  weakened  left,  overwhelm  it,  break  his  line,  and^roll  it 
back  upon  the  centre,  and  if  possible  crush  that  also.  This  was  the  work 
he  had  assigned  to  the  first  day  of  the  battle ;  for  the  second  day,  he  pro 
posed  to  break  down  Hood's  right,  and  either  envelope  and  capture  his 
army,  or  if  that  could  not  be  done,  shatter  it  so  thoroughly,  that  he 
would  fly  with  his  routed  and  demoralized  troops  south  of  the  Tennessee 
river. 

On  the  15th  of  December,  every  thing  being  favorable,  the  army  took 
its  position,  and  was  ready  at  an  early  hour  to  carry  out  this  programme. 
The  formation  of  the  troops  was  partially  concealed  from  the  enemy,  by 
the  broken  nature  of  the  ground,  as  well  as  by  a  dense  fog,  which  only 
lifted  toward  noon.  For  some  reasons  Hood  seemed  to  have  been  entirely 
unaware  of  Thomas's  intention  of  attacking  him  and  especially  of  his 
design  upon  his  left  wing.  Before  dawn,  Steedman  deployed  with  a 
heavy  line  of  skirmishers,  mostly  colored  troops,  and  thoroughly  trained, 
and  made  a  fierce  demonstration  against  the  Kebel  right,  east  of  the 
Nolensville  turnpike,  and  soon  after  daylight,  he  pushed  his  line  up  to 
and  across"  this  turnpike.  The  enemy's  picket  line  resisted  stoutly,  but 
being  strongly  pressed  fell  back,  and  Steedman  pursued,  until  he  came 
within  short  range  of  a  battery  planted  on  the  other  side  of  a  deep  rocky 
cut  of  the  Chattanooga  railroad,  which  his  troops  could  neither  flank  nor 
cross.  After  a  sharp  and  somewhat  obstinate  action,  having  accomplished 
his  object  of  impressing  the  enemy  with  the  belief  that  the  principal 
attack  wae  to  be  made  at  that  point,  and  inducing  him  to  draw  rein 
forcements  thither  from  his  centre  and  left,  General  Steedman  withdrew. 

As  soon  as  Steedman  had  completed  this  movement.  General  A.  J. 
Smith's  corps  and  Wilson's  cavalry  moved  out  along  the  Harding  turn- 
pike,  and  commenced  the  great  movement  of  the  day,  by  wheeling  to  the 
left,  and  advancing  against  the  enemy's  position  across  the  Harding  and 
Hillsboro  road.  Johnson's  division  of  cavalry  was  sent,  at  the  same 
time,  to  look  after  a  Rebel  battery  on  the  Cumberland  road,  at  Bell's 


THE  BATTLE  OF  NASHVILLE.  883 

landing,  eight  miles  below  Nashville,  which  had  been  preventing  the  pas 
sage  of  transports  up  the  river  to  Nashville.  The  remainder  of  Wilson's 
cavalry,  Hatch's  division  leading  and  Knipe  in  reserve,  moving  on 
the  right  of  A.  J.  Smith,  first  struck  the  enemy  along  Richland  creek, 
near  Harding's  house,  and  rapidly  drove  him  back,  capturing  a  number 
of  prisoners ;  and  continuing  to  advance,  while  slightly  swinging  to  the 
left,  came  upon  a  redoubt  containing  four  guns,  which  was  splendidly 
carried  by  assault,  at  one  P.  M.,  by  a  portion  of  Hatch's  division,  who 
fought  dismounted,  and  the  captured  guns  were  turned  upon  the  enemy. 
A  second  redoubt,  stronger  than  the  first,  was  next  assailed  and  carried 
by  the  same  troops  that  captured  the  first,  and  four  more  guns  and  about 
three  hundred  prisoners  taken.  In  both  these  assaults,  McArthur's 
division,  of  A.  J.  Smith's  corps,  participated  with  the  cavalry,  and  reached 
the  position  about  the  same  time. 

Finding  that  General  Smith  had  not  lapped  so  far  upon  Hood's  right 
as  he  expected,  though  he  had  broken  his  right  wing,  General  Thomas 
now  directed  General  Schofield  to  move  his — twenty-third — corps,  which 
had  thus  far  been  in  reserve,  to  the  right  of  General  Smith,  and  thus 
enable  the  cavalry  to  operate  more  freely  upon  the  enemy's  rear.  This 
was  rapidly  accomplished  by  General  Schofield,  and  his  troops  participa 
ted  in  the  closing  operations  of  the  day. 

The  fourth  corps  (Woods)  formed  on  the  left  of  A.  J.  Smith's  corps,  and 
as  soon  as  the  latter  had  struck  the  enemy's  flank,  assaulted  and  carried 
Montgomery  hill,  Hood's  most  advanced  position  at  one  P.  M.,  capturing 
a  considerable  number  of  prisoners,  connecting  with  Garrard's  division, 
which  formed  Smith's  left.  The  fourth  corps  continued  to  advance,  car 
ried  the  enemy's  entire  line  in  its  front  by  assault,  and  captured  several 
pieces  of  artillery,  about  five  hundred  prisoners,  and  several  stands  of 
colors.  By  these  movements,  Hood  was  crowded  out  of  his  original  line 
of  works,  and  compelled  to  take  a  new  position  along  the  base  of  the 
Harpeth  hills,  still,  however,  retaining  his  line  of  retreat  to  Franklin  by 
the  main  turnpike  through  Brentwood  and  by  the  Granny  White  road. — 
During  the  day,  sixteen  pieces  of  artillery  and  twelve  hundred  prisoners 
had  been  captured  from  the  enemy,  and  he  had  been  forced  back  at  all 
points  with  heavy  loss,  his  strongest  positions  taken,  and  his  right  wing 
crushed.  The  Union  casualties  had  been  unusually  light,  and  the 
behavior  of  General  Thomas's  troops  was  remarkable  for  steadiness  and 
alacrity  in  every  movement.  Still,  though  the  Union  army  was  full  of 
enthusiasm  and  confident  that  the  next  day  would  witness  the  destruction 
of  the  invading  army,  it  was  not  to  be  denied  that  his  new  position, 
on  the  Overton  hills,  was  a  strong  one.  He  had  straightened  and  short 
ened  his  line  by  nearly  one  half,  and  the  line  of  intrenchments  which  he 
occupied,  had  been  previously  constructed  and  fortified  by  him.  He  still 
held  the  two  turnpikes,  by  which  his  retreat  could  be  effected  should  he 


884  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

be  compelled  to  retreat.  His  position  was  very  similar  to  that  of  Rose- 
crans  at  the  close  of  the  first  day  at  Stone  river ;  and  if,  like  that  able 
commander,  he  should  be  able  to  turn  his  previous  defeat  into  victory,  and 
repulse  with  heavy  loss  the  Union  army,  which  had  come  out  of  Nash 
ville  to  attack  him,  there  was  still  hope  that  his  expedition  into  Tennes 
see  might  not  prove  wholly  a  failure.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  disasters 
of  that  day  were  but  the  precursors  of  a  thorough  and  overwhelming 
defeat  on  the  morrow,  his  campaign  would  not  only  prove  a  failure,  but 
there  would  remain  for  him  only  a  rapid  and  ignominious  flight,  in 
which  he  could  not  hope  to  save  his  trains,  or  even  the  greater  part  of 
his  army,  and  the  cause  on  which  he  had  staked  every  thing  would  be 
seriously  perilled,  if  not  lost.  Gloomy  as  was  the  prospect,  it  served  to 
nerve  the  Kebel  commander  to  the  energy  of  despair,  and  he  attempted  to 
infuse  his  own  fiery  spirit  into  his  troops. 

General  Thomas,  on  the  other  hand,  was  calm,  quiet  and  self-possessed. 
Notwithstanding  Hood's  strong  position,  and  the  advantage  which  he  still 
possessed,  the  Union  commander  felt  that  victory  was  in  his  hands,  and 
that  the  evening  of  the  next  day  would  witness  Hood's  army  flying,  in 
haste  and  disorder,  southward.  His  plans,  deliberately  formed,  and  slowly 
carried  out,  admitted  no  loophole  for  failure,  no  possibility  of  defeat. 
Hood's  army  was  to  be  crushed — that  much,  at  least,  he  had  settled. 

The  Union  army  bivouacked  in  line  of  battle,  during  the  night,  on  the 
ground  occupied  at  dark,  and  preparations  were  made  to  renew  the  battle 
at  an  early  hour  next  morning. 

At  six  A.  M.,  on  the  16th  of  December,  Wood's  corps  pressed  back  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  across  the  Franklin  road,  to  the  eastward  of  it,  and 
then,  swinging  a  little  to  the  right,  advanced  due  south  from  Nashville, 
driving  the  Kebels  before  them  until  they  came  upon  a  new  main  line  of 
works,  constructed  during  the  night  on  Overton's  hill,  about  five  miles 
south  of  the  city  and  east  of  the  Franklin  road.  General  Steedman  moved 
out  from  Nashville  by  the  Nolensville  turnpike,  and  formed  his  provisional 
corps  on  the  left  of  General  Wood,  effectually  protecting  his  flank,  and 
made  preparations  to  co-operate  with  him  in  the  movements  of  the  day. 
A.  J.  Smith's  corps  marched  on  the  right  of  the  fourth  corps,  and  estab 
lishing  connection  with  it,  completed  the  new  line  of  battle.  Schofield's 
corps  remained  in  the  position  which  they  had  taken  at  dark  the  day 
before,  facing  eastward  and  toward  Hood's  left  flank,  the  line  of  the  corps 
running  perpendicular  to  that  of  Smith's  corps. 

General  Wilson's  cavalry,  which  had  rested  for  the  night  at  the  six 
mile  post  on  the  Hillsboro  road  was  dismounted  and  formed  on  the  right 
of  Schofield's  command,  and,  by  noon  of  the  16th,  had  succeeded  in  gaining 
the  enemy's  rear,  and  stretched  across  the  Granny  White  pike,  one  of  the 
two  roads  leading  toward  Franklin. 

As  soon   as   these    dispositions  were   completed,   having  visited   the 


DISPOSITION  OF  THE   TROOPS.  885 

different  commands,  General  Thomas  gave  directions  that  the  movement 
against  the  enemy's  left  flank  should  be  continued.  Smith  and  Schofield 
who  had  been  listening  for  the  welcome  sound  of  Wilson's  cannon  against 
the  Rebel  rear,  had  already  heard  it  and  were  moving,  when  the  order 
came.  The  troops  were  brought  up  at  all  points,  to  within  six  hundred 
yards  of  the  Rebel  lines.  Here  they  halted,  to  await  the  result  of  an 
Dassault  ordered  at  three  P.  M.  The  assaulting  column  was  composed  of 
Post's  brigade  of  Wood's  corps,  supported  by  Streight's  brigade,  and 
Morgan's  colored  brigade  of  Steedman's  provisional  corps.  The  ground 
on  which  this  column  formed,  being  opened  and  exposed  to  the  view  of 
the  enemy,  he  was  enabled  to  draw  reinforcements  from  his  left  and  centre 
to  the  threatened  points.  The  Union  troops  moved  steadily  forward  up 
the  hill,  being  met  from  the  moment  of  starting  by  a  severe  fire  of  grape, 
canister,  and  musketry,  and  as  they  neared  the  crest,  the  enemy's  reserves 
rose,  and  suddenly  poured  into  the  assaulting  column  a  terribly  destruc 
tive  fire,  causing  it  first  to  waver,  and  then  to  fall  back,  leaving  dead  and 
wounded,  black  and  white,  mingled  indiscriminately  in  the  dense  and 
almost  impenetrable  abatis.  General  Wood  at  once  reformed  his  command 
in  the  position  it  had  previously  occupied,  preparatory  to  a  renewal  of 
the  assault.  Immediately  following  this  effort  of  Post's  and  Morgan's 
brigades,  General  Smith's  and  Schofield's  corps  moved  against  the  enemy's 
works  in  their  respective  fronts,  carrying  all  before  them,  breaking  his 
lines  in  a  dozen  places,  and  capturing  all  his  artillery,  and  thousands^of 
prisoners,  including  four  general  officers.  The  Union  loss  was  very  light. 
All  of  the  enemy  that  did  escape  were  pursued  over  the  top  of  Brentwood 
and  Harpeth  hills.  General  Wilson  had  dismounted  his  cavalry,  and  at 
tacked  the  enemy  in  rear  simultaneously  with  the  attack  of  Smith  and 
Schofield  in  front,  and  gaining  full  possession  of  the  Granny  White  turn 
pike,  cut  off  his  retreat  by  that  route.  Wood's  and  Steedman's  troops, 
hearing  the  shouts  of  victory  coming  from  the  right,  rushed  impetuously 
forward  for  another  assault  on  Overton's  hill,  and  although  the  resistance 
was  stern  and  the  Rebel  fire  heavy,  their  onset  was  irresistible,  and  the 
enemy's  artillery  and  troops  fell  into  their  hands.  The  Rebel  army,  hope 
lessly  shattered,  fled  in  confusion  through  the  Brentwood  pass,  the  fourth 
corps  pursuing  closely  for  several  miles,  when  darkness  closed  the 
scene  and  the  wearied  troops  rested  from  their  chase. 

As  the  fourth  corps  pursued  the  enemy  along  the  Franklin  turnpike, 
General  Wilson  hastily  mounted  Knipe's  and  Hatch's  divisions,  and 
directed  them  to  move  rapidly  on  the  Granny  White  road,  and  endeavor 
to  reach  Franklin  in  advance  of  the  Rebel  army.  After  proceeding 
about  a  mile,  they  came  upon  the  enemy's  cavalry  under  General 
Chalmers,  posted  across  the  road  and  behind  barricades.  The  twelfth 
Tennessee  cavalry,  Colonel  Spalding,  charged  upon  and  carried  the 
position,  scattering  the  Rebel  troops  in  all  directions,  and  capturing 


886  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

a  considerable  number  of  prisoners,  among  them  Brigadier-General  E.  W. 
Rucker. 

The  pursuit  was  resumed  the  next  morning,  by  Johnson's  and  Knipe's 
division  of  the  cavalry,  and  Wood's  corps,  and  these  were  followed,  in 
slower  marches,  by  Smith's  and  Schofield's  corps,  and  the  Kebel  army 
were  hunted  down  relentlessly,  for  the  next  fortnight,  amid  severe  storms 
impracticable  roads,  and  intense  cold.  At  Hollow  Tree  gap,  four  miles 
from  Franklin,  the  cavalry  overtook  their  rear-guard  on  the  17th,  and 
carried  their  position,  taking  four  hundred  and  thirteen  prisoners.  The 
Rebels  fled  to  Franklin,  and  attempted  in  vain  to  defend  the  crossings  of 
the  Harpeth  river,  but  were  again  defeated  and  driven  from  the  town, 
leaving  their  hospitals,  containing  over  two  thousand  wounded,  of  whom 
two  hundred  were  Union  men,  captured  at  the  battle  of  Franklin.  About 
five  miles  south  of  Franklin,  the  cavalry  pressed  them  so  closely,  that 
they  were  compelled  to  make  a  stand  again,  but  it  was  only  to  fly  with 
still  greater  rapidity,  when  Wilson's  cavalry  charged  upon  them  again. 
At  this  point,  they  abandoned  nearly  all  their  remaining  artillery.  Hood 
had  formed  a  powerful  rear-guard  from  the  few  regiments  which  retained 
their  organization,  and  as  much  of  Forrest's  cavalry  as  was  available  ; 
and  this  rear-guard,  consisting  of  seven  or  eight  thousand  men,  half  of 
them  mounted  troops,  defended  the  flying  army  with  considerable 
resolution ;  the  remainder  of  Hood's  fine  army  of  nearly  fifty  thousand 
troops,  which,  at  the  beginning  of  December,  had  undertaken  so  confi 
dently  the  siege  of  Nashville,  had  become  a  disheartened  and  disorgan 
ized  rabble  of  -half  armed  or  unarmed  and  barefoot  men,  who  sought 
every  opportunity  to  fall  out  by  the  wayside  and  desert  their  cause,  to 
put  an  end  to  their  sufferings.  The  few  cannon  which  they  had  left  were 
either  captured  by  their  pursuers,  or  thrown  into  the  river,  from  which 
they  were  afterwards  recovered,  and  their  supply  train  was  almost  wholly 
captured  and  destroyed.  General  Thomas  sent  General  Steedman  by  way 
of  Murfreesboro  to  Decatur,  to  re-occupy  those  points  in  Alabama  which 
had  been  evacuated  in  November,  and  to  threaten  the  Eebel  railroad 
communications,  west  of  Florence,  and  at  General  Thomas's  request  Rear- 
Admiral  S.  P.  Lee  sent  gunboats  to  Florence,  to  patrol  the  river  and 
prevent  Hood  from  crossing  at  or  below  that  point.  The  Rebel  com 
mander  succeeded  however  in  bringing  the  shattered  debris  of  his  army 
across  the  Tennessee  in  safety,  on  the  27th  of  December,  at  Bainbridge,  a 
short  distance  above  Florence. 

The  results  of  this  victory  were ;  the  capture  by  the  Union  army  of 
thirteen  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty-nine  prisoners  of  war,  including 
seven  generals  and  nearly  one  thousand  staff  and  line  officers,  eighty 
serviceable  cannon,  many  thousand  small  arms  and  several  scores  of  battle 
flags.  Besides  these,  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  seven  deserters  from 
the  Rebel  army  came  in  and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance.  The  number  of 


GALLANT  CONDUCT  OF  COLONEL  PALMER.  887 

Rebels  killed  and  wounded  cannot  probably  be  ascertained  with  exactness, 
but  from  the  best  data  to  be  obtained  was  estimated  as  exceeding  eighteen 
thousand.  General  Thomas  reported  his  own  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and 
missing  as  not  exceeding  ten  thousand. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  General  Thomas  ordered  the  pursuit  discon 
tinued,  and  assigned  to  the  different  corps  of  his  army  their  winter  quarters, 
but  on  the  following  day  Lieutenant-General  Grant  telegraphed  his  dis 
approval  of  the  army's  going  into  winter  quarters,  and  General  Thomas 
at  once  issued  orders  to  Generals  Schofield,  Smith,  and  Wilson  to  concen 
trate  their  commands  at  Eastport,  Mississippi,  and  to  General  Wood,  to 
hold  his  corps  in  readiness  at  Huntsville,  for  a  renewal  of  the  campaign 
against  the  enemy,  in  Mississippi  and  Alabama. 

The  gallantry  and  daring  of  Colonel  W.  J.  Palmer,  a  young  cavalry  officer 
who  continued  the  pursuit  of  Hood's  retreating  forces,  after  the  other 
officers  had  given  it  up,  deserves  to  be  recorded  in  this  connection. 
Colonel  Palmer  left  Decatur  on  the  30th  of  December,  with  a  force  of  six 
hundred  mounted  men,  and  followed  the  route  of  Hood,  skirmishing  with 
Rhoddy's  cavalry  and  pressing  it  back  toward  the  mountains,  until  he  as 
certained  the  direction  taken  by  Hood.  Then  avoiding  the  Rebel  cavalry, 
and  moving  rapidly  by  way  of  La  Grange  and  Russellville,  he  overtook 
and  destroyed  the  enemy's  pontoon  train,  consisting  of  two  hundred  wagons 
and  seventy-eight  pontoon  boats,  ten  miles  beyond  Russellville.  He  learned 
there  that  a  large  supply  train  was  on  its  way  to  Tuscaloosa,  for  the 
Rebel  army,  and  started  at  once  in  pursuit.  He  overtook  it  on  the  1st 
of  January,  near  Aberdeen,  Mississippi,  and  burned  the  wagons,  one  hun 
dred  and  ten  in  number  and  killed  the  mules  which  drew  it.  The  Rebel 
cavalry  now  pursued  him  in  large  numbers,  and  near  Russellville,  Rhoddy, 
Riffles,  Russell  and  Armstrong  attempted  to  surround  him,  but  he  evaded 
them  in  the  darkness,  and  when  twelve  miles  from  Moulton  came  upon 
Russell  unexpectedly,  attacked  and  routed  him,  capturing  a  number  of 
prisoners  and  burning  five  of  his  wagons.  He  then  returned  to  Decatur, 
which  place  he  reached  in  safety  on  the  6th  of  January,  having  marched 
over  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  captured  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners, 
and  destroyed  nearly  one  thousand  stand  of  arms,  three  hundred  and 
fifteen  wagons.,  and  seventy-eight  pontoon  boats.  His  loss  was  one  killed 
and  two  wounded.  ABrigadier-GeneralLyon,  whom  Hood  had  sent  into 
Kentucky,  while  he  was  before  Nashville,  with  about  eight  hundred 
cavalry  and  two  guns  to  operate  against  the  Union  railroad  communica 
tions  with  Louisville,  succeeded  in  capturing  Hopkinsville,  Kentucky, 
about  the  middle  of  December.  General  Thomas  had  sent,  on  the  14th 
of  December,  McCook's  division  of  cavalry  to  Bowling  Green  to  protect 
the  road.  La  Grange's  brigade  of  this  division  met  Lyon  near  Greens- 
burg,  Kentucky,  and,  after  a  sharp  fight,  defeated  him,  capturing  one  of 
his  guns,  several  prisoners,  and  a  part  of  his  wagon  train  ;  but  the  Rebel 


888  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

commander  succeeded,  by  making  a  wide  detour,  in  reaching  the  Cumber 
land  river,  and  crossing  at  Burksville,  from  whence  he  proceeded  by  way 
of  McMinnville  and  Winchester,  Tennessee,  to  Larkinsville,  Alabama. 
On  the  10th  of  January  he  attacked  the  little  Union  garrison  at  Scotts- 
boro,  but  was  again  repulsed,  and  his  command  scattered.  He  finally 
succeeded,  however,  in  escaping  across  the  Tennessee  river  with  about 
two  hundred  of  his  men  and  his  remaining  gun.  Colonel  Palmer  now 
heard  of  his  movements,  and  immediately  set  out  in  pursuit  of  him  with 
the  fifteenth  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  and  on  the  14th  of  January  overtook 
him  near  Red  Hill,  surprised,  and  captured  him  and  about  one  hundred 
of  his  men,  with  their  horses,  and  his  gun.  Put  under  guard,  he  treach 
erously  murdered  his  guard  and  made  his  escape.  We  have  already 
[Chap.  LIL]  given  a  sketch  of  General  Thomas,  the  able  commander  of 
this  campaign.  It  remains  to  give  a  brief  portraiture  of  his  accomplished 
and  skilful  lieutenant,  to  whose  adroit  and  careful  management  the  success 
of  the  earlier  battles  of  the  campaign  is  due,  and  who  lured  Hood  to  his 
destruction. 

Major-General  John  McAllister  Schofield  is  the  son  of  a  clergyman, 
Rev.  James  Schofield,  residing  in  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  and 
was  born  in  that  county  on  the  29th  of  September,  1831.  In  1843  his 
father  removed  to  Bristol,  Illinois,  and  in  1845  to  Freeport,  in  the  same 
State,  where  his  youth  was  passed.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  entered  the 
military  academy  at  West  Point,  and  graduated  in  1853,  ranking  seventh 
in  his  class.  He  was  appointed  a  brevet  second  lieutenant,  and  attached 
to  the  second  regiment  of  artillery.  On  the  30th  of  August,  the  same 
year,  he  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of  full  second  lieutenant  in  the  first 
artillery ;  and  on  the  1st  of  March,  1855,  promoted  to  be  first  lieutenant 
in  the  same  regiment.  After  serving  for  two  years  with  his  company 
in  South  Carolina  and  Florida,  he  was  ordered  to  West  Point,  in  the 
autumn  of  1855,  as  Assistant  Professor  of  Natural  and  Experimental 
Philosophy.  He  held  this  position  till  June,  1860,  when  he  obtained 
leave  of  absence  for  twelve  months,  to  accept  the  chair  of  Physics  in 
Washington  University,  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  intending  to  quit  the  army 
at  the  end  of  the  leave.  At  the  opening  of  the  war,  however,  his  views 
changed,  and  waiving  the  remainder  of  his  leave,  he  reported  at  once  for 
orders,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  as  mustering  officer  at  St.  Louis.  Shortly 
afterward,  by  permission  of  the  War  Department,  he  accepted  the  position 
of  major  of  the  first  regiment  of  Missouri  volunteers,  and  in  that  capacity 
participated  with  his  regiment  in  the  capture  and  dispersion  of  the  nest 
of  secessionists  at  Camp  Jackson,  on  the  10th  of  May,  under  Captain, 
afterward  Brigadier-General,  Nathaniel  Lyon.  On  the  14th  of  May,  1861, 
Lieutenant  Schofield  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of  captain  in  the  regular 
army,  and  soon  after  became  General  Lyon's  principal  staff  officer  and 
served  with  that  gallant  commander  throughout  the  campaign,  which 


SKETCH   OF  GENERAL  SCIIOF/ELD.  889 

ended  with  his  death.  After  this  event  he  returned  to  his  volunteer 
regiment,  which  had  now  been  converted  into  one  of  heavy  artillery,  and 
with  that  regiment  participated  in  the  defeat  of  Jeff.  Thompson  at  Frederick- 
town,  Missouri.  On  the  20th  of  November  Major  Schofield  was  appointed, 
by  the  President,  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  at  the  same  time 
received,  from  the  Governor  of  Missouri,  a  corresponding  commission  in  the 
Missouri  militia,  with  orders  to  organize,  equip,  and  command  a  force  of 
ten  thousand  militia  to  be  called  into  the  service  of  the  United  States, 
within  the  limits  of  Missouri  during  the^war.  His  success  in  this  under 
taking  led  Major-General  Halleck  to  appoint  him,  in  the  spring  of  1862, 
commander  of  the  district  of  Missouri.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year  he 
organized  and  took  personal  command  of  the  army  of  the  frontier,  serv 
ing  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  State,  and  suppressed  with  great  vigor 
the  guerrilla  warfare  then  raging  in  Missouri.  On  the  29th  of  November, 

1862,  the  President  appointed  him  major-general  of  volunteers,  but  some 
of  the  Missouri  politicians,  who  were  dissatisfied  with   his   management, 
prevented  the  confirmation  of  the  appointment  by  the  Senate,  and  his  com 
mission  consequently  expired  by  its  own  limitation  on  the  3d  of  March, 

1863.  Having  been  immediately  relieved,  at  his  own  request,  from  duty 
in  Missouri,  he  was  now  ordered  to  report  to  General  Kosecrans,  com 
manding  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  was  by  him  assigned  to  the 
command  of  Thomas's  old  division  of  the  fourteenth  corps.     In  April, 
President  Lincoln  re-appointed  him  major-general  of  volunteers,  and  sent 
him  back  to  St.  Louis  to  relieve  General  Curtis  as  commander  of  the 
Department  of  Missouri.     Here  he  rendered  very  efficient  service  to  Gen 
eral  Grant  in  the  siege  and  capture  of  Vicksburg,  sending  him  Herron's 
large  and  fine  division  of  the  army  of  the  frontier,  and  as  many  other 
troops  as  could  possibly  be  spared  from  Missouri.     After  the  capture  of 
Vicksburg,  General  Grant  reinforced  Schofield  with    Steele's    division, 
formerly  of  Sherman's  corps,  and  with  this  and  his  own  troops,  Schofield 
planned  and  carried  into   successful  execution  the  Arkansas  campaign, 
which  drove  the  Eebels  out  of  that  State. 

In  January,  1864,  he  was  engaged  in  concerting  a  plan  with  General 
Banks,  for  a  joint  occupation  of  Shreveport,  Louisiana,  and  the  line  of 
the  Red  river,  when  the  President,  wearied  with  the  constant  clamor  of 
the  Missouri  politicians  for  Schofield's  removal,  sent  General  Rosecrans 
to  relieve  him  from  command,  but  on  the  9th  of  February,  at  General 
Grant's  request,  appointed  him  to  the  command  of  the  Department  of  the 
Ohio.  Here,  with  his  headquarters  at  Knoxville,  he  was  engaged  for 
some  time  in  observing  Longstreet's  army,  but  with  the  opening  of  the 
spring  made  active  preparations  to  join  Sherman  in  his  Atlanta  campaign. 
In  that  campaign  he  commanded  the  army  of  the  Ohio,  a  single  large 
corps — the  twenty-third — and  distinguished  himself  throughout  the  cam 
paign  by  his  steady  courage,  his  remarkable  efficiency,  and  his  thoroughly 


890  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

practical  character.  In  November,  1864,  he  was,  as  we  have  seen,  detached 
to  reinforce  General  Thomas  in  this  campaign  of  Nashville,  and  won  yet 
higher  fame  as  a  commander.  In  January,  1865,  he  was  sent  eastward 
with  his  corps,  and  took  part  in  the  capture  of  Wilmington,  and  in  the 
battle  of  Kinston,  and  joining  his  old  chief,  Sherman,  at  Goldsboro,  was 
with  him  in  the  closing  movements  of  the  campaign  and  the  war,  and  at 
its  close  was  placed,  permanently,  in  command  of  the  Department  of  North 
Carolina ;  in  the  autumn  of  1865,  obtaining  leave  of  absence,  he  went  to 
Europe  for  a  year. 

The  Rebel  commander,  whose  defeat  and  rout  we  have  chronicled,  is 
also  deserving  of  a  brief  notice.  Lieutenant-General  John  B.  Hood  was 
born  at  Owensville,  Bath  county,  Kentucky,  June  29,  1831.  He  was 
educated  at  Mount  Sterling,  entered  West  Point  in  1849,  in  the  same  class 
with  Schofield,  and  graduated  in  1853,  without  distinction.  He  was 
appointed  brevet  second  lieutenant  of  the  fourth  regiment  of  infantry,  in 
July  1853,  and  after  serving  for  two  years  in  California,  was  transferred  to 
the  second  cavalry.  He  did  duty  with  his  regiment  on  the  Texas  fron 
tier,  for  several  years,  and,  in  1856,  was  wounded  in  a  fight  with  the 
Indians.  He  was  ordered,  we  believe  in  1858,  to  West  Point,  as  instructor 
of  cavalry,  but  was  soon  after,  at  his  own  request,  allowed  to  return  to  his 
regiment  at  San  Antonia,  Texas.  He  resigned  his  commission  in  the 
army  of  the  United  States,  April  16,  1861,  and  immediately  entered  the 
Rebel  army  with  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  He  was  soon  after  appointed 
captain  of  cavalry,  and  sent  to  Magruder,  on  the  Peninsula.  On  the  30th 
of  September,  1861,  he  was  promoted  to  the  colonelcy  of  an  infantry 
regiment.  On  the  3d  of  March,  1862,  he  was  appointed  brigadier-general 
to  succeed  Wigfall,  who  was  a  Senator  in  the  Rebel  Congress.  He  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  West  Point,  May  7th,  1862,  in  the  battle  of  Games' 
Mill,  June  27th,  1862,  where  he  distinguished  himself  in  a  charge  upon 
the  Union  troops,  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general  for  his 
gallantry.  He  also  took  an  active  part  in  the  battles  of  Yorktown  and 
(second)  Bull  Run,  August  29th  and  30th,  1862,  at  Boonesboro  or  South 
Mountain,  at  Fredericksburg,  and  at  Gettysburg,  where  he  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  arm.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and 
on  the  second  day  was  again  desperately  wounded,  and  lost  a  leg.  He 
was  soon  after  made  lieutenant-general,  but  was  unable  to  take  the  field 
until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  he  commanded  one  corps  of  Johnston's 
army.  After  Sherman's  army  crossed  the  Chattahoochie,  Johnston  was 
removed  from  command  by  the  Rebel  President,  and  Hood  appointed  his 
successor.  Of  his  subsequent  career,  our  pages  have  given  a  sufficient 
account.  After  the  Nashville  campaign,  he  was  relieved  of  his  command, 
on  the  23d  of  January,  1865,  but  made  great  exertions  to  bring  his  troops 
forward  to  attack  Sherman  in  his  campaign  through  the  Carolinas,  but, 
we  believe  was  not  in  any  engagements  in  that  campaign. 


CAPTURE   OF  WYTHEVILLB  AND  SALTVILLB.  891 

Pending  the  struggle  between  Hood  and  Thomas,  another  campaign  had 
been  conducted  in  East  Tennessee,  with  good  results,  though  without  so 
overwhelming  a  defeat  of  the  Kebel  forces.  It  had  commenced  indeed 
with  a  disaster.  The  Union  troops  in  East  Tennessee,  aside  from  the  garri 
son  at  Knoxville,  were  under  the  command  of  Generals  Gillem  and  Am- 
men,  the  former  having  charge  of  the  cavalry,  the  latter  of  the  infantry. 
For  some  time  it  was  not  understood  that  these  troops  were  under  General 
Thomas's  command,  and  hence  there  was  no  cordial  co-operation  between 
them  and  the  Kentucky  troops  which  belonged  to  his  army  proper. 
Against  these  East  Tennessee  troops,  the  Kebel  Generals  J.  C.  Breckin- 
ridge,  Basil  Duke,  and  Vaughn,  were  operating.  On  the  13th  of  Novem 
ber,  Breckinridge  attacked  General  Gillem,  near  Morristown,  Tennessee, 
at  midnight,  routed  him,  and  captured  his  artillery  and  several  hundred 
prisoners.  Breckinridge's  force  was  estimated  at  three  thousand,  while 
Gillem's  was  one  thousand  five  hundred,  all  Tennesseeans,  with  six  guns. 
After  this  defeat,  Gillem  escaped,  with  the  remainder  of  his  force,  about 
one  thousand  in  number,  to  Strawberry  plains,  and  thence  to  Knoxville. 
Breckinridge  followed,  passing  through  Strawberry  plains  to  the  immedi 
ate  vicinity  of  Knoxville ;  but,  on  the  18th,  he  withdrew,  as  rapidly  as 
he  had  advanced,  having  heard  intelligence  which  alarmed  him.  General 
Ammen,  having  received  a  reinforcement  of  one  thousand  live  hundred 
men  from  Chattanooga,  commenced  pursuing  him.  Major-General  Stone- 
man  had  started  a  few  days  before,  from  Louisville  for  Knoxville,  to  take 
the  general  charge  of  affairs  in  that  section,  having  previously  ordered 
General  Burbridge  to  inarch,  with  all  his  available  force  in  Kentucky, 
by  way  of  Cumberland  gap,  to  General  Gillem's  relief.  When  General 
Stoneman  passed  through  Nashville,  General  Thomas  instructed  him  to 
concentrate  as  large  a  force  as  possible,  in  East  Tennessee,  move  against 
Breckinridge,  and  either  capture  and  cut  to  pieces  his  force,  or  drive  it 
into  Virginia,  and,  if  possible,  destroy  the  salt  works  at  Saltville,  and  the 
railroad  from  the  Tennessee  line  as  far  into  Virginia  as  he  could  go, 
without  endangering  his  command. 

Finding  himself  pursued  by  so  large  a  force,  Breckinridge,  about  the 
6th  of  December,  fell  back  toward  the  Virginia  line.  General  Stoneman, 
having  concentrated  his  troops  at  Bean  station,  moved  on  Bristol,  on  the 
12th,  his  advance,  under  General  Gillem,  striking  a  body  of  the  enemy 
under  Basil  Duke,  at  Kingsport,  and  killing,  capturing  or  dispersing  the 
whole  command.  General  Stoneman  then  sent  General  Burbridge  to 
Bristol,  where  Vaughn  had  a  considerable  Rebel  force,  with  which  he 
skirmished  till  Gillem  came  up,  when  Vaughn  retreated  toward  Marion, 
and  Burbridge  pushed  on  to  Abingdon,  having  orders  to  cut  the  railroad 
at  some  point  between  Saltville  and  Wytheville,  in  order  to  prevent  the 
Rebels  from  receiving  reinforcements  from  Lynchburg.  Gillem  pushed 
on  through  Abingdon,  on  the  15th  of  December,  in  pursuit  of  Vaughn 


THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

who  still  retreated,  and  overtook  him  the  next  day,  routed  him  and  pur 
sued  him  to  Wytheville,  capturing  all  his  artillery  and  trains  and  one 
hundred  and  ninety-eight  prisoners.  Wytheville,  with  its  stores  and 
supplies,  was  destroyed,  together  with  the  extensive  lead- works  near  the 
town,  and  the  railroad  bridges  over  Reedy  creek.  General  Stoneman  then 
turned  his  attention  toward  Saltville,  and  its  important  salt-works,  which 
had  supplied  the  Rebel  armies  and  commissary  department  largely  with 
salt.  At  this  place,  also,  were  large  quantities  of  supplies  for  the  Rebel 
army  of  Virginia.  The  garrison  of  Saltville  had  been  reinforced,  by 
Giltner's,  Crosby's,  and  Witcher's  commands,  and  all  that  remained  of 
Duke's,  and  was  under  the  command  of  Breckinridge  in  person.  This 
force  had  followed  Stoneman  as  he  moved  on  Wytheville,  and,  on  return 
ing,  General  Stoneman  met  them  at  Marion,  where  he  made  preparations 
to  give  Breckinridge  battle,  and  disposed  his  command  to  assault  him  in 
the  morning;  but,  during  the  night,  the  Rebel  commander  retreated,  and 
was  pursued  by  the  Union  cavalry  into  North  Carolina,  where  some  of  his 
wagons  and  caissons  were  captured.  Moving  now  on  Saltville,  with  his 
entire  command,  General  Stoneman  captured,  at  that  place,  eight  pieces 
of  artillery,  and  a  large  amount  of  ammunition  of  all  kinds,  two  locomo 
tives,  and  a  considerable  number  of  horses  and  mules.  The  extensive 
salt-works  were  destroyed,  by  breaking  the  kettles,  filling  the  wells  with 
rubbish,  and  burning  the  buildings.  This  work  accomplished,  General 
Stoneman  returned  to  Knoxville,  accompanied  by  General  Gillem's  troops, 
General  Burbridge's  proceeding  to  Kentucky,  by  way  of  Cumberland 
gap.  The  route  through  which  they  passed  was  laid  desolate,  to  prevent 
its  being  used  again  by  the  enemy. 


GRANT  MAKES   A  FEINT  AGAINST  THE  REBELS.  893 


CHAPTER   LXIX. 

THE  ARMY  OF  THK  POTOMAC  AND  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  JAMES — GRANT  MAKES  A    FEINT    AGAINST 

THE  REBEL  FORCES    NORTH  OF  THE  JAMES,   AND    STRIKES    THE    WELDON    RAILROAD SHARP 

FIGHTING THE     ENEMY     HANDSOMELY      REPULSED AFTER      A      DESPERATE      ENGAGEMENT 

REAMS'S  STATION  FALLS  INTO  THE     HANDS  OF     THE    ENEMY FORT,  OR    BATTERY    HARRISON 

CAPTURED  FROM  THE    ENEMY,   AND    HELD — THE    REBELS    MAKE    STRENUOUS    EXERTIONS    TO 

RECAPTURE  IT BATTLE  OF  CHAFFIN's  FARM — THE  MOVEMENT  ON  POPLAR   SPRING    CHURCH 

ON    THE  LEFT CAPTURE  OF  FORT  MCRAE BATTLE  OF  PEEBLES*   FARM,  REPULSE   OF    UNION 

TROOPS,  FORT  M*CRAE  HELD KAUTZ'S  CAVALRY  DEFEATED ATTEMPT  TO  TURN  THE    RIGHT 

FLANK  OF  THE  UNION  ARMY — IT  FAILS — RECONNOISSANCE  TOWARD  RICHMOND  AND  YORK 
RIVER REPULSE  OF  THE  UNION  TROOPS — THE  ATTEMPT  TO  REACH  THE  SOUTHSIDE  RAIL 
ROAD  ON  THE  27TH  OF  OCTOBER — THE  BATTLE  OF  HATCHER*S  RUN MAHONE  INTERPOSES 

BETWEEN  THE  SECOND  AND  FIFTH    CORPS — REPULSE    OF    THE    UNION    FORCES FAILURE    OF 

THE  ENTIRE    MOVEMENT — SKIRMISHING — THE    FIRST    EXPEDITION    AGAINST    FORT    FISHER 

GENERAL  BUTLER'S  MANAGEMENT THE  POWDER-BOAT THE  REBELS    HAVE    NO    IDEA    WHY 

IT  WAS  EXPLODED GENERAL  BUTLER'S  DEBARKATION,  RECONNOISSANCE  AND  RE-EMBARK 
ATION — HE  IS  RELIEVED  OF  HIS  COMMAND THE  SECOND  EXPEDITION,  UNDER  COMMAND  OP 

GENERAL  TERRY — HIS  PLAN  OF  ATTACK — FURIOUS  BOMBARDMENT — DESPERATE  FIGHTING — 
SAILORS  REPULSED — THE  FORT  CARRIED— SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  TERRY — SKETCH  OF 
ADMIRAL  PORTER. 

WE  resume  the  narrative  of  the  operations  of  the  Union  armies  below 
.Richmond,  which  we  had  suspended  to  bring  up  the  history  of  the  move 
ments  which  were  taking  place  in  other  parts  of  the  field.  After  the 
Petersburg  mine  disaster,  the  Rebels  had  sent,  as  we  have  seen,  a  very 
considerable  body  of  troops  down  the  Shenandoah  valley  under  Early 
to  create  a  diversion  in  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  in  the  hope  of  com 
pelling  Grant  to  relax  his  grip  upon  Lee's  army.  General  Grant  prepared 
to  take  advantage  of  this  weakening  of  their  force,  by  movements  against 
their  lines  of  communication. 

It  was  reported  by  spies  and  deserters  from  the  Rebel  lines  that,  early 
in  August,  three  divisions  had  be'en  sent  from  Petersburg  to  reinforce 
Early  in  his  raid  on  Maryland ;  and  partly  to  ascertain  whether  their 
strength  had  been  so  greatly  reduced,  and  partly  to  draw  a  larger  force  to 
the  north  side  of  the  James,  and  thus  weaken  the  Rebel  right  while  he 
should  operate  upon  the  railroads.  General  Grant  ordered  a  strong  de 
monstration  to  be  made  on  the  Rebel  lines  north  of  the  James,  on  the 
night  of  the  13th  of  August,  having  previously  made  a  feint  of  sending 
the  second  corps  down  the  river  in  transports  in  the  day  time,  but  bringing 
them  back  at  night.  The  tenth  and  second  corps  were  both  posted  north 
of  the  James,  and  moved  out  upon  Strawberry  plains  and  encountered 
the  enemy's  skirmishers  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  August  14th.  They 
drove  them  back,  and  gained  a  considerable  advance  toward  Richmond ; 


$94  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

-&• 
compelling  the  enemy  to  send  over  a  great  number  of  troops  to  repel  their 

attacks;  but  the  Union  force  captured  six  pieces  of  artillery  and  several 
hundred  prisoners,  and  ascertained  that  but  one  division  of  Rebels 
had  yet  departed  northward,  but  that  others  were  under  orders  to  march 
soon. 

This  demonstration,  however,  was  only  preliminary  to  a  struggle  on  the 
enemy's  right  for  the  possession  of  the  Weldon  railroad.  At  four  o'clock 
A.  M.,  on  the  18th  of  August,  the  fifth  corps  moved  from  its  camp  with  four 
days  rations,  and  marched  toward  Reams's  station,  driving  in  easily  the 
enemy's  skirmishers,  of  whom  a  part  were  captured.  Griffin's  division 
reached  the  Weldon  railroad  and  began  to  destroy  it,  five  or  six  miles  from 
Petersburg,  while  the  other  three  divisions  proceeded  toward  Petersburg, 
completing  the  work  of  destruction.  At  Yellow  tavern,  they  encountered 
the  Eebel  cavalry  under  General  Dearing,  who  fell  back  to  Da  vis's  farm, 
two  miles  and  a  half  from  Petersburg.  Here  the  Rebel  General  A.  P. 
Hill  advanced  upon  them,  with  the  divisions  of  Mahone  and  Heth ;  the 
former  being  east  of  the  railroad  and  the  latter  west  of  it.  The  Union 
line  was  formed  and  halted  in  an  open  field ;  Crawford's  division  confront 
ing  Mahone,  and  Ayres'  opposing  Heth,  while  Cutler's  was  in  reserve. 
Ayres  was  attacked  with  great  vehemence,  and  driven  back  about  a  mile 
to  his  intrenchments ;  but  being  supported  by  Cutler,  held  the  main  line, 
which  was  greatly  strengthened  during  the  night,  and  against  which  the 
Rebels  surged  in  vain. 

On  Friday,  August  19th,  the  Union  troops  occupied  an  intrenched  line; 
their  left  being  on  the  Boydtown  plank-road,  and  their  right,  across  the 
railroad,  held  the  Jerusalem  road,  which  it  was  necessary  to  connect  with 
the  main  line  at  Petersburg.  This  was  accomplished  by  sending  Wilcox's 
division  of  the  ninth  corps  to  fill  the  gap.  Between  Ayres'  and  Crawford's 
divisions  ran  the  railroad,  and  between  the  right  of  the  fifth  corps,  Craw 
ford's  and  Wilcox's  divisions,  the  Jerusalem  road,  where  there  was  still  a 
dangerous  gap.  At  four  o'clock  P.  M.,  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  rain  storm, 
Hill  assailed  the  Union  troops  with  great  fury ;  Mahone's  division  pressing 
through  the  gap  separating  Wilcox  and  Crawford,  and  getting  upon 
Crawford's  flank  and  capturing  nearly  one  thousand  of  his  men.  On  the 
left,  Heth's  impetuous  attack  carried  the  intrenchments,  drove  back  the 
line,  forced  its  way  between  Crawford  and  Ayres,  and  enveloped  Hayes' 
regular  brigade.  The  first  and  second  divisions  of  the  ninth  corps  now 
came  up,  after  a  severe  forced  march,  to  reinforce  the  fifth  corps,  and  form 
ing,  quickly  charged,  capturing  several  hundred  prisoners.  This  charge 
enabled  Warren's  hard  pressed  troops  to  rally;  and  the  Rebels  being  in 
turn  overlapped,  were  driven  back  with  loss,  and  the  disaster  of  the  after 
noon  retrieved. 

The  darkness  put  an  end  to  the  conflict.     The  Union  loss  was  about 
fifteen  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  and  about  two  thousand  prisoners. 


DESTRUCTION   OF  THE    WELDON   RAILROAD.  895 

That  of  the  Rebels  could  Dot  have  been  less  in  killed  and  wounded.  The 
enemy  held  possession  of  the  Weldon  road  as  far  as  the  Yellow  Tavern, 
while  Warren  and  the  divisions  of  the  ninth  corps  still  held  the  section 
below. 

There  was  no  fighting  of  importance  on  the  20th,  but  on  the  21st 
the  Rebels  renewed  the  effort  to  drive  the  Union  troops  from  the 
Weldon  railroad.  The  Union  lines  remained  very  much  as  on  Friday, 
and  at  four  A.M.  the  Rebels  opened  a  heavy  artillery  fire,  first  upon 
the  left,  then  all  along  the  line  as  far  as  the  Appomattox  river.  About 
seven  o'clock  they  made  a  slight  feint  against  the  ninth  corps,  but  it  was 
not  until  nine  o'clock  that  the  grand  attack  began.  The  Rebel  columns 
emerged  from  the  woods  in  fine  style,  and  dashed  across  the  open  space 
intervening  between  the  woods  and  breastworks.  At  the  same  moment, 
a  heavy  artillery  fire  burst  from  all  their  batteries,  which  was  promptly 
answered  by  the  Union  troops.  The  Rebel  flanking  column  on  the  left 
of  the  railroad  fell  upon  the  right  of  Ayres'  and  the  left  of  Cutler's 
division.  The  Union  skirmishers  were  speedily  driven  in,  and  their  pits 
taken ;  but  as  the  Rebels  swept  across  the  opening  they  were  received 
with  a  staggering  fire  of  musketry.  Again  and  again  they  pressed  for 
ward,  but  were  as  often  repulsed,  with  fearful  slaughter.  On  the  right, 
they  did  not  succeed  in  reaching  the  main  works.  On  the  left,  the  column 
which  came  down  the  Yaughan  road  was  caught  with  a  cross-fire,  and  a 
part  of  one  brigade  threw  down  their  arms  and  surrendered,  those  who 
attempted  to  escape  suffering  great  loss.  The  repulse  of  this  brigade 
decided  the  battle  in  that  direction ;  and  the  Rebels  hastily  withdrew 
under  a  withering  fire.  An  effort  to  flank  the  Union  position  was  foiled 
with  equal  promptness.  The  battle  was  over  in  about  two  hours,  but  the 
fighting  was  very  severe  while  it  lasted,  and  the  victory  was  as  decided 
as  the  contest  was  desperate.  The  Rebel  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  ex 
ceeded  twelve  hundred,  and  the  Union  troops  captured  eight  hundred 
prisoners.  The  entire  Union  loss  did  not  exceed  six  hundred.  Early  on 
Monday  morning,  the  22d  of  August,  it  was  found  that  the  enemy  had 
retired  from  the  front  of  the  fifth  and  ninth  corps,  and  were  intrenching 
themselves  about  three  miles  from  Petersburg.  The  Union  skirmishers 
were  pushed  forward,  and  both  parties  labored  assiduously  in  erecting 
works,  the  picket  lines  frequently  skirmishing ;  but  there  was  no  general 
engagement. 

Meantime,  on  Sunday,  Monday,  and  Tuesday,  the  second  corps,  and  part 
of  the  tenth,  had  recrossed  the  James,  and  were  marching  down  upon  the 
vicinity  of  the  contest,  covered  by  Gregg's  cavalry ;  and  on  Monday, 
Miles's,  formerly  Barlow's  division  of  the  second  corps,  was  occupied  in 
breaking  up  the  Weldon  railroad,  as  far  as  Reams's  station,  and  was  joined 
on  Monday  night  by  Gibbon's  division  of  the  same  corps,  who  finished  the 
work  to  a  point  two  miles  beyond  Reams's  station,  a  distance  in  all  of 


896 


THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 


about  eleven  miles.  Gregg's  cavalry,  which  had,  during  the  whole  of 
this  work  of  destruction,  interposed  between  the  enemy  and  the  infantry 
who  were  engaged  in  it,  had  several  sharp  skirmishes  with  the  Kebels, 
but  beat  them  off  with  loss. 

On  Thursday  morning,  August  25th,  Gibbon's  division  of  Hancock's 
corps  moved  down  from  Reams's  station  to  prosecute  the  destruction  of 
the  railroad  still  further.  They  had  not  gone  far  when  they  encountered 
the  enemy's  skirmishers,  and  soon  after  the  Rebel  force  in  mass.  Con 
siderable  skirmishing  ensued,  but  the  enemy  seemed  reluctant  to  engage 
in  a  close  battle.  This  was,  in  fact,  only  a  demonstration  on  the  part  of 
the  Rebel  General  A.  P.  Hill,  to  conceal  his  attack  on  Barlow's  (no\v 
Miles's)  division,  which  was  still  at  Reams's  station,  and  occupying  the 
old  intrenchments  around  the  station.  The  enemy  appeared  soon  after 
noon  in  front  of  this  division,  and  General  Hancock  immediately  ordered 
Gibbon  to  fall  back  and  form  a  junction  with  Miles's  left,  in  order  to  pro 
tect  that  flank.  The  cavalry  followed,  and  covered  the  left  flank  and  rear. 
At  two  o'clock  the  Rebel  skirmish  line  advanced,  sweeping  forward  with 
the  usual  frantic  yells  of  the  southern  soldiers.  It  was  received  with  a 
combined  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  and  fell  back  in  confusion, 
having  suffered  far  more  loss  than  it  inflicted.  Sharp  skirmishing  now 
began  on  both  sides,  under  cover  of  which  the  contending  forces  arranged 
their  lines  and  fortified  them.  At  half  past  three  o'clock,  the  Rebel  column 
emerged  from  the  woods  in  a  heavy  and  close  line  of  battle,  and  with 
fixed  bayonets  rushed  upon  the  Union  works.  A  galling  fire  from  the 
infantry,  and  from  four  batteries  withered  their  ranks,  and,  though  they 
advanced  to  within  twenty  paces  of  the  works,  it  was  only  to  recoil 
broken  to  their  cover  after  fearful  loss.  The  Union  troops  suffered  mainly 
from  a  musketry  fire  on  the  left,  very  destructive  to  men  and  horses  in  the  bat 
teries.  In  front,  the  Rebels  scarcely  fired  a  shot  during  the  charge.  An  hour 
later,  a  third  assault  was  tried,  and  again  the  enemy  was  driven  back  with 
severe  loss.  A  lull  endued,  and  the  axe-strokes  of  the  Rebels  were  plainly 
audible,  felling  trees  for  planting  batteries,  and  the  Union  artillery  threw 
shells  in  the  direction  of  the  sound.  At  length,  all  being  ready,  the 
Rebel  batteries  opened  a  terrible  concentric  fire  upon  the  Union  troops, 
pouring  shell  and  solid  shot  with  fearful  profusion,  and  without  a  mo 
ment's  cessation,  into  their  circular  intrenchments.  For  twenty  minutes 
this  furious  shelling  was  kept  up,  with  very  serious  effect  upon  the  Union 
lines.  At  the  first  pause  in  the  fire,  the  hideous  yells  of  the  Rebels  an 
nounced  a  fourth  assault.  The  Rebel  column  rushed  forward,  overwhelm 
ing  in  numbers,  solidly  massed,  and  with  a  fierce  impetuosity.  Artillery 
and  infantry  greeted  it  with  a  hot  and  galling  fire ;  but  in  spite  of  the 
most  determined  resistance,  the  Rebels  gained  the  breastworks  after  a 
bloody  hand-to-hand  contest,  and  broke  the  Union  lines.  The  centre 
having  given  way,  the  entire  line  at  this  point  was  quickly  routed,  though 


THE  BATTLE  AT  EEAMS'S   STATION.  897 

some  regiments  remained  fighting,  with  a  determination  almost  unparal 
leled  in  the  war. 

On  this  last  attack  against  Miles,  a  part  of  Gibbon's  division  were  hur 
ried  across  the  circle,  under  heavy  fire,  to  his  support,  a  distance  of  more 
than  a  mile.  The  movement  was  gallantly  executed.  They  succeeded  in 
repulsing  the  enemy,  though  at  a  fearful  cost  of  officers  and  men,  while 
in  the  very  moment  of  his  triumph.  General  Miles,  meanwhile,  skilfully 
rallied  his  division,  and  the  lines  were  partially  restored.  But  at  this 
juncture  the  Rebel  commander  hurled  his  force  on  the  Union  left,  weak 
ened  by  the  withdrawal  of  some  of  Gibbon's  brigades,  with  the  same 
reckless  fury  with  which  he  had  attacked  the  centre.  Gibbon's  troops 
were  hurried  back  across  the  fatal  open  space,  and  hurled  exhausted 
against  the  enemy.  Overcome  by  its  severe  exertions,  the  gallant  division 
was  borne  back  by  the  sheer  weight  of  the  enemy,  whose  advance,  how 
ever,  was  resisted  to  desperation  by  some  unconquerable  regiments  which 
were  cut  to  pieces  on  the  ground  they  occupied.  General  Gregg,  how 
ever,  brought  his  dismounted  cavalry  to  the  assistance  of  the  wearied  and 
jaded  infantry,  and  the  enemy's  farther  progress  was  stayed.  Soon  after 
dark,  Hancock  withdrew,  leaving  Reams's  station  in  the  hands  of  the 
Rebels,  This  battle  was  one  of  the  most  desperate  and  obstinately  fought 
in  which  the  army  of  the  Potomac  had  been  engaged.  The  Rebel  force 
brought  into  action  undoubtedly  outnumbered  that  of  the  Unionists.  They 
had  three  divisions  in  their  assaulting  column,  and  another  in  support, 
while  the  Union  force  engaged  consisted  only  of  Miles's  and  Gibbon's 
divisions,  and  these  had  previously  lost  heavily.  The  casualties  on  the 
side  of  the  Union  forces  were,  in  killed  and  wounded  about  one  thousand, 
in  prisoners  two  thousand  and  thirty,  including  eighty  officers.  They  also 
lost  seven  stands  of  colors  and  five  cannon.  The  Rebel  loss  was  about 
fifteen  hundred,  killed  and  wounded.  The  Weldon  railroad  was  however 
hopelessly  destroyed  for  so  long  a  distance,  that  the  Rebels  could  not  hope 
again  to  resume  the  use  of  its  entire  length,  and  indeed  a  considerably 
portion  of  it  was  thenceforth  in  possession  of  the  Union  army.  On  the 
12th  of  September  a  branch  railroad  was  completed  from  City  Point  to 
the  Weldon  road,  bringing  supplies  directly  to  the  army  in  their  camps. 

The  position  of  the  Union  army  on  the  Weldon  railroad,  though  dearly 
won,  was  firmly  held;  and,  as  General  Grant  had  foreseen,  it. required  so 
great  an  extension  of  the  enemy's  line  to  maintain  their  connection  with 
it  below  Reams's  station,  that  they  were  compelled  to  withdraw  a  very 
considerable  portion  of  the  troops  hitherto  stationed  north  of  the  James 
to  man  it.  No  sooner  was  it  evident  that  this  had  been  done,  and  that 
they  could  not  readily  bring  back  their  troops  to  the  north  side  of  the 
James,  than  General  Grant  threw  a  large  body  of  troops  across  the  river 
to  dash  upon  the  Rebel  lines  and  gain  a  position  nearer  Richmond. 
General  Ord,  commanding  the  eighteenth  corps,  moved  with  his  troops  to 
57 


898  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

Jones's  Neck  on  the  night  of  the  28th  of  September,  crossed  the  river 
and  the  next  morning  advanced  on  the  Kebel  intrenchments  at  Chaffin'a 
or  Chapin's  farm.  These  consisted  of  a  strong  earthwork  known  as  Fort 
Harrison,  and  a  long  intrenched  line  extending  westerly  to  the  river.  The 
fort  mounted  sixteen  pieces  of  artillery,  two  of  them  one  hundred  pound 
ers,  and  one  sixty- four  pounder.  These  works  did  not  form  part  of  the 
defences  proper  of  Richmond,  but  were  covered  by  the  fire  of  Eebel 
fortifications  on  the  other  side  of  the  James,  and  by  the  Rebel  gunboats 
in  the  river.  The  advanced  line,  composed  of  the  brigades  of  Stannard, 
Burnham,  Roberts,  and  Hickman,  moved  steadily  forward  under  the  ter 
rible  artillery  fire  of  the  fort,  and  though  losing  about  eight  hundred  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  swept  over  the  parapet  and  drove  out  the 
garrison,  capturing  fifteen  guns  and  all  the  intrenchments,  as  well  as 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners. 

Simultaneously  with  this,  the  tenth — Birney's — corps,  which  had 
crossed  the  James  at  Deep  Bottom,  moved  toward  New  Market,  carried 
the  Rebel  fortifications  on  New  Market  heights,  the  Rebels  losing  five 
hundred  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  and  advanced  upon  their 
strong  works  on  Laurel  hill,  at  the  junction  of  the  Varina  and  New  Market 
roads,  six  miles  from  Richmond.  This  position,  called  by  them  Fort 
Gillmore,  was  promptly  assaulted,  but  proved  too  powerful  to  be  carried 
with  the  limited  force  which  Birney  commanded,  and  at  night  he  with 
drew  his  troops,  after  having  suffered  a  loss  of  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  men,  and  occupied  his  intrenchments  a  little  distance  south  of  the 
fort,  where  he  was  soon  after  joined  by  the  eighteenth  corps,  and  both 
busied  themselves  in  strengthening  their  position.  Kautz's  cavalry,  which 
had  taken  part  in  the  fighting  of  the  previous  afternoon,  was  also  encamped 
here.  At  about  two  A.  M.,  on  the  30th  of  September,  the  Rebels,  who  had 
been  reinforced  by  Hoke's  division  from  Richmond,  fell  with  great  fury 
upon  Stannard's  brigade.  The  Rebels  deployed  in  three  strong  columns 
at  the  edge  of  the  wood,  and  the  Rebel  iron-clads  in  the  river,  and  their 
batteries  on  the  opposite  side,  having  commenced  a  heavy  artillery  fire 
on  the  Union  line  to  cover  their  approach,  they  charged  with  great  prompt 
itude.  As  they  advanced,  a  well  directed  rolling  musketry  fire  sent  them 
reeling  back  into  the  wood.  Their  officers  rallied  and  reformed  them 
again  and  again,  and  they  charged  upon  the  Union  works  twice  with  great 
resolution.  But  though  they  approached  quite  near,  it  was  only  to  be 
repulsed  with  great  slaughter.  The  Union  troops  had  been  instructed  to 
lower  their  pieces  as  they  fired,  and  as  a  considerable  portion  of  tbem 
were  armed  with  the  Spencer  repeating  rifle,  their  fire  was  both  incessant 
and  murderous.  They  finally  broke  and  fled,  and  the  Union  commander 
succeeded  in  capturing  two  hundred  prisoners,  including  twenty  officers. 
The  entire  loss  of  the  Rebels  in  this  battle  was  over  one  thousand,  while 
that  of  the  Union  forces  was  less  than  two  hundred.  Fort  Harrison  and 


THE  BATTLE  OF  PEEBLES'  FARM.  899 

the  other  positions  captured,  threatened  Richmond  so  strongly  that  Gen 
eral  Grant  determined  to  hold  them,  and  did  so,  although  the  Rebels 
made  several  desperate  efforts  to  dislodge  him.  for  all  which  they  paid 
dearly. 

On  the  morning  of  the  30th  of  September,  General  Meade  sent  Gregg's 
cavalry,  with  two  infantry  brigades,  on  a  reconnoissance  toward  Poplar 
Spring  church,  on  the  right  of  the  enemy,  which  he  had  reason  to  sup 
pose  was  weakened  in  the  effort  to  hurry  support  to  the  left,  and  followed 
it  by  two  divisions  and  a  brigade  of  the  fifth,  and  two  divisions  of  the 
ninth  corps. 

The  cavalry  encountered  Hampton's  cavalry,  and  received  and  repelled 
successfully  his  repeated  charges,  compelling  him  to  retire  discomfited  and 
with  heavy  loss.  Meantime,  the  four  divisions  named  had  marched 
toward  the  Southside  railroad,  and  at  Peebles'  farm,  about  three  miles  south 
of  that  road,  encountered  a  considerable  body  of  the  enemy  in  a  strong 
redoubt  and  intrenchments,  known  as  Fort  McRae,  which  they  carried  by 
assault,  capturing  one  gun  and  about  sixty  prisoners.  The  Rebels  fell 
back  about  half  a  mile  to  stronger  works  on  the  Squirrel  Level  road, 
where  they  were  largely  reinforced,  and  Porter's  division  (ninth  corps), 
attempting  to  carry  this  by  assault,  were  repulsed,  and  the  Rebels  charging 
them  in  turn,  forced  their  way  between  the  fifth  and  ninth  corps  and  cap 
tured  about  nine  hundred  prisoners.  The  Union  troops,  however,  retained 
possession  of  Fort  McRae,  and  defeated  the  efforts  of  the  Rebels  to 
regain  it.  On  Saturday,  October  1st,  the  Rebels  repeated  their  efforts  to 
recapture  this  fort,  but  were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss  at  each  charge.  On 
the  8th  of  October,  the  fifth  and  ninth  corps  pushed  a  reconuoissance  up 
to  the  vicinity  of  the  railroad,  with  but  trifling  loss,  and  then  returned  to 
their  intrenchments. 

We  return  to  the  Union  right,  north  of  the  James.  On  the  1st  of  Oc 
tober,  Generals  Terry  and  Kautz  made  a  reconnoissance  toward  Richmond 
with  two  brigades  of  infantry,  a  considerable  cavalry  force,  and  six  pieces 
of  artillery,  and  penetrated  to  within  two  miles  of  the  city,  meeting  with 
but  slight  resistance.  The  Rebels  were  maddened  at  this,  but  at  the 
moment  all  the  troops  they  could  possibly  spare  were  at  the  right,  fighting 
the  fifth  and  ninth  corps.  As  soon  as  they  could  withdraw  a  portion  of 
them,  they  hurried  back  to  the  north  side  of  the  James,  and  on  the  7th 
of  October  made  a  vigorous  and  partially  successful  effort  to  turn  the 
right  flank  of  the  army  of  the  James.  The  Union  line  was  formed  with 
the  eighteenth  corps  on  the  left,  the  tenth  on  the  centre  and  right,  and 
Kautz's  cavalry  on  the  extreme  right  on  the  Darbytown  road.  The  left 
was  intrenched  at  Battery  or  Fort  Harrison,  about  ten  miles  from  Rich 
mond,  and  the  right  of  the  infantry  was  on  the  Charles'  City  road, 
about  five  miles  in  a  straight  line  from  the  Rebel  capital.  At  early  dawn 
on  the  7th,  the  Rebel  General  Anderson,  with  one  brigade  of  cavalry  and 


900  THE   CIVIL   WAR   IX   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Hoke's  and  Field's  divisions  of  infantry,  advanced  down  the  Darbytown 
and  Charles'  City  roads,  and  attacked  Kautz's  cavalry  with  such  sudden 
ness  and  fury  that  they  broke  and  fled,  losing  their  cannon — six  pieces. 
This  disaster  gave  the  enemy  possession  of  the  Darbytown  road,  and 
pushing  on  in  pursuit,  they  soon  came  upon  the  right-centre,  Terry's 
division  of  the  tenth  corps.  This  corps  held  a  strongly  intrenched  posi 
tion,  its  right  flank,  Terry's  division  being  refused,  and  covering  the  New 
Market  road.  Terry's  troops  were  in  rifle-pits  in  heavy  woods.  The 
ground  on  the  left  of  the  line  was  open,  and  where  the  artillery  was 
posted,  four  six  gun  batteries,  which  swept  not  only  its  own  front,  but 
shelled  the  ground  by  which  the  right  could  be  approached.  Forewarned 
of  the  danger  by  the  stampede  of  the  cavalry,  General  Terry  made  the 
necessary  disposition  of  his  troops  with  great  skill,  and  before  the  enemy 
was  on  him,  was  ready  for  their  coming. 

As  the  enemy  approached  he  was  greeted  with  a  heavy  cross  fire  of 
artillery  from  the  left,  in  answer  to  which  he  got  two  batteries  in  position. 
These,  however,  were  soon  overmatched.  Meanwhile,  Field's  (Kebel) 
division  moved  up  in  good  order  to  assault  Terry's  position,  dashing  over 
the  open  space  at  the  double-quick,  and  succeeded  in  gaining  the  woods 
at  the  Union  right.  But  if  the  open  was  dangerous  from  being  swept  by 
artillery  over  every  foot  of  its  space,  the  woods  were  not  less  so  from  the 
extreme  difficulty  of  penetrating  them,  half-felled  as  they  were,  and  with 
their  thick  boughs  interlacing  at  every  conceivable  angle,  and  locking  in 
with  the  dense  undergrowth  below.  The  Union  infantry  remained  quiet, 
till  their  assailants  were  well  entangled  in  this  impromptu  abatis,  and 
within  very  short  range,  when  all  four  brigades,  rising  from  their  half- 
ambush,  poured  into  them  a  sudden,  destructive,  and  incessant  fire  from 
the  deadly  Spencer  rifle.  After  struggling  vainly  against  the  overwhelm 
ing  tide  of  death,  for  some  time,  the  Kebels  withdrew  in  great  confusion 
along  the  Central  road,  and  General  Terry  with  his  troops  followed  them 
closely.  They  finally  relinquished  the  Central  road,  and  fled  toward 
Richmond  on  the  Charles'  City  road.  The  Union  loss  during  the  day,  in 
cluding  that  of  Kautz's  cavalry,  was  not  more  than  five  hundred  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners,  while  that  of  the  Rebels  considerably  exceeded 
one  thousand.  General  Terry,  who  was  now,  in  consequence  of  General 
Birney's  illness,  in  temporary  command  of  the  tenth  corps,  after  a  few 
days  of  quiet  had  passed,  undertook  a  reconnoissance  in  force  toward 
Richmond,  to  ascertain  the  condition  of  the  enemy V,  lines.  The  move 
ment  commenced  on  the  evening  of  the  12th  of  October,  but  owing  to  the 
darkness  of  the  night,  the  troops  halted  soon  after  moving  out  of  camp. 
At  daybreak  on  the  13th,  they  again  moved  forward,  keeping  to  the  right 
till  they  reached  the  Darbytown  road.  The  cavalry,  arriving  at  the 
Charles'  City  road,  dismounted  and  deployed  as  skirmishers.  Brigadier- 
General  Birney's  division  took  their  position  on  the  left  of  the  Central 


ATTEMPT  TO   REACH  THE  SOUTHSIDE  RAILROAD.  901 

road,  and  Brigadier-General  Ames'  on  the  right,  while  Kautz's  cavalry 
covered  the  extreme  right,  between  the  two  roads.  The  Rebel  videttea 
were  soon  encountered  on  the  Charles'  City  road,  and  driven  back  after  a 
protracted  skirmish,  until  they  reached  the  line  of  their  intrenchments 
two  miles  from  the  Union  position.  These  works  mounted  two  guns  and 
were  connected  by  rifle-pits,  while  the  whole  was  protected  by  a  broad 
slashing.  General  Terry  now  advanced  with  his  infantry,  but  as  soon  as 
*hey  came  into  range,  the  Rebels  opened  upon  them  with  a  sharp  fire, 
which  was  promptly  returned.  The  Union  forces  were  halted,  brought 
into  position,  and  opened  upon  the  enemy  a  rapid  musketry  charge,  which 
was  maintained  for  hours. 

It  being  General  Terry's  object  to  discover  the  length  and  strength  of 
the  enemy's  line,  brigades  were  pushed  out,  at  different  points,  to  recon 
noitre.  They  advanced  to  the  slashings  and  then  withdrew.  Thus,  the 
whole  line  of  intrenchments  was  felt,  without  bringing  on  serious  demon 
strations.  On  the  right,  it  was  thought  that  the  Union  line  overlapped 
the  enemy's  works,  and,  accordingly,  Pond's  brigade  was  ordered  forward 
to  turn  the  enemy's  left.  They  moved  promptly,  but  soon  found  that  the 
Rebel  line  extended  far  beyond  them,  and  they  were  in  a  trap,  where  the 
enfilading  fire  of  the  Rebel  batteries  was  making  fearful  havoc  in  their 
numbers.  They  withdrew  as  quickly  as  possible,  but  steadily  and  in  good 
order.  Encouraged  by  this  success,  the  Rebels  sallied  forth  from  their 
breastworks,  and  made  a  spirited  charge,  with  all  their  available  force ; 
and  for  a  short  time  the  musketry  fire  was  very  sharp.  At  length,  failing 
to  accomplish  their  purpose,  the  Union  lines  remaining  unbroken,  they 
withdrew.  The  Rebel  loss  was  two  hundred  men ;  that  of  the  Union 
troops  four  hundred  and  fourteen. 

Soon  after  Sheridan's  victory  of  Middletown,  and  while  Sherman  was 
pursuing  Hood  into  northern  Alabama,  General  Grant  deemed  the  time 
an  auspicious  one  for  another  blow  upon  Lee's  right;  accompanying  it,  as 
usual,  with  a  demonstration  upon  his  left.  It  was  by  such  blows  only 
that  he  could  hope  to  reach  the  vital  point  of  his  communications,  tha 
Southside  railroad,  and  reduce  him  to  extremities,  until  the  time  when 
Sherman  and  Sheridan,  drawing  their  lines,  the  one  on  the  south  and 
southwest,  the  other  on  the  north  and  northwest,  closely  upon  him,  should 
render  escape  impossible,  and  further  fighting  hopeless. 

The  preparations  for  this  attack  were  more  extensive  and  complete  than 
on  any  previous  attempt.  All  the  sick,  baggage,  and  incumbrances,  com 
missary  stores,  etc.,  were  sent,  with  profound  secrecy,  to  City  Point,  under 
protection  of  the  gunboats.  Three  days'  rations  and  forage  were  issued 
to  the  cavalry,  and  four  days'  rations  to  the  infantry.  The  long  line  of 
intrenchments  was  only  occupied  by  a  sufficient  rear-guard.  The  troops 
north  of  the  James  were  to  make  a  demonstration,  while  those  soutli  of 
that  river  were  to  undertake  a  combined  movement  upon  Hatcher's  run, 

I 
I 


902  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

a  small  stream  or  tributary  of  Rowanty  creek,  which  is  itself  an  affluent 
of  Nottoway  river.  Along  this  run,  and  the  Boydton  plank  road,  and 
other  roads  partly  parallel  and  partly  crossing  it,  the  Rebel  lines  of  defence 
ran ;  by  which  they  protected  the  Southside  railroad  from  attacks  by  the 
Union  troops.  That  road  was  of  vital  importance  to  them,  as  their  prin 
cipal  means  of  communication  with  Wilmington,  Danville,  Lynchburg, 
and  their  other  sources  of  supply.  Obtaining  possession  of  that  road, 
General  Grant  could  compel  the  evacuation  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond 
within  forty-eight  hours.  As  might  be  expected,  the  Rebel  defences  which 
guarded  it  were  of  the  strongest  character.  Whatever  engineering  skill 
could  do,  in  a  wooded  and  marshy  country,  to  make  the  line  impregnable, 
had  been  done ;  and  the  only  weak  point  in  the  defence  was,  that  Lee  was 
beginning  to  fail  in  men  to  maintain  so  long  and  strong  a  line  as  Grant 
was  compelling  him  to  keep  up.  It  was  on  his  knowledge  of  this  weakness 
that  General  Grant  based  his  attack,  at  this  time.  The  first  movement,  in 
point  of  time,  was  the  demonstration  on  the  north  of  the  James,  It  was 
not  successful.  At  dawn  of  day  on  Thursday,  October  27th,  the  tenth 
corps  moved  out  on  the  Darbytown  road,  and  extended  their  lines  across 
in  the  direction  of  Charles'  City  road.  On  reaching  the  hamlet  of  Darby- 
town,  four  and  a  half  miles  from  Richmond,  a  skirmish  line  was  thrown 
forward,  a-nd  a  sharp  encounter  with  the  enemy  took  place.  The  Union 
skirmishers  easily  pushed  the  Rebels  back ;  but  at  length  they  came  upon 
the  Rebel  breastworks,  and  were  checked  by  a  galling  fire.  After  a  little 
delay,  at  mid-day,  all  preparations  having  been  made,  an  advance  along 
the  whole  line  was  ordered,  and  the  Union  soldiers  dashed  upon  the  foe, 
driving  them  inside 'their  intrenchments ;  from  which,  however,  they  con 
tinued  to  keep  up  a  brisk  fire.  The  Union  troops,  with  great  stubborn 
ness,  took  and  held  a  position  well  up  to  the  enemy's  lines,  and  maintained 
a  most  persistent  fusilade  until  nightfall. 

Meanwhile,  the  eighteenth  corps,  accompanied  by  Kautz's  cavalry, 
which  led  the  way,  followed  the  tenth  corps  for  some  distance,  and  then 
turning  north,  moved  toward  the  old  battle  ground  of  "  The  Seven  Pines." 
Thence  a  movement  was  made  up  the  Williamsburg  road,  which  was 
commanded  by  the  enemy's  works.  The  Rebels  had  laid  a  trap  for  the 
Union  force.  Ambushing  both  sides  of  the  road,  they  placed  a  small  force 
in  front,  who  made  but  feeble  resistance  to  the  advance  of  the  Union 
troops,  and  suffered  themselves  to  be  pushed  back  till,  at  the  given  signal, 
on  approaching  closely  to  their  works,  they  opened  a  murderous  cross 
fire,  right  and  left,  which  made  further  progress  impossible.  The  Union 
troops  stood  firm  for  some  time,  but  were  at  length  completely  broken. 
Retreat  was  now  hardly  more  practicable  than  advance,  for  the  Rebel 
artillery  and  musketry  swept  the  whole  ground  over  which  they  must 
pass.  In  this  moment  of  indecision,  the  disaster  was  completed  by  the 
Rebels  sallying  out  of  their  intrenchments  and  capturing  the  greater  part 


THE   BATTLE   OF   HATCHER'S   RUN.  903 

of  the  two  advance  brigades.  The  battery  was  also  obliged  to  withdraw, 
most  of  the  guns  being  disabled.  Having  received  such  indubitable  proof 
that  the  Rebels  were  in  sufficient  strength  there  to  repel  any  invading 
force,  the  troops  were  called  out  of  range,  and  the  next  morning  ordered 
by  General  Grant  to  withdraw  to  their  camps.  The  entire  Union  loss 
in  this  disaster  was  about  fourteen  hundred,  a  large  number  of  them 
prisoners.  The  Rebels  lost  no  prisoners,  and,  as  they  claimed,  less  than 
two  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded. 

The  attack  on  the  left  was  undertaken  by  the  second — Hancock's — 
corps,  aided  by  Gregg's  cavalry;  this  force  was  to  march  round  the 
enemy's  right  flank,  turn  it,  and  seize  the  line  of  defences  on  Hatcher's 
run,  at  the  same  time  that  the  fifth  and  ninth  corps  approached  and 
attacked  these  works  in  front.  The  second  corps,  therefore,  drawing  out 
of  camp  on  Wednesday  evening,  October  26th,  marched  across  to  the 
Church  road ;  and  at  three  and  a  half  A.  M.,  on  Thursday,  reached  the 
Vaughan  road,  along  which  they  moved  to  Hatcher's  run,  and  came  to 
the  crossing  of  that  stream  at  seven  and  a  half  A.  M.  The  crossing  was 
disputed  by  a  small  force,  which  they  dispersed,  and  the  corps  proceeded 
on  the  west  side  of  the  run  to  the  Boydton  plank  road,  which  they  reached 
at  eleven  and  a  quarter  A.  M.  Here  Gregg's  cavalry  came  up  and  joined 
them  on  the  left,  while  Generals  Grant  and  Meade  came  upon  the  field 
about  the  same  time.  Egan's  division  was  then  deployed  on  the  right  of 
the  Boydton  plank  road,  facing  toward  the  bridge  over  Hatcher's  run, 
and  Mott's  on  the  left  of  the  road.  De  Trobriand's  brigade  connected  with 
Gregg's  cavalry,  which  held  the  extreme  left.  One  brigade  was  left  to 
look  after  any  Rebel  troops  which  might  be  in  the  rear.  Rugg's  brigade 
formed  the  advance  of  Egan's  division ;  and  his  skirmishers,  at  the  word 
of  command,  rushed  forward  to  Hatcher's  run,  seized  the  bridge,  and 
crossed  the  creek  The  next  movement  was  to  carry  the  enemy's  works 
beyond  Hatcher's  run.  Egan's  division  was  accordingly  despatched,  with 
Rugg's  brigade  on  the  left,  Price  in  the  centre,  and  Srnyth  on  the  right ; 
with  Beck's  battery  co-operating.  McAllister's  brigade  of  Mott's  division 
was  in  support  of  Egan.  The  fifth  corps  was  now  heard  rapidly  firing 
on  the  right,  and  it  was  expected  that  they  would  sweep  round  and  effect 
a  junction  with  the  second  corps ;  but  owing  to  the  uncertainty  of  the 
roads,  which  in  that  vicinity  form  a  complete  labyrinth,  and  the  very  per 
plexing  character  of  the  country,  they  were  unable  to  do  this,  and  the 
Rebels  were  prompt  to  see  and  seize  their  advantage.  About  four  o'clock 
p.  M.,  as  the  second  corps  were  preparing  to  advance,  Mahone's  division  of 
Hill's  corps  broke  in  with  great  fury  upon  Hancock's  right  flank,  sweeping 
off  one  section  of  Beck's  battery ;  and,  crossing  the  Boydton  plank  road, 
bore  down  upon  Egan's  division.  With  commendable  energy  and  prompt 
ness,  Egan  changed  front  with  his  own  brigades  and  McAllister's,  and  with 
the  aid  of  Beck's,  Roder's,  and  Sleeper's  batteries  (the  last  commanded  by 


904  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Granger),  succeeded,  after  a  prolonged  and  desperate  fight,  in  repulsing 
the  enemy.  In  the  fury  of  Mahone's  first  onset  upon  Smyth's  brigade,  it 
was  driven  back,  several  hundred  prisoners  captured,  and  the  Union  line 
so  disordered  that  the  enemy  obtained  partial  possession  of  the  plank 
road.  A  part  of  these  prisoners  were  recaptured,  by  being  conducted,  by 
mistake,  into  the  lines  of  the  fifth  corps.  Hancock's  prompt  and  skilful 
management,  and  the  firmness  of  Egan's  troops,  soon  arrested  the  disaster 
which  was  threatened.  Egan  now  fell,  in  turn,  upon  Mahone's  flank,  and 
drove  him  back;  Smyth's  and  McAllister's  brigades  distinguishing  them 
selves  by  their  bravery;  while  Mott  promptly  co-operated  with  De 
Trobriand's  brigade.  The  enemy  abandoned  the  guns  he  had  captured, 
and  began  to  retreat;  leaving  behind  him  three  flags  and  five  or  six  hun 
dred  prisoners,  who  had  crossed  the  plank  road.  The  loss  of  the  second 
corps  and  the  cavalry,  in  this  affair,  was  about  nine  hundred  killed  and 
wounded,  and  four  hundred  prisoners.  This  repulse  placed  these  troops 
in  a  precarious  position,  as  the  ammunition  and  rations  were  growing 
scarce ;  though  orders  had  been  given  to  serve  out  a  supply  for  four  days. 
The  rain  fell  in  torrents,  and  the  second  corps  and  the  cavalry  retraced 
their  weary  steps  to  their  camp,  leaving  some  of  their  wounded  on  the 
field. 

The  operations  of  the  fifth  and  ninth  corps,  during  this  time,  may  be 
briefly  summed  up.  They  left  camp  at  daylight  on  the  27th,  and  during 
the  forenoon  got  into  position,  with  the  ninth  on  the  right  and  the  fifth  on 
the  left,  confronting  the  enemy's  works  at  Hatcher's  run.  Here  they  made 
demonstrations,  and  skirmished  sharply  during  the  day ;  returning  to  their 
camps  at  night.  Their  loss  was  about  four  hundred.  The  Rebel  losses 
during  the  day  had  probably  been  not  far  from  one  thousand.  The  whole 
movement,  on  both  sides  of  the  James,  which  had  promised  so  fairly,  had 
proved  a  failure,  and  had  cost  the  Union  army  about  three  thousand  men, 
while  it  had  effected  nothing.  From  this  time  forward  there  was,  for  three 
months,  only  petty  skirmishes  and  occasional  small  encounters  along  the 
lines  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  and  the  army  of  the  James. 

The  sixth  corps  having  returned  from  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah 
to  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  his  losses  in  the  other  corps  being  more 
than  made  good  by  the  large  numbers  of  new  or  re-enlisted  troops  which 
were  pouring  in,  General  Grant  felt  strong  enough  to  undertake  an  enter 
prise  on  which  he  had  ]ong  set  his  heart,  viz :  the  reduction  of  the  Rebel 
forts  at  the  entrance  of  Wilmington  harbor  and  the  sealing  up  of  that  port 
against  blockade  running;  and,  should  circumstances  prove  favorable,  he 
hoped  to  capture  also  the  city  itself,  which  had  long  been  the  chief  mart 
for  supplying  the  Rebel  government  and  army  with  those  goods  which 
neutral  England  was  so  ready  to  furnish  to  the  conspirators  against  our 
national  life.  Cannon,  small  arms,  fixed  ammunition,  powder,  shot, 
shell,  clothing,  shoes,  artillery  harness,  army  saddles,  accoutrements  for 


FIRST   EXPEDITION  AGAINST  FORT  FISHER.  905 

cavalry,  artillery,  and  infantry,  whatever  could  aid  or  encourage  the  Rebels 
in  keeping  up  their  warfare,  was  sent  in  the  greatest  abundance  in  these 
blockade  runners  to  Wilmington,  and  cotton  taken  out  in  return.  True 
nearly  three  out  of  every  five  of  these  vessels  were  captured  or  sunk,  but 
the  profits  of  the  traffic  were  so  enormous  that  even  with  these  losses  it  was 
lucrative.  The  harbor,  thirty-four  miles  in  length,  to  the  city  of  Wilming 
ton,  is  formed  by  the  estuary  of  the  Cape  Fear  river,  which  here  spreads  out 
into  a  broad  bay,  nearly  land-locked  at  its  entrance  by  Smith's  island,  a 
huge  sand  barrier  which  extends  across  its  mouth,  and  leaves  but  two 
comparatively  narrow  channels,  nearly  thirty  miles  apart,  into  the  river. 
The  sand  bars  all  along  the  coast,  and  the  distance  between  these  two 
entrances,  rendered  the  work  of  blockading  the  port  one  of  great  difficulty, 
and  made  a  complete  blockade  impossible.  The  navy  department  had 
long  been  desirous  of  the  capture  of  the  forts  which  guarded  the  entrance? 
into  the  harbor,  but  it  was  a  work  which  could  hardly  be  accomplished 
by  the  navy  alone.  A  land  force  was  necessary  to  attack  when  the 
vigorous  bombardment  of  the  naval  squadron  had  weakened  the  defences 
of  the  forts  and  demoralized  their  garrisons.  About  the  first  of  Novem 
ber,  General  Grant  agreed  to  furnish  the  required  troops  for  the  expedition, 
and  Rear-Admiral  D.  D.  Porter,  in  command  of  the  North  Atlantic  squad 
ron,  began  to  assemble  at  Fortress  Monroe  an  armada,  the  most  powerful 
perhaps,  ever  concentrated  for  the  attack  of  a  single  fortress  or  port.  As  this 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  and  reports  in  relation  to  the  plan  of  ope 
rations,  etc.,  were  circulated  through  the  newspapers,  it  was  deemed  best  to 
postpone  the  expedition  for  a  while  ;  but  General  Grant  having  learned,  on 
the  30th  of  November,  that  General  Bragg  had  gone  to  Georgia,  taking  with 
him  most  of  the  troops  about  Wilmington,  deemed  it  desirable  that  the 
attack  should  be  made  before  his  return,  and  went  with  General  Butler 
to  Fortress  Monroe  to  consult  with  Rear-Admiral  Porter  in  regard  to  the 
number  of  troops  which  would  be  needed.  It  was  decided  that  six 
thousand  five  hundred  would  be  sufficient,  and  that  they  should  be  taken 
from  the  army  of  the  James,  and  General  Weitzel  was  assigned  to  the 
command.  General  Butler,  whose  attention  had  been  directed  to  the 
terrible  effects  then  recently  produced  by  the  explosion  of  a  powder 
magazine  in  the  Erith  marshes  near  London,  in  the  shaking  down  of 
buildings  shattering  glass,  etc.,  at  a  long  distance,  desired  to  have  a  strong 
vessel,  heavily  charged  with  powder,  exploded  as  near  to  Fort  Fisher  as 
possible,  in  the  belief  that  it  would  shake  down  the  walls  of  the  fort  and 
greatly  demoralize  its  garrison;  and  he  was  allowed  to  try  the  experiment. 
On  the  6th  of  December,  General  Grant  addressed  to  General  Butler  the 
following  letter  of  instructions : 

"  CITY  POINT,  YA.,  Dec.  Bth,  1864. 

"  GENERAL  :— The  first  object  of  the  expedition  under  General  Weitzel 
is  to  close  to  the  enemy  the  port  of  Wilmington.     If  successful  in  this 


906  THE    CIVIL  WA      IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 


the  second  will  be  to  capture  Wilmington  itself.  There  are  reasonable 
grounds  to  hope  for  success,  if  advantage  can  be  taken  of  the  absence  of 
the  greater  part  of  the  enemy's  forces  now  looking  after  Sherman  in 
Georgia.  The  directions  you  have  given  for  the  numbers  and  equipment 
of  the  expedition  are  all  right,  except  in  the  unimportant  matter  of  where 
they  embark  and  the  amount  of  intrenching  tools  to  be  taken.  The  object 
of  the  expedition  will  be  gained  by  effecting  a  landing  on  the  main  land 
between  Cape  Fear  river  and  the  Atlantic,  north  of  the  north  entrance 
to  the  river.  Should  such  landing  be  effected  while  the  enemy  still  holds 
Fort  Fisher  and  the  batteries  guarding  the  entrance  to  the  river,  then  the 
troops  should  intrench  themselves,  and,  by  co-operating  with  the  navy, 
effect  the  reduction  and  capture  of  those  places.  These  in  our  hands,  the 
navy  could  enter  the  harbor,  and  the  port  of  Wilmington  would  be  sealed. 
Should  Fort  Fisher  and  the  point  of  land  on  which  it  is  built  fall  into  the 
hands  of  our  troops  immediately  on  landing,  then  it  will  be  worth  the 
attempt  to  capture  Wilmington  by  a  forced  march  and  surprise.  If  time 
is  consumed  in  gaining  the  first  object  of  the  expedition,  the  second  will 
become  a  matter  of  after  consideration. 

"  The  details  for  execution  are  intrusted  to  you  and  the  officer  immedi 
ately  in  command  of  the  troops. 

"  Should  the  troops  under  General  Weitzel  fail  to  effect  a  landing  at  or 
near  Fort  Fisher,  they  will  be  returned  to  the  armies  operating  against 
Kichmond  without  delay. 

"U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-  General 

"MAJOR-GENERAL  B.  F.  BUTLER." 

The  expedition  was  detained  for  several  days  at  Hampton  roads  awaiting 
the  loading  of  the  powder-boat.  It  was  distinctly  understood  by  General 
Grant  that  General  Weitzel  was  to  command  the  expedition,  and  he  was 
not  aware  that  General  Butler  intended  to  go  until  the  evening  before  its 
departure,  and  he  then  supposed  that  he  went  rather  to  witness  the  effects 
of  the  explosion  of  the  powder-boat  than  any  thing  else.  Once  under  way, 
however,  General  Butler  assumed  the  command  of  the  expedition. 

The  expedition  finally  got  off  on  the  13th  of  December,  and  arrived  at 
the  place  of  rendezvous,  off  New  Inlet,  near  Fort  Fisher,  on  the  evening 
of  the  15th.  Admiral  Porter  arrived  on  the  evening  of  the  18th  ;  having 
put  in  at  Beaufort  to  get  ammunition  for  the  monitors.  The  sea  becoming 
rough,  making  it  difficult  to  land  troops,  and  the  supply  of  water  and 
coal  being  about  exhausted,  the  transport  fleet  put  back  to  Beaufort  to 
replenish.  This,  with  the  state  of  the  weather,  delayed  the  return  to  the 
place  of  rendezvous  until  the  24th.  The  powder-boat  was  exploded  on 
the  morning  of  the  24th,  before  the  return  of  General  Butler  from  Beaufort  ; 
but  it  would  seem  from  the  notice  taken  of  it  in  the  Southern  newspapers, 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT   FISHER.  907 

that  the  enemy  were  never  enlightened  as  to  the  object  of  the  explosion 
until  they  were  informed  by  the  northern  press. 

At  daylight  of  the  24th  the  fleet  stood  in,  in  line  of  battle,  and  shortly 
before  noon  took  up  their  positions  according  to  Admiral  Porter's  orders, 
the  iron-clads,  of  which  there  were  four,  the  New  Ironsides  being  one, 
forming  the  first  line,  three  fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  fort,  each  having 
a  gunboat  as  a  tender  within  supporting  distance.  A  quarter  of  a  mile 
behind  the  iron-clads  was  a  line  of  heavy  frigates,  Comprising  the  Minne 
sota,  Colorado,  Wabash,  and  other  vessels  of  that  class,  and  behind  these 
still  another  line  of  vessels,  composed  of  the  larger  gunboats,  the  double- 
enders,  etc.  Each  anchored  intermediate  between  the  vessels  of  the  first 
line.  Another  division,  consisting  chiefly  of  gunboats,  took  positions  to 
the  south  and  southwest  of  the  forts  and  to  the  left  of  the  frigates,  and 
still  another  was  posted  to  the  northward  and  eastward  of  the  iron-clads 
for  the  purpose  of  enfilading  the  fort. 

About  one  o'clock  P.  M.  the  New  Ironsides  opened  fire  against  Fort 
Fisher,  followed  almost  immediately  by  the  monitors ;  and  within  half  an 
hour  the  Minnesota,  followed  soon  after  by  her  consorts  in  the  second 
line,  obtained  the  range  and  commenced  a  steady  bombardment,  in  which, 
a  little  later,  the  third  line  joined,  and  all  maintained  a  rapid,  accurate, 
and  terrible  fire  upon  the  fort. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  25th  (the  bombardment  having  been  continued 
through  this  day  also),  the  transports  arrived  from  Beaufort,  and  three 
thousand  of  the  troops  were  landed,  under  cover  of  the  fire  of  the  fleet, 
five  miles  east  of  the  fort.  A  reconnoissance  was  ordered  at  once,  under 
Brevet  Brigadier-General  Curtis,  General  Weitzel  accompanying  it  in 
person.  It  was  pushed  nearly  up  to  the  fort.  General  Weitzel  reported 
that  the  fort  was  not  seriously  injured,  as  a  defensive  work,  by  the  bom 
bardment,  and  that  it  was  so  strong  that,  under  the  circumstances,  it  would 
be  butchery  to  order  an  assault.  Other  officers  in  the  reconnoissance 
entertained  a  different  opinion ;  but  General  Weitzel  was  an  able  officer 
of  engineers,  of  known  bravery  and  daring,  and  his  view,  which  coincided 
with  that  of  General  Butler,  prevailed,  and  the  men  were  ordered  to  re- 
embark,  without  making  any  effort  to  capture  the  fort.  Bear-Admiral 
Porter  was,  naturally  enough,  greatly  chagrined  at  this  failure,  and  ex 
pressed  himself  in  somewhat  strong  terms  in  regard  to  General  Butler's 
management.  Nor  was  General  Grant  any  better  satisfied.  He  claimed 
that  General  Butler  should  not  have  gone  on  the  expedition,  and  that 
having,  in  opposition  to  his  views,  taken  command  of  it,  he  violated  his 
express  instructions  in  ordering  the  hasty  re-embarkation.  For  these 
reasons  he  requested  the  War  Department  to  relieve  General  Butler  from 
the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  James,  and  to  assign  General  E.  0.  C. 
Ord  to  that  command,  and  his  request  was  complied  with. 

General  Butler  justified  himself  by  claiming  that  it  would  have  been  a 


908  THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

useless  slaughter  of  his  troops  to  have  led  them  against  the  fort  at  that 
time,  and  adduced  the  testimony  of  the  Eebel  General  Whiting,  then  in 
command  of  the  fort,  but  afterward  a  prisoner,  and  mortally  wounded, 
who  stated,  in  the  strongest  terms,  that  at  that  time,  and  with  the  force 
General  Butler  had  at  command,  the  capture  of  the  fort  would  have  been 
impossible,  and  that  the  assailing  force  would  have  been  wholly  cut  to 
pieces  had  they  attempted  it.  The  question  was  one  admitting  of  doubt,  and 
its  discussion  occasioned  much  unpleasant  and  bitter  feeling.  The  com 
mander  of  the  North  Atlantic  blockading  squadron,  Rear- Admiral  Porter, 
was  not,  however,  disposed  to  relinquish  the  struggle.  He  maintained  the 
bombardment  for  some  time  longer,  and  sent  a  despatch  to  General  Grant, 
informing  him  that  he  was  still  off  Fort  Fisher,  and  expressing  the  belief 
that,  under  a  proper  leader,  it  could  yet  be  taken.  General  Grant  an 
swered,  asking  the  Admiral  to  hold  on  and  he  would  send  a  force,  and 
make  another  attempt  to  take  the  place.  This  time  he  selected  brevet 
Major-General  (now  Major-General)  Alfred  H.  Terry,  who,  as  we  have 
seen,  had  been  much  of  the  time  during  the  autumn  in  command  of  the 
tenth  corps,  to  command  the  expedition.  The  troops  composing  the 
expedition  were  the  same  that  had  gone  with  General  Butler,  not  having 
disembarked  after  their  arrival  at  Fortress  Monroe,  with  the  addition  of  a 
small  brigade,  numbering  about  fifteen  hundred  men,  and  a  small  siege 
train.  General  Grant  communicated  to  General  Terry  the  following 
instructions : 

"  CITY  POINT,  YA.,  January  3,  1865. 

11  GENERAL: — The  expedition  intrusted  to  your  command  has  been  fitted 
out  to  renew  the  attempt  to  capture  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  and  Wilmington, 
ultimately,  if  the  fort  falls.  You  will  then  proceed,  with  as  little  delay  as 
possible,  to  the  naval  fleet,  lying  off  Cape  Fear  river,  and  report  the 
arrival  of  yourself  and  command  to  Admiral  D.  D.  Porter,  commanding 
North  Atlantic  blockading  squadron. 

"It  is  exceedingly  desirable  that  the  most  complete  understanding 
should  exist  between  yourself  and  the  naval  commander.  I  suggest, 
therefore,  that  you  consult  with  Admiral  Porter  freely,  and  get  from  him 
the  part  to  be  performed  by  each  branch  of  the  public  service,  so  that 
there  may  be  unity  of  action.  It  would  be  well  to  have  the  whole  pro 
gramme  laid  down  in. writing.  I  have  served  with  Admiral  Porter,  and 
know  that  you  can  rely  on  his  judgment  and  his  nerve  to  undertake  what 
he  proposes.  I  would,  therefore,  defer  to  him  as  much  as  is  consistent 
with  your  own  responsibilities.  The  first  object  to  be  attained  is  to  get  a 
firm  position  on  the  spit  of  land  on  which  Fort  Fisher  is  built,  from  which 
you  can  operate  against  that  fort.  You  want  to  look  to  the  practicability 
of  receiving  your  supplies,  and  to  defending  yourself  against  superior 
forces  sent  against  you  by  any  of  the  avenues  left  open  to  the  enemy.  If 
such  a  position  can  be  obtained,  the  siege  of  Fort  Fisher  will  not  be  aban 


FCRT     ANDERSON 
U  A  RA  N  T I N  E 


THE  SECOND   EXPEDITION   AGAINST  FORT  FISHER.          909 

cloned  until  its  reduction  is  accomplished,  or  another  plan  of  campaign  is 
ordered  from  these  headquarters. 

u  My  own  views  are,  that,  if  you  effect  a  landing,  the  navy  ought  to  run 
a  portion  of  their  fleet  into  Cape  Fear  river,  while  the  balance  of  it  oper 
ates  on  the  outside.  Land  forces  cannot  invest  Fort  Fisher,  or  cut  it  off 
from  supplies  or  reinforcements,  while  the  river  is  in  possession  of  the 
enemy. 

"  A  siege  train  will  be  loaded  on  vessels  and  sent  to  Fortress  Monroe,  in 
readiness  to  be  sent  to  you,  if  required.  All  other  supplies  can  be  drawn 
from  Beaufort  as  you  need  them. 

"Keep  the  fleet  of  vessels  with  you  until  your  position  is  assured. 
When  you  find  they  can  be  spared,  order  them  oack,  or  such  of  them  as 
you  can  spare,  to  Fortress  Monroe,  to  report  for  orders. 

"  In  case  of  failure  to  effect  a  landing,  bring  your  command  back  to 
Beaufort,  and  report  to  these  headquarters  for  further  orders.  You  will 
not  debark  at  Beaufort  until  so  directed. 

''General  Sheridan  has  been  ordered  to  send  a  division  of  troops  to 
Baltimore,  and  place  them  on  sea-going  vessels.  These  troops  will  be 
brought  to  Fortress  Monroe  and  kept  there  on  the  vessels  until  you  are 
heard  from.  Should  you  require  them,  they  will  be  sent  to  you. 

"  U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-  General. 

11  BREVET  MAJOR-GENERAL  A.  H.  TERRY." 

Fort  Fisher,  the  strong  earthwork  against  which  this  second  attack  was 
about  to  be  made,  was  one  of  the  most  formidable  fortifications  on  the 
coast.  It  had  two  faces,  onefc  landward,  across  the  Federal  Point,  four 
hundred  and  eighty  yards  in  length,  twenty -five  feet  thick,  an  average  of 
twenty  feet  in  height,  with  twelve  or  fifteen  traverses  rising  ten  feet  above 
the  parapet  and  running  back  thirty  or  forty  feet  from  the  interior  crest ; 
the  other  front  seaward,  running  at  right  angles  with  the  first,  and  of  equal 
thickness  and  height  with  it,  thirteen  hundred  yards  in  length,  and  par 
allel  with  the  lee  shore  of  the  peninsula.  This  front  was  a  succession  of 
strong  batteries,  from  the  frowning  bastion  at  the  angle  to  the  mound  bat 
tery  at  its  lower  extremity,  and  all  the  batteries  were  connected  by  cur 
tains  and  strong  infantry  parapets.  A  deep  ditch  encircled  the  fort,  and 
on  the  landward  side,  rows  of  palisades ;  while  lines  of  torpedoes,  each 
containing  a  hundred  pounds  or  more  of  powder,  were  sown  thickly  all 
along  the  two  fronts  and  the  approaches,  and  were  connected  with  the  fort 
by  electric  wires.  It  mounted  on  each  front  twenty-four  heavy  guns,  five 
or  six  of  which  had  been  disabled  in  Admiral  Porter's  first  bombardment. 
Above  it,  on  the  north,  were  Flag  Pond  and  Half  Moon  batteries,  each 
mounting  two  guns. 

The  expedition  under  General  Terry  sailed  from  Fortress  Monroe  on 
the  morning  of  the  6th  of  January,  1865,  arriving  on  the  rendezvous  off 


910  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Beaufort,  on  the  8th  where,  owing  to  the  difficulties  of  the  weather,  it  lay 
until  the  morning  of  the  12th,  when  it  got  under  way  and  reached  its  des 
tination  that  evening.  Under  cover  of  the  fleet,  the  disembarkation  of  the 
troops  commenced  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  and  by  three  o'clock  p.  M. 
was  completed  without  loss.  On  the  14th,  a  reconnoissance  was  pushed  to 
within  five  hundred  yards  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  a  small  advance  work  taken 
possession  of  and  turned  into  a  defensive  line  against  any  attempt  that 
might  be  made  from  the  fort.  This  reconnoissance  disclosed  the  fact  that 
the  front  of  the  work  had  been  seriously  injured  by  the  navy  fire,  which 
had  been  maintained  with  great  fury  on  the  13th  and  14th,  and  was  kept 
np  with  increased  vigor  on  the  15th,  from  eleven.  A.  M.  to  half-past  three 
p.  M. 

General  Terry  finding  that  a  considerable  Kebel  force  under  General 
Hoke  had  left  Wilmington,  and  were  intending  to  attack  him  in  rear, 
established  a  strong  intrenched  line  across  the  peninsula,  about  two  miles 
from  the  fort,  strengthened  it  as  much  as  possible,  and  planted  his  siege 
cannon  upon  it  to  defend  his  troops  from  any  assault  in  that  direction,  and 
manned  it  with  Abbott's  brigade.  Then  turning  his  attention  to  the  fort, 
he  came  to  the  decision  that  it  was  better  to  assault  at  once,  while  the 
garrison  were  suffering  from  the  effects  of  the  terrible  bombardment  of 
the  navy,  than  to  attempt  a  siege  in  this  inclement  season.  The  guns  of 
the  fort  had  been  silenced  for  the  time,  and  a  considerable  number  dis 
mounted  or  disabled  by  the  fire  of  the  fleet,  and  the  electric  wires  con 
necting  the  torpedoes  with  the  fort  had  also  been  broken,  though  the 
assailants  were  not  aware  of  this  at  the  time. 

Under  cover  of  the  fire  from  the  ships,  sixteen  hundred  sailors,  armed 
with  cutlasses,  revolvers  and  carbines,  and  four  hundred  marines,  the 
whole  commanded  by  Fleet  Captain  K.  R.  Breese,  were  landed  on  the 
beach,  and  by  digging  zig-zags  and  rifle-pits,  worked  their  way  up  to 
within  two  hundred  yards  of  the  fort.  The  attention  of  the  garrison  was 
occupied  by  these,  and  they  were  preparing  to  beat  off  this  assault,  which 
they  believed  to  be  the  main  one,  while  the  land  forces  were  creeping  up 
in  their  rear,  on  the  landward  front  of  the  fort.  At  half-past  three  the 
signal  was  made  to  the  fleet  to  change  the  direction  of  the  fire,  that  the 
troops  might  assault,  and  at  the  word  of  command  the  sailors  rushed  furi 
ously  toward  the  parapet  of  the  fort,  which  was  soon  manned  with  Rebel 
soldiers,  who  met  them  with  a  murderous  fire  of  musketry.  The  marines, 
for  some  cause,  failed  to  perform  their  duty  of  covering  the  assaulting 
party,  and  the  sailors,  after  a  gallant  struggle,  were  forced  back  and 
retreated  to  the  shore.  But  though  unsuccessful  in  their  direct  assault, 
they  had  contributed  largely  to  the  success  of  the  land  forces.  The  Rebels, 
glowing  with  triumph  at  having  beaten  off  their  invaders,  turned  about 
to  find  the  parapet  already  surmounted  by  the  land  forces,  who  were 
steadily  pushing  them  back  from  one  traverse  to  another.  The  fighting 


SKETCH  OP  GENERAL  TERRY.  911 

which  followed  was  desperate  in  the  extreme,  and  much  of  it  hand  to 
hand.  No  artillery  could  be  used,  and,  indeed,  the  Rebel  guns  were  mostly 
dismounted.  An  hour  and  a  half  of  this  terrible  conflict  had  passed 
and  nine  of  the  traverses  had  been  carried  by  hard  fighting,  but  the  brig 
adier-generals  in  command  were  all  wounded,  and  the  men  were  becoming 
sorely  wearied,  when  General  Terry,  having  obtained  from  Admiral  Porter 
permission  to  use  the  sailors  and  marines,  who  were  still  on  the  shore,  to 
man  his  rear  defensive  line,  brought  up  Abbott's  brigade  of  fresh  troops 
to  reinforce  the  assaulting  column.  With  their  aid  the  fight  was  renewed 
with  unceasing  fury,  and  at  about  ten  P.  M.  the  Rebels  were  driven  from 
their  last  traverse,  and  falling  back  to  Federal  Point,  surrendered  about 
midnight  unconditionally.  The  garrison  numbered  originally  about  two 
thousand  three  hundred  men.  Of  these,  two  thousand  and  eighty-three, 
including  one  hundred  and  twelve  officers,  surrendered,  the  remainder 
were  killed  or  severely  wounded.  The  Union  loss  was,  in  the  army, 
one  hundred  and  ten  killed,  and  five  hundred  and  thirty-six  wounded ; 
and  in  the  navy,  three  hundred  and  nine  killed  and  wounded.  The  next 
morning,  by  an  explosion  of  one  of  the  magazines  of  Fort  Fisher,  about 
one  hundred  and  eighty  soldiers  and  sailors  were  killed  or  severely 
wounded.  On  the  16th  and  17th  the  enemy  abandoned  and  blew  up 
Fort  Caldwell,  and  the  works  on  Smith's  island,  which  were  immediately 
occupied  by  the  Union  troops.  This  gave  the  Union  authorities  the  entire 
control  of  the  mouth  of  Cape  Fear  river,  and  a  considerable  number  of 
blockade-runners,  unaware  of  the  change  of  owners  of  the  fort,  ran  in  and 
were  made  prizes.  Thus  was  secured,  by  the  combined  efforts  of  the 
army  and  navy,  one  of  the  most  important  successes  of  the  war. 

Major-General  Alfred  Howe  Terry,  the  successful  leader  of  the  land 
forces  in  this  expedition,  was  born  in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  November 
10th,  1827.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College,  studied  law,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  New  Haven  bar  in  1848.  He  speedily  took  a  high  position  in  his 
profession,  though  manifesting  a  strong  taste  for  military  studies,  and  had, 
during  the  Crimean  and' Italian  campaigns,  made  himself  master  of  the 
theory  of  military  movements.  In  1854,  he  "had  been  chosen  colonel  of 
the  second  Connecticut  regular  militia.  In  April,  1861,  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  war,  he  was  commissioned,  by  Governor  Buckingham,  colonel  of  the 
second  regiment  Connecticut  volunteers.  His  regiment  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  but  was  one  of  the  few  which  did  not  run.  Return 
ing  home  after  the  three  months'  campaign,  he  was  commissioned  colonel 
of  the  seventh  Connecticut  volunteers ;  took  part  in  the  reduction  of  Port 
Royal  and  the  capture  of  Fort  Pulaski ;  was  made  brigadier-general  of 
volunteers  April  25,  1862.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Pocotaligo,  in  June, 
1863  ;  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Wagner  and  Sumter,  July,  August,  and 
September,  1863,  and  by  a  feint  on  James  island,  on  July  10th,  drew  the 
attention  of  the  Rebels  from  Morris  island.  In  May,  1864,  he  joined  the 


.912  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

army  of  the  James ;  fought,  as  we  have  seen,  in  the  battles  of  Deep  Bun, 
Richmond  Central  railroad,  etc.  He  was  twice  for  several  months  in 
command  of  the  tenth  army  corps,  and  after  its  consolidation  with  the 
eighteenth,  as  the  twenty -fourth  corps,  commanded  the  first  division.  He 
was  bre vetted  major-general  in  July,  1864,  and,  as  we  have  seen,  was 
selected  by  General  Grant  to.  lead  the  second  assault  on  Fort  Fisher.  He 
subsequently,  reinforced  by  Schofield,  moved  upon  Wilmington,  which 
was  captured  February  22d,  1865.  Thence  he  marched  to  Goldsboro  to 
join  Sherman.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  appointed  to  command 
the  Department  of  Virginia,  having  been  promoted  to  be  major-general 
of  volunteers  for  his  gallantry  at  Fort  Fisher,  and  soon  after  made  briga 
dier-general,  and  brevet  major-general,  in  the  regular  army. 

Bear-Admiral  David  D.  Porter,  whose  management  of  his  squadron  and 
protracted  bombardment  of  Fort  Fisher  contributed  so  largely  to  its  over 
throw,  was  born  in  Philadelphia  about  1814;  he  was  instructed  at  the 
naval  school  at  Annapolis ;  entered  the  navy  as  a  midshipman  February 
2d,  1829;  cruised  in  the  Mediterranean  for  se\eral  years;  was  rated  as 
passed-rnidshipman  July  3d,  1835  ;  and  was  for  some  years  connected  with 
the  coast  survey.  Promoted  to  be  lieutenant,  February  27th,  1841,  he  was 
ordered  to  the  Mediterranean,  and  afterward  to  the  Brazil  squadron.  He 
was  assigned  to  duty  at  the  Washington  Observatory  in  1845 ;  took  part 
in  the  capture  of  Vera  Cruz  in  1847 ;  was  next  ordered  to  the  naval 
rendezvous  at  New  Orleans ;  and  thence  again  to  the  coast  survey.  From 
1847  to  1853,  he  commanded  the  United  States  mail  steamers  Panama 
and  Georgia;  in  1855  he  was  made  lieutenant-commander,  and  was  first 
in  command  of  the  storeship  Supply,  and  afterward  on  duty  at  Ports 
mouth  navy  yard.  In  1861  he  became  commander,  and  was  assigned  to 
the  Powhatan,  on  the  West  Gulf  blockading  squadron.  In  April,  1862,  he 
commanded  the  mortar  fleet  below  New  Orleans.  He  was  made  acting  rear- 
admiral,  and  placed  in  command  of  the  upper  Mississippi  squadron,  Octo 
ber  22d,  1862.  He  co-operated  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  sending  portions 
of  his  squadron  up  the  rivers  tributary  to  the  Mississippi,  attacking  and 
running  past  the  Yicksburg  batteries,  bombarding  Grand  Gulf,  Haines's 
bluff,  etc.  He  was  commissioned  rear-admiral  July  4th,  1863.  For  some 
months  following  the  fall  of  Yicksburg  he  patroled  the  Mississippi  with  his 
fleet,  and  in  May,  1864,  took  part  in  the  disastrous  Bed  river  expedition.  On 
the  1st  of  November,  1864,  he  was  transferred  to  the  North  Atlantic 
squadron,  where  he  planned  and  executed  the  naval  portion  of  the  two 
attacks  on  Fort  Fisher,  and  subsequently  aided  in  the  reduction  of  Wil 
mington.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of 
the  naval  academy  at  Annapolis. 


SHERMAN'S  GRAND  MARCH   THROUGH  THE   CAROLINAS.     013 


CHAPTER   LXX. 

THE  GOLDSBORO  CAMPAIGN — SHERMAN  DETERMINES  TO  MARCH  THROUGH  THE  CAROLINV8 
THE  DIFFICULTIES  TO  BE  ENCOUNTERED — MOVEMENT  OF  THE  FIFTEENTH  AND  SEVEN 
TEENTH  CORPS  TO  HILTON  HEAD — CAPTURE  OF  POJjjOTALIGO  BRIDGE,  AND  THE  CHARLES 
TON  AND  SAVANNAH  RAILROAD — MOVEMENT  OF  THE  LEFT  WING  TO  PUREYSBURG  AND 

SISTER'S  FERRY — DELAYED    BY  FLOODS— TROVER'S    DIVISION    GARRISONS    SAVANNAH — 

GENERAL     SHERMAN'S      ARRANGEMENTS     FOR     SUPPLIES     TO     BE     SENT     TO     GOLDSBORO . 

j  ' 

SAVANNAH  AND  ITS  DEFENCES  TRANSFERRED  TO  MAJOR-GENERAL  FOSTER — THE  REBELS 
ADOPT  THE  8ALKAHATCHIE  AS  THEIR  DEFENSIVE  LINE — SHERMAN,  BY  A  FEINT  OX 
COMBAHEE  FERRY,  KEEPS  THEM  FROM  INTERFERING  WITH  HIS  ROUTE — MOVEMENTS  OF 

THE   ARMY  OF  THE  TENNESSEE — SLOW  PROGRESS  OF  THE  LEFT  WIN'S CROSSING  THE 

SALKAHATCHIE THE  DEMONSTRATION  AGAINST  AUGUSTA — THE  ADVANCE  UPON  ORAXGK- 

BURG APPROACHING    THE  TOWN EVACUATION   OF  CHARLESTON — THE   APPROACH  TC 

COLUMBIA — SURRENDER  OF  THE  CITY DESTRUCTIVE  FIRE — THE  ADVANCE  TO  WINNS- 

BORO— ^DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  RAILROAD KILPATRICK's  MOVEMENTS — THE   SPECULATIONS 

OF  THE  REBELS  AS  TO  SHERMAN'S  OBJECTIVE THEY  COMPEL  DAVIS  TO  GIVE  JOHNSTON 

THE  COMMAND  OF  THEIR  ARMIES  IN  NORTH  AND  SOUTH  CAROLINA — CHARLOTTE  OR 
GOLDSBORO?  WHICH? — CROSSING  THE  WATEREE — THE  APPROACH  TO,  AND  CAPTURE  OF, 
CHERAW ADVANCE  ON  FAYETTEVILLE,  N.  C. HARDEE  ABANDONS  IT — CAVALRY  MOVE 
MENTS — THE  BATTLE  OF  SOLOMON'S  GROVE KILPATRICK  SURPRISED,  BUT  RALLIES  AND 

DEFEATS  THE  ENEMY SHERMAN'S  MESSAGES  TO  WILMINGTON  AND  NEWBERN SHERMAN'S 

,          LETTER  TO  THE  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL — HIS  CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  WHEELER  AND  WADE 

HAMPTON PUSILLANIMITY  AND  COWARDICE  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA — THE  HORRORS  OF  WAR 

DEALT  OUT  TO  HER  IN  FULL  MEASURE — NORTH  CAROLINA  SPARED THE  LAST  STAGE  OF 

THE  CAMPAIGN CROSSING  THE  CAPE  FEAR  RIVER THE  CONCENTRATION  OF  THE  REBEL 

FORCES — HARDEE'S   ATTACK   ON   THE   LEFT  WING   AT  AVERYSBORO — ITS    OBJECT — THB 

BATTLE  OF  AVERYSBORO ADVANCE  TOWARD  GOLDSBORO — THE  BATTLE   OF  BENTONVILLK 

THE  ADVANCE   TO    GOLDSBORO — MOVEMENTS   OP    SCHOFIELD    AND   TERRY — MOWKIl's 

DARING  FLANK  MOVEMENT — GOLDSBORO  REACHED,  AND  THE  ARMY  RESTING  AND  RECEIV 
ING  SUPPLIES — GENERAL  SHERMAN  VISITS  GENERAL  GRANT'S  HEADQUARTERS — GENERAL 
SHERMAN'S  SUMMING  UP  OF  RESULTS. 

GENERAL  SHERMAN  had  scarcely  taken  possession  of  Savannah,  before, 
his  active  mind  was  again  employed  in  planning  another  important  move 
ment  of  the  most  vital  importance  to  the  national  cause.  Hood's  army 
being  now  completely  broken  up,  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  fully  con 
trolled  by  the  Federal  authority,  and  no  considerable  Rebel  force— except 
Lee's  army  in  Virginia — remaining  in  the  southern  Atlantic. States,  the 
field  of  operations  was  virtually  reduced  to  three  States.  In  his  own 
mind,  therefore,  General  Sherman  had  decided — and  the  plan  met  with 
General  Grant's  approval — to  sweep,  with  bis  powerful  army,  through  the 
two  Carolinas,  without  halting  or  seeking  a  base,  from  Savannah  to  GolJs- 
boro,  and  at  that  point  to  open  communication  with  the  sea  by  the  New- 
bern  railroad.  Thus,  crippling  and  rendering  useless  the  coast  seaports, 
58 


914  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

by  the  destruction  of  interior  lines  of  railroads,  lie  aimed  to  reach  the 
theatre  of  war  in  Virginia  by  the  time  the  season  would  admit  of  active 
operations  in  that  quarter.  If  successful  in  this,  he  knew  that  the  con-* 
centration  of  his  own  army  with  that  of  General  Grant,  before  the  Rebel 
capital,  would  speedily  compel  the  capitulation  of  Lee's  forces,  and,  con 
sequently,  the  entire  collapse  of  the  Rebellion.  The  plan  was  a  masterly 
one,  yet  attended  with  risks  not  disproportionate  to  the  prize  which  it 
offered.  He  would  be  obliged  again  to  cut  loose  from  his  base,  and  enter 
upon  a  march  of  nearly  five  hundred  miles,  through  a  country  intersected 
by  numerous  wide  rivers,  whose  sedgy,  oozy  banks  were  lined  for  miles 
with  dismal  and  impassable  swamps,  over  which  roads  and  causeways  must 
be  built ;  his  troops,  in  many  cases,  dislodging  and  fighting  the  enemy  as 
they  moved.  The  Rebel  forces,  although  scattered,  were  stronger,  both  in 
numbers  and  condition,  than  the  Georgia  militia  whom  they  had  encoun 
tered  in  the  previous  campaign;  and,  under  the  command  of  General 
Johnston,  who  it  was  understood  was  again  to  be  put  in  command,  would 
be  able  to  concentrate  rapidly,  and  throw  serious  obstacles  in  the  way  of 
Sherman's  advance,  as  his  men  toiled  tediously  through  the  mv'rasses. 
But  the  conqueror  of  Atlanta,  and  the  leader  of  the  "  march  to  the  sea," 
was  not  the  man  to  be  easily  deterred  from  the  execution  of  any  plan 
which  promised  destruction  to  the  Rebellion — especially  if  it  gave  him  the 
opportunity  to  be  "  in  at  the  death."  So  his  preparations  went  rapidly, 
yet  quietly  forward.  His  first  movement  was  to  send  the  right  wing  of 
his  army,  cofnmanded  by  General  Howard,  and  comprising  Logan's 
— fifteenth  —  corps,  and  Blair's — seventeenth — corps,  by  transports  to 
Beaufort,  near  Hilton  Head,  S.  C.  The  object  of  this  movement  was  to 
secure  the  important  railroad  bridge  on  the  Savannah  and  Charleston 
railroad,  at  Pocotaligo,  about  forty-nine  miles  from  the  former,  and  fifty- 
five  miles  from  the  latter  city.  This  bridge,  which,  with  the  trestle-work 
in  the  swamp,  was  a  mile  in  length,  was  a  most  important  point  in 
the  communication  between  the  two  cities,  which  the  Union  commanders 
of  operations  in  that  department  had  frequently  endeavored  to  destroy,  but 
without  success.  On  the  13th  of  January,  General  Hatch's  division  moved 
out  from  Beaufort,  and  took  position  near  the  bridge,  with  their  cannon 
commanding  the  railroad  ;  and  the  seventeenth  corps,  crossing  on  pontoons 
at  Port  Royal  ferry,  rapidly  approached  the  railroad,  and  scattered  the 
Rebel  pickets.  On  the  15th,  the  seventeenth  corps  and  General  Hatch's 
division  advanced,  and  gained  the  railroad  a  little  south  of  the  bridge, 
driving  off  the  enemy's  skirmishers,  who  were  supported  by  light  artillery 
The  bridge  thus  gained,  as  well  as  the  earthwork  defences  at  its  further 
end,  was  promptly  carried  by  the  seventeenth  corps,  with  a  rapidity  which 
defeated  the  enemy's  attempt  to  set  it  on  fire,  and  with  a  loss  of  only  fifty 
men.  The  rebel  force  were  completely  driven  off,  and  the  gallant  seven- 
tecQth  occupied  the  railroad  from  Coosawhatchie  to  the  Tallahatchie ;  a 


THK    IHITHTLTIKS   TO    UK    ENCOUNTERED.  915 

depot  of  supplies  being  established  near  the  mouth  of  Pocotaligo  creek, 
with  convenient  communication,  by  water,  to  Hilton  Head. 

Simultaneously  with  this  movement,  the  left  wing,  under  General 
Slocum,  and  General  Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  received  orders  to  rendezvous 
near  Robertsville  and  Coosawhatchie,  S.  C.,  and  establish  a  dSpot  of  sup 
plies  at  Pureysburg,  or  Sister's  ferry,  on  the  Savannah  river.  In  order  to 
carry  out  these  orders,  Slocum  repaired  and  "  corduroyed "  the  "  Union 
causeway"  leading  through  the  low  rice  fields  opposite  Savannah,  and 
also  constructed  a  good  pontoon  bridge  opposite  the  city.  But  before  the 
time  appointed  for  him  to  march,  the  January  rains  had  swollen  the  river, 
broken  up  the  pontoon  bridge,  and,  overflowing  the  whole  "  bottom,"  so 
that  the  causeway  was  four  feet  under  water,  compelled  him  to  seek  a  pas 
sage  over  the  Savannah  at  some  point  higher  up.  He,  therefore,  moved 
up  to  Sister's  ferry ;  but  even  there,  the  river,  with  its  overflowed  bottoms, 
was  nearly  three  miles  wide;  so  that  he  did  not  succeed  in  getting  his 
whole  army  across  until  the  first  week  in  February. 

Meanwhile,  Savannah  was  garrisoned  by  Grover's  division  of  the  nine 
teenth  corps,  from  Sheridan's  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  the  troops 
previously  serving  in  the  Department  of  the  South  were  placed  under 
command  of  Major-General  Foster — thus  leaving  to  Sherman,  for  his  ex 
pedition,  the  entire  army  with  which  he  had  made  the  Georgia  campaign. 
The  twenty-third  corps,  Major-General  Schofield  commanding,  was,  as  we 
have  seen,  also  transferred  from  Tennessee  to  the  reinforcement  oft Generals 
Terry  and  Palmer,  then  operating  on  the  North  Carolina  coast,  to  prepare 
the  way  for  General  Sherman's  advance.  That  general,  in  order  that  no 
time  might  be  lost  in  opening  communication  with  the  sea,  on  his  arrival 
at  Goldsboro,  had  also  ordered  Colonel  W.  W.  Wright,  superintendent 
of  military  railroads,  to  proceed  to  Newbern,  North  Carolina,  in  advance, 
and  be  fully  prepared  to  extend  the  railroad  from  that  place  to  Goldsboro 
by  the  15th  of  March.  At  the  same  time,  the  chief  quartermaster, 
and  the  commissary  were  directed  to  fill  the  depots  of  supplies  at  Sister's 
ferry  and  Pocotaligo,  and  follow  his  movements  coastwise,  with  a  view 
of  forwarding  supplies  to  him  at  Goldsboro,  by  March  loth,  via  More- 
head  City,  North  Carolina. 

All  these  preparations  having  been  made,  and  the  different  movements 
in  successful  progress,  General  Sherman,  on  the  18th  of  January,  trans 
ferred  the  city  of  Savannah  and  its  defences  to  Major-General  Foster, 
commanding  the  Department  of  the  South,  at  the  same  time  imparting  to 
him  his  plans  of  the  campaign,  with  instructions  to  follow  the  inland 
movements  of  the  army,  by  such  demonstrations  as  should  secure  to  the 
Union  arms  the  possession  of  Charleston  and  other  points  of  military 
value  along  the  seacoast.  The  capture,  by  the  combined  naval  and  land 
forces  under  Admiral  Porter  and  General  Terry,  of  Fort  Fisher  and  the 
Rebel  defences  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  river  only  four  days  before, 


916  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

gave  an  additional  feeling  of  security  to  General  Sherman  as,  on  the 
19th,  he  gave  the  final  order  for  a  general  advance.  The  campaign  was 
now  fairly  opened,  and  Sherman,  on  the  the  22d,  embarked  for  Hilton 
Head,  where  he  held  a  conference  with  Admiral  Dahlgren,  U.  S.  N., 
and  Major-General  Foster,  and  thence  proceeded  to  Beaufort,  from  whence, 
on  the  24th,  he  rode  out  to  Pocotaligo,  to  the  encampment  of  Blair's 
seventeenth  corps.  The  fifteenth  corps  was  somewhat  scattered;  two 
divisions  being  at  Beaufort;  another  on  the  march,  coastwise,  from 
Savannah  ;  and  a  fourth  still- at  that  city,  storm  and  freshet  bound.  The 
enemy  evidently  supposed  Charleston  to  be  the  objective  at  which  the 
Union  army  was  aiming,  and  under  this  impression  had  adopted  the 
Salkahatchie  as  a  defensive  line.  Sherman  personally  reconnoitered  the 
line,  and  saw,  that  in  consequence  of  the  heavy  rains,  the  river  had  become 
so  swollen  that  the  swamps,  for  a  breadth  of  over  a  mile,  were  under  water 
to  a  depth  of  from  one  to  twenty  feet.  As  he  had  not  the  slightest  inten 
tion  of  approaching  Charleston,  he  contented  himself  with  making  a 
demonstration  against  the  Combahee  ferry  and  railroad  bridge  across  the 
river;  and  by  the  exhibition  of  a  comparatively  small  force,  in  seeming 
preparations  to  cross  over,  he  kept  in  his  front  a  large  force  of  the 
Rebels  disposed  to  contest  his  advance  on  the  city.  On  the  27th,  General 
Hatch's  division,  on  the  Tullafinney  and  Coosawhatchie  rivers,  broke 
up  camp  and  moved  to  Pocotaligo,  with  the  purpose  of  keeping  up  the 
feints  already  began,  so  that  the  right  wing  could  move  higher  up  and 
cross  the  Salkahatchie  near  Rivers'  or  Braxton's  bridge.  By  the 
29th,  the  subsidence  of  the  flood  permitted  General  Slocum  to  put  his 
wing  in  motion,  and  as  he  approached  Sister's  ferry,  the  gunboat  Pontioc 
was  sent  up  to  cover  the  crossing.  In  the  meantime,  three  divisions  of 
the  fifteenth  corps  had  closed  up  at  Pocotaligo,  and  the  right  wing  was 
in  readiness  for  the  advance.  General  Howard,  with  the  seventeenth 
corps,  now  (February  1st)  moved  up  the  Salkahatchie  to  Rivers'  bridge, 
while  the  fifteenth  corps  marched  by  Hickory  hill,  Loper's  cross-roads, 
Anglesey  post  office,  and  Beaufort  bridge,  leaving  General  Hatch's  divi 
sion  still  at  Pocotaligo,  demonstrating  against  the  Salkahatchie  railroad 
bridge  and  ferry,  until  the  movement  of  the  Union  army  should  turn  the 
enemy's  position  and  force  him  to  fall  behind  the  Edisto.  The  road 
northward,  on  which  Sherman  was  now  moving  his  army,  had  been  hel  I 
for  several:  weeks  previously,  by  Wheeler's  cavalry,  who  had  diligently 
improved  the  time  to  fell  trees,  burn  bridges,  and  prepare  all  possible 
obstructions  to  impede  the  progress  of  our  troops.  But  so  well  organized 
was  Sherman's  pioneer  corps — enlarged,  before  leaving  Savannah,  by  the 
addition  of  some  thousands  of  intelligent  and  able-bodied  negroes — that 
under  the  direction  of  the  efficient  engineer-in-chief,  bridges  were  rebuilt 
and  obstructions  removed  with  a  rapidity  which  scarcely  delayed  the  advance 
of  the  army  a  single  day.  Meanwhile,  General  Slocum,  still  harassed 


CROSSING   THE   SALKAHATCUIE.  917 

by  the  high  water  in  the  Savannah  river,  had  only  crossed  two  divisions 
of  the  twentieth  corps — General  Williams — and  Kilpatrick's  cavalry, 
over  to  the  east  bank.  Williams  was  sent,  by  Sherman's  order,  to  Beau 
fort  bridge  via  Lawtonville  and  Allandale ;  and  Kilpatrick  to  Blackville 
via  Barn  well.  General  Slocum  was  urged  to  hasten  his  crossing  as  fast 
as  possible,  and  overtake  the  right  wing  on  the  South  Carolina  railroad. 
General  Howard,  with  the  right  wing,  was  also  ordered  to  cross  the 
Saikahatchie,  and  strike  the  same  road  near  Midway.  The  line  of  the 
Salkahatohie  was  held  by  the  enemy  in  force,  their  infantry  and  artillery 
being  intrenched  at  Eivers'  and  Beaufort  bridges.  The  former  position 
was  carried,  on  the  3d  of  February,  by  Mower's  and  Giles  A.  Smith's 
divisions  of  the  seventeenth  corps.  The  swamp  here  was  nearly  three 
miles  wide,  with  water  ranging  from  knee  to  shoulder  deep,  and  the 
weather  was  bitterly  cold.  Disregarding,  -however,  these  circumstances, 
Generals  Mower  and  Smith  gallantly  led  their  divisions  in  person,  on  foot, 
waded  the  swamp  under  a  heavy  fire,  effected  a  lodgment  below  the  bridge 
and  drove  the  Rebel  brigade  which  guarded  it  in  confusion  toward 
Branch ville,  with  a  loss  of  only  one  officer  and  seventeen  men  killed,  and 
seventy  wounded.  Beaufort  bridge,  strong  both  in  its  natural  position 
and  artificial  defences,  was  evacuated  by  the  enemy  immediately  upon  the 
successful  crossing  of  the  Union  troops  at  Eivers'  bridge ;  and  the  line  of 
the  Saikahatchie  being  thus  broken  the  enemy  at  once  retreated  behind 
the  Edisto,  at  Branchville.  The  Union  army  now  held  the  peninsula 
formed  by  the  Saikahatchie  and  Edisto  rivers,  and  had  the  choice  of 
moving  on  Augusta,  Branchville  and  Charleston.  Sherman,  however,  at 
once  pushed  the  whole  army  to  the  South  Carolina  railroad  at  Midway, 
Bamberg  (or  Lowry's  station),  and  Graham's  station.  The  enemy,  fright 
ened  by  a  demonstration  made  by  the  seventeenth  corps  against  Branch 
ville,  burned  the  railroad  bridge,  and  Walker's  bridge  across  the  Edisto ; 
and  from  the  7th  to  the  10th  of  February,  the  seventeenth  corps  de 
voted  its  whole  energies  to  the  destruction  of  the  railroad  track  from  the 
Edisto  up  to  Bamberg;  the  fifteenth  corps  attending  to  that  portion 
between  Bamberg  and  'Blackville.  General  Kilpatrick,  by  this  time,  had 
brought  up  his  cavalry  to  Blackville,  and  turning  toward  Aiken,  demon 
strated  against  Augusta,  skilfully  avoiding  any  regular  battle,  although 
he  skirmished  heavily  with  Wheeler's  cavalry  at  Blackville,  Williston, 
and  Aiken.  On  the  8th,  two  divisions  of  Williams — twentieth — corps, 
reached  Graham's  station  on  the  South  Carolina  railroad,  and  General 
Slocum  arrived  at  Blackville  on  the  10th ;  while  the  destruction  of  the 
railroad  was  continued  from  that  point  up  to  Windsor.  •  By  the  llth, 
the  entire  army  occupied  the  railroad  from  Midway  to  Johnson's  station, 
thus  dividing  the  enemy's  forces,  part  of  which  were  at  Branchville  and 
Charleston  on  the  one  side,  and  part  at  Aiken  and  Augusta  on  the  other. 
The  army  was  marching  north  and  east,  demonstrating  upon  Charleston 


918  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

and  Augusta,  but  really  aiming  at  Columbia,  the  capital  of  the  truculent 
State  of  South  Carolina.  Meanwhile,  the  citizens  of  the  two  former  cities 
were  in  an  agony  of  fear  and  suspense  ;  their  newspapers  filled  with  frantic 
appeals  for  resistance  to  the  invader,  and  their  minds  and  hands  occupied 
with  every  possible  plan  and  preparation  for  defence.  The  first  step  in 
the  campaign  was  now  an  accomplished  fact.  It  had  been  accomplished 
with  little  use  of  cavalry,  and  with  less  than  half  our  infantry ;  and,  better 
than  all,  with  but  slight  loss  of  life. 

Now  commenced  the  movement  on  Orangeburg,  a  town  of  some  three 
thousand  inhabitants,  situated  upon  the  north  bank  of  the  Edisto  river, 
thirteen  miles  from  B ranch ville.  At  this  point  the  state  road,  between 
Charleston  and  Columbia,  intersects  with  the  railroad  between  that  place 
and  Branch  ville ;  and  Orangeburg,  from  its  position  upon  the  ridge  of 
high  lands  on  which  the  railroad  runs,  really  possessed  more  importance 
than  Branch  ville,  which  the  enemy  had  most  carefully  fortified. 

Sherman  marched  with  the  right  wing,  the  seventeenth  corps  crossing 
the  south  fork  of  the  Edisto  at  Binnaker's  bridge,  and  moving  directly  on 
Orangeburg;  while  the  fifteenth  crossed  at  Holman's,  and  proceeded  to 
Poplar  Springs,  to  act  as  a  support.  The  left  wing  and  cavalry,  still 
engaged  on  the  railroad,  had  orders  to  cross  the  same  stream  at  New  and 
Guignard's  bridges,  and  take  position  on  the  Orangeburg  and  Edgefield 
road,  in  readiness  to  support  the  right  wing.  On  the  12th  of  February, 
the  seventeenth  corps  skirmished  heavily  with  the  enemy,  who  were  found 
intrenched  in  force  in  front  of  the  Orangeburg  bridge,  on  the  north  fork 
of  the  Edisto,  and  finally  swept  them  away  by  a  dash,  pressing  them 
across  the  bridge,  which  was  partially  burned.  Behind  the  bridge  was  a 
battery  in  position,  covered  by  a  cotton  and  earth  parapet,  with  wings  as 
far  as  could  be  seen.  General  Blair  now  pressed  Giles  A.  Smith's  division 
closely  up  to  the  Edisto,  at  the  same  time  moving  the  other  two  divisions 
to  a  point  about  two  miles  below,  where  he  crossed  Force's  division  by  a 
pontoon  bridge,  holding  Mower's  in  support.  As  Force's  column  emerged 
from  the  swamp,  the  enemy  fell  back,  and  Smith's  division  gained  and 
crossed  the  bridge,  and  held  the  parapet.  Tfie  bridge  was  speedily 
repaired,  and  by  four  o'clock  of  that  afternoon,  the  whole  corps  was  in 
Orangeburg,  and  had  commenced  to  destroy  the  railroad.  This  was 
effected  as  far  as  Lewisville,  and  the  enemy  being  pushed  across  the 
Congaree,  were  obliged,  on  the  14th,  to  burn  the  bridges.  Up  to  this 
point,  the  enemy  had  been  mystified  as  to  the  real  destination  of  the  Union 
army;  but  now  perceiving  clearly,  for  the  first  time,  what  was  Sherman's 
objective,  the  Eebel  General  Hardee  evacuated  Charleston,  retreating  on 
Florence,  parallel  to  Sherman's  recent  line  of  march,  and  General  Gill- 
more's  troops  enterecf  and  occupied  that  city  on  the  18th.  The  different 
columns  of  the  Union  armv  were  now  all  en  route  to  Columbia,  fifty-one 
miles'  distant  from  Orangeburg ;  the  seventeenth  corps  on  the  state  road. 


-!-\—  CV  CHESTERFIELD* 


SURRENDER  OF  THE   CITY  OF  COLUMBIA.  919 

and  the  fifteenth  marching  from  Poplar  Springs  on  a  country  road,  which 
entered  the  state  road  at  Zeigler's.  The  twentieth  corps  moved  north,  on 
a  line  west  of  the  fifteenth,  diverging  toward  Columbia ;  the  fourteenth 
moving  on  a  parallel  line  still  further  west,  with  the  cavalry  on  their  left 
flank.  On  the  15th,  the  fifteenth  corps  discovered  the  enemy  strongly 
posted  at  Little  Congaree  bridge,  across  Congaree  creek,  with  a  tete-du-ponl 
on  the  south  side,  and  a  well  built  fortification  on  the  north,  commanding 
the  bridge  with  artillery.  The  ground  in  front  was  level  and  clear,  but 
covered  with  a  deep  ajid  fresh  deposit  of  mud  from  a  recent  overflow. 
General  C.  K.  Woods,  commanding  the  leading  division,  turned  the  flank 
of  the  tete-du-pont,  by  sending  a  brigade  through  a  cypress  swamp  to  the 
left,  and,  pushing  the  retreating  enemy,  soon  carried  and  held  the  bridge 
and  fort  beyoild.  As  it  was  necessary  to  repair  the  bridge  before  it  could 
be  used  for  the  passage  of  the  artillery,  it  was  night  before  the  head  of  the 
column  reached  the  bridge  across  the  Congaree,  in  front  of  Columbia. 
During  the  night,  the  Union  camps  were  shelled  by  the  enemy's  battery 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Congaree,  above  Granby.  Early  the  following 
morning,  February  16th,  the  advance  reached  the  bank  of  the  Congaree 
opposite  Columbia,  although  too  late  to  save  the  fine  bridge  which  spanned 
the  river  at  that  point,  and  which  the  enemy  had  fired.  While  they 
waited  for  the  pontoons,  they  could  easily  see  into  the  streets  of  Columbia, 
where  the  citizens  were  moving  about  in  evident  excitement ;  and  occa 
sionally  small  bodies  of  cavalry  were  seen,  but  no  masses  of  troops.  No 
white  flag,  or  other  token  of  surrender  was  visible ;  and  General  Sherman 
limited  the  operations  of  his  artillery  to  the  firing  of  a  single  gun,  aimed 
at  the  railroad  depot,  for  the  purpose  of  scattering  the  people  who  were 
seen  carrying  away  sacks  of  corn  and  flour,  which  his  army  needed. 
While  waiting,  and  within  an  hour  after  his  arrival  at  the  river,  the  head 
of  column  of  the  left  wing,  under  General  Slocum,  also  appeared  ;  where 
upon  General  Howard,  with  the  right  wing,  moved  three  miles  up  the 
river  to  Saluda  factory,  and  crossed  on  the  16th,  skirmishing  with  the 
Eebel  cavalry.  The  same  night  he  constructed  a  flying  bridge  across 
Broad  river,  three  miles  above  Columbia,  and  threw  across  a  brigade  of 
the  fifteenth  corps,  under  cover  of  which  a  pontoon  bridge  was  laid  on 
the  morning  of  the  17th,  thus  approaching  Columbia  on  the  north. 

General  Sherman,  in  his  official  report,  thus  describes  the  entrance  to 
Columbia:  "I  was  in  person  at  the  pontoon  bridge  (on  the  17th),  and  at 
11  A.  M.  learned  that  the  mayor  of  Columbia  had  come  out  in  a  carriage, 
and  made  a  formal  surrender  of  the  city  to  Colonel  Stone,  25th  Iowa 
infantry,  commanding  third  brigade,  first  division,  fifteenth  corps.  About 
the  same  time,  a  small  party^  of  the  seventeenth  corps  had  crossed  the 
Congaree  in  a  skiff,  and  entered  Columbia  from  a  point  immediately  west. 
In  anticipation  of  the  occupation  of  the  city,  I  had  given  written  orders 
to  General  Howard  touching  the  conduct  of  the  troops.  These  were  to 


920  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

destroy  absolutely  all  arsenals  and  public  property  not  needed  for  our 
own  use,  as  well  as  all  railroads,  depots,  and  machinery  useful  in  war  to 
an  enemy;  but  to  spare  all  dwellings,  colleges,  schools,  asylums,  and 
harmless  private  property.  I  was  the  first  to  cross  the  pontoon  bridge, 
and  in  company  with  General  Howard,  rode  into  the  city.  The  day  was 
clear,  but  a  perfect  tempest  of  wind  was  raging.  The  brigade  of  Colonel 
Stone  was  already  in  the  city,  and  was  properly  posted.  Citizens  and 
soldiers  were  on  the  streets,  and  general  good  order  prevailed.  General 
Wade  Hampton,  who  commanded  the  Confederate  rear-guard  of  cavalry, 
had,  in  anticipation  of  our  capture  of  Columbia,  ordered  that  all  cotton, 
public  and  private,  should  be  moved  into  the  streets  and  fired,  to  prevent 
our  making  use  of  it.  Bales  were  piled  everywhere,  the  rope  and  bagging 
cut,  and  tufts  of  cotton  were  blown  about  in  the  wind,  lodged  in  the  trees 
and  against  the  houses,  so  as  to  resemble  a  snow-storm.  Some  of  these 
piles  of  cotton  were  burning,  especially  one  in  the  very  heart  of  the  city, 
near  the  court  house ;  but  the  fire  was  partially  subdued  by  the  labors  of 
our  soldiers.  During  the  day  the  fifteenth  corps  passed  through  Columbia, 
and  out  on  the  Camden  road.  The  seventeenth  did  not  enter  the  town  at 
all ;  and,  as  I  have  before  stated,  the  left  wing  and  the  cavalry  did  not 
come  within  two  miles  of  the  town. 

"Before  one  single  public  building  had  been  fired  by  order,  the 
smouldering  fires  set  by  Hampton's  order  were  rekindled  by  the  wind, 
and  communicated  to  the  buildings  around.  About  dark  they  began  to 
spread,  and  got  beyond  the  control  of  the  brigade  on  duty  within  the  city. 
The  whole  of  Wood's  division  was  brought  in,  but  it  was  found  impossible 
to  check  the  flamjs,  which,  by  midnight,  had  become  unmanageable,  and 
raged  until  about  4  A.  M.,  when,  the  wind  subsiding,  they  were  got  under 
control.  I  was  up  nearly  all  night,  and  saw  Generals  Howard,  Logan, 
Woods,  and  others,  laboring  to  save  houses,  and  protect  families  thus 
suddenly  deprived  of  shelter  and  of  bedding  and  wearing  apparel.  I 
disclaim  on  the  part  of  my  army  any  agency  in  this  fire,  but,  on  the  con 
trary,  claim  that  we  saved  what  of  Columbia  remains  unconsumed.  And, 
without  hesitation,  I  charge  General  Wade  Hampton  with  having  burned 
his  own  city  of  Columbia,  not  with  a  malicious  intent,  or  as  the  manifesta 
tion  of  a  silly  Roman  stoicism,  but  from  folly  and  want  of  sense  in  filling 
it  with  lint  cotton  and  tinder.  Our  officers  and  men  on  duty  worked  well 
to  extinguish  the  flames ;  but  others,  not  on  duty,  including  the  officers 
who  had  long  been  imprisoned  there,  rescued  by  us,  may  have  assisted  in 
spreading  the  fire  after  it  had  once  begun,  and  may  have  indulged  in 
concealed  joy  to  see  the  ruin  of  the  capital  of  South  Carolina.  During 
the  18th  and  19th,  the  arsenal,  railroad  depots,  machine  shops,  foundries, 
and  other  buildings,  were  properly  destroyed  by  detailed  working  parties, 
and  the  railroad  track  torn  up  and  destroyed  to  Kingville  and  the 
Wateree  bridge,  and  up  in  the  direction  of  Winnsboro." 


THE  ADVANCE   TO   WINNSBORO.  921 

On  the  16th,  immediately  on  Slocurn's  arrival  at  Columbia,  he  had 
been  ordered  to  march  by  the  left  directly  on  Winnsboro.  Crossing  the 
Saluda,  at  Hart's  ferry,  and  marching  by  Qakville  and  Rockville,  he 
reached  Broad  river,  near  Alston,  on  the  17th;  and,  on  the  19th,  crossed 
the  river,  entered  Alston,  and  began  to  break  up  the  railroads  in  the 
vicinity.  Having  thoroughly  destroyed  the  Spartansburg  railroad  for 
fourteen  miles  north  of  Alston,  including  the  bridge  over  the  Broad  river, 
Slocum,  on  the  20th,  crossed  the  Little  river,  and  reached  Winnsboro  on 
the  following  day.  Meanwhile,  Sherman  and  the  right  wing,  having  de- 
Btroyed  all  in  Columbia  that  could  be  of  use  for  military  purposes,  marched, 
on  the  20th,  directly  on  Winnsboro;  the  fifteenth  corps  destroying  the 
railroad  as  they  went,  and  the  seventeenth  moving  on  a  parallel  road; 
Howard  reaching  Winnsboro  on  the  21st. 

While  the  main  army  was  thus  engaged,  the  cavalry,  under  Kilpatrick, 
had  been  acting  separately  on  the  extreme  left  flank ;  concealing,  as  well 
as  covering  the  movements  of  the  infantry.  Following  the  march  of  the 
infantry,  Kilpatrick's  troops  reached  Robertville  on  the  3d,  Lawtonville 
on  the  4th,  Allandale  on  the  5th,  and,  on  the  6th,  demonstrated  strongly 
against  Augusta,  driving  before  them  a  Rebel  cavalry  brigade.  Then 
turning  shortly  to  the  right,  he  crossed  the  Salkahatchie  just  below  Barn- 
well,  in  face  of  the  enemy,  about  three  hundred  strong,  who  occupied  a 
well  chosen  position  behind  earthworks  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream, 
commanding  the  bridge,  which  was  then  on  fire.  But  Colonel  Hamilton's 
ninth  Ohio  cavalry,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Van  Buskirk,  with  the  ninety- 
second  Illinois  mounted  infantry,  dashed  through  the  swamp,  wading  up 
to  the  men's  armpits,  crossed  the  stream  on  trees  felled  by  the  pioneer 
corps,  and,  disregarding  the  terrible  fire  to  which  they  were  exposed, 
drove  the  enemy,  routed,  back  to  Barnwell.  The  bridge  was  partially 
saved,  and  having  been  repaired,  the  Union  troops  entered  Barnwell  at 
four  o'clock,  P.  M.  The  next  day,  the  7th,  the  energetic  Kilpatrick  was  at 
work  destroying  track  on  the  Charleston  and  Atlanta  railroad,  at  Black- 
ville,  from  which  town  he  drove  a  brigade  of  Wheeler's  cavalry.  On  the 
evening  of  the  8th,  having  moved  up  to  Williston  station,  Colonel  Spencer's 
brigade,  while  holding  the  Augusta  road,  was  sharply  attacked  by 
Wheeler's  cavalry,  and  a  spirited  fight  ensued,  in  which  the  enemy  were 
completely  routed,  with  a  loss  of  one  officer  and  many  men  killed,  a  large 
number  wounded,  and  several  prisoners  and  five  battle-flags  captured. 
The  routed  enemy  were  so  closely  pursued  by  Colonel  Spencer,  for  several 
miles,  that  they  were  finally  compelled  to  scatter  and  take  to  the  woods 
for  safety.  The  next  day,  our  troops  moved  along  the  railroad  to  Wind 
sor,  and  thence  to  Johnson's,  tearing  up  track  as  they  went.  The  move 
ments  and  manoeuvres  of  the  cavalry  from  Blackville  had  been  so  skilfully 
planned  by  Kilpatrick,  as  to  impress  the  Rebels  with  the  ide#  that  his 
progress  was  simply  the  advance  of  the  main  army  toward  Augusta. 


922  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Under  this  impression,  Wheeler  left  the  Edisto  unguarded  and  Columbia 
uncovered,  and,  by  marching  day  and  night,  reached  Aiken  at  daylight 
of  the  morning  of  the  llth,  with  his  whole  command.  A  carefully  man 
aged  reconnoissance  revealed  to  Kilpatrick  the  certainty  that  his  enemy 
had  fairly  got  into  the  trap ;  and,  at  eleven  A.  M.  the  same  day,  a  mounted 
charge  by  Wheeler's  entire  command  was  received  and  handsomely  re 
pulsed  by  the  Union  troops,  with  a  loss  to  the  Rebels  of  thirty-one  killed, 
one  hundred  and  sixty  wounded,  and  sixty  taken  prisoners.  Disgusted 
with  this  unexpectedly  warm  reception,  Wheeler  fell  back  to  his  former 
position  at  Aiken,  without  any  further  attempt  at  attack.  At  Johnson's, 
Kilpatrick  remained,  busily  engaged  in  the  demolition  of  the  railroad, 
until  the  12th,  when  he  crossed  the  south  fork  of  the  Edisto,  at  Guig- 
nard's,  and  encamped  four  miles  higher  up  the  stream,  throwing  out 
pickets  as  far  as  Pine  Log  bridge.  On  the  15th,  he  crossed  the  north  fork 
of  the  Edisto,  and  marching  parallel  with  the  left  of  the  fourteenth  corps, 
struck  the  Lexington  and  Augusta  road,  nine  miles  north  of  the  former 
place.  By  this  movement  he  intercepted  Wheeler's  cavalry,  fifteen  hun 
dred  of  whom  had  just  passed  over  the  road  en  route  for  Columbia — 
Cheatham's  infantry  corps  being  similarly  intercepted  by  our  infantry. 
On  the  evening  of  the  18th,  he  reached  Alston's,  on  Broad  river ;  having 
destroyed  a  portion  of  the  track,  the  depots,  and  several  bridges  between 
that  place  and  Pomaria  station.  On  the  19th,  he  crossed  the  river,  and 
the  next  day  reached  Monticello,  and  found  that  Wheeler  was  in  advance 
of  him,  moving  on  Chesterfield. 

Winnsboro  is  situated  on  the  Charlotte  (N.  C.)  and  South  Carolina 
railroad,  seventy  miles  south  of  the  former  place,  and  thirty-nine  miles 
north  of  Columbia;  Monticello  being  nearly  opposite  between  Winnsboro 
and  Broad  river.  The  movements  of  Sherman's  forces  up  to  this  date, 
and  the  massing  of  his  infantry  at  Winnsboro,  deluded  the  enemy  with 
the  idea  that  the  Union  army  was  aiming  for  Virginia  by  the  inland  route, 
via  Charlotte.  In  the  alarm  caused  by  their  new  apparent  danger,  the 
Rebel  authorities  had  forced  from  Jefferson  Davis  the  re-appointment  of 
General  Johnston  to  the  chief  command  of  all  the  Rebel  forces  west  of  the 
Chattahoochie  river,  and  south  of  Virginia ;  and  he  had  concentrated  at 
Charlotte,  N.  C.,  the  forces  with  which  Beauregard  had  evacuated  Colum 
bia,  the  local  garrisons  and  militia  of  Georgia,  and  some  reinforcements 
from  Lee's  army.  The  remnants  of  Cheatham's  Rebel  corps,  however, 
had  been  cut  off  from  reaching  Johnston  by  Sherman's  march  and  the 
burning  of  the  bridges  over  the  Saluda.  The  turning  point  of  the  cam 
paign  had  been  the  abandonment  of  Columbia;  and  Johnston,  with  a 
dispirited  and  deficient  army,  found  himself  sadly  puzzled  whether  to 
choose  Charlotte  or  Goldsboro  as  his  next  defensive  point.  They  were 
apparentjy  equally  threatened  by  Sherman,  but  were  too  far  distant,  the 
one  from  the  other,  to  warrant  an  attempt  to  defend  both.  If  he  decided 


DESTRUCTION   OF  THE  RAILROAD.  923 

to  hold  Goldsboro,  he  must  seriously  expose  his  flank  and  rear  to  a  move 
ment  from  Newbern  or  the  Roanoke,  tfhile  Sherman  would  quietly  "walk 
over  the  course"  through  Charlotte  to  the  James.  If,  on  the  contrary,  he 
attempted  to  hold  Charlotte,  Goldsboro  and  the  seaboard  would  be  left  to 
chance.  In  fact,  the  campaign  was  already  lost,  before  Mr.  Davis  took 
any  proper  steps  to  restore  it,  and  Sherman  was  not  slow  to  push  his  ad 


vantage. 


On  the  22d  of  February,  General  Slocum  left  Winnsboro  for  Charlotte; 
destroying  the  railroad  as  far  as  Blackstake's  station,  fifty-five  miles  from 
Charlotte,  and  then  turning  to  the  right,  reached  the  Catawba  or  Wateree 
river  that  night,  at  the  point  called  Rocky  Mount.  During  the  night,  the 
twentieth  corps  came  up,  and  laid  a  pontoon  bridge,  over  which  they 
passed  during  the  23d;  followed,  in  the  night,  by  Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  in 
the  rnidst  of  a  terrible  rain.  This  cavalry  was  directed  to  move  toward 
Lancaster,  as  part  of  the  feint  of  a  general  movement  on  Charlotte,  N.  C., 
where  General  Beauregard,  with  a  large  force  of  cavalry,  was  stationed. 
From  the  23d  to  the  26th,  the  roads  and  streams  were  well-nigh  impassa 
ble  from  heavy  rains ;  but  by  the  latter  date,  the  twentieth  corps  had 
reached  Hanging  Rock,  and  waited  for  the  fourteenth  to  get  across  the 
Catawba.  When,  in  spite  of  the  swollen  streams,  which  broke  the  pon 
toon  bridge,  the  fourteenth  had  crossed  and  closed  up,  the  left  wing  was 
again  put  in  motion  toward  Cheraw.  The  right  wing,  meantime,  had 
crossed  the  Catawba  at  Peay's  ferry,  before  the  heavy  rains  set  in,  and 
was  also  moving  on  Cheraw ;  the  seventeenth  corps,  via  Young's  bridge, 
and  the  fifteenth  by  Tiller's  and  Kelley's  bridges.  Detachments  from  this 
latter  corps  burned  the  bridge  over  the  Wateree  at  Camden,  together  with 
the  depot,  stores,  etc. ;  and  a  small  force  of  mounted  men  was  sent  out  to 
break  up  the  railroad  from  Charleston  to  Florence;  but,  after  a  night 
skirmish  with  some  Rebel  cavalry  at  Mount  Clio,  was  compelled  to  return 
without  accomplishing  their  intent.  Bad  roads  at  Lynch's  creek  delayed 
the  right  wing  about  as  long  as  the  streams  had  delayed  the  left  wing  at 
the  Catawba.  On  the  2d  of  March,  the  twentieth  corps  entered  Chester 
field,  skirmishing  with  Rebel  cavalry  ;  and  about  noon  of  the  day  following, 
the  seventeenth  occupied  Cheraw,  the  enemy  retreating  over  the  Great 
Pedee,  and  burning  the  bridge  there.  At  Cheraw,  our  forces  destroyed 
twenty-five  guns  and  much  ammunition,  conveyed  there  by  the  Rebels  in 
their  retreat  from  Charleston ;  also,  the  railroad  trestles  and  bridges  as  far 
as  Darlington.  .  An  unsuccessful  expedition  of  mounted  infantry  was  also 
made  in  the  direction  of  Florence. 

Once  more  the  columns  were  put  in  motion,  directed  on  Fayetteville,  N. 
C. ;  the  right  wing  crossing  the  Great  Pedee  at  Cheraw,  the  left  wing  and 
cavalry  at  Sneedsboro.  The  seventeenth  corps  led  the  right  wing,  and 
Davis's  corps  taking  the  right  of  the  left  wing,  while  Kilpatrick's  cavalry 
kept  well  out  on  the  left  flank.  Heavy  rains  prevailed,  and  the  numerous 


924  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

small  streams  along  the  line  of  march  were  swollen  and  difficult  to  pass ; 
while  the  roads,  worked  into  quicksands  of  unknown  depth  by  the  travel 
of  so  many  men  and  animals,  became  almost  impassable.  Yet  Davis's 
fourteenth  corps  reached  and  crossed  Love's  bridge,  over  the  Lumber 
river,  on  the  7th  of  March ;  marched  to  within  twenty  miles  of  Fayette- 
ville  on  the  9th,  and  on  the  llth  reached  and  occupied  the  town.  The 
seventeenth  corps,  marching  via  Laurel  Hill  and  Gilchrist's  bridge  over 
the  Lumber  river  on  the  ninth,  came  into  Fayetteville  on  the  12th.  Be 
fore  their  advance,  Hardee  retired  beyond  the  river,  without  offering 
serious  opposition,  and  burned  the  bridge  after  him. 

Kilpatrick,  meanwhile,  on  the  left  flank  of  the  army,  crossed  the 
Lumber  river  at  Love's  bridge,  and  coming,  at  Solomon's  Grove,  upon  the 
rear  of  Hardee's  retreating  force,  determined  to  intercept  Wade  Hampton, 
whose  cavalry  was  covering  the  Kebel  rear.  Hampton  was  moving  on 
two  roads,  the  Morgantown  road  and  one  parallel  with  it  and  three  miles 
to  the  north.  South  and  east  from  Solomon's  Grove,  Kilpatrick  posted, 
on  each  of  these  roads,  a  brigade  of  cavalry ;  and  then,  by  a  rapid  night 
march,  he  placed  Colonel  Spencer's  brigade,  increased  by  four  hundred 
dismounted  men  and  a  section  of  artillery,  on  a  road  still  further  north, 
on  which  it  was  possible  the  enemy's  troops  might  move.  But  Hampton 
had  managed,  by  eleven  o'clock  that  evening,  to  flank  Atkins's  division, 
and  was  encamped  within  three  miles  of  Colonel  Spencer ;  and  Kilpatrick 
actually  rode  into  and  through  one  division  of  the  Eebel  cavalry,  luckily 
escaping  with  his  staff)  while  his  escort  of  fifteen  men  and  one  officer 
were  captured.  At  2  A.  M.  Hampton,  with  his  entire  command,  suddenly 
and  furiously  charged  upon  the  camp  of  Spencer's  brigade,  and  the  house 
in  which  General  Kilpatrick  and  Colonel  Spencer  had  their  quarters.  In 
an  instant  the  artillery  was  captured,  and  the  Union  troops  were  in  full 
flight ;  Colonel  Spencer  and  a  large  portion  of  the  general's  staff  being 
taken  prisoners.  Kilpatrick,  however,  escaped  on  foot,  rallied  his  men, 
also  on  foot,  in  a  neighboring  swamp,  and  turned  upon  the  enemy,  who 
were  eagerly  pillaging  the  captured  camps.  Inspired  by  the  gallantry  of 
their  leader,  the  brave  boys  charged  upon  the  foe,  retook  the  artillery, 
turned  it  upon  the  enemy  at  scarcely  twenty  paces  distance,  and  drove 
them  headlong  from  the  camp ;  regaining  horses,  equipage,  and  every 
thing  except  some  prisoners  whom  the  enemy  carried  off)  leaving  their 
dead  and  wounded  behind.  Kilpatrick  at  once  re-established  his  lines,  and 
for  an  hour  and  a  half  successfully  foiled  Hampton's  attempts  to  retake 
them;  receiving  no  reinforcements  until  the  battle  was  over.  In  this 
"  surprise,"  the  Union  forces  lost  four  officers,  and  fifteen  men  killed,  sixty- 
one  wounded,  and  one  hundred  and  three,  of  all  ranks,  taken  prisoners. 
On  the  llth  of  March,  the  cavalry  reached  Fayetteville,  in  advance  of  the 
fourteenth  corps ;  and,  by  the  12th,  the  whole  army  was  massed  at  that 
place ;  where  the  two  succeeding  days  were  spent  in  thoroughly  demolish- 


MESSAGE   FROM   GENERAL  SHERMAN   TO   WILMINGTON.     925 

ing  the  Rebel  (formerly  United  States)  arsenal,  together  with  all  the 
machinery  appertaining  thereto. 

From  Laurel  Hill,  on  the  8th  of  March,  Sherman  had  despatched  a  brief 
message,  by  two  trusty  scouts,  whose  route  lay  directly  through  the 
enemy's  country,  down  the  Cape  Fear  river  to  Wilmington,  to  notify  the 
Union  commander  in  North  Carolina  of  his  safe  progress.  Those 
despatches,  which  simply  said,  "  We  are  all  well,  and  have  done  finely. 
Details  are,  for  olTvious  reasons,  omitted,"  reached  Wilmington  on  the 
14th,  and  were  the  first  tidings  which  had  been  received  from  the  army 
since  it  left  Savannah  and  Beaufort.  On  the  12th,  an  army  tug-boat 
reached  Fayetteville  from  Wilmington,  bringing  full  intelligence  of  events 
which  had  been  transpiring  in  the  outer  world  from  which  Sherman  and 
his  brave  men  had  been  so  long  shut  out.  On  the  same  day,  this  boat 
carried  back  to  General  Terry  at  Wilmington,  and  to  General  Schofield 
at  Newbern,  full  accounts  of  the  movements  and  condition  of  Sherman's 
army  ;  together  with  an  announcement  of  his  intention  to  march  on  Golds- 
boro,  feigning  on  Raleigh,  with  instructions  to  them  to  move  directly  on  the 
same  place,  which  he  expected  to  reach  on  the  20th.  The  arrival  of  the 
gunboat  Eolus.  the  same  day,  enabled  him  to  keep  up  communication  with 
Wilmington  up  to  the  very  day  of  his  actual  departure.  To  the  Lieutenant- 
General,  Sherman  wrote  as  follows : — "  The  army  is  in  splendid  health, 
condition,  and  spirits,  although  we  have  ha.d  foul  weather,  and  roads  that 
would  have  stopped  travel  to  almost  any  other  body  of  men  I  ever  heard 

of.     Our  march  was  substantially  what  I  designed I  could  leave 

here  to-morrow,  but  want  to  clear  my  columns  of  the  vast  crowd  of 

refugees  and  negroes  that  encumber  me I  hope  you  have  not  been 

uneasy  about  us,  and  that  the  fruits  of  this  march  will  be  appreciated." 

The  country  through  which  the  army  had  passed  was,  for  the  most 
part,  rich  in  forage  and  supplies,  and  the  soldiers  revelled  in  an  abundance 
of  turkeys,  chickens,  geese,  ducks,  nicely  cured  hams,  potatoes,  honey,  and 
other  luxuries  which  are  not  found  among  the  usual  "army  rations." 
Plenty  of  corn  and  fodder,  also,  was  found  upon  the  plantations ;  which, 
together  with  the  comparatively  short  marches  made  each  day,  put  the 
horses,  mules,  and  beef  cattle  in  the  best  possible  condition.  Not  only 
was  this  delightful  to  the  troops,  but  it  saved  millions  of  dollars  to  the 
Government ;  a  fact  to  which  the  Quartermaster-General  bore  emphatic 
testimony  in  a  general  order  of  his  department;  and  it  also  enabled 
Sherman  to  provide  for  the  wants  of  the  twenty-five  thousand  refugees 
and  contrabands  who  clung  to  the  skirts  of  his  army,  and  tremblingly 
yet  joyfully  marched,  under  his  protection,  to  liberty  and  safety. 

During  this  march,  General  Howard  received,  from  the  Rebel  General 
Wheeler,  the  following  communication  relative  to  the  destruction  of  houses 
and  cotton  by  our  troops : 


926  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

11  GRAHAMS,  S.  C.,  February  1th,  1865. 

"GENERAL: — I  have  the  honor  to  propose  that  if  the  troops  of  your 
army  be  required  to  discontinue  burning  the  houses  of  our  citizens  I  will 
discontinue  burning  cotton. 

"As  an  earnest  of  the  good  faith  in  which  my  proposition  is  tendered, 
I  leave  at  this  place  about  three  hundred  bales  of  cotton  unharmed,  worth 
in  New  York  over  a  quarter  million,  and  in  our  currency  one  and  a  half 
millions.  I'trust  my  having  commenced  will  cause  yo\i  to  use  your  in 
fluence  to  insure  the  acceptance  of  the  proposition  by  your  whole  army. 

"  I  trust  that  you  will  not  deem  it  improper  for  me  to  ask  that  you  will 
require  the  troops  under  your  command  to  discontinue  the  wanton  destruc 
tion  of  property  not  necessary  for  their  sustenance. 

"  Eespectfully,  general,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  WHEELER,  Major- General  C.  S.  A 

"MAJOR-GENERAL  0.  O.  HOWARD,  U.  S.  Army,  Commanding,  &c? 

General  Sherman  returned  the  following  pithy  and  characteristic  reply : 

"HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI,  IN  THE  FI^LD, 

"February  8th,  1865. 

'GENERAL: — Yours,  addressed  to  General  Howard,  is  received  by  me. 
I  hope  you  will  burn  all  the  cotton,  and  save  us  the  trouble.  We  don't 
want  it,  and  it  has  proven  a  cu,rse  to  our  country.  All  you  don't  burn 
I  will. 

"As  to  private  houses,  occupied  by  peaceful  families,  my  orders  are  not 
to  molest  or  disturb  them,  and  I  think  my  orders  are  obeyed.  Vacant 
houses,  being  of  no  use  to  anybody,  I  care  little  about,  as  the  owners  have 
thought  them  of  no  use  to  themselves.  I  don't  want  them  destroyed,  but 
do  not  take  much  care  to  preserve  them. 

"  I  am,  with  respect,  yours  truly, 

"  W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major-  General  Commanding. 
"MAJOR-GENERAL  J.  WHEELER,  Commanding  Cavalry  Corps,  C.  S.  A" 

Again,  after  a  somewhat  sharp  correspondence  between  the  two  rival 
cavalry  leaders,  Kilpatrick  and  Wheeler,  in  regard  to  the  murder  of  Union 
prisoners  and  foragers,  Sherman  addressed  the  following  note  to  General 
Wade  Hampton : 

"  GENERAL  : — It  is  officially  reported  to  me  that  our  foraging  parties 
are  murdered,  after  being  captured,  and  labelled,  '  Death  to  all  foragers.' 
One  instance  is  that  of  a  lieutenant  and  seven  men  near ,  Chester,  and 
another  of  twenty,  near  a  ravine,  eighty  rods  from  the  main  road,  and 
three  miles  from  Easterville.  I  have  ordered  a  similar  number  of  prison 
ers  in  our  hands  to  be  disposed  of  in  like  manner.  I  hold  about  one 
thousand  prisoners,  captured  in  various  ways,  and  can  stand  it  as  long  as 
you  can ;  but  I  hardly  think  these  murders  are  committed  with  your 


SHERMAN'S   CORRESPONDENCE   WITH    GEN.  HAMPTON.        927 

kaowledge,  and  would  suggest  that  you  give  notice  to  your  people  at 
large  that  every  life  taken  by  them  simply  results  in  the  death  of  one  of 
yottr  confederates. 

"  Of  course,  you  cannot  question  my  right  to  forage  in  an  enemy's 
country.  It  is  a  war  right,  as  old  as  history.  The  manner  of  exercising 
it  varies  with  circumstances,  and  if  the  country  will  supply  my  requisi 
tions,  I  will  forbid  all  foraging ;  but  I  find  no  civil  authorities  who  can 
respond  to  calls  for  forage  or  provisions,  and  therefore  must  collect 
directly  of  the  people. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  this  is  the  occasion  of  much  misbehavior  on  the  part 
of  our  men,  but  1  cannot  permit  an  enemy  to  judge  or  punish  with  whole 
sale  murder.  Personally,  I  regret  the  bitter  feelings  engendered  by  this 
war,  but  they  were  to  be  expected,  and  I  simply  allege  that  those  who 
struck  the  first  blow,  and  made  war  inevitable,  ought  not,  in  fairness,  to 
reproach  us  for  the  natural  consequences.  I  merely  assert  our  war  right 
to  forage,  and  my  resolve  to  protect  my  foragers  to  the  extent  of  life  for 
life. 

"  I  am,  with  respect,  your  obedient  servant,"  &c. 

To  this,  General  Hampton  replied  at  considerable  length,  and  with 
some  acrimony ;  denying  that  any  such  murders  were  committed  within 
his  knowledge,  and — without  offering  to  investigate  the  circumstances — 
declared  his  intention  of  executing  two  Federal  prisoners,  preferably 
commissioned  officers,  for  every  one  put  to  death  by  Sherman. 

In  this  campaign,  South  Carolina  suffered  all  the  penalties  of  war,  at 
the  Lands  of  the  Union  troops.  Looking  upon  her  as  the  "  original 
cradle  of  secession,"  and  her  people  as  the  life-long  enemies  of  the  Union, 
the  soldiers  deemed  it  to  be  their  duty  to  make  the  "  Palmetto  State  "  feel, 
to  its  utmost  extent,  the  horrors,  inconveniences  and  penalties  of  war. 
Consequently,  from  the  moment  they  entered  her  borders,  they  exercised 
scarcely  any  restraint,  and  plundered  and  destroyed  the  property  of  the 
inhabitants  without  stint  or  remorse.  The  "  bummers  "  who  hung  on  the 
flanks,  picked  their  fill  of  the  choicest  necessaries  and  luxuries  of  life ; 
while  wide -spreading  columns  of  smoke,  and  the  flames  of  burning 
houses,  marked  the  progress  of  the  Union  army.  The  justice  of  war, 
more  stern  than  poetic,  was  meted  out  in  full  measure  to  the  people  who 
had  dragged  the  other  States  into  this  causeless  and  wicked  rebellion  ; 
and  who  now,  for  the  first  time,  began  themselves  to  taste  the  poisoner] 
and  bitter  chalice  which  they  had  forced  to  the  lips  of  others.  And,  i  J 
the  hour  of  trial,  the  conduct  of  the  South  Carolinians  was  as  abject  and 
cowardly  as  could  well  be  imagined.  Forgetful  of  oft-repeated  threats 
that  they  would  make  their  final  stand  "  in  the  last  ditch,"  they  offered 
scarcely  any  resistance  to  the  invader,  but  abandoned  one  after  another  of 
the  strong  natural  positions  with  which  their  State  abounded,  and  exhib 
ited  to  the  world  a  spectacle  of  pusillanimity  in  remarkable  contrast  to 


928  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN    THE   UNITED   STATES. 

their  previous  boastfulness.  In  fact,  they  had,  from  the  first,  cunningly 
used  Virginia  and  the  other  Southern  States  as  battle-grounds,  during 
the  war ;  and  had  fondly  calculated  that  their  own  "  sacred  soil "  would 
be  entirely  free  from  the  invader's  footsteps.  But,  when  the  war  was 
brought  suddenly  home  to  their  own  doors,  they  showed  a  cringing 
helplessness  and  an  agony  of  fear,  which  was  in  strong  contrast  to  the 
conduct  of  Georgia,  and  which  was  duly  appreciated  by  the  brave  heroes 
of  the  Unipn  army,  as  they  swept  through  the  State  with  resistless  force. 
Yet  it  is  creditable  to  the  character  of  the  army,  that  from  the  moment 
of  entering  North  Carolina,  the  whole  demeanor  of  the  Union  soldiers 
changed ;  and  the  very  troops,  whose  disposition  to  plunder  and  avenge 
had  been  almost  beyond  the  control  of  their  officers;  promptly  and 
cheerfully  yielded  to  the  customary  restraints  of  discipline. 

Sherman  now  entered  upon  the  third  and  last  stage  of  his  progress  to 
Goldsboro.  Up  to  this  period  he  had  successfully  interposed  his  largely 
superior  army  between  the  scattered  fragments  of  the  hostile  force  op 
posed  to  him ;  but  he  now  became  aware  that  the  fragments  withdrawn 
from  Columbia  by  Beauregard,  had  been  reinforced  by  Cheatham's  corps 
from  the  west,  and  the  Augusta  garrison,  and  that  they  had  had  sufficient 
time  to  move  around  upon  his  front  and  flank  near  Raleigh.  Hardee, 
moreover,  had  crossed  Cape  Fear  river,  being  thus  enabled  to  make  a 
connection  with  the  forces  under  Johnston  and  Hoke  in  North  Carolina. 
And  the  combined  rebel  forces,  under  the  leadership  of  General  Johnston, 
constituted  an  army  undoubtedly  superior  to  Sherman's  in  cavalry,  and 
sufficiently  formidable  in  artillery  and  infantry  to  justify  him  in  exer 
cising  extreme  caution  in  this  last  stage  of  the  campaign,  which  had 
hitherto  resulted  so  successfully.  General  Schofield,  as  we  have  already 
seen,  had  been  ordered  to  move  directly  from  Wilmington  on  Goldsboro, 
where  Sherman  proposed  to  meet  him  on  the  20th  ;  and  while  the  de 
struction  of  the  arsenal  was  going  on  at  Fayetteville,  two  pontoon  bridges 
had  been  laid  across  the  Cape  Fear  river,  one  opposite  to,  and  the  other 
some  three  miles  below  the  town. 

General  Kilpatrick  was  ordered  to  move  up  the  plank  road  to  and 
beyond  Averysboro,  and  was  followed  by  four  divisions  of  the  left  wing, 
General  Slocum  commanding,  with  as  few  wagons  as  possible ;  while  the 
rest  of  the  train,  escorted  by  the  two  remaining  divisions,  took  a  shorter 
and  more  direct  road  to  Goldsboro.  The  right  wing,  General  Howard's 
command,  also  despatched  its  trains,  under  escort,  well  to  the  right, 
toward  Faison's  depot  and  Goldsboro,  holding  four  divisions  in  light 
marching  order,  in  readiness  to  go  to  the  aid  of  the  left  wing  in  case  it 
should  be  attacked.  By  this  movement  the  Goldsboro  and  Wilmington 
railroad  was  threatened,  and  Goldsboro  and  Raleigh  equally  menaced. 
The  weather  was  execrable,  and  the  roads  speedily  became  quagmires, 
almost  every  foot  having  to  be  corduroyed  for  the  passage  of  tbfe  wheeled 


THE  ADVANCE  TO   GOLDSBORO.  929 

vehicles.  Still,  time  was  most  important,  and  the  march,  was  commenced 
with  promptness.  General  Sherman  accompanied  the  left  wing,  which, 
preceded  by  Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  moved  up  along  the  river  or  plank-road 
that  day  to  Kyle's  landing,  the  cavalry  being  constantly  engaged  in  skir 
mishing  heavily  with  the  enemy's  rear-guard  ;  and  at  Kilpatrick's  request 
a  brigade  of  infantry  was  sent  forward  to  hold  a  line  of  barricades  near 
Taylor's  Creek  Hole.  Next  morning,  the  16th,  the  column  advancing  in 
the  same  order,  discovered  the  enemy  strongly  posted,  with  artillery, 
infantry,  and  cavalry,  in  front  of  the  point  where  the  road  branches  off 
toward  Goldsboro  via  Bentonville.  It  proved  to  be  a  force  of  some 
twenty  thousand,  under  Hardee,  who,  in  retreating  from  Fayetteville, 
had  taken  a  stand  in  the  narrow  and  swampy  neck  between  the  Cape  Fear 
and  South  rivers,  near  Averysboro,  with  a  view  of  saving  time  for  John 
ston's  armies  to  concentrate  at  some  point  in  his  rear,  say  Ealeigh,  Golds 
boro,  or  Smithfield.  Although  the  enemy  was  much  stronger  than  had 
been  anticipated,  it  was  imperatively  necessary  to  dislodge  him,  in  order 
that  the  Union  army  might  have  the  use  of  the  Goldsboro  road,  in  order 
to  keep  up  the  feint  on  Ealeigh  as  long  as  possible.  To  the  left  wing, 
therefore,  fell  the  duty  of  forcing  the  position,  difficult  more  especially 
from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  which  was  so  soft  that  horses  sank  every 
where,  and  even  the  men  could  scarcely  make  their  way  over  the  common 
pine  barren.  The  first  infantry  troops  engaged  '"were  two  divisions  of 
General  Williams's  twentieth  corps,  who  dashed  in,  amid  heavy  showers 
of  rain  and  fierce  gusts  of  wind,  to  support  the  cavalry,  which  had  come 
upon  the  Eebels  strongly  intrenched  upon  the  brow  of  a  hill  skirted  by 
a  ravine  and  creek.  Three  or  four  hours  of  sharp  fighting  ensued,  during 
which  the  Union  artillery,  at  a  distance  of  four  hundred  yards,  silenced 
the  enemy's  guns.  A  brigade  crossed  their  front  by  a  circuit  which 
turned  their  left  flank,  and  by  a  vigorous  charge  broke  their  line,  and 
they  rapidly  fell  back  to  a  stronger  line  of  defence.  Ward's  division  now 
moved  on  the  new  position,  and  the  Eebels  were  completely  routed ;  and 
as  Ward  advanced,  he  developed  the  existence  of  still  another  and  stronger 
line  of  defence,  stretching  from  Black  creek  to  the  Cape  Fear  river,  which 
at  this  point  makes  a  bend  to  the  east,  and  discovered  that  the  rebel  force 
opposed  to  him  was  composed  of  three  divisions,  commanded  respectively 
by  Butler,  Ehett,  and  McLaws — in  addition  to  which,  Hampton's  and 
Wheeler's  cavalry  were  posted  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  Union  troops, 
covering  the  enemy's  left  flank.  The  fourteenth  corps,  therefore,  as  soon 
as  it  came  up,  about  noon,  was  put  well  forward  on  the  left  toward  Cape 
Fear  river,  while  Jackson's  division  was  sent  up  to  the  right  of  Ward's 
command,  and  Kilpatrick  drew  ba9k  his  cavalry  and  massed  it  on  the 
right,  connecting  with  Jackson.  He  then  sent  a  brigade  forward  as  a 
"feeler"  on  the  Goldsboro  road,  when  it  was  attacked  furiously  by 
McLaws'  Eebel  division,  and  although  fighting  bravely,  was  obliged  to 
59 


930  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

fall  back.  Later  in  the  afternoon  the  whole  Union  line  advanced  drove 
the  enemy  within  his  intrenched  line,  and  pressed  him  so  closely  that  he 
was  obliged  to  retreat,  during  the  stormy  night,  over  the  worst  of  roads, 
with  a  loss  of  three  guns  and  two  hundred  and  seventeen  prisoners,  sixty- 
eight  of  whom  were  wounded,  and  left  in  a  house  near  by  in  charge  of 
an  officer  and  four  men,  and  with  five  days'  rations.  One  hundred  and 
eight  Eebel  dead  were  buried  by  the  Union  troops  upon  the  field ;  while 
the  Federal  loss  was  only  twelve  officers  and  sixty -five  men  killed,  and 
four  hundred  and  seventy-seven  wounded. 

Pursuit,  on  the  morrow,  by  Ward's  division,  revealed  the  fact  that 
Hardee  had  retreated,  not  on  Ealeigh,  but  on  Smithfield ;  and  while  that 
division  kept  up  the  show  of  pursuit,  Slocum's  column  (the  left  wing) 
turned  to  the  right,  taking  the  Goldsboro  road ;  while  Kilpatrick  crossed 
to  the  north,  toward  Elevation,  with  orders  to  move  eastward  and  watch 
that  flank.  Meanwhile,  Howard's  column  (the  right  wing),  with  the  wagon 
trains,  wallowed  along  the  miry  roads  toward  Bentonville  and  Goldsboro ; 
the  enemy's  infantry  retreating  across  the  Union  front  in  the  same  direc 
tion,  and  burning  the  bridges  across  Mill  creek.  The  right  wing,  how 
ever,  if  troubled  by  bad  roads,  was  fortunate  in  passing  through  a 
well-cultivated  country,  with  rich  farm  lands  skirting  the  roadside.  The 
houses  were  well  built,  and  the  granaries  full  of  oats  and  corn,  and  more 
forage  than  the  troops  could  use,  which  proved  quite  acceptable  to  their 
animals,  who  for  several  days  previous  had  been  on  rather  short  rations. 

Slocum's  left  wing,  still  accompanied  by  Sherman,  encamped,  on  the 
night  of  the  18th,  on  the  Goldsboro  road,  twenty-seven  miles  from  that 
place,  and  five  miles  from  Bentonville,  at  the  junction  of  the  road  with  the 
Clinton  and  Smithfield  road.  Two  miles  south  of  this  point,  at  Lee's 
store,  was  Howard,  with  the  right  wing ;  the  pickets  of  both  columns  being 
thrown  forward  to  the  point  where  the  two  roads  unite  and  become 
common  to  Goldsboro.  Judging,  from  appearances,  that  he  had  nothing 
further  to  fear  from  the  enemy,  either  in  the  way  of  opposition  to  his  pro 
gress  or  a  flank  attack,  General  Sherman  now  directed  Howard  to  set  the 
right  wing  in  motion,  over  the  new  Goldsboro  road,  by  way  of  Falling 
Creek  Church.  He  also  joined  that  wing  in  person,  with  a  view  to  open 
communication  with  General  Schofield,  coming  up  from  Newbern,  and 
General  Terry,  from  Wilmington.  He  came  up  with  the  advance  of 
Howard's  column,  which  was  well  strung  out  in  consequence  of  the  bad 
roads,  as  it  reached  Falling  Creek  Church.  At  about  six  miles'  distance 
from  General  Slocum,  he  heard  artillery  in  that  direction ;  but  it  was,  for 
the  moment,  satisfactorily  explained  by  the  arrival  of  a  staff  officer,  with 
word  that  Slocum's  leading  division  had  met  and  was  handsomely  driving 
a  division  of  Kebel  cavalry.  Soon  after,  however,  word  was  received  that 
Slocum  had  developed  the  whole  of  the  Kebel  army,  under  General  John 
ston  himself,  near  Bentonville.  Sherman  immediately  ordered  Slocum  to 


MOVEMENTS   OF   GENERALS  SCHOFIELD  AND  TERRY.        931 

hurry  up  the  two  divisions  guarding  his  wagon  trains,  as  well  as  Uazen's 
division  of  the  fifteenth  corps,  still  back  at  Lee's  store,  and  with  them  to 
make  a  defensive  fight  until,  with  Blair's  corps,  then  near  Mount  Olive 
station,  and  the  remaining  three  divisions  of  the  fifteenth  corps,  Sherman 
himself  could  fall  upon  Johnston's  right  from  the  direction  of  Cox's 
bridge.  At  the  same  time,  the  general  received  couriers  from  both  Gen 
erals  Schofield  and  Terry ;  the  former  in  possession  of  Kinston.  and  with 
a  fair  probability  of  reaching  Goldsboro  on  the  21st,  and  the  latter  at  or 
near  Faison's  depot.  Schofield  was  immediately  ordered  to  push  for 
Goldsboro,  and  cross  Little  river  toward  Smithfield  as  far  as  Millard; 
Terry  was  directed  to  move  to  Cox's  bridge,  and  establish  a  pontoon 
crossing  there ;  while  Blair  was  to  make  a  forced  night  march  to  Falling 
Creek  Church,  and  as  daylight  dawned,  Howard,  with  the  right  wing; 
minus  the  necessary  wagon  guard,  was  in  full  motion  on  Bentonville. 

Meanwhile,  the  first  attack  of  the  enemy  on  Slocum  had  resulted  in  a 
temporary  advantage  to  them;  three  guns  and  caissons  falling  into  their 
hands,  and  the  two  leading  brigades  being  driven  back  on  the  main  army. 
So  soon,  however,  as  General  Slocum  realized  that  he  had  the  whole  Con 
federate  army  in  his  front,  he  deployed  two  divisions  of  Da  vis's — fourteenth 
— corps,  and  on  their  left  he  placed  two  divisions  of  the  twentieth  corps — 
General  "Williams' — in  whose  front  a  line  of  barricades  were  hastily 
thrown  up.  General  Kilpatrick,  also,  responding  to  the  sound  of  guns, 
came  up  and  massed  his  cavalry  on  the  left.  In  this  position,  the  Union 
forces  received  six  distinct  assaults  by  the  combined  forces  of  Hoke, 
Hardee,  and  Cheatham,  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  General 
Johnston  himself,  without  giving  an  inch  of  ground,  and  doing  excellent 
execution  on  the  enemy's  ranks,  especially  with  the  artillery,  of  which 
the  enemy  had  but  little.  In  fact,  Johnston,  availing  himself  of  a  new 
road  unknown  to  our  commanders,  had  moved,  by  night,  from  Smithfield, 
without  unnecessary  wheels,  and  with  the  utmost  rapidity ;  hoping  to 
catch  Sherman's  left  wing  "  in  air,"  and  ruin  it,  before  it  could  be  relieved 
by  its  co-operating  columns.  But  Sherman,  all  the  way  from  Fayette- 
ville,  had  been  aware  of  the  possibility  of  just  such  an  attack,  and  the 
well  conceived  manoeuvre  of  the  wily  Kebel  chief  resulted  only  in  his 
complete  discomfiture.  The  arrival,  on  the  night  of  the  19th,  of  the  wagon 
trains  and  the  two  divisions  which  guarded  it,  and  a  division  of  the 
fifteenth  corps,  enabled  Slocum  to  make  his  position  quite  impregnable. 
The  right  wing — seventeenth  and  fifteenth  corps — leaving  their  trains  to 
General  Terry,  who  was  advancing  from  Wilmington,  arrived  at  Cox's 
bridge  in  the  rear  of  the  two  other  divisions  of  the  fifteenth ;  and  the 
column,  by  early  dawn,  was  upon  the  road  from  Cox's  bridge  to  the  cross- 
road  where  Johnston  first  struck  the  left  wing — this  being  the  road  by 
which  Slocum  was  to  have  passed  to  join  the  right  wing — intending  to 
cover  the  left  flank  until  it  reached  the  Neuse  river.  The  advance,  there- 


932  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

fore,  of  the  seventeenth  and  fifteenth  corps,  took  Johnston  in  the  rear;  and  the 
troops  moved  briskly  forward,  though  many  of  them  had  marched  twenty- 
five  miles  with  empty  stomachs.  During  the  advance,  the  head  of  the 
column  skirmished  heavily  all  the  way  with  the  Kebel  cavalry,  until  they 
arrived  within  half  a  mile  of  the  cross-road,  where  they  found  the  enemy 
in  strong  position  behind  temporary  breastworks ;  but  quickly  dislodged 
them,  and  secured  the  intersection  of  the  road.  General  Logan,  on  moving 
forward  the  fifteenth  corps,  found  that  the  enemy's  left  was  thrown  back* 
and  that  they  had  constructed  a  line  of  parapet,  connecting  with  that 
toward  General  Slocum,  in  the  form  of  a  bastion ;  its  salient  on  the  main 
Goldsboro  road,  and  interposed  between  Slocum  on  the  west  and  Howard 
on  the  east ;  its  flanks  resting  on  Mill  creek,  and  covering  the  Smithfield 
road.  General  Howard,  acting  under  orders,  proceeded  with  caution, 
until  he  had  firmly  completed  his  connection,  on  the  left,  with  General 
Slocum ;  so  that,  by  four  P.  M.  of  the  20th,  the  Union  line  of  battle  con 
fronted  the  enemy  in  his  intrenched  position.  Thus,  Johnston,  instead  of 
catching  Sherman's  army  "  in  air,"  as  he  had  hoped,  was  himself  placed 
on  the  defensive,  with  Mill  creek  and  only  a  single  bridge  at  his  rear.  As 
no  object  was  to  be  obtained  by  a  battle,  Sherman  contented  himself  with 
the  free  use  of  artillery  upon  the  wooded  space  held  by  the  enemy ; 
pressing  him  steadily  with  skirmishers,  and  strongly  feeling  his  flanks, 
which  were  covered  by  the  endless  swamps  in  the  neighborhood.  lie 
also  grouped  the  impedimenta  of  the  army  near  the  Neuse,  south  of  Golds 
boro,  sent  the  empty  wagons  to  Kinston  for  supplies,  and  held  his  army 
well  in  hand,  close  up  to  the  enemy,  whom  he  was  prepared  to  fight,  if  he 
should  venture  outside  of  his  works.  Such  was  the  position  of  affairs 
around  Bentonville  on  the  21st  of  March.  On  the  same  day,  General 
Schofield  entered  Goldsboro,  with  little  or  no  opposition,  and  General 
Terry  had  obtained  possession  of  the  Neuse  river  at  Cox's  bridge,*  with  a 
pontoon  bridge  laid,  and  a  brigade  thrown  across ;  so  that  the  three  armies 
were  actually  in  connection,  and  the  great  object  of  the  campaign  was 
accomplished. 

During  the  21st  it  rained  steadily,  and  General  Mower's  division  of  the 
seventeenth  corps,  on  the  extreme  right,  succeeded  in  working  well  to  the 
right,  around  the  enemy's  flank,  and  nearly  reached  the  bridge  across 
Mill  creek,  which,  as  we  have  before  said,  formed  the  enemy's  only  line 
of  retreat.  Fearing,  however,  that  the  Eebels  would  overwhelm  Mower 
with  all  his  reserves,  Sherman  at  once  ordered  a  general  attack  along  the 
whole  skirmish  line ;  and  during  the  noisy  battle  which  ensued,  Mower 
regained  his  connection  with  his  own  corps,  by  moving  to  his  left  rear, 
with  a  loss  of  about  a  hundred  men  killed  and  wounded.  His  advance, 
however,  caused  quite  a  commotion  in  the  Kebel  ranks,  and  developed  a 
weakness  in  the  enemy's  position,  of  which  advantage  would  have  been 
taken  by  Sherman  on  the  following  day.  In  this  reconnoisance,  Mower 


GEN.  SHERMAN'S   SUMMING  UP  OF  RESULTS.  933 

pushed  further  than  was  expected ;  had  the  movement  been  intended  to 
bring  on  a  general  battle,  he  would  have  been  supported  by  the  other 
divisions  of  his  corps ;  and  had  the  gallant  seventeenth  intrenched  them 
selves  on  Johnston's  line  of  retreat,  an  attack  by  the  Union  troops  in  front 
of  the  Eebel  lines  would  have  resulted  in  the  total  destruction  of  John 
ston's  army.  As  it  was,  the  movement  carried  consternation  into  the 
Rebel  ranks,  and  Johnston,  only  too  thankful  at  his  narrow  escape, 
retreated  on  Smithfield  that  very  night,  leaving  his  pickets  to  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  Union  army,  his  dead  unburied,  and  his  wounded  abandoned 
in  the  field  hospitals.  Pursuit  was  made,  on  the  following  day,  for  two 
miles  beyond  Mill  creek,  but  was  checked  by  General  Sherman,  who 
remained  in  full  possession  of  the  battle  field. 

The  losses  of  the  left  wing — General  Slocum — at  the  battle  of  Benton- 
ville,  were  nine  officers  and  one  hundred  and  forty-five  men  killed,  fifty- 
one  officers  and  eight  hundred  and  sixteen  men  wounded,  and  three  officers 
and  two  hundred  and  twenty-three  men  missing,  taken  prisoners ;  total, 
two  thousand  two  hundred  and  forty-seven. 

The  right  wing — General  Howard — lost  two  officers  and  thirty-five 
men  killed,  twelve  officers  and  two  hundred  and  thirty-nine  men  wounded, 
and  one  officer  and  sixty  men  missing ;  total,  three  hundred  and  ninety- 
nine. 

Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  held  in  reserve,  lost  but  few,  if  any.  The  aggre 
gate  Union  loss  was  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty-three. 

Of  the  Confederates,  two  hundred  and  sixty-seven  were  buried  on  the 
field,  and  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty -five  made  prisoners  by 
our  troops. 

Leaving  General  Howard  and  the  right  wing,  with  Kilpatrick's  cavalry, 
at  Bentonville,  during  the  22d,  to  bury  the  dead  and  attend  to  the 
wounded,  Sherman  ordered  all  the  armies  to  move,  on  the  following  day, 
into  the  camps  assigned  to  them  in  the  vicinity  of  Goldsboro,  there  to 
receive  the  clothing  and  supplies  of  which  they  stood  in  need,  and  to  gain 
the  repose  which  they  had  so  nobly  earned.  He  himself,  on  the  23d, 
went  to  Cox's  bridge  to  meet  General  Terry,  whom  he  then  saw  for  the 
first  time,  and  on  the  next  day  rode  into  Goldsboro  to  see  General  Scho- 
field  and  his  army.  The  left  wing  followed  him  during  the  same  day,  and 
the  next  morning ;  the  right  wing  arrived  on  the  24th,  and  the  cavalry 
moved  to  Mount  Olive  station,  and  General  Terry  back  to  Faison's.  On 
the  25th,  the  Newbern  railroad  was  completed,  and  supplies  began  to  come 
in  from  Morehead  City,  where  they  had  been  accumulated  by  the  foresight 
of  General  Grant. 

Leaving  General  Schofield  in  chief  command,  General  Sherman  pro 
ceeded  by  rail  to  Morehead  City,  and  thence  by  steamer  to  City  Point, 
reaching  General  Grant's  headquarters  on  the  evening  of  the  27th  of 
March.  Here,  he  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet  General  Grant,  the  Presi- 


934  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

dent,  Generals  Meade,  Ord,  and  others  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
from  them  learned  the  general  state  of  the  military  world,  from  which  he 
had  been  so  long  cut  off.  Returning,  by  steamer,  via  Hatteras  inlet  and 
Newbern,  he  regained  his  headquarters  at  Goldsboro  on  the  night  of 
the  30th,  and  found  all  things  in  a  satisfactory  condition.  In  his  official 
report,  he  thus  sums  up  the  result  of  the  campaign : 

"  I  cannot  even,  with  any  degree  of  precision,  recapitulate  the  vast 
amount  of  injury  done  to  the  enemy,  or  the  quantity  of  guns  and  materials 
of  war  captured  and  destroyed.  In  general  terms,  we  have  traversed  the 
country  from  Savannah  to  Goldsboro,  with  an  average  breadth  of  forty 
miles,  consuming  all  the  forage,  cattle,  hogs,  sheep,  poultry,  cured  meat, 
corn-meal,  etc.  The  public  enemy,  instead  of  drawing  supplies  from  that 
region  to  feed  his  armies,  will  be  compelled  to  send  provisions  from  other 

quarters  to  feed  its  inhabitants Of  course,  the  abandonment  to  us 

by  the  enemy  of  the  whole  sea-coast,  from  Savannah  to  Newborn,  North 
Carolina,  with  its  forts,  dock-yards,  gunboats,  etc.,  was  a  necessary  inci 
dent  to  our  occupation  and  destruction  of  the  inland  routes  of  travel  and 
supply.  But  the  real  object  of  this  march  was  to  place  this  army  in  a 
position  easy  of  supply,  whence  it  could  take  an  apppropriate  part  in 
the  spring  and  summer  campaign  of  1865.  ....  In  conclusion,  I  beg  to 
express  in  the  most  emphatic  manner  my  entire  satisfaction  with  the  tone  and 
temper  of  the  whole  army.  Nothing  seems  to  dampen  their  energy,  zeal, 
or  cheerfulness.  It  is  impossible  to  conceive  a  march  involving  more 
labor  and  exposure,  yet  I  cannot  recall  an  instance  of  bad  temper  by  the 
way,  or  hearing  an  expression  of  doubt  as  to  our  perfect  success  in  the 
end.  I  believe  that  this  cheerfulness  and  harmony  of  action  reflects  upon 
all  concerned  quite  as  much  real  honor  and  fame  as  "  battles  gained  "  or 
"cities  won,"  and  I  therefore  commend  all,  generals,  staff-officers,  and 
men,  for  those  high  qualities,  in  addition  to  the  more  soldierly  ones  of 
obedience  to  orders  and  the  alacrity  they  have  always  manifested  when 
danger  summoned  them  "  to  the  front." 


SURRENDER  OF  REBEL  FORTIFICATIONS.  936 


CHAPTER   LXXI. 

SURRENDER  OF  REBEL  FORTIFICATIONS    AT    THE   ENTRANCE   TO  WILMINGTON  HARBOR GUNS 

CAPTURED — THE  TWENTY-THIRD  CORPS  SENT  EAST  TO  AID  IN  THE  REDUCTION  OF  WILMING 
TON,  AND  TO  REINFORCE  SHERMAN — GENERAL  SCHOFIELD  PUT  IN  COMMAND  OF  THE 
DEPARTMENT  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA — HIS  INSTRUCTIONS — THE  ADVANCE  UPON  FORT  ANDER 
SON — DIFFICULTIES — THE  REBELS  ABANDON  THE  FORT,  AND  RETREAT  OVER  TOWN  CREEK 

THE    OPERATIONS    OF     THE     FLEET — GENERAL     COX     CROSSES    TOWN     CREEK,    BOMBARDS 

EAGLE  ISLAND — CROSSES  BRUNSWICK  RIVER,  AND  DRIVES  THE  ENEMY  OUT  OF  WILMINGTON 

RESULTS—-THE    MOVEMENT    ON    KINSTON    AND    GOLDSBORO — CAUSES    OF  DELAY BATTLE 

AT  SOUTHWEST  CREEK — CAPTURE  OF  UNION  TROOPS — FIGHTING  NEAR  KINSTON — KINSTON 
EVACUATED,  AND  OCCUPIED  BY  SCHOFIELD — ADVANCE  TOWARD  GOLDSBORO,  AND  ARRIVAL 
THERE — GENERAL  TERRY  MOVES  FROM  WILMINGTON  TO  GOLDSBORO — GENERAL  GRANT 
DETERMINES  TO  CUT  LEfi's  COMMUNICATIONS  ON  THE  NORTHWEST — SHERIDAN'S  RAID 

ON    LYNCHBURG,     &C — HE    REACHES    THE     ARMY    OF     THE    POTOMAC GENERAL    GRANT'S 

INSTRUCTIONS  TO  GENERALS  MEADE,  ORD,  AND  SHERIDAN GORDON'S  ATTACK  UPON  FORT 

STEDMAN — THE  REASONS  PROMPTING  THE  MOVEMENT — HE  CAPTURES  THE  FORT,  BUT  IT  IS 
RETAKEN,  AND  THE  REBELS  DEFEATED  WITH  HEAVY  LOSS,  BOTH  ON  THE  LEFT  AND  RIGHT 
— GENERAL  MEADE's  CONGRATULATORY  ORDER — THE  GENERAL  ADVANCE  UPON  LEE's 
LINES — GENERAL  GRANT'S  INSTRUCTIONS  TO  GENERAL  SHERIDAN — GENERAL  WARREN'S 
REPULSE — HIS  CORPS  PUT  UNDER  SHERIDAN'S  COMMAND — SHERIDAN'S  BATTLE  AT  DIN- 

WIDDIE  COURT  HOUSE THE  BATTLE  OF    FIVE    FORKS ATTACK    ON    THE  FORTIFICATIONS  OF 

PETERSBURG  BY  THE  SIXTH,  NINTH,  AND  TWENTY-FOURTH  CORPS PETERSBURG  AND  RICH 
MOND  EVACUATED PURSUIT  OF  LEE — BATTLES  OF  JETERSVILLE,  FARMVILLE,  HIGH  BRIDGE, 

DEATONSVILLE,  AND  APPOMATTOX  STATION — CORRESPONDENCE  BETWEEN  GRANT  AND  LEE 
— SURRENDER  OF  LEE — SKETCH  OF  GENERAL  LEE. 

THE  surrender  or  evacuation  of  the  Rebel  works  on  Smith's  island  and 
at  Smithville,  the  gateways  of  the  two  entrances  to  Wilmington  harbor,  was 
completed  on  the  17th,  and  by  it,  eight  additional  batteries  and  fortifica 
tions,  mounting,  in  all,  eighty-three  guns,  nearly  half  of  them  of  large 
calibre,  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Union  troops.  The  Rebels  had 
fallen  back  to  Fort  Anderson  and  Wilmington,  as  the  Union  forces  accu 
mulated  in  their  front,  and  those  points,  under  the  command  of  General 
Bragg,  were  held  with  great  resolution.  Foreseeing  the  probability  that 
further  forces  would  be  needed  for  the  reduction  of  Wilmington,  and  for 
other  operations  on  the  coast,  while  the  large  force  under  General  Thomas's 
command  was  not  required  on  the  line  of  the  Tennessee,  now  that  Hood, 
was  so  thoroughly  discomfitted  and  routed,  General  Grant  had,  on  the  7th 
of  January,  directed  General  Thomas  to  send  Schofield  and  the  twenty- 
third  corps  eastward.  The  advance  of  the  corps  arrived  in  Washington 
on  the  23d  of  January,  from  whence  it  was  sent  at  once  to  Fort 
Fisher  and  Newborn.  The  State  of  North  Carolina  was  now  consti 
tuted  into  a  department,  and  General  Schofield  placed  in  command  of  it, 


THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN    THE   UNITED   STATES. 

under  the  orders  of  General  Sherman.     The  following  instructions  were 
given  him : 

"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  January  3lst,  1865. 

"  GENERAL  :  *  *  *  Your  movements  are  intended  as  co-operative  with 
Sherman's  through  the  States  of  South  and  North  Carolina.  The  first 
point  to  be  attained  is  to  secure  Wilmington.  Goldsboro  will  then  be 
your  objective  point,  moving  either  from  Wilmington  or  Newbernz  or 
both,  as  you  deem  best.  Should  you  not  be  able  to  reach  Goldsboro,  you 
will  advance  on  the  line  or  lines  of  railway  connecting  that  place  with 
the  sea-coast— as  near  to  it  as  you  can,  building  the  road  behind  you.  The 
enterprise  under  you  has  two  objedlls ;  the  first  is,  to  give  General  Sher 
man  material  aid,  if  needed  in  his  march  north ;  the  second,  to  open  a 
base  of  supplies  for  him  on  his  line  of  march.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  you 
can  determine  which  of  the  two  points,  Wilmington  or  Newbern,  you  can 
best  use  for  throwing  supplies  from  to  the  interior,  you  will  commence 
the  accumulation  of  twenty  days'  rations  and  forage  for  sixty  thousand 
men  and  twenty  thousand  animals.  You  will  get  of  these  as  many  as  you 
can  house  and  protect  to  such  point  in  the  interior  as  you  may  be  able  to 
occupy.  I  believe  General  Palmer  has  received  some  instructions  direct 
from  General  Sherman  on  the  subject  of  securing  supplies  for  his  army. 
You  can  learn  what  steps  he  has  taken,  and  be  governed  in  your  requisi 
tions  accordingly.  A  supply  of  ordnance  stores  will  also  be  necessary. 

"  Make  all  requisitions  upon  the  chiefs  of  their  respective  departments 
in  the  field  with  me  at  City  Point.  Communicate  with  me  by  every 
opportunity,  and  should  you  deem  it  necessary  at  any  time,  send  a  special 
boat  to  Fortress  Monroe,  from  which  point  you  can  communicate  by 
telegraph. 

"  The  supplies  referred  to  in  these  instructions  are  exclusive  of  those 
required  for  your  own  command. 

"The  movements  of  the  enemy  may  justify,  or  even  make  it  your  im 
perative  duty,  to  cut  loose  from  your  base  and  strike  for  the  interior  to' 
aid  Sherman.  In  such  case,  you  will  act  on  your  own  judgment,  without 
waiting  for  instructions.  You  will  report,  however,  what  you  purpose 
doing.  The  details  for  carrying  out  these  instructions  are  necessarily  left 
to  you.  I  would  urge,  however,  if  I  did  not  know  that  you  are  already 
fully  alive  to  the  importance  of  it,  prompt  action.  Sherman  may  be 
looked  for  in  the  neighborhood  of  Goldsboro  any  time  from  the  22d  to 
the  28th  of  February ;  this  limits  your  time  very  materially. 

11  If  rolling  stock  is  not  secured  in  the  capture  of  Wilmington,  it  can 
be  supplied  from  Washington.  A  large  force  of  railroad  men  have 
already  been  sent  to  Beaufort,  and  other  mechanics  will  go  to  Fort  Fisher 
in  a  day  or  two.  On  this  point  I  have  informed  you  by  telegraph. 

"  U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-  General. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  J.  M.  SCHOFIELD." 


THE  ADVANCE  UPON  FORT  ANDERSON.         93T 

Previous  to  giving  these  instructions,  General  Grant  had  visited  Fort 
Fisher,  in  company  with  General  Schofield,  and  had  conferred  with  Gen 
eral  Terry  and  Rear-Admiral  Porter  as  to  the  best  measures  to  be  adopted. 
Schofield's  corps  numbered,  at  this  time,  about  twenty -one  thousand  men ; 
while  General  Terry  had  about  eight  thousand  at  Fort  Fisher,  and  Gen 
eral  Palmer  about  four  thousand  more  at  Newbern.  On  the  9th  of  Feb 
ruary,  General  Schofield  landed  the  third  division  of  his  corps,  comman(k'<l 
by  General  Cox,  at  the  mouth  of  Cape  Fear  river,  near  Fort  Fisher, 
followed  soon  after  by  Couch's  division.  At  this  time,  General  Terry 
held  a  line  across  the  Peninsula,  formed  by  the  ocean  and  Cape  Fear  river, 
occupying  also  Smithville  Fort  Caswell,  and  with  his  flanks  covered  by 
the  fleet,  under  Admiral  Porter.  The  Rebels  occupied  Fort  Anderson,  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  river,  a  strong  earthwork,  with  a  collateral  line, 
strongly  fortified,  running  to  a  large  swamp  about  three  fourths  of  a  mile 
distant,  and  also  a  line  on  the  Peninsula,  north  of  Terry's  position,  extend 
ing  from  Cape  Fear  river  to  Masonboro  or  Myrtle  sound.  Their  position 
was  impregnable  to  a  direct  attack,  and  could  only  be  turned  by  crossing 
Myrtle  sound  above  his  left  wing,  or  passing  around  the  swamp  which 
covered  his  right.  On  the  llth  of  February,  General  Schofield  pushed 
forward  Terry's  line,  supported  by  Cox's  division,  drove  in  the  enemy's 
pickets,  and  intrenched  in  a  new  position,  so  near  to  the  enemy's  lines  as 
to  compel  him  to  employ  his  entire  fojce  in  holding  his  lines.  February 
is  emphatically  a  month  of  storms  on  this  coast,  and  the  peril  of  attempt 
ing  to  turn  the  Rebel  left  wing  by  a  boat  expedition  was  from  this  cause 
so  great,  that  General  Schofield  preferred  to  attack  on  their  right,  and 
thus  encounter  only  the  difficulties  incident  to  the  land.  Accordingly, 
Cox's  and  Ames's  divisions  were  crossed  over  to  Smithville,  where  they 
were  joined  by  Moore's  brigade,  of  Couch's  division,  which  had  just 
landed,  and  advanced  along  the  main  Wilmington  road,  until  they 
encountered  the  enemy  at  Fort  Anderson  and  its  adjacent  works.  Here 
two  brigades  were  intrenched,  to  occupy  the  enemy,  while  Cox,  with  the 
other  two  brigades  of  his  division  and  Ames's  division,  moved  around  the 
swamp  which  covered  the  enemy's  right,  in  order  to  strike  the  Wilming 
ton  road  in  rear,  and  north  of  the  fort.  The  distance  to  be  marched  was 
about  fifteen  miles.  The  enemy,  finding  himself  in  danger  of  being 
flanked,  his  cavalry  having  discovered  Cox's  movement,  hastily  aban 
doned  his  works  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  during  the  night  of  February 
19th,  and  fell  back  behind  Town  creek  on  the  west,  and  behind  a  line  of 
swamps  in  a  corresponding  position  on  the  east.  Fort  Anderson  and  its 
adjacent  defences,  with  ten  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  large  amount  of  am 
munition,  thus  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Union  troops  without  a  conflict, 
and  the  approaches  to  Wilmington  were  greatly  weakened. 

On  the  following  day,  General  Cox  pursued  the  enemy  to  Town  creek, 
behind  which  he  was  found  intrenched,  having  destroyed  the  only  bridge. 


938  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 

Terry,  who  was  on  the  east  side  of  Cape  Fear  river;  also  found  the  enemy 
in  strong  force  in  his  new  position,  and  Ames's  division  was  brought  over 
to  the  east  bank  to  reinforce  him  on  the  night  of  the  19th  of  February. 
On  the  20th,  Cox  crossed  Town  creek,  below  the  Kebel  position,  and 
reaching  their  flank  and  rear,  attacked  and  routed  them,  capturing  two 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  three  hundred  and  seventy -five  prisoners.  The 
next  morning,  he  pushed  on  toward  Wilmington  without  opposition.  On 
the  east  side,  Terry  could  not  make  as  rapid  progress ;  but  he  held  all 
of  Hoke's  force  in  his  •  front,  and  prevented  them  from  reinforcing  the 
Kebel  troops,  which  Cox  was  driving  before  him.  The  fleet,  meantime, 
had  been  proceeding  cautiously  up'  'the  river,  removing  the  torpedoes 
which  were  planted  thickly  along  the  shores,  and  in  the  main  channel,  by 
means  of  yawls  connected  to  each  other  by  drag-ropes.  These  being 
taken  up  or  exploded,  the  squadron  approached  to  a  line  of  piles  extend 
ing  nearly  across  the  river,  the  only  opening  left  being  protected  by  tor 
pedoes,  and  subjected  to  the  concentrated  fire  from  Fort  French,  a 
formidable  work,  clad  with  T  railroad  iron,  a  line  of  water  batteries,  a 
high  shore  battery  on  the  east  side,  and  Fort  St.  Philip,  on  Eagle  island. 
Having  hauled  off  the  Montauk  monitor,  which  had  grounded,  and 
buoyed  out  the  channel,  Admiral  Porter  continued  up  the  river,  and  on 
the  20th  of  February  commenced  bombarding  the  forts.  During  the 
night,  the  enemy  sent  down  two  .hundred  floating  torpedoes,  but  fore 
warned  of  their  approach,  the  admiral  caused  them  to  be  caught  with 
nets  and  ropes,  and  discharged  in  such  a  way  as  to  do  no  material  injury. 
On  the  afternoon  of  the  21st  of  February,  General  Cox  reached  Bruns-' 
wick  river,  as  the  arm  of  the  Cape  Fear  flowing  west  of  Eagle  island  is 
called,  and  opening  fire  upon  the  enemy  on  Eagle  island,  caused  them  to 
burn  the  railway  bridge  which  crossed  Brunswick  river,  and  cut  adrift 
the  pontoon  bridge,  setting  it  on  fire  at  the  same  time.  Securing  a  few  of  ' 
the  pontoons,  General  Cox  promptly  crossed  to  Eagle  island,  skirmishing 
and  establishing  outposts  on  the  causeway  over  the  swamp,  and  within 
musket  range  of  the  city  wharves.  The  Kebels  opened  upon  them  with 
two  Whitworth  guns,  but  Cox's  troops  soon  brought  up  their  artillery;  and 
threw  several  shells  into  the  city.  The  enemy  continued  to  menace 
Terry's  position  during  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  the  21st,  but  during 
the  night  he  set  fire  to  the  property  of  the  Eebel  Government  in  and 
about  the  city,  consisting  of  one  thousand  bales  of  cotton,  fifteen  thou 
sand  barrels  of  rosin,  extensive  cotton  sheds  and  presses,  and  unfinished 
iron-clads,  three  large  turpentine  distilleries,  and  the  adjacent  wharves, 
the  railroad  and  pontoon  bridges,  &c.,  and  abandoned  the  city,  and 
retreated  toward  Goldsboro.  Fifty  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance,  fifteen  light 
pieces,  and  a  large  amount  of  ammunition,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Union 
troops.  The  Union  loss  from  February  llth  to  the  22d  (the  day  Wil 
mington  was  occupied),  was  not  over  two  hundred  officers  and  men  in 


THE  MOVEMENT  ON   KINSTON  AND   GOLDSBORO.  939 

killed  and  wounded,  while  that  of  the  Rebels  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners,  was  not  less  than  one  thousand. 

Meantime,  General  Palmer's  force,  at  Newbern,  about  four  thousand 
men,  was  under  orders  to  move  on  Kinston,  and  thence  march  toward 
Goldsboro,  at  which  point  he  would  tap  the  main  line  of  railroad  between 
Richmond  and  the  South.  Goldsboro  was,  as  we  have  seen  from  General 
Grant's  instructions  to  General  Schofield,  as  truly  Schofield's  objective  as 
Sherman's,  and  all  his  energies  were  directed  to  obtaining  possession  of  it 
at  as  early  a  date  as  possible,  and  now  that  he  could,  as  should  seem  most 
advisable,  make  either  Wilmington  or  Newbern  his  base  of  supplies  for 
furnishing  both  Sherman's  army  and  his  own,  he  was  doubly  anxious  to 
press  forward.  Having  no  rolling  stock  at  "Wilmington,  and  very  little 
wagon  transportation,  he  was  compelled  to  operate  from  ISTewbern,  mainly, 
for  the  capture  of  Goldsboro  ;  the  efficient  superintendent  of  military  rail 
roads  for  General  Sherman's  army  being  left  in  charge,  with  the  assurance 
that  he  would,  at  the  earliest  possible  date,  have  the  railroad  from  Wil 
mington  to  Goldsboro  so  repaired  and  equipped  as  to  be  capable  of  doing 
the  necessary  business.  To  Newbern,  therefore,  General  Schofield  sent,  in 
all  haste,  Ruger's  division  of  the  twenty-third  corps,  which  had  just  ar 
rived  at  Fort  Fisher,  and  urged  upon  General  Palmer  to  move,  with  as 
little  delay  as  possible,  and  with  all  his  available  force,  upon  Kinston,  to 
protect  the  workmen  who  were  repairing  the  railway.  Couch's  division 
was  also  ordered  to  remove,  and  a  part  of  General  Cox's.  On  the  25th, 
finding  that  General  Palmer,  instead  of  moving  promptly,  had  come  to 
Wilmington  to  consult  in  regard  to  details  and  difficulties,  General  Sco- 
field  ordered  General  Cox  to  take  command  at  Newbern,  and  push  forward 
at  once.  The  lack  of  wagons  proved  a  serious  hindrance,  and  it  was  not 
until  the  6th  of  March  that  enough  became  available  to  move  the  two 
divisions  (Couch's  and  Cox's)  from  Wilmington  to  Kinston.  These  two 
divisions  then  marched,  by  way  of  Onslow  and  Richlands,  for  Kinston, 
direct,  instead  of  going,  as  had  been  at  first  intended,  by  way  of  Newbern. 
On  the  same  day,  General  Schofield  went  by  sea  to  Morehead  City,  and,  on 
the  8th,  joined  General  Cox  beyond  Kewbern.  The  force  in  front  of  Gen 
eral  Cox  (who  had  advanced  to  Wise's  forks,  about  one  and  a  half  miles 
below  Southwest  creek,  and  was  there  awaiting  the  progress  of  the  rail 
road)  was  supposed  to  consist  of  Hoke's  division  and  a  small  body  of 
reserves.  They  had  fallen  back  behind  Southwest  creek,  afcd  General  Cox 
had  sent  two  regiments,  under  Colonel  Upham,  to  secure  the  crossing  of 
the  creek  on  the  Dover  road.  The  enemy,  having  been  reinforced  by  a 
portion  of  the  old  Confederate  army  of  Tennessee,  recrossed  the  creek  some 
distance  above  the  Dover  road,  came  down  in  rear  of  Colonel  Upham's 
position,  and  surprised  and  captured  nearly  his  entire  command,  number 
ing  about  seven  hundred  men.  The  enemy  then  advanced,  and  endea 
vored  to  penetrate  between  Carter's  and  Palmer's  divisions,  respectively 


940  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

occupying  the  Doyer  road  and  the  railway,  but  was  checked  by  Ruger's 
division  of  the  Twenty-third  corps,  which  was  just  arriving  upon  the  field. 
There  was  no  further  engagement  during  the  day,  beyond  light  skirmish 
ing,  and  the  loss  on  either  side,  with  the  exception  of  the  prisoners  cap 
tured  with  Colonel  Upham,  was  insignificant.  It  being  evident  that  the 
enemy's  force  was  at  least  equal  to  that  of  General  Cox,  and  that  rein 
forcements  were  reaching  them  as  rapidly  as  they  could  be  brought  by 
rail,  General  Schofield  directed  General  Cox  to  put  his  troops  in  position, 
intrench  them  securely,  and  await  the  arrival  of  General  Couch.  On  the 
9th  of  March,  the  Rebels  pressed  Schofield's  line  strongly,  and  sought 
opportunity  to  flank  it.  Heavy  skirmishing  was  kept  up  during  the  day, 
but  no  assault  was  made.  On  the  10th,  the  enemy  having  been  largely 
reinforced,  and  probably  having  learned  of  the  approach  of  General 
Couch's  column,  made  a  heavy  attack  upon  General  Cox's  left  and  centre, 
but  were  decisively  repulsed,  and  with  heavy  loss.  Both  attacks  were 
met,  mainly,  by  Ruger's  division  of  the  twenty -third  corps,  a  portion  of 
which  had  been  rapidly  transferred  from  the  centre  to  the  left,  to  meet  the 
attack  there,  and  then  returned  to  the  centre  in  time  to  repel  the  attempt 
on  that  portion  of  the  line.  The  enemy  retreated  in  confusion,  leaving 
his  killed  and  wounded,  as  well  as  the  greater  part  of  his  arms  and 
intrenching  tools,  and.  during  the  night,  fell  back  across  the  Neuse  and 
burned  the  bridge  which  spanned  it.  The  loss  of  the  Union  army  in  this 
engagement  was. about  three  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded;  that  of  the 
Kebels,  about  fifteen  hundred  in  killed,  wounded  an.d  missing.  General 
Couch  arrived,  with  his  two  divisions  of  the  twenty-third  corps,  on  the 
llth,  and  effected  a  junction  with  General  Cox. 

Having  no  pontoon  train,  General  Schofield  was  unable  to  cross  the 
Neuse  until  the  bridge  could  be  repaired,  or  the  pontoons,  which  had  just 
arrived  from  the  north,  could  be  brought  by  railway  from  Morehead  City. 
The  crossing  was  effected,  without  opposition,  on  the  14th,  the  Rebels 
having  abandoned  Kinston  and  moved  rapidly  toward  Smithfield,  to  join 
the  force  under  Johnston,  who  was  then  actively  engaged  in  concentrating 
all  his  available  force  to  oppose  Sherman's  advance  from  Fayetteville. 

Immediately  upon  the  occupation  of  Kinston,  General  Schofield  put  a 
large  force  of  troops  to  work  upon  the  railroad,  in  aid  of  the  construction 
corps,  under  Colonel  Wright,  rebuilt  the  wagon  bridge  over  the  Neuse, 
and  brought  forward  supplies,  preparatory  to  a  further  advance.  lie 
moved  from  Kinston  on  the  morning  of  the  20th,  and  entered  Goldsboro, 
with  but  slight  opposition,  on  the  evening  of  the  21st.  The  portion  of 
his  command  which  had  remained  at  Washington,  under  General  Terry, 
moved  from  that  point  on  the  15th  of  March,  reached  Faison's  depot  on 
the  20th,  and,  as  we  have  said,  these  were,  in  accordance  with  Sherman's 
orders,  moved  from  that  point  to  Cox's  bridge,  and  secured  a  crossing  of 


GENERAL   GRANT'S   INSTRUCTIONS   TO   SHERIDAN.  94] 

the  Nense  on  the  22d.     The  subsequent  history  of  these  armies  is  com 
mingled  with  that  of  Sherman's  grand  army. 

General  Grant  now  deemed  it  important,  before  making  a  general 
movement  with  the  armies  operating  against  Richmond,  that  all  the  com 
munications  of  the  Rebel  army  in  that  city,  with  the  region  north  of  the 
James  and  west  of  the  Fredericksburg  railroad,  should  be  completely  and 
permanently  severed.  As  the  enemy  had  withdrawn  the  greater  part  of 
his  force  from  the  Shenandoah  valley,  and  sent  it  south,  or  used  it  to  re 
place  troops  sent  from  Richmond,  and  as  it  was  desirable  to  reinforce 
Sherman  with  cavalry,  his  force  in  that  arm  of  the  service  at  that  time 
being  greatly  inferior  to  Johnston,  the  Lieutenant-General  determined  to 
make  a  move  from  the  Shenandoah  valley,  which  should  cut  the  commu 
nications  of  the  Rebels,  and  might  also  reinforce  Sherman.  He  accord 
ingly  telegraphed  General  Sheridan  as  follows : 

"  CITY  POINT,  YA.,  February  2Qth,  1865—1  p.  M. 

"  GENERAL  : — As  soon  as  it  is  possible  to  travel,  I  think  you  will  have 
no  difficulty  about  reaching  Lynchburg  with  a  cavalry  force  alane.  From 
there  you  could  destroy  the  railroad  and  canal  in  every  direction,  so  as  to 
be  of  no  further  use  to  the  Rebellion.  Sufficient  cavalry  should  be  left 
behind  to-  look  after  Mosby's  gang.  From  Lynchburg,  if  information 
you  might  get  there  would  justify  it,  you  could  strike  south,  heading  the 
streams  in  Virginia  to  the  westward  of  Danville,  and  push  on  and  join 
General  Sherman.  This  additional  raid,  with  one  now  about  starting 
from  East  Tennessee,  under  Stoneman,  numbering  four  or  five  thousand 
cavalry,  one  from  Vicksburg,  numbering  seven  or  eight  thousand  cavalry, 
one  from  Eastport,  Miss.,  ten  thousand  cavalry,  Canby  from  Mobile  bay, 
with  about  thirty-eight  thousand  mixed  troops;  these  three  latter  pushing 
for  Tuscaloosa,  Selma,  and  Montgomery,  and  Sherman,  with  a  large  army, 
eating  out  the  vitals  of  South  Carolina,  is  all  that  will  be  wanted  to  leave 
nothing  for  the  Rebellion  to  stand  upon.  I  would  advise  you  to  over 
come  great  obstacles  to  accomplish  this.  Charleston  was  evacuated  on 
Tuesday  last.  U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-General. 

"MAJOR-GENERAL  P.  H.  SHERIDAN." 

On  the  25th  of  February,  General  Sheridan  telegraphed  to  General  Grant 
inquiring  to  what  point  Sherman  was  aiming,  and  what  were  the  points 
through  which  he  would  be  likely  to  pass,  after  leaving  Charlotte,  N.  C. 
General  Grant  replied,  indicating  in  general  terms  Sherman's  proposed 
route  to  Favetteville  and  Goldsboro.  Having  thus  ascertained  the  move 
ments  of  the  great  commander  with  whom  he  hoped  to  co-operate,  General 
Sheridan  moved  from  Winchester  on  the  27th  of  February,  with  two 
divisions  of  cavalry,  numbering  about  five  thousand  each.  On  the  1st  of 
March  he  secured  the  bridge,  which  the  enemy  attempted  to  destroy, 
across  the  middle  fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  at  Mount  Crawford,  and 


942  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

entered  Staunton  on  the  2d,  the  enemy  having  retreated  to  Waynesboro. 
Thence  he  pushed  on  to  Waynesboro,  wl^ere  he  found  the  enemy  in  force 
in  an  intrenched  position,  under  General  Early.  Without  stopping  to 
make  a  reconnoissance,  an  immediate  attack  \vas  made,  the  position  was 
carried,  and  one  thousand  six  hundred  prisoners,  eleven  pieces  of  artillery, 
with  horses  and  caissons  complete,  two  hundred  wagons  and  teams  loaded 
with  subsistence,  and  seventeen  battle-flags  were  captured.  The  prisoners, 
under  an  escort  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  men,  were  sent  back  to  Win 
chester.  Thence  he  marched  on  Charlottesville,  destroying  effectually  the 
railroad  and  bridges  as  he  went,  which  place  he  reached  on  the  3d. 
Here  he  remained  two  days,  destroying  the  railroad  toward  Eichmond 
ami  Lynchburg,  including  the  large  iron  bridges  over  the  north  and  south 
forks  of  the  Kivanna  river,  and  awaiting  the  arrival  of  his  trains.  This 
necessary  delay  caused  him  to  abandon  the  idea  of  capturing  Lynchburg. 
On  the  morning  of  the  6th,  dividing  his  force  into  two  columns,  he  sent 
one  to  Scottsville,  whence  it  marched  up  the  James  river  canal  to  New 
Market,  destroying  every  lock,  and  in  many  places  the  bank  of  the  canal. 
From  here  a  force  was  pushed  out  from  this  column  to  Duguidsville,  *to 
obtain  possession  of  the  bridge  across  the  James  river  at  that  place,  but 
failed.  The  enemy  burned  it  on  his  approach.  The  enemy  also  burned 
the  bridge  across  the  river  at  Hardwicksville.  The  other  column  moved 
down  the  railroad  toward  Lynchburg,  destroying  it  as  far  as  Amherst 
Court  House,  sixteen  miles  from-  Lynchburg ;  thence  across  the  country, 
uniting  with  the  column  at  New  Market.  The  river  being  very  high,  his 
pontoons  would  not  reach  across  it ;  and  the  enemy  having  destroyed  the 
bridges  by  which  he  had  hoped  to  cross  the  river  and  get  on  the  South- 
side  railroad  about  Farmville,  and  destroy  it  to  Appomattox  Court 
House,  the  only  thing  left  for  him  was  to  return  to  Winchester  or  strike 
a  base  at  the  White  House.  Fortunately,  he  chose  the  latter.  From  New 
Market  he  took  up  his  line  of  march,  following  the  canal  toward  Rich 
mond,  destroying  every  lock  upon  it,  and  cutting  the  banks  wherever 
practicable,  to  a  point  eight  miles  east  of  Goochland ;  concentrating  the 
whole  force  at  Columbia  on  the  10th.  Here  he  rested  one  day,  and  sent 
through,  by  scouts,  information >  of  his  whereabouts  and  purposes,  and  a 
request  for  supplies  to  raeet  him  at  White  House,  which  reached  -General 
Grant  on  the  night  of  the  12th.  An  infantry  force  was  immediately  sent 
to  get  possession  of  White  House,  and  supplies  were  forwarded.  Moving 
from  Columbia  in  a  direction  to  threaten  Eichmond,  to  near  Ashland 
station,  he  crossed  the  Annas,  and  after  having  destroyed  all  the  bridges 
and  many  miles  of  the  railroad,  proceeded  down  the  north  bank  of  the 
Pamunkey  to  White  House,  which  place  he  reached  on  the  19th. 

After  the  long  march  which  Sheridan's  cavalry  had  made  over  Vir 
ginia  roads  in  winter,  it  was  necessary  for  them  to  rest  and  refit  at  White 
House.  General  Grant  was  at  this  time  harassed  by  the  fear  that  the 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO   MBADE,   ORD,  AND  SHERIDAN.  943 

/ 

enemy  would  leave  his  strong  lines  about  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  for 

the  purpose  of  uniting  with  Johnston,  before  he  was  driven  from  them  by 
battle,  or  the  Union  army  was  in  a  position  to  make  effectual  pursuit, 
and  he  accordingly  urged  upon  all  his  subordinates  the  necessity  of  prompt 
concentration.  Sheridan  responded  to  this  wish  of  the  Lieutenant-General 
at  the  earliest  possible  moment,  moving  from  White  House  on  the  24th 
of  March,  crossed  the  James  river  at  Jones's  landing,  and  formed  a  junction 
with  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  front  of  Petersburg  on  the  27th. 
During  this  movement,  General  Ord,  commanding  the  army  of  the 
James,  sent  forces  to  cover  his  crossing  of  the  Chickahominy. 

The  time  for  a  final  move,  which  should  finally  overwhelm  Lee's  army 
and  compel  its  surrender,  was  rapidly  drawing  nigh.  On  the  24th  of 
March,  Lieutenant-General  Grant  issued  the  following  instructions  to  his 
three  army  commanders,  Generals  Meade,  Ord,  and  Sheridan : 

"  CITY  POINT,  YA.,  March  24tfi,  1865. 

"  GENERAL  : — On  the  29th  instant  the  armies  operating  against  Rich 
mond  will  be  moved  by  our  left,  for  the  double  purpose  of  turning  the 
enemy  out  of  his  present  position  around  Petersburg,  and  to  insure  the 
success  of  the  cavalry  under  General  Sheridan,  which  will  start  at  the 
same  time,  in  its  efforts  to  reach  and  destroy  the  Southside  and  Danville 
railroads.  Two  corps  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  will  be  moved  at  first 
in  two  columns,  taking  the  two  roads  crossing  Hatcher's  run,  nearest 
where  the  present  line  held  by  us  strikes  that  stream,  both  moving 
toward  Dinwiddie  Court  House. 

"The  cavalry  under  General  Sheridan,  joined  by  the  division  now 
under  General  Davies,  will  move,  at  the  same  time,  by  the  Weldon  road 
and  the  Jerusalem  plank-road,  turning  west  from  the  latter  before  cross 
ing  the  Nottoway,  and  west  with  the  whole  column  before  reaching 
Stony  creek.  General  Sheridan  will  then  move  independently,  under 
other  instructions  which  will  be  given  him.  All  dismounted  cavalry 
belonging  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  the  dismounted  cavalry  from 
the  Middle  Military  Division  not  required  for  guarding  property  belong 
ing  to  their  arm  of  service,  will  report  to  Brigadier-General  Benham,  to 
be  added  to  the  defences  of  City  Point.  Major-General  Parke  will  be  left  in 
command  of  all  the  army  left  for  holding  the  lines  about  Petersburg  and 
City  Point ;  subject,  of  course,  to  orders  from  the  commander  of  the  army 
of  the  Potomac.  The  ninth  army  corps  will  be  left  intact  to  hold  the 
present  line  of  works,  so  long  as  the  whole  line  now  occupied  by  us  is  held. 
If,  however,  the  troops  to  the  left  of  the  ninth  corps  are  withdrawn, 
then  the  left  of  the  corps  may  be  thrown  back  so  as  to  occupy  the  position 
held  by  the  army  prior  to  the  capture  of  the  Weldon  road.  All  troops  to 
the  left  of  the  ninth  corps  will  be  held  in  readiness  to  move  at  the  shortest 
notice,  by  such  route  as  may  be  designated  when  the  order  is  given. 


944  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

"  General  Ord  will  detach  three  divisions,  two  white  and  one  colored, 
or  so  much  of  them  as  he  can  and  hold  his  present  lines,  and  march  for 
the  present  left  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  In  the  absence  of  further 
orders,  or  until  further  orders  are  given,  the  white  divisions  will  follow 
the  left  column  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  the  colored  division  the 
right  column.  During  the  movement,  Major-General  Weitzel  will  be 
left  in  command  of  all  the  forces  remaining  behind  from  the  army  of  the 
James. 

"  The  movement  of  troops  from  the  army  of  the  James  will  commence 
on  the  night  of  the  27th  inst.  General  Ord  will  leave  behind  the  minimum 
number  of  cavalry  necessary  for  picket  duty,  in  the  absence  of  the  main 
army.  A  cavalry  expedition  from  General  Ord's  command  will  also  be 
started  from  Suffolk,  to  leave  there  on  Saturday,  the  1st  of  April,  under 
Colonel  Sumner,  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  the  railroad  about  Hicksford. 
This,  if  accomplished,  will  have  to  be  a  surprise,  and  therefore  from 
three  to  five  hundred  men  will  be  sufficient.  They  should,  however,  be 
supported  by  all  the  infantry  that  can  be  spared  from  Norfolk  and  Ports 
mouth,  as  far  out  as  to  where  the  cavalry  crosses  the  Blackwater.  The 
crossing  should  probably  be  at  Uniten.  Should  Colonel  Sumner  succeed 
in  reaching  the  Weldon  road,  he  will  be  instructed  to  do  all  the  damage 
possible  to  the  triangle  of  roads  between  Hicksford,  Weldon  and  Gaston 
The  railroad  bridge  at  Weldon  being  fitted  up  for  the  passage  of  carriages, 
it  might  be  practicable  to  destroy  any  accumulation  of  supplies  the  enemy 
mav  have  collected  south  of  the  Eoanoke.  All  the  troops  will  move 
with  four  days'  rations  in  haversacks,  and  eight  days'  in  wagons.  To 
avoid  as  much  hauling  as  possible,  and  to  give  the  army  of  the  James 
the  same  number  of  days'  supply  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  Gen 
eral  Ord  will  direct  his  commissary  and  quartermaster  to  have  suffi 
cient  supplies  delivered  at  the  terminus  of  the  road,  to  fill  up  in  passing. 
Sixty  rounds  of  ammunition  per  man  will  be  taken  in  wagons,  and  as 
much  grain  as  the  transportation  on  hand  will  carry,  after  taking  the 
specified  amount  of  other  supplies.  The  densely  wooded  country  in 
which  the  army  has  to  operate  making  the  use  of  much  artillery  imprac 
ticable,  the  amount  taken  with  the  army  will  be  reduced  to  six  or  eight 
guns  to  each  divison,  at  the  option  of  the  army  commander. 

"  All  necessary  preparations  for  carrying  these  directions  into  opera 
tion  may  be  commenced  at  once.  The  reserves  of  the  ninth  corps  should 
be  massed  as  much  as  possible.  Whilst  I  would  not  now  order  an  un 
conditional  attack  on  the  enemy's  line  by  them,  they  should  be  ready, 
and  should  make  the  attack  if  the  enemy  weakens  his  line  in  their  front, 
without  waiting  for  orders.  In  case  they  carry  the  line,  then  the  whole 
of  the  ninth  corps  could  follow  up,  so  as  to  join  or  co-operate  with  the 
balance  of  the  army.  To  prepare  for  this,  the  ninth  corps  will  have 
rations  issued  to  them,  same  as  the  balance  of  the  army.  General 


GORDON'S   ATTACK  UPON   FORT  STEDMAN.  945 

Weitzel  will  keep  vigilant  watch  upon  his  front,  and  if  found  at  all 
practicable  to  break  through  at  any  point,  he  will  do  so.  A  success  north 
of  the  James  should  be  followed  tip  with  great  promptness.  An  attack  will 
not  be  feasible  unless  it  is  found  that  the  enemy  has  detached  largely.  In 
that  case,  it  may  be  regarded  as  evident  that  the  enemy  are  relying  upon 
their  local  reserves,  principally,  for  the  defence  of  Richmond.  Preparations 
may  be  made  for  abandoning  all  the  line  north  of  the  James,  except  enclosed 
works;  only  to  be  abandoned,  however,  after  a  break  is  made  in  the  lines  of 
the  enemy. 

"  By  these  instructions,  a  large  part  of  the  armies  operating  against 
Richmond  is  left  behind.  The  enemy,  knowing  this,  may,  as  an  only 
chance,  strip  their  lines  to  the  merest  skeleton,  in  the  hope  of  advantage 
not  being  taken  of  it,  while  they  hurl  every  thing  against  the  moving 
column,  and  return.  It  cannot  be  impressed  too  strongly  upon  com 
manders  of  troops  left  in  the  trenches  not  to  allow  this  to  occur  without 
taking  advantage  of  it.  The  very  fact  of  the  enemy  coming  out  to  attack, 
if  he  does  so,  might  be  regarded  as  almost  conclusive  evidence  of  such  a 
weakening  of  his  lines.  I  would  have  it  particularly  enjoined  upon  corps 
commanders  that,  in  case  of  an  attack  from  the  enemy,  those  not  attacked 
are  not  to  wait  for  orders  from  the  commanding  officer  of  the  army  to 
which  they  belong,  but  that  they  will  move  promptly,  and  notify  the  com 
mander  of  their  action.  I  would  also  enjoin  the  same  action  on  the  part  of 
division  commanders,  when  other  parts  of  their  corps  are  engaged.  In  like 
manner,  I  would  urge  the  importance  of  following  up  a  repulse  of  the  enemy. 

"U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant- General 

"MAJOR-GENERALS   MEADE,  ORD,  and   SHERIDAN." 

While  these  preparations  were  making  for  a  general  crushing  attack 
©n  the  Rebel  strongholds,  General  Lee,  in  his  desperation,  essayed  a  coun 
ter  attack,  anticipating  the  movement  of  the  Union  armies  by  three  days ; 
and  though  success  was  hardly  possible  with  such  odds  as  he  had  to  con 
tend  with,  yet  the  attack  was  well  planned,  and  came  near  proving  a 
success.  Had  it  done  so,  it  must  have  materially  retarded,  and  for  a  time 
paralyzed,  the  intended  Union  movement.  The  Union  armies  were,  at 
this  time,  holding  a  line  of  thirty  miles  in  extent,  and,  large  as  their  num 
bers  were,  they  were  at  some  points  greatly  attenuated.  One  of  the 
points  where  this  attenuation  was  greater  than  it  should  have  been,  was 
at  Fort  Stedman  and  its  immediate  vicinity.  Fort  Stedman  was  a  square 
fort,  covering  about  an  acre  of  ground,  and  mounting  nine  guns,  and  sup 
ported  by  two  mortar  batteries,  9  and  10,  on  its  right,  and  two  on  its 
left,  numbered  11  and  12.  It  was  the  second  regular  fort  in  the  line  of 
Union  fortifications  confronting  Petersburg,  reckoning  from  the  Appo- 
mattox  river  on  the  right — Fort  McGilvray,  three  fourths  of  a  mile  dis 
tant,  being  the  first ;  while  on  its  left,  three  eighths  of  a  mile  distant,  was 
60 


946  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Fort  Haskell.  Against  Fort  Stedman,  before  break  of  day,  March  25th, 
Gordon's  Eebel  corps,  consisting  of  three  divisions,  was  massed  for  a 
charge,  while  the  remainder  of  Lee's  army,  or  at  least  that  portion  of  it 
which  lay  in  Petersburg,  was  arranged  to  co-operate  in  an  attack  on  the 
Union  centre.  Lee's  objects  in  this  attack  were  twofold.  If  possible,  he 
meant  to  break  through  the  Union  lines  at  Hare's  hill,  on  which  Fort 
Stedman  was  situated,  by  a  bold  dash ;  to  turn  the  guns  he  should  capture 
upon  the  Union  troops,  wheel  his  troops  to  the  right,  and  march  down 
the  line,  taking  Forts  Haskell,  Morton,  Meikle,  &c.,  in  reverse,  stripping 
off  the  guns  and  garrisons  from  the  forts  and  batteries,  and  threatening 
the  whole  line.  While  one  column  should  accomplish  this  work,  another 
in  its  rear,  crossing  through  the  gap,  would  reach  and  destroy  the  military 
railroad  from  City  Point  to  Petersburg,  and  perhaps  march  to  City  Point, 
and  burn  the  Union  depots  and  supplies  at  that  place.  This  seizure  of 
the  Union  base  would  effectually  cut  off  the  army  of  the  James  from  that 
of  the  Potomac,  and  if  successful,  might  have  broken  up  the  entire  cam 
paign,  and  thrown  a  new  aspect  on  the  war.  If  this  should  prove  too 
great  a  task  to  be  accomplished  with  the  force  he  had  at  command,  he 
might,  in  any  event,  by  this  move  prevent  pursuit,  and  give  his  army  the 
opportunity  of  evacuating  Petersburg  and  Eichmond,  and  marching  un 
molested  upon  Danville  or  Lynchburg. 

At  daybreak,  Gordon's  troops  rushed  to  the  attack.  The  space  between 
the  opposing  lines  was  only  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  width,  and 
having  cleared  their  own  abatis,  the  Eebel  troops  charged  across  the  inter 
val  and  up  the  acclivity  to  Fort  Stedman,  worked  their  way  through  the 
abatis  in  the  front  a  little  to  the  left,  passed  round  a  travelled  road,  and 
captured  the  fort  at  once  by  charging  from  the  rear  through  the  regular 
entrance.  The  Union  line  here  was  guarded  by  McLaughlin's  brigade 
of  Wilcox's  (first)  division  of  the  ninth  corps.  In  the  fort  were  tho 
fourteenth  New  York  heavy  artillery,  and  so  skilfully,  boldly,  and  rapidly 
was  this  assault  executed,  that  the  garrison,  numbering  about  five  hun 
dred  men,  was  captured  with  scarcely  a  show  of  resistance.  The  Eebels 
at  once  turned  the  captured  guns  against  the  rest  of  the  line,  and  speedily 
occupied  mortar  batteries  9,  10,  and  11,  adjoining  Fort  Stedman.  Their 
onward  progress  was  now  checked,  however,  by  Fort  Haskell ;  and  the 
other  brigades  of  Wilcox's  division  having  been  rallied,  a  stubborn  re 
sistance  began  to  be  offered  to  their  further  advance.  At  this  juncture, 
Hartranft's  (third)  division  of  the  ninth  corps  came  up  to  the  support  of 
Wilcox,  and  the  Union  batteries  from  all  quarters  concentrated  their  fire 
upon  Fort  Stedman,  to  which  the  Eebels  replied  as  briskly  as  they  could 
from  the  guns  they  had  captured.  Under  this  terrific  fire,  Hartranft's 
division  pressed  up  toward  the  captured  fort  to  retake  it.  The  Eebels  at 
first  resisted  obstinately,  and  attempted  to  prevent  Hartranft's  advance, 
directing  their  fire  upon  him  with  great  intensity,  and  killing  or  wound- 


THE   REBELS   DEFEATED  WITH   HEAVY  LOSS.  947 

ing  nearly  two  hundred  men  in  his  column.  Soon,  however,  the  destruc 
tive  fire  of  the  Union  artillery,  and  Hartranft's  determined  advance, 
disheartened  them.  They  fell  back  from  the  mortar  batteries  into  the 
fort,  and  then  beyond  the  fort,  down  the  hill,  abandoning  all  the  guns 
they  had  captured,  and  endeavoring  only  to  regain  their  own  lines.  But 
the  Union  guns  maintained  their  fire  upon  them  with  such  severity  as  to 
prevent  a  large  part  of  the  retreating  force  from  escaping  from  the  fort, 
and  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty -eight  prisoners  fell  into  the 
hands  of  Hartranft's  troops.  Others  were  gleaned  from  the  abatis  and 
the  space  between  the  lines,  making  the  whole  number  a  little  more  than 
nineteen  hundred.  Their  total  loss  in  this  engagement  could  not  have 
been  less  than  two  thousand  five  hundred,  while  the  Union  loss  was  only 
sixty-eight  killed,  three  hundred  and  thirty-seven  wounded,  and  five  hun 
dred  and  six  missing,  mostly  prisoners.  The  Rebels,  in  this  attack,  did 
not  fight  with  their  accustomed  fierceness.  Many  of  their  soldiers  were 
only  too  glad  to  be  captured,  and  a  large  number  began  at  once  to  plun 
der  the  officers'  quarters  in  the  captured  fort,  and  thus  prevented  such  a 
following  up  of  their  first  success  as  was  essential  to  a  final  victory.  By 
ten  A.  M.  the  fighting  in  front  of  Fort  Stedman  was  over,  but  General 
Meade  at  once  ordered  the  other  corps  to  advance  and  feel  the  enemy  in 
their  respective  fronts.  Pushing  forward,  they  captured  and  held  the 
enemy's  strongly  intrenched  picket  line  in  front  of  the  second  and  sixth 
corps,  and  took  eight  hundred  and  thirty-four  prisoners.  The  Rebels  made 
desperate  efforts  to  retake  this  line,  but  without  success.  The  Union 
losses  in  this  part  of  the  field  were  fifty-two  killed,  eight  hundred  and 
sixty-four  wounded,  and  two  hundred  and  seven  missing.  The  Rebel  loss 
here  was  more  than  twenty-five  hundred.  During  the  day,  ten  battle-flags 
were  taken  from  them.  Major-General  Meade  addressed,  the  next  day,  a 
congratulatory  order  to  his  troops,  in  which,  while  he  censured  the  repre 
hensible  want  of  vigilance  of  the  third  brigade,  first  division,  ninth  corps, 
he  paid  due  honors  to  the  gallantry,  energy,  and  skill  of  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  Hartranft,  and  the  good  conduct  of  his  division,  and  impressed  upon 
the  troops  these  two  important  lessons:  "That  no  fortified  line,  however 
strong,  will  protect  an  army  from  an  intrepid  and  audacious  enemy,  unless 
vigilantly  guarded ;  and  that  no  disaster  or  misfortune  is  irreparable,  when 
energy  and  bravery  are  displayed  in  the  determination  to  recover  what 
is  lost,  and  to  promptly  assume  the  offensive." 

General  Grant  was  fully  impressed  with  the  belief  that  it  was  Lee's 
intention  to  abandon  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  and  attempt  to  join 
Johnston,  as  soon  as  General  Sherman  crossed  the  Roanoke ;  and  determining 
to  prevent,  or  at  least  retard  the  consummation  of  his  purpose,  he  resolved 
to  anticipate  somewhat  his  own  previously  ordered  movement,  in  order  to 
break  up  the  Danville  road,  and  thus  cripple  Lee's  facilities  for  retreating. 

The  narrative  of  what  followed  cannot  be  given  more  clearly  and 


948  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

intelligibly  than  in  the  graphic  language  of  the  Lieutenant-General's  own 
report. 

"  On  the  night  of  the  27th,  Major-General  Ord,  with  two  divisions  of 
ths  twenty-fourth  corps,  Major-General  Gibbon  commanding,  an£  one 
division  of  the  twenty-fifth  corps,  Brigadier-General  Birney  commanding, 
and  McKenzie's  cavalry,  took  up  his  line  of  march  in  pursuance  of  the 
foregoing  instructions,  and  reached  the  position  assigned  him,  near  Hatcher's 
run,  on  the  morning  of  the  29th.  On  the  28th,  the  following  instructions 
were  given  to  General  Sheridan : 

" '  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA  March  28th,  1865. 

" '  GENERAL  : — The  fifth  army  corps  will  move  by  the  Yaughn  road  at 
three  A.  M.  to-morrow  morning.  The  second  moves  at  about  nine  A.  M., 
having  but  about  three  miles  to  march  to  reach  the  point  designated  for  it  to 
take  on  the  right  of  the  fifth  corps,  after  the  latter  reaching  Dinwiddie 
Court  House.  Move  your  cavalry  at  as  early  an  hour  as  you  can,  and 
without  being  confined  to  any  particular  road  or  roads.  You  may  go 
out  by  the  nearest  roads  in  rear  of  the  fifth  corps,  pass  by  its  left,  and, 
passing  near  to  or  through  Dinwiddie,  reach  the  right  and  rear  of  the 
enemy  as  soon  as  you  can.  It  is  not  the  intention  to  attack  the  enemy  in 
his  intrenched  position,  but  to  force  him  out,  if  possible.  Should  he  come 
out  and  attack  us,  or  get  himself  where  he  can  be  attacked,  move  in  with 
your  entire  force,  in  your  own  way,  and  with  the  full  reliance  that  the 
army  will  engage  or  follow,  as  circumstances  will  dictate.  I  shall  be  on 
the  field,  and  will  probably  be  able  to  communicate  with  you.  Should  I 
not  do  so,  arid  you  find  that  the  enemy  keeps  within  his  main  intrenched 
line,  you  may  cut  loose,  and  push  for  the  Danville  road.  If  you  find  it 
practicable,  I  would  like  you  to  cross  the  Southside  road,  between  Peters 
burg  and  Burkesville,  and  destroy  it  to  some  etctent.  I  would  not  advise 
much  detention,  however,  until  you  reach  the  Danville  road,  which  I 
would  like  you  to  strike  as  near  to  the  Appomattox  as  possible.  Make 
your  destruction  on  that  road  as  complete  as  possible.  You  can  then  pass 
on  to  the  Southside  road,  west  of  Burkesville,  and  destroy  that,  in  like 
manner. 

"  '  After  having  accomplished  the  destruction  of  the  two  railroads,  wnich 
are  now  the  only  avenues  of  supply  to  Lee's  army,  you  may  return  to 
this  army,  selecting  your  road  further  south,  or  you  may  go  on  into  North 
Carolina  and  join  General  Sherman.  Should  you  select  the  latter  course, 
get  the  information  to  me  as  early  as  possible,  so  that  I  may  send  orders 
to  meet  you  at  Goldsboro. 

"  '  U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-  General 

"  'MAJOR-GENERAL  P.  H.  SHERIDAN.' 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  29th  the  movement  commenced.  At  night  the 
cavalry  was  at  Dinwiddie  Court  House,  and  the  left  of  our  infantry  line 


ARMSTRONGS  MILL 
OABNEYS  MILL  f 


GRANT'S   INSTRUCTIONS  TO   GENERAL  SHERIDAN.  949 

extended  to  the  Quaker  road,  near  its  intersection  with  the  Boydton  plank- 
road.  The  position  of  the  troops  from  left  to  right  was  as  follows :  Sheridan, 
Warren,  Humphreys,  Ord,  Wright,  Parke. 

"  Every  thing  looked  favorable  to  the  defeat  of  the  enemy  and  the  capture 
of  Petersburg  and  Kichmond,  if  the  proper  effort  was  made.  I  therefore 
addressed  the  following  communication  to  General  Sheridan,  having 
previously  instructed  him,  verbally,  not  to  cut  loose  for  the  raid  contem 
plated  in  his  orders  until  he  received  notice  from  me  to  do  so: 

" '  GRAVKLLT  CREEK,  March  29M  1865. 

" '  GENERAL  : — Our  line  is  now  unbroken  from  the  AppomattoxtoDinwid- 
die.  We  are  all  ready,  however,  to  give  up  all,  from  the  Jerusalem  plank- 
road  to  Hatcher's  run,  whenever  the  forces  can  be  used  advantageously. 
After  getting  into  line  south  of  Hatcher's,  we  pushed  forward  to  find  the 
enemy's  position.  General  Griffin  was  attacked  near  where  the  Quaker 
road  intersects  the  Boydton  road,  but  repulsed  it  easily,  capturing  about 
one  hundred  men.  Humphreys  reached  Dabney's  mill,  and  was  pushing 
on  when  last  heard  from. 

" '  I  now  feel  like  ending  the  matter,  if  it  is  possible  to  do  so,  before 
going  back.  I  do  not  want  you,  therefore,  to  cut  loose  and  go  after  the 
enemy's  roads  at  present.  In  the  morning,  push  around  the  enemy,  if  you 
can,  and  get  on  to  his  right  rear.  The  movements  of  the  enemy's  cavalry 
may  of  course  modify  your  action.  We  will  act  all  together  as  one  army 
here  until  it  is  seen  what  can  be  done  with  the  enemy.  The  signal  officer 
at  Cobb's  hill  reported,  at  half  past  eleven  o'clock  A.  M.,  that  a  cavalry 
column  had  passed  that  point  from  Richmond  toward  Petersburg,  taking 
forty  minutes  to  pass, 

"  '  U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-  General 

" '  MAJOR-GENERAL  P.  H.  SHERIDAN.' 

"From  the  night  of  the  29th  to  the  morning  of  the  31st  the  rain  fell  in 
such  torrents  as  to  make  it  impossible  to  move  a  wheeled  vehicle,  except 
as  corduroy  roads  were  laid  in  front  of  them.  During  the  30th,  Sheridan 
advanced  from  Dinwiddie  Court  House  toward  Five  Forks,  where  he  found 
the  enemy  in  force.  General  Warren  advanced  and  extended  his  line 
across  the  Boydton  plank-road  to  near  the  White  Oak  road,  with  a  view 
of  getting  across  the  latter ;  but  finding  the  enemy  strong  in  his  front,  and 
extending  beyond  his  left,  was  directed  to  hold  on  where  he  was  and 
fortify.  General  Humphreys  drove  the  enemy  from  his  front  into  his 
main  line  on  the  Hatcher,  near  Burgess's  mills.  Generals  Ord,  Wright, 
and  Parke  made  examinations  in  their  fronts,  to  determine  the  feasibility 
of  an  assault  on  the  enemy's  lines.  The  two  latter  reported  favorably. 
The  enemy  confronting  us,  as  he  did,  at  every  point  from  Richmond  to 
our  extreme  left,  I  conceived  his  lines  must  be  weakly  held,  and  could 
be  penetrated,  if  my  estimate  of  his  forces  was  correct.  I  determined, 


950  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

therefore,  to  extend  my  line  no  further,  but  to  reinforce  General  Sheridan 
with  a  corps  of  infantry,  and  thus  enable  him  to  cut  loose  and  turn  the 
enemy's  right  flank,  and  with  the  other  corps  assault  the  enemy's  lines.  The 
result  of  the  offensive  effort  of  the  enemy  the  week  before,  when  he 
assaulted  Fort  Stedman,  particularly  favored  this.  The  enemy's  in 
trenched  picket  line,  captured  by  us  at  that  time,  threw  the  lines  occupied 
by  the  belligerents  so  close  together,  at  some  points,  that  it  was  but  a 
moments  run  from  one  to  the  other.  Preparations  were  at  once  made  to 
relieve  General  Humphrey's  corps,  to  report  to  General  Sheridan;  but 
the  condition  of  the  roads  prevented  immediate  movement.  On  the 
morning  of  the  31st,  General  Warren  reported  favorably  to  getting  pos 
session  of  the  White  Oak  road,  and  was  directed  to  do  so.  To  accomplish 
this,  he  moved  with  one  division,  instead  of  his  whole  corps,  which  was 
attacked  by  the  enemy  in  superior  force,  and  driven  back  on  the  second 
division  before  it  had  time  to  form,  and  it,  in  turn,  forced  back  upon  the 
third  division,  when  the  enemy  was  checked.  A  division  of  the  second 
corps  was  immediately  sent  to  his  support,  the  enemy  driven  back  with 
heavy  loss,  and  possession  of  White  Oak  road  gained.  Sheridan  advanced, 
and  with  a  portion  "of  his  cavalry  got  possession  of  the  Five  Forks;  but 
the  enemy,  after  the  affair  with  the  fifth  corps,  reinforced  the  Rebel  cavalry, 
defending  that  point  with  infantry,  and  forced  him  back  toward  Dinwiddie 
Court  House.  Here  General  Sheridan  displayed  great  generalship.  In 
stead  of  retreating  with  his  whole  command  on  the  main  army,  to  tell  the 
story  of  superior  forces  encountered,  he  deployed  his  cavalry  on  foot, 
leaving  only  mounted  men  enough  to  take  charge  of  the  horses.  This 
compelled  the  enemy  to  deploy  over  a  vast  extent  of  woods  and 
broken  country,  and  make  his  progress  slow.  At  this  juncture,  he  des 
patched  to  me  what  had  taken  place,  and  that  he  was  dropping  back 
slowly  on  Dinwiddie  Court-House.  General  McKenzie's  cavalry  and  one 
division  of  the  fifth  corps  were  immediately  ordered  to  his  assistance. 
"Soon  after,  receiving  a  report  from  General  Meade  that  Humphreys  could 
hold  our  position  on  the  Boydton  road,  and  that  the  other  two  divisions 
of  the  fifth  corps  could  go  to  Sheridan,  they  were  so  ordered  at  once. 
Thus  the  operations  of  the  day  necessitated  the  sending  of  Warren,  because 
of  his  accessibility,  instead  of  Humphreys,  as  was  intended,  and  precipi 
tated  intended  movements.  On  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  April,  General 
Sheridan,  reinforced  by  General  Warren,  drove  the  enemy  back  on  Five 
Forks,  where,  late  in  the  evening,  he  assaulted  and  carried  his  strongly 
fortified  position,  capturing  all  his  artillery  and  between  five  and  six 
thousand  prisoners.  About  the  close  of  this  battle,  brevet  Major-General 
Charles  Griffin  relieved  Major-General  Warren  in  command  of  the  fifth 
corps.  The  report  of  this  reached  me  after  nightfall.  Some  apprehension 
filled  my  mind  lest  the  enemy  might  desert  his  lines  during  the  night,  and, 
by  falling  upon  General  Sheridan  before  assistance  could  reach  him,  drive 


PETERSBURG  AND   RICHMOND   EVACUATED.  951 

him  from  his  position,  and  open  the  way  for  retreat.  To  guard  against 
this,  General  Miles's  division  of  Humphrey's  corps  was  sent  to  reinforce 
him,  and  a  bombardment  was  commenced  and  kept  up  until  four  o'clock 
in  the  morning  (April  2d);  when  an  assault  was  ordered  on  the  enemy's 
lines. 

"  General  Wright  penetrated  the  lines  with  his  whole  corps,  sweeping 
every  thing  before  him,  and  to  his  left,  toward  Hatcher's  run,  capturing 
many  guns  and  several  thousand  prisoners.  He  was  closely  followed  by 
two  divisions  of  General  Ord's  command,  until  he  met  the  other  division 
of  General  Ord's,  that  had  succeeded  in  forcing  the  enemy's  lines  near 
Hatcher's  run.  Generals  Wright  and  Ord  immediately  swung  to  the 
right,  and  closed  all  the  enemy  on  that  side  of  them  in  Petersburg,  while 
General  Humphreys  pushed  forward  with  two  divisions  and  joined  Gen 
eral  Wright  on  the  left.  General  Parke  succeeded  in  carrying  the  enemy's 
main  line,  capturing  guns  and  prisoners,  but  was  unable  to  carry  his  inner 
line.  General  Sheridan,  being  advised  of  the  condition  of  affairs,  returned 
General  Miles  to  his  proper  command.  On  reaching  the  enemy's  lines 
immediately  surrounding  Petersburg,  a  portion  of  General  Gibbon's  corps, 
by  a  most  gallant  charge,  captured  two  strong,  inclosed  works — the  most 
salient  and  commanding  south  of  Petersburg — thus  materially  shortening 
the  line  of  investment  necessary  for  taking  the  city.  The  enemy  south  of 
Hatcher's  run  retreated  westward  to  Sutherland's  station,  where  they 
were  overtaken  by  Miles's  division.  A  severe  engagement  ensued,  and 
lasted  until  both  his  right  and  left  flanks  were-  threatened  by  the  approach 
of  General  Sheridan,  who  was  moving  from  Ford's  station  toward  Peters 
burg,  and  a  division  sent  by  General  Meade  from  the  front  of  Petersburg, 
when  he  broke  in  the  utmost  confusion,  leaving  in  our  hands  his  guns 
and  many  prisoners.  This  force  retreated  by  the  main  road  along  the 
Appomattox  river. 

"  During  the  night  of  the  2d,  the  enemy  evacuated  Petersburg  and  Rich 
mond,  and  retreated  toward  Danville.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d,  pursuit 
was  commenced.  General  Sheridan  pushed  for  the  Danville  road,  keep 
ing  near  the  Appomattox,  followed  by  General  Meade,  with  the  second 
and  sixth  corps,  while  General  Ord  moved  from  Burkesville  along  the 
Southside  road ;  the  ninth  corps  stretched  along  that  road  behind  him. 
On  the  4th,  General  Sheridan  struck  the  Danville  road  near  Jetersville, 
where  he  learned  that  Lee  was  at  Amelia  Court  House.  He  immediately 
intrenched  himself,  and  awaited  the  arrival  of  General  Meade,  who  reached 
there  the  next  day.  General  Ord  reached  Burkesville  on  the  evening  of 
the  5th. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  5th,  I  addressed  Major-General  Sherman  the 
following  communication : 

"  '  WILSON'S  STATION,  April  5th,  1865. 

"  'GENERAL  : — All  indications  now  are  that  Lee  will  attempt  to  reach 


952  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Danville  with  the  remnant  of  his  force.  Sheridan,  who  was  up  with  him 
last  night,  reports  all  that  is  left — horse,  foot  and  dragoons — at  twenty 
thousand,  much  demoralized.  We  hope  to  reduce  this  number  one  half. 
I  shall  push  on  to  Burkesville,  and  if  a  stand  is  made  at  Danville,  will,  in 
a  very  lew  days,  go  there.  If  you  can  possibly  do  so,  push  on  from  where 
you  are,  and  let  us  see  if  we  cannot  finish  the  job  with  Lee's  and  John- 
ston's  armies.  Whether  it  will  be  better  for  you  to  strike  for  Greensboro 
or  nearer  to  Danville,  you  will  be  better  able  to  judge  when  you  receive 
this.  Rebel  armies  now  are  the  only  strategic  points  to  strike  at. 

"'U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-  General. 
11 '  MAJOR-GENERAL  W.  T.  SHERMAN.' 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  6th,  it  was  found  that  General  Lee  was  moving 
west  of  Jetersville,  toward  Danville.  General  Sheridan  moved  with  his 
cavalry  (the  fifth  corps  having  been  returned  to  General  Meade  on  his 
reaching  Jetersville)  to  strike  his  flank,  followed  by  the  sixth  corps ; 
while  the  second  and  fifth  corps  pressed  hard  after,  forcing  him  to  aban 
don  several  hundred  wagons  and  several  pieces  of  artillery.  General 
Ord  advanced  from  Burkesville  toward  Farmville,  sending  two  regi 
ments  of  infantry  and  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  under  brevet  Brigadier- 
General  Theodore  Read,  to  reach  and  destroy  the  bridges.  This  advance 
met  the  head  of  Lee's  column  near  Farmville,  which  it  heroically  attacked 
and  detained,  until  General  Read  was  killed  and  his  small  force  over 
powered.  This  caused  a  delay  in  the  enemy's  movements,  and  enabled 
General  Ord  to  get  well  up  with  the  remainder  of  his  force,  on  meeting 
which,  the  enemy  immediately  intrenched  himself.  In  the  afternoon, 
General  Sheridan  struck  the  enemy  south  of  Sailor's  creek,  captured  six 
teen  pieces  of  artillery,  and  about  four  hundred  wagons,  and  detained 
him  until  the  sixth  corps  got  up,  when  a  general  attack  of  infantry  and 
cavalry  was  made,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  six  or  seven  thousand 
prisoners,  among  whom  were  many  general  officers.  The  movements  of 
the  second  corps  and  General  Ord's  command  contributed  greatly  to 
the  day's  success. 

11  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  the  pursuit  was  renewed,  the  cavalry,  except 
one  division,  and  the  fifth  corps,  moving  by  Prince  Edward's  Court  House ; 
the  sixth  corps,  General  Ord's  command,  and  one  division  of  cavalry,  on 
Farmville,  and  the  second  corps  by  the  High  Bridge  road.  It  was  soon 
found  that  the  enemy  had  crossed  to  the  north  side  of  the  Appomatox ; 
but  so  close  was  the  pursuit  that  the  second  corps  got  possession  of  the 
common  bridge  at  High  Bridge  before  the  enemy  could  destroy  it,  and 
immediately  crossed  over.  The  sixth  corps  and  a  division  of  cavalry 
crossed  at  Farmville  to  its  support. 

"Feeling  now  that  General  Lee's  chance  of  escape  was  utterly  hopeless,  I 
addressed  him  the  following  communication  from  Farmville  : 


CORRESPONDENCE  BETWEEN   GRANT  AND   LEE.  953 

"  '  April  1th,  1865. 

' '  GENERAL  : — The  results  of  the  last  week  must  convince  you  of  the 
hopelessness  of  further  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  army  of  Northern 
Virginia  in  this  struggle.  I  feel  that  it  is  so,  and  regard  it  as  my  duty 
to  shift  from  myself  the  responsibility  of  any  further  effusion  of  blood, 
by  asking  of  you  the  surrender  of  that  portion  of  the  Confederate  States 
army,  known  as  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

"'U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant- General 
"  '  GENERAL  B.  E.  LEE.' 

"  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  before  leaving,  I  received,  at  Farm- 
ville,  the  following : 

"'April  1th,  1865. 

" '  GENERAL  : — I  have  received  your  note  of  this  date.  Though  not 
entertaining  the  opinion  you  express  on  the  hopelessness  of  further  resist 
ance  on  the  part  of  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia,  I  reciprocate  your 
desire  to  avoid  useless  effusion  of  blood,  and  therefore,  before  considering 
your  proposition,  ask  the  terms  you  will  offer  on  condition  of  its 
surrender.  "  '  K.  E.  LEE,  General. 

"  '  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT.' 

11  To  this  I  immediately  replied : 

" '  April  8th,  1865. 

"' GENERAL: — Your  note  of  last  evening,  in  reply  to  mine  of  same 
date,  asking  the  condition  on  which  I  will  accept  the  surrender  of  the 
army  of  Northern  Virginia,  is  just  received.  In  reply,  I  would  say  that 
peace  being  my  great  desire,  there  is  but  one  condition  I  would  insist  upon, 
namely :  That  the  men  and  officers  surrendered  shall  be  disqualified  for 
taking  up  arms  against  the  Government  of  the  United  States  until  prop 
erly  exchanged.  I  will  meet  you,  or  will  designate  officers  to  meet  any 
officers  you  may  name  for  the  same  purpose,  at  any  point  agreeable  to 
you,  for  the  purpose  of  arranging  definitely  the  terms  upon  which  the 
surrender  of  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia  will  be  received. 

"  '  U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-  General 

" l  GENERAL  E.  E.  LEE.' 

"  Early  on  the  morning  of  tne  8th,  the  pursuit  was  resumed.  General 
Meade  followed  north  of  the  Appomattox,  and  General  Sheridan,  with  all 
the  cavalry,  pushed  straight  for  Appomattox  station,  followed  by  General 
Ord's  command  and  the  fifth  corps.  During  the  day,  General  Meade-'s 
advance  had  considerable  fighting  with  the  enemy's  rear-guard,  but  was 
unable  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement.  Late  in  the  evening,  General 
Sheridan  struck  the  railroad  at  Appomattox  station,  drove  the  enemy 
from  there,  and  captured  twenty-five  pieces  of  artillery,  a  hospital  train, 
and  four  trains  of  cars,  loaded  with  supplies  for  Lee's  army.  During  the 


954  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

day,  I  accompanied  General  Meade's  column,  and  about  midnight  received 
the  following  communication  from  General  Lee : 

"  '  April  8th,  1865. 

" i  GENERAL  : — I  received,  at  a  late  hour,  your  note  of  to-day.  In  mine 
of  yesterday  I  did  not  propose  the  surrender  of  the  army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  but  to  ask  the  terms  of  your  proposition.  To  be  frank,  I  do 
not  think  the  emergency  has  arisen  to  call  for  the  surrender  of  this  army  ; 
but  as  the  restoration  of  peace  should  be  the  sole  object  of  all,  I  desired 
to  know  whether  your  proposals  would  lead  to  that  end.  I  cannot,  there 
fore,  meet  you  with  a  view  to  surrender  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia; 
but  as  far  as  your  proposal  may  affect  the  Confederate  force  under  my 
command,  and  tend  to  the  restoration  of  peace,  I  should  be  pleased  to  meet 
you,  at  10  A.  M.  to-morrow,  on  the  old  stage  road  to  Bichmond,  between 
the  picket  lines  of  the  two  armies. 

"  '  B.  E.  LEE,  General 

'"  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT.' 

"  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  I  returned  him  an  answer,  as  follows, 
and  immediately  started  to  join  the  column  south  of  the  Appomattox : 

"'  April  9th,  1865. 

" l  GENERAL  : — Your  note  of  yesterday  is  received.  I  have  no  authority 
to  treat  on  the  subject  of  peace ;  the  meeting  proposed  for  10  A.  M.  to-day 
could  lead  to  no  good.  I  will  state,  however,  General,  that  I  am  equally 
anxious  for  peace  with  yourself,  and  the  whole  North  entertains  the  same 
feeling.  The  terms  upon  which  peace  can  be  had  are  well  understood. 
By  the  South  laying  down  their  arms,  they  will  hasten  this  most  desirable 
event,  save  thousands  of  human  lives,  and  hundreds  of  millions  of  pro 
perty  not  yet  destroyed.  Seriously  hoping  that  all  our  difficulties  may  be 
settled  without  the  loss  of  another  life,  I  subscribe  myself,  &c., 

"'U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant- General 

'"GENERAL  B.  E.  LEE.' 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  9th,  General  Ord's  command  and  the  fifth  corps 
reached  Appomattox  station  just  as  the  enemy  was  making  a  desperate 
effort  to  break  through  our  cavalry.  The  infantry  was  at  once  thrown  in. 
Soon  after,  a  white  flag  was  received,  requesting  a  suspension  of  hostilities 
pending  negotiations  for  a  surrender. 

"  Before  reaching  General  Sheridan's  headquarters,  I  received  the  follow 
ing  from  General  Lee : 

"'  April  9th,  1865. 

"  'GENERAL : — I  received  your  note  of  this  morning  on  the  picket  line, 
whither  I  had  come  to  meet  you,  and  ascertain  definitely  what  terms  were 
embraced  in  your  proposal  of  yesterday  with  reference  to  the  surrender 


SURRENDER  OF  LEE— SKETCH  OF  HIS  CAREER.      955 

of  this  army.     I  now  ask  an  interview,  in  accordance  with  the  offer  con 
tained  in  your  letter  of  yesterday  for  that  purpose. 

" '  B.  E.  LEE,  General 
" l  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT.* 

"The  interview  was  held  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  the  result  of 
which  is  set  forth  in  the  following  correspondence : 

"  '  APPOMATTOX  COURT  HOUSE,  YA.,  April  9th.  1865. 

"  '  GENERAL  : — In  accordance  with  the  substance  of  my  letter  to  you  of 
the  8th  instant,  I  propose  to  receive  the  surrender  of  the  army  of  Northern 
Virginia  on  the  following  terms,  to  wit :  Kolls  of  all  the  officers  and  men 
to  be  made  in  duplicate,  one  copy  to  be  given  to  an  officer  to  be  desig 
nated  by  me,  the  other  to  be  retained  by  such  officer  or  officers  as  you  may 
designate.  The  officers  to  give  their  individual  paroles  not  to  take  up 
arms  against  the  Gpvernment  of  the  United  States  until  properly  ex 
changed  ;  and  each  company  or  regimental  commander  sign  a  like  parole 
for  the  men  of  their  commands.  The  arms,  artillery,  and  public  property 
to  be  parked  and  stacked,  and  turned  over  to  the  officers  appointed  by  me 
to  receive  them.  This  will  not  embrace  the  side-arms  of  the  officers,  nor 
their  private  horses  or  baggage.  This  done,  each  officer  and  man  will  be 
allowed  to  return  to  his  home,  not  to  be  disturbed  by  United  States 
authorities  so  long  as  they  observe  their  paroles  and  the  laws  in  force 
where  they  may  reside. 

" '  U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-  General. 

"  <  GENERAL  K.  E.  LEE.' 

'"HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  April  9M,  1865. 
"  '  GENERAL  : — I  received  your  letter  of  this  date,  containing  the  terms 
of  the  surrender  of  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia  as  proposed  by  you. 
As  they  are  substantially  the  same  as  those  expressed  in  your  letter  of  the 
8th  instant,  they  are  accepted.  I  will  proceed  to  designate  the  proper 
officers  to  carry  the  stipulations  into  effect. 

" '  E.  E.  LEE,  General 
" '  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT.' 

"  The  command  of  Major-General  Gibbon,  the  fifth  army  corps,  under 
Griffin,  and  McKenzie's  cavalry,  were  designated  to  remain  at  Appomatox 
Court  House  until  the  paroling  of  the  surrendered  army  was  completed, 
and  to  take  charge  of  the  public  property.  The  remainder  of  the  army 
immediately  returned  to  the  vicinity  of  Burkesville. 

"  General  Lee's  great  influence  throughout  the  whole  South  caused  his 
example  to  be  followed,  and  to-day  the  result  is  that  the  armies  lately 
under  his  leadership  are  at  their  homes,  desiring  peace  and  quiet,  and  their 
arms  are  in  the  hands  of  our  ordnance  officers." 

Our  narrative  of  this  series  of  battles,  and  the  pursuit  and  surrender, 


966  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

would  not  be  complete  without  a  brief  sketch  of  the  Rebel  leader,  whose 
skilful  generalship  had  protracted  the  war  so  long,  and  so  often  repulsed 
the  best-planned  attacks  of  the  Union  armies. 

Robert  Edward  Lee  was  born  at  his  paternal  estate  of  Stratford,  Virginia^ 
in  1806.  He  was  the  son  of  General  Henry  Lee,  better  known  as  "Legion 
Harrj  Lee,"  a  friend  of  General  Washington,  and  a  member  of  his  staff 
He  entered  West  Point  in  1825,  and  graduated  in  1829,  ranking  second 
in  his  class.  He  was  immediately  appointed  brevet  second  lieutenant  of 
topographical  engineers,  and  from  that  time  until  1835,  was  principally 
employed  on  the  coast  defences ;  but  that  year  was  appointed  assistant 
astronomer,  for  the  demarcation  of  the  boundary  line  between  the  States 
of  Ohio  and  Michigan.  In  1832,  Lieutenant  Lee  married  a  daughter  of 
George  Washington  Parke  Custis,  the  grandson  of  Mrs.  Washington,  and 
thus  eventually  became,  through  his  wife,  the  proprietor  of  the  Arlington 
estate,  opposite  the  city  of  Washington,  as  well  as  of  the  White  House, 
on  the  Pamunkey,  a  noted  place  in  the  war  just  closed.  He  was  pro 
moted  to  be  first  lieutenant  in  September,  1836,  and  in  July,  1838,  was 
made  captain.  In  18M,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  board  of 
visitors  to  the  military  academy ;  and  on  the  8th  of  September,  1845,  he 
became  a  member  of  the  board  of  engineers.  In  18-16,  he  was  attached 
to  the  central  army  of  Mexico,  as  chief  engineer,  under  General  Wool, 
and  retained  that  post,  as  well  as  a  position  on  his  personal  staff,  under 
General  Scott.  General  Scott  entertained  a  high  opinion  of  his  abilities 
and  judgment,  mentioning  him  in  the  highest  terms  in  every  report  during 
the  campaign,  and  at  his  instance  he  was  brevetted  successively  major, 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  colonel,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  at 
Cerro  Gordo,  Contreras,  Churubusco,  and  Chapultepec.  In  the  spring  of 
1852,  he  was  ordered  with  his  regiment  to  New  Mexico ;  but  in  September 
of  that  year  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  the  military  academy  at 
West  Point,  and  continued  in  charge  of  it  till  April  1st,  1855,  when  his 
transfer  to  the  cavalry  service  incapacitated  him,  by  law,  for  remaining 
in  that  position ;  the  superintendents  being,  by  the  organic  law  of -the 
institution,  members  of  the  engineer  corps  only.  On  his  transfer  to  the 
second  cavalry,  he  was  made  its  lieutenant- colonel  and  served  for  three 
or  four  years  in  Texas  and  on  the  frontier.  In  1859,  however,  he  was  at 
home  on  his  estate  of  Arlington,  and  took  part  in  the  capture  of  John 
Brown  and  his  comrades,  at  Harper's  Ferry.  On  the  16th  of  March.  1861, 
he  was  promoted  to  be  colonel  of  the  first  cavalry,  having  just  previously 
returned  from  Texas.  On  the  20th  of  April,  1861,  he  resigned  his  com 
mission,  on  the  ground  that  he  must  go  with  his  State,  and  was  immediately 
appointed  by  Governor  Letcher,  of  Virginia,  major-general  in  command  of 
all  the  military  forces  in  Virginia.  He  at  once  set  himself  to  the  work  of 
organizing  the  Rebel  troops  of  Virginia,  and  attempted,  at  first,  the  forti 
fication  of  Arlington  Heights ;  but  finding  that  that  position  was  likdy 


iurreiiuer  of   (ienoral  Lcc. 


SKETCH   OF   GENERAL  LEE.  957 

to  be  occupied  by  an  overwhelming  force  of  Union  troops,  he  withdrew. 
When  Kichmond  was  made  the  Rebel  capital,  and  the  Rebel  forces  of  the 
State  of  Virginia  made  a  part  of  the  Rebel  army,  Lee's  rank  was  fixed  as 
a  brigadier-general.  After  the  death  of  General  Garnett,  in  Western 
Virginia)  General  Lee  was  appointed  to  succeed  him ;  and  on  the  12th  of 
September,  1861,  was  defeated  by  General  John  F.  Reynolds,  at  Cheat 
mountain,  and  compelled  to  retreat  with  heavy  loss ;  owing,  it  was  said,  to 
the  failure  of  one  of  his  subordinate  officers  to  carry  out  his  plans.  He 
subsequently  threatened  Rosecrans'  position  at  Big  Sewell,  Western  Vir 
ginia,  but  did  no  more  fighting  there.  In  December,  he  was  transferred 
to  South  Carolina,  and  ordered  to  take  charge  of  the  coast  defences  of 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia.  He  put  the  coast  defences  in  good  condition, 
and  in  March,  1862,  was  summoned  to  Richmond,  and  put  in  charge  of 
the  defences  of  Richmond.  In  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  or  Seven  Pines, 
General  J.  E.  Johnston,  then  in  command  of  the  Rebel  army,  was  wounded 
severely,  and  General  Lee  was  appointed  to  succeed  him.  In  the  subse 
quent  battles  of  the  seven  days  on  the  Peninsula,  the  Rebel  army  of 
Northern  Virginia  was  under  his  command,  and  he  led  it  also  in  the 
battles  of  Pope's  campaign,  crossed  the  Potomac,  and  commanded  in 
person  at  Antietam ;  and  after  the  drawn  battle  there,  retreated  into  Vir 
ginia,  and  took  up  his  position  on  the  Rappahannock,  near  Fredericks- 
burg.  All  the  subsequent  battles  of  the  war,  in  Northern  Virginia,  and 
the  battles  of  Gettysburg,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  Falling  Waters,  Mary 
land,  were  fought  under  his  personal  direction.  At  Fredericksburg  and 
Chancellors ville  he  displayed  decided  strategic  ability;  while  the  expedi 
tion  into  Pennsylvania,  in  June  and  July,  1863,  terminating  with  the 
battles  at  Gettysburg,  so  disastrous  to  the  Rebels,  was  perhaps  less  credit 
able  to  his  military  abilities,  inasmuch  as,  with  the  full  knowledge  of  the 
condition  of  affairs  at  Richmond,  it  was  extremely  hazardous  on  his  part 
to  undertake  it.  In  the  subsequent  operations  of  the  autumn  of  1863,  on 
the  Rapidan,  and  north  of  it,  he  displayed  much  talent,  though  not  always 
successful.  In  the  great  campaign  of  1864,  he  managed  his  army  with 
consummate  skill,  and  though  convinced  that  his  cause  was  hopeless  as 
early  as  December,  1864,  he  did  not  desist  from  the  most  strenuous 
exertions  to  defend  his  position,  and  to  maintain  the  war.  Early  in 
January,  1865,  he  was  appointed  commander-in-chief  of  the  entire  military 
forces  of  the  Rebels,  and  accepted  the  position  reluctantly,  from  a  convic 
tion  that  their  cause  was  past  salvation.  On  the  3d  of  April,  1865,  he 
evacuated  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  and,  on  the  9th,  surrendered  to 
General  Grant.  He  is  still  (December,  1865)  on  parole,  but  has  been  for 
eome  months  President  of  Washington  College,  Virginia. 


958  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER  LXXIL 

THE  ASSASSINATION  OF  THE  PRESIDENT — THE  CIRCUMSTANCES — ATTEMPT  TO  MURDER  OTHER 

HIGH  OFFICERS  OF  GOVERNMENT THE  SORROW  AND  GLOOM  07  THE  NATION — ARREST  AND 

PUNISHMENT  OF  THE  ASSASSINS SKETCH  OF  LINCOLN THE  STABILITY  OF  THE  GOVERN 
MENT  DEMONSTRATED — THE  ADVANCE  OF  SHERMAN  TO  SMITHFIELD   AND   RALEIGH — HIS 

ARMY  RECEIVE  THE  INTELLIGENCE  OF  LEE'S  SURRENDER DISPOSITIONS  MADE  TO  COMPEL 

JOHNSTON'S  SURRENDER — JOHNSTON  ASKS  AN  INTERVIEW — HIS  DESIRE  FOR  TERMS  EMBRAC 
ING  ALL  THE  REBEL  ARMIES — SECOND  CONFERENCE — THE  "  MEMORANDUM"  DRAWN  UP  AND 

SENT  TO  WASHINGTON ITS  TERMS ITS  REJECTION  BY  THE  CABINET GENERAL  GRANT 

BEARS  THE  NEWS,  AND  IS  AUTHORIZED  TO  TAKE  COMMAND SHERMAN'S  PROMPT  ACTION 

JOHNSTON  SURRENDERS  ON  THE  SAME  TERMS  AS  LEE SHERMAN'S  VISIT  TO  SAVANNAH 

HIS  FIELD  ORDERS HE  MARCHES  HIS  ARMY  TO  RICHMOND  AND  WASHINGTON,  AND  TAKES 

LEAVE  OF  IT DISBANDING  OF  THE  FORCES STONEMAN*S  EXPEDITION GENERAL  OSBAND'S 

EXPEDITION  FROM  VICKSBURG CANBY?S  SIEGE  AND  CAPTURE  OF  MOBILE — SURRENDER  OF 

THE  REBEL  FLEET — GENERAL  DICK  TAYLOR'S  SURRENDER,  AND  THAT  OF  THE  SUBORDINATE 

OFFICERS    IN   THE  MISSISSIPPI  VALLEY WILSON'S  CAVALRY  EXPEDITION ITS  NUMBERS 

AND  ARMS THE  MARCH CAPTURE  OF  MONTEVALLO  AND  RANDOLPH CROXTON'S  SEPA 
RATE  EXPEDITION THE  BATTLE  AND  CAPTURE  OF  SELMA ITS  GREAT  STRENGTH CAPTURE 

OF  MONTGOMERY,  WETUMPKA,  ALA.,  AND  COLUMBUS,  GA. BATTLE  AT  WEST  POINT,  GA. 

ITS  CAPTURE — LA  GRANGE,  GRIFFIN,  AND  FORSYTH  CAPTURED — SHERMAN'S  ARMISTICE 

CAPTURE  OF  MACON — DETENTION  AT  MACON — CROXTON'S  RETURN  TO  THE  MAIN  ARMY — 

HIS  ACHIEVEMENTS THE  SURRENDER  OF  ALL  THE  REBEL  TROOPS  EAST  OF  THE  CHATTA- 

HOOCHIE DISTRIBUTION  OF  TROOPS— PURSUIT  AND  CAPTURE  OF  JEFFERSON  DAVIS "  THE 

POOR  OLD  MOTHER"  AND  HER  BOOTS — DISPOSITION  MADE  OF  THE  PRISONER — RESULTS  OF 
WILSON'S  CAMPAIGN — KIRBY  SMITH'S  SURRENDER — SHERIDAN  ON  THE  RIO  GRANDE. 

WHILE  Lee's  surrender  betokened  to  the  minds  of  all  the  citizens  of 
the  Kepublic  the  speedy  return  of  peace,  and  the  intelligence  of  each 
hour  brought  new  joy  and  hope  that  the  four  years'  struggle  was  ended, 
and  that  the  beloved  chief  magistrate,  twice  chosen  of  the  people,  would 
soon,  as  he  had  promised  in  his  first  inaugural,  repossess  the  forts  and 
property  of  the  nation,  and  rule  over  a  united  instead  of  a  divided  Re 
public,  there  fell  upon  the  nation  a  terrible  and  crushing  blow,  like  a 
thunderbolt  from  a  clear  sky,  and  wrapped  the  continent  in  gloom. 

President  Lincoln,  who  had  been  at  City  Point  during  the  last  few 
days  of  the  campaign  which  ended  in  the  evacuation  of  Richmond  and 
Petersburg  and  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army,  and  who  had  entered  Rich 
mond  and  spent  one  day  there,  had  returned  to  Washington,  satisfied  that 
the  last  days  of  the  Rebellion  had  come,  and  that  both  the  nation  and  him 
self  were  about  to  experience  those  halcyon  days  of  peace  and  quietness, 
of  which  hitherto,  during  his  administration,  there  had  been  no  example. 
Cheered  with  this  prospect,  and  rejoicing  that,  on  the  14th  of  April,  the 
national  flag,  which  that  day,  four  years  before,  had  been  lowered  by 
Rebel  orders,  would  again  float  over  what  remained  of  the  battlements  of 


THE  ASSASSINATION   OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN.  959 

Sumter,  Mr.  Lincoln,  on  the  evening  of  that  day  (Good  Friday),  at  the 
earnest  solicitation  of  friends,  went  to  Ford's  theatre  with  his  wife,  and 
the  daughter  and  stepson  (Major  Rathbone)  of  Senator  Harris,  of  New 
York,  to  witness  the  play  of  the  "  American  Cousin."  During  the  second 
scene  of  the  third  act  of  the  play,  about  ten  o'clock,  P.  M.,  an  assassin 
suddenly  entered  Mr.  Lincoln's  box,  and  discharged  a  pistol  at  the 
President,  the  ball  taking  effect  in  the  back  of  his  head,  and  passing 
upward  and  forward  through  the  posterior  portion  of  the  brain.  Major 
Rathbone  attempted  instantly  to  seize  the  desperado,  and  though  severely 
wounded  in  the  arm,  clung  to  him ;  but  as  the  assassin  leaped  from  the 
box  upon  the  stage,  his  hold  gave  way.  In  this  leap,  the  spur  upon  the 
boot  of  the  murderer  caught  in  the  flag,  and  he  fell ;  but  springing  up,  he 
flourished  a  bowie-knife,  and  shouting  "  Sic  semper  tyrannis"  (the  motto  of 
Virginia),  rushed  across  the  stage,  and  out  by  a  rear  passage,  where  he 
had  a  horse  in  waiting,  which  he  mounted,  and  on  which  he  fled.  The 
moment  it  was  ascertained  that  the  President  had  been  shot,  the  most 
intense  excitement  prevailed.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  borne  from  the  house, 
insensible,  to  a  dwelling  near,  where  he  lingered,  without  return  of  con 
sciousness,  till  twenty-two  minutes  past  seven  in  the  morning  of  the  15th, 
when  he  expired.  At  the  same  hour,  another  assassin  entered  the  resi 
dence  of  Hon.  William  H.  Seward,  Secretary  of  State — who  was  very  ill 
from  injuries  received  from  being  thrown  from  his  carriage  a  few  days 
before — and  pretending  to  have  been  sent  by  his  physician  with  some 
medicine  for  him,  forced  his  way  into  his  chamber,  though  not  without 
great  resistance,  and  having  inflicted  severe  injuries  upon  three  men, 
Messrs.  Robinson  and  Hansell,  the  attendants  of  Mr.  Seward,  and  Mr. 
Frederick  W.  Seward,  son  of  the  Secretary,  attempted  to  cut  Mr.  Seward's 
throat ;  but  owing  to  the  dressing  upon  his  face,  which  had  been  fractured 
by  his  fall,  he  only  succeeded  in  laying  open  the  cheek  and  jaw.  He 
also  fled.  It  was  soon  ascertained  that  it  had  been  intended  by  the  con 
spirators  to  murder  not  only  Mr.  Lincoln  and  Mr.  Seward,  but  Yice- 
President  Johnson,  Secretary  Stanton,  General  Grant,  and  Chief  Justice 
Chase :  and  the  desperate  plot  had  partially  failed,  through  unexpected 
movements  of  some  of  the  intended  victims,  and  the  cowardice  of  some 
of  the  conspirators.  The  intelligence  of  the  murder  of  the  President  sent 
a  thrill  of  horror  through  the  entire  nation,  and  overwhelmed  it  in  the 
deepest  grief. 

•'  When  the  sad  day  (April  18th)  came,  in  which  the  body  of  the 
Republic's  most  honored  magistrate,  martyred  in  its  cause,  was  to  be 
borne  to  its  final  resting-place  in  the  distant  Prairie  State,  a  scene  was 
witnessed  such  as  had  never  before  taken  place  in  human  history.  The 
whole  nation  mourned  with  a  depth  and  intensity  of  grief  unparalleled  in 
all  the  records  of  the  past,  the  loss  of  its  chosen  head,  its  father  and  its 
friend. 


960  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATED. 

Amid  the  stirring  April  days,  while  springing  grass  and  greening 
boughs  proclaimed  that  summer  drew  nigh,  the  procession  left  the  capital, 
which  never  before  had  been  so  shaken  with  pain,  and  grief,  and  righteous 
rage.  They  took  the  same  route  which  he  had  traversed  when  coming 
in  life  to  his  high  place,  and  bore  him  forever  from  the  scene  of  his 
eventful  sway.  And  as  they  went,  the  great  capitals  of  the  land  welcomed, 
with  such  demonstrations  of  honor  as  no  preceding  experience  had  wit 
nessed,  the  shrunken,  discolored,  and  pulseless  frame.  The  city  through 
which  he  passed  before  in  a  sheltering  privacy,  now  crowded  tremulous, 
in  tearful  affection,  around  his  bier.  The  great  metropolis,  whose  mob 
then  hated  him,  the  leaders  of  whose  fashion  turned  from  him  with  con 
tempt,  and  whose  authorities  sought  to  insult  him,  now  poured  from  every 
street  and  lane  to  witness  the  sad  procession  of  his  mourners.  Its  whole 
business  was  suspended ;  its  houses  were  hung  from  base  to  roof  with 
funeral  pomp ;  its  pavements  were  thronged  with  silent,  patient,  unmoving 
crowds ;  its  windows  gleamed  with  pallid  faces,  as  through  the  hushed, 
expectant  avenues  wound,  hour  by  hour,  while  bells  were  tolling,  and 
minute-guns,  with  measured  boom,  were  counting  the  instants,  that  vast, 
uncounted,  unparalleled  procession.  Not  capitals  only,  but  States  them 
selves,  became  his  mourners.  Churches  put  off  their  Easter  emblems  to 
hide  pillar  and  wall  and  arch  in  sable  woe.  Each  railway  was  made  a 
via  Dolorosa.  The  spontaneous  homage  of  millions  was  offered  through 
the  uncovered  head,  the  crape,  the  wreath,  through  all  the  sombre  insignia 
of  grief,  as  the  train,  with  its  precious  burden,  sped  on.  The  country 
shrouded  its  weeping  face,  and  all  the  blooms  of  spring  around  could 
bring  no  flush  to  its  changed  countenance ;  the  song  and  sparkle,  and  the 
fresh  impulse,  of  which  the  very  air  was  full,  could  stir  no  pulse  of  glad 
ness  or  of  hope  while  still  that  spectacle  haunted  its  gaze.  For  over 
every  loyal  heart  there  brooded  a  sorrow  as  if  the  most  revered  had  fallen, 
as  if  the  shock  of  personal  bereavement  had  smitten  separately  every 
household." 

While  this  sad  procession  was  thus  slowly  drawing  toward  the  final 
resting-place  of  the  martyred  President,  the  Vice  President — who  had 
taken  the  oath  of  office  as  President— and  the  Cabinet,  were  unwearied  in 
their  efforts  to  ascertain  and  bring  to  justice  the  miscreants  who  had  been 
guilty  of  a  deed  so  horrible.  The  murderer  of  the  President  was  recog 
nized  as  one  John  Wilkes  Booth,  a  profligate  and  desperate  actor,  who 
had  availed  himself  of  his  knowledge  of  the  theatre  and  his  free  access  to 
it  (having  formerly  performed  there)  to  plan  the  details  of  his  infamous 
crime.  But  the  fact  that  the  attempt  was  made  to  murder  all  the  leading 
officers  of  the  Government  showed  conclusively  that  the  conspiracy  was 
an  extensive  one,  and  involved  others  than  the  immediate  actors.  Payne, 
alias  Powell,  the  attempted  assassin  of  Mr.  Seward,  was  arrested  two  days 
after,  at  the  residence  of  a  Mrs.  Surratt,  toward  whom  suspicion  pointed  as 


ARREST   AND   PUNISHMENT   OF  THE  ASSASSINS.  961 

having  been  extremely  intimate  with  Booth  ;  and  both  he  and  Mrs. 
Surratt  were  at  once  placed  in  close  confinement.  Atzerot,  a  German, 
who  was  to  have  murdered  Yice-President  Johnson ;  Arnold,  whose  com 
plicity  had  been  ascertained  by  correspondence  found  in  Booth's  trunk ; 
O'Laughlin,  also  implicated ;  and  Spang] er,  an  employee  of  the  theatre 
who  had  aided  Booth  in  escaping,  were  arrested,  and  the  detectives  were 
engaged  in  tracking  Booth  and  Harold,  a  youth  who  had  been  his  con 
fidant  and  companion.  On  the  26th  of  April  they  were  brought  to  bay 
in  a  barn  in  Caroline  county,  Va.,  between  Bowling  Green  and  Port  Royal 
on  the Rappahannock,  and  Harold  surrendered;  but  Booth  refusing  to  sur 
render,  the  barn  was  set  on  fire,  and  Booth,  attempting  to  fight  his  way 
out,  was  shot  by  Sergeant  Boston  Corbett,  and  died  after  three  hours  of 
fearful  suffering.  He  had  broken  his  leg  in  his  leap  upon  the  stage,  and 
a  Dr.  Mudd,  who  had  been  one  of  the  conspirators,  had  set  it,  but  it  had 
had  no  opportunity  to  unite.  Dr.  Mudd  was  arrested  and  brought  to 
Washington  for  trial  with  the  rest.  The  military  court  which  was  to  try 
these  cases,  found  that  John  H.  Surratt,  a  son  of  Mrs.  Surratt,  had  also 
been  an  active  coadjutor  in  the  conspiracy,  but  he  had  made  his  escape. 
There  was  also  ample  evidence  implicating  Jefferson  Davis,  the  late  Rebel 
President ;  Mr.  Seddon,  the  late  Rebel  Secretary  of  War;  Clement  C.  Clay; 
Beverly  Tucker ;  Jacob  Thompson,  formerly  Secretary  of  the  Interior ; 
George  N.  Sanders  and  others,  as  accessories  before  the  fact  in  the  assas 
sination,  and  as  having  furnished  the  money  and  rewards  for  it.  The 
parties  already  under  arrest  were  tried  by  a  military  court,  and  with 
every  advantage  of  counsel.  Payne  or  Powell,  Atzerot,  Harold,  and  Mrs. 
Surratt  were  condemned  to  death,  and  were  hung  July  7th,  1865.  Muddf 
O'Laughlin  and  Arnold  were  imprisoned  for  life  on  the  Dry  Tortugas,  and 
Spangler  for  six  years.  t 

Let  us,  before  proceeding  farther,  sketch  briefly  the  remarkable  career 
of  this  noble  man,  who,  coming  to  the  chief  magistracy  in  troublesome 
times,  by  his  wise  conduct,  his  burning  patriotism,  and  his  unflinching 
integrity,  as  well  as  his  martyrdom  for  his  country's  sake,  endeared  him 
self,  above  all  other  men  of  his  generation,  to  the  hearts  of  the  people  of 
the  United  States. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  born  in  Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  February 
12th,  1809.  His  ancestors  were  Quakers.  In  1816,  his  father  removed  to 
Spencer  county,  Indiana,  and  Abraham  was  thus  early  put  to  work  with 
an  axe  to  clear  away  the  forest.  In  the  next  ten  years,  he  received  about 
one  year's  schooling  in  such  schools  as  were  taught  in  that  new  country. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  he  made  a  trip  to  New  Orleans,  as  a  hired 
hand  on  a  flat  boat.  In  March,  1830,  he  removed  with  his  father  to 
Decatur,  Illinois,  and  aided  in  building  a  cabin,  settling  the  family  in  their 
new  home,  and  providing  for  them  during  the  ensuing  winter.  In  1831, 
he  again  made  a  trip  to  New  Orleans,  and  on  his  return,  became  a  clerk  in 
61 


962  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

a  store  at  Sangamon,  Illinois.  In  1832,  he  voluntered  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  and  was  made  captain  of  a  company,  but  saw  no  fighting.  On 
his  return  from  the  campaign,  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  unsuccessful.  A  store  which  he  purchased,  did  not  yield  him  an 
adequate  support ;  and  after  a  short  term  of  service  as  postmaster  of  New 
Salem,  Illinois,  studying  at  every  leisure  moment,  he  became  a  land-sur 
veyor,  and  won  a  good  reputation  for  the  accuracy  of  his  surveys.  In 
1834,  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  re-elected  in  1836  and  1838. 
Having  devoted  all  his  leisure  time  to  the  study  of  law,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1836,  and  in  1837  removed  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  and 
opened  an  office  in  partnership  with  Hon.  John  T.  Stuart.  He  soon  rose 
to  eminence  in  his  profession,  but  did  not  withdraw  from  politics.  In 
1844,  he  was  nominated  as  a  Whig  presidential  elector,  and  canvassed 
the  State  for  Henry  Clay.  In  1846,  he  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the 
central  district  of  Illinois,  and  in  Congress  maintained  the  reputation  of  an 
honest  and  able  representative,  acting  generally  with  the  more  advanced 
wing  of  the  Whig  party.  In  1849,  he  was  a  candidate  for  United  States 
Senator,  but  the  Legislature  was  Democratic  and  elected  General  Shields. 
In  1854,  the  passage  of  the  Nebraska  bill,  and  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri 
compromise,  called  him  again  into  the  field,  and  by  his  disinterested 
labors,  Judge  Trumbull  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate.  In  1856, 
at  the  Republican  National  Convention,  he  was  urged  for  the  Yice  Presi 
dency,  and  received  one  hundred  and  ten  votes.  In  1858,  he  was  nomi 
nated  for  United  States  Senator  by  the  Republicans,vand  in  company  with 
Judge  Douglas,  the  Democratic  candidate,  canvassed  the  State,  discussing 
with  his  antagonist  the  great  principles  which  distinguished  the  two 
parties.  Lincoln  had  a  majority  of  the  popular  vote,  but  Douglas  was 
elected  by  the  Legislature  by  eight  majority.  On  the  18th  of  May,  1860 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  National  Convention  at 
Chicago  for  the  Presidency,  and  on  the  6th  of  February  following  was 
elected,  receiving  one  hundred  and  eighty  out  of  three  hundred  and  three 
electoral  votes.  It  was  the  policy  of  those  who  where  conspiring  against 
the  Union  to  divide  the  opponents  of  Mr.  Lincoln  as  far  as  possible,  in 
order  that  he  might  succeed  by  the  votes  of  Northern  States  alone,  and 
thus  afford  a  pretext  for  secession,  and  therefore  three  other  distinct  Presi 
dential  tickets  were  run,  headed  respectively  by  Messrs.  Breckinridge, 
Douglas,  and  Bell.  As  soon  as  his  election  was  known,  measures  were 
taken  by  political  leaders  in  several  of  the  Southern  States  to  drag  their 
States  into  secession,  and  when  Mr.  Lincoln  left  Springfield,  Illinois,  on 
the  llth  of  February,  to  go  Washington  for  his  inauguration,  six  States 
had  already  seceded,  and  others  were  preparing  to  follow.  A  Southern 
Confederacy  had  been  formed,  with  Davis  and  Stephens  for  President  and 
Vice  President.  Nothwithstanding  three  or  more  attempts  to  assassinate 
him,  he  reached  Washington  in  safety,  and  though  still  threatened,  was 


1 


SKETCH  OF  PRESIDENT   LINCOLN.  9G3 

inaugurated  March  4th,  1861.  The  condition  of  the  Government  through 
the  imbecility,  fraud,  and  treason  of  the  preceding  administration  and 
cabinet,  was  deplorable — its  credit  nearly  ruined  ;  its  army  deprived  of 
arms  and  paroled ;  its  navy  sent  to  distant  seas ;  its  arms  removed  to  the 
arsenals  of  the  States  in  insurrection,  or  sold  and  broken  up ;  its  forts, 
vessels,  custom-houses,  and  mints  seized  by  the  conspirators.  Mr.  Lincoln 
set  himself  to  remedy  this,  when,  on  the  14th  of  April,  1861,  Fort  Sumter 
was  captured,  and  the  war  commenced.  He  then  called  for  seventy-five 
thousand  men  for  three  months,  proclaimed  a  blockade  of  the  southern 
ports,  and  summoned  an  extra  session  of  Congress  for  July  4th,  1861. 
Large  armies  were  soon  required,  and  in  the  executive  responsibilities  of 
his  position  in  a  time  of  war — with  a  great  army  to  be  maintained,  disci 
plined,  and  kept  at  work,  finances  to  be  managed,  the  disloyal  govern 
ment  officers,  civil  and  military,  to  be  weeded  out,  the  schemes  of  seces 
sionists  to  be  thwarted,  and  later  in  the  year,  the  difficult  case  of  the 
seizure  of  Mason  and  Slidell  to  be  adjusted — he  had  his  full  share  of  the 
burdens  of  his  official  position.  During  1862  these  were  rather  increased 
than  diminished.  Compelled  by  his  convictions  of  duty  to  assume,  in 
fact,  his  titular  position  of  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  and  navy,  he 
ordered  an  advance  in  February,  1862,  which  was  made  in  March.  The 
indecisive  or  disastrous  battles  of  the  Peninsula  and  Pope's  campaign 
caused  him  great  anxiety,  and  the  conviction  having  been  forced  upon 
him  by  the  course  of  events  that  the  slaves  in  the  Rebel  States  must  be 
emancipated  as  a  military  necessity,  he  issued,  on  the  22d  of  September, 
soon  after  the  more  favorable  battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Antietam, 
his  preliminary  proclamation,  announcing  his  intention  of  declaring  free 
all  slaves  in  Rebel  States  on  the  1st  of  January,  1863.  Several  successes 
in  the  West  had  cheered  him,  and  in  1863,  with  gome  disasters,  there 
were  many  and  important  victories  east  and  west.  Mr.  Lincoln  had 
been  very  desirous  that  the  border  States  should  adopt  some  plan  of  more 
or  less  gradual  emancipation,  and  during  the  year  West  Virginia,  Mary 
land,  and  Missouri,  did  so.  In  1864,  having  called  General  Grant  to  the 
Lieutenant-Generalship,  Mr.  Lincoln  divided  with  him  a  part  of  his  burdens, 
which  had  become  too  oppressive  to  be  borne.  A  great  outcry  had  been 
made  against  him  for  the  arrest  of  Vallandigham  and  other  promoters  of 
rebellion,  but  in  two  very  able  letters  addressed  to  the  New  York  and 
Ohio  committees,  he  fully  justified  his  course.  The  victories  of  Sherman, 
Thomas,  Farragut,  Terry,  and  Sheridan,  and  the  persistency  and  resolu 
tion  of  Grant,  had,  at  length,  in  the  spring  of  1865,  prepared  the  way  for 
the  downfall  of  the  Rebellion,  and  after  a  brief  but  desperate  struggle, 
Petersburg  and  Richmond  fell,  and  Lee  surrendered  his  army.  In  the 
progress  of  these  events,  Mr.  Lincoln,  whose  anxiety  had  been  most 
insupportable,  was  at  the  front,  and  the  day  after  the  occupation  of  Rich 
mond  by  the  Union  troops  he  entered  that  city,  not  with  the  pomp  of  a 


964  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

conqueror,  but  quietly  and  without  display,  and  after  spending  one  day 
there  returned  to  City  Point  and  thence  to  Washington.  The  war  was  to 
all  intents  and  purposes  closed,  and  with  his  mind  intent  on  the  great 
problem  of  pacification,  his  brow  cleared,  and  he  appeared  in  better  spirits 
than  usual.  This  was  the  time  seized  upon  by  the  conspirators  for  his 
assassination,  and  on  the  15th  of  April,  just  four  years  from  the  date  of 
his  proclamation  calling  the  people  to  arms,  he  died  by  the  hand  of  a 
wretched  murderer.  The  circumstances  of  his  assassination,  and  the 
distress  and  sorrow  of  the  nation  at  his  death  we  have  already  described. 
His  character  as  a  man  and  a  chief  magistrate,  may  be  summed  up  in  a 
few  words.  He  was  honest  in  the  best  sense  of  that  word,  patient,  fore- 
bearing,  and  forgiving ;  slow  in  arriving  at  conclusions,  but  when  once 
settled  in  them,  firm  almost  to  obstinacy ;  endowed  with  a  wisdom  and 
tact  not  acquired  in  the  schools,  but  which  guided  him  in  administration, 
sustained  him  in  despondency,  and  rendered  him  calm  and  self  possessed 
in  the  hour  of  success  ;  he  was,  in  short,  a  self-taught,  large-hearted,  clear 
headed,  and  thoroughly  upright  man. 

Never  was  a  free  government  called  before  to  undergo  such  an  ordeal, 
and  never  did  one  demonstrate  so  fully,  the  strength  of  free  institutions. 
In  almost  any  one  of  the  governments  of  Europe,  the  assassination  of  the 
ruler  and  his  prime  minister,  would  have  been  followed  by  an  instant 
revolution,  and  it  would  be  much,  if  blood  did  not  flow  like  water,  and 
those  who  were  highest  in  station  most  speedily  meet  with  a  violent  death; 
but  here,  though  the  heart  of  the  nation  was  wrung  with  anguish,  the 
forms  of  government  did  not  lapse  for  an  instant,  nor  its  wheels  stay  their 
motion.  President  Lincoln  died  at  twenty-two  minutes  past  seven  in  the 
morning;  at  noon  of  the  same  day,  Andrew  Johnson  was  sworn  into 
office  as  President,  and  proceeded  at  once  in  the  exercise  of  his  high 
functions.  The  chief  clerk  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  a  man  of  large 
experience  and  decided  ability,  became,  in  the  absence  and  serious  wound 
ing  of  both  the  Secretary  and  Assistant  Secretary  of  State,  Secretary  ad 
interim.  Every  measure  for  the  prosecution  of  the  war  to  its  final  close, 
was  adopted  as  promptly,  and  carried  out  as  efficiently,  as  if  there  had 
been  no  change  of  rulers.  A  remarkable  instance  of  this  occurred  in 
relation  to  the  negotiations  of  the  Kebel  General  Johnston  with  General 
Sherman  in  regard  to  terms  of  surrender. 

After  General  Sherman's  army  had  encamped  at  Goldsboro,  it  required 
a  period  of  nearly  three  weeks  to  refit  and  equip  his  troops,  who,  from 
their  long  and  severe  march  from  Savannah,  were  greatly  in  need  of  new 
uniforms  and  shoes.  It  was  necessary  also  to  accumulate  supplies  for 
another  expedition  into  the  interior  in  pursuit  of  Johnston's  army. 
Promptly,  at  daybreak,  on  the  10th  of  April,  General  Sherman  moved 
out  of  Goldsboro  and  marched  upon  Smithfield — Major-General  Slocum 
taking  the  two  direct  roads  for  that  town ;  Major-General  Howard  making 


SHERMAN'S   ADVANCE  TO   SMITHFIELD  AND   RALEIGH.     965 

a  circuit  by  the  right,  and  feigning  up  the  Weldon  road,  to  disconcert  the 
enemy's  cavalry ;  and  Generals  Terry  and  Kilpatrick  moving  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Neuse  river,  aiming  to  reach  the  rear  of  the  enemy  between 
Smithfield  and  Raleigh.  General  Schofield  followed  General  Slocum  in 
support.  All  the  columns  met  more  or  less  cavalry  within  six  miles  of 
Goldsboro,  behind  the  usual  barricades,  which  were  swept  before  them, 
and  by  ten  A.  M.  of  the  llth  of  April,  Davis's  (fourteenth)  corps  entered 
Smithfield,  closely  followed  by  the  twentieth  corps,  now  under  command 
of  General  Mower. 

Johnston  had  retreated  rapidly  across  the  Neuse  river,  and  having  the 
railway  to  lighten  up  his  trains,  he  could  fall  back  faster  than  Sherman 
could  pursue.  The  rains  had  also  set  in,  making  the  resort  to  corduroy 
roads  necessary  even  for  ambulances.  The  enemy  had  burned  the  bridge 
at  Smithfield,  but,  as  soon  as  possible,  General  Slocurn  brought  up  his 
pontoons  and  sent  over  a  division  of  the  fourteenth  corps.  "  Then,"  says 
General  Sherman  in  his  report,  "  we  heard  of  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army 
at  Appomattox  Court  House,  Virginia,  which  was  announced  to  the  armies 
in  orders,  and  created  universal  joy.  Not  one  officer  or  soldier  of  my 
army  but  expressed  a  pride  and  satisfaction  that  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  the 
armies  of  the  Potomac  and  James,  so  gloriously  to  overwhelm  and  capture 
the  entire  army  that  had  held  them  in  check  so  long ;  and  their  success 
gave  us  a  new  impulse  to  finish  up  our  task." 

Without  a  moment's  hesitation,  Sherman  gave  orders  to  drop  all  trains, 
and  the  army  marched  rapidly  in  pursuit  to  and  through  Raleigh,  reach 
ing  that  place  at  half  past  seven  A.M.  on  the  13th,  in  a  heavy  rain.  The 
next  day,  the  cavalry  pushed  on  through  the  rain  to  Durham's  station, 
Logan's  (fifteenth)  corps  following  as  far  as  Morrisville  station,  and  Blair's 
(seventeenth)  corps  to  John's  station.  On  the  supposition  that  Johnston 
would  be  compelled  to  adhere  to  the  railway  as  a  line  of  retreat,  by  Hills- 
boro,  Greensboro,  Salisbury,  and  Charlotte,  General  Sherman  had  turned 
the  other  columns  across  the  bend  in  that  road  toward  Ashboro.  Kil 
patrick  was  ordered  to  keep  up  a  show  of  pursuit  toward  the  company's 
shops  in  Alamance  county ;  Howard,  to  turn  the  left,  by  Hackney's  cross 
roads,  Pittsburg,  St.  Lawrence,  and  Ashboro :  and  Slocum  to  cross  Cape 
Fear  river  at  Avon's  ferry,  and  move  rapidly  by  Carthage,  Caledonia,  and 
Cox's  mills ;  while  Schofield  was  to  hold  Raleigh,  and  the  road  back,  with 
spare  force  to  follow  by  an  intermediate  route. 

By  the  loth  of  April,  though  the  rains  were  incessant  and  the  roads 
almost  impracticable,  Major-General  Slocum  had  Davis's  (fourteenth)  corps 
near  Martha's  Vineyard,  with  a  pontoon  bridge  laid  across  Cape  Fear 
river  at  Avon's  ferry,  and  Mower's  (twentieth)  corps  in  support;  and 
Major-General  Howard  had  Logan's  (fifteenth)  and  Blair's  (seventeenth) 
corps  stretched  out  on  the  roads  toward  Pittsbcro ;  while  General  Kil 
patrick  held  Durham's  station  and  Chapel  Hill  University.  Johnston's 


966  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

army  was  retreating  rapidly  on  the  roads  from  Hillsboro  to  Greensboro, 
he  himself  being  at  Greensboro. 

On  the  14th  of  April,  after  all  these  dispositions  for  an  advance  had 
been  completed,  General  Sherman  received  a  communication  from  Gen 
eral  Johnston,  by  a  flag  of  truce,  requesting  an  armistice,  and  a  statement 
of  the  best  terms  on  which  he  could-  be  permitted  to  surrender  the  army 
under  his  command.  General  Sherman  replied,  saying  that  he  was  fully 
empowered  to  arrange  with  him  any  terms  for  the  suspension  of  hostili- 
!  ties,  as  between  the  armies  commanded  by  General  Johnston  and  himself, 
and  was  willing  to  confer  with  him  to  that  end.  He  continued :  "  That 
a  basis  of  action  may  be  had,  I  undertake  to  abide  by  the  same  terms  and 
conditions  entered  into  by  Generals  Grant  and  Lee,  at  Appomattox  Court 
House,  Virginia,  on  the  9th  instant." 

While  this  communication  made  it  probable  that  the  intended  advance 
of  the  army  would  not  be  necessary,  General  Sherman  deemed  it  best  to 
retain  the  troops  in  the  attitude  of  readiness  to  move,  in  case  the  negotia 
tion  should  prove  fruitless.  At  the  same  time,  he  wrote  to  General  Grant, 
inclosing  copies  of  his  correspondence  with  Johnston,  and  informing  him 
that  he  had  invited  Governor  Yance  to  return  to  Raleigh,  with  the  civil 
officers  of  the  State. 

Owing  to  delay  in  the  transmission  of  General  Sherman's  letter,  Gen 
eral  Johnston  did  not  receive  it  until  the  morning  of  the  16th,  when  he 
replied  immediately,  asking  an  interview  at  Durham's  station,  to  arrange 
terms  of  capitulation.  Sherman  accorded  the  interview  desired,  naming 
twelve  o'clock  M.  of  the  17th  of  April,  as  the  time.  At  this  meeting, 
General  Johnston  acknowledged  that  the  terms  offered  by  General  Sher 
man  (the  same  accorded  by  General  Grant  to  General  Lee)  were  both 
fair  and  liberal,  but  asked  the  consideration  of  additional  facts.  He  sug- 
1  gested  that  the  treaty  between  Generals  Grant  iind  Lee  had  reference  to 
a  part  only  of  the  Confederate  forces,  whereas  he  proposed  to  conclude 
an  agreement  which  should  comprise  all  the  remaining  armies  of  the 
Confederacy,  and  that  thus  the  war  should  be  ended.  He  admitted, 
frankly  and  candidly,  that  there  was  BO  longer  any  ground  for  hope  of 
success  on  the  part  of  the  Confederacy ;  that  the  cause  was  lost ;  and  that 
this  admission  included  slavery,  state  rights,  and  every  other  claim  for 
which  the  war  had  been  inaugurated.  And  now,  he  desired  the  frag 
ments  of  the  Confederate  armies  to  preserve  their  company  and  regimental 
organizations,  and  that  they  should  be  marched  to  the  States  where  they 
belonged  in  such  order,  that  they  might  not  be  broken  up  into  predatory 
bands,  to  overrun  the  country,  and  vex  the  inhabitants ;  and  he  argued 
that  this  was  a  favorable  occasion  to  inaugurate  the  beginning  of  a  period 
of  peace  and  good  will  between  all  the  people  destined  to  live  under  the 
same  government.  General  Sherman,  while  recognizing  the  honorable 
motives  of  General  Johnston,  raised  two  questions  in  regard  to  any  such 


DISPOSITIONS  TO   COMPEL  JOHNSTON   TO  SURRENDER.      %t 

agreement — one,  of  doubt,  whether  General  Johnston  had  the  power  to 
make  a  treaty  which  would  be  acknowledged  as  binding  by  the  other 
commanders  of  Rebel  armies ;  the  other,  in  regard  to  his  own  power  to 
bind  the  Government  of  the  United  States  to  such  terms.  General  John 
ston,  in  reply,  offered  to  satisfy  General  Sherman  in  regard  to  his  own 
powers  in  the  matter  in  question,  and  quoted  President  Lincoln's  repeated 
offers  to  negotiate  a  peace  with  any  person  or  persons  who  could  control 
the  Rebel  armies.  Finally,  the  convention  was  adjourned  to  the  next  day 
at  twelve  o'clock,  at  the  same  place. 

Meanwhile,  the  intelligence  of  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln 
had  been  received  at  Sherman's  headquarters,  and  was  announced  to  the 
troops,  in  whose  minds  it  produced  the  most  intense  distress  and  bitter 
ness.  Still,  General  Sherman  felt  that  this  sad  event  only  rendered  the 
surrender  of  the  Rebel  armies  and  the  entire  cessation  of  hostilities  more 
necessary  and  desirable,  and  in  this  view  his  army  commanders  coincided. 
The  interview  which  he  had  had  with  the  President  about  three  weeks 
previous,  and  the  earnestness  with  which  he  had  urged  the  cessation  of 
hostilities,  at  the  earliest  moment  when  the  Rebels  should  be  prepared  to 
lay  down  their  arms,  had  deeply  impressed  the  general.  He  knew  that 
President  Lincoln  had  sanctioned  an  order  recalling  the  Virginia  legisla 
ture  to  Richmond,  but  had  not  learned  that  that  order  was  subsequently 
revoked. 

On  the  18th  of  April,  the  negotiations  were  renewed ;  the  Rebel  Gene 
ral  Breckinridge,  who  had  been  latterly  Secretary  of  War  in  the  Rebel 
Government,  while  it  lasted,  was  present,  by  consent,  and  approved  of  the 
propositions  drawn  up  by  the  two  parties.  These  propositions,  which 
were  only  to  be  binding  on  the  approval  of  the  principals  on  either  side, 
were  as  follows : 

"Memorandum,  or  basis  of  agreement,  made  this,  the  18th  day  of  April, 
A.  D.  1865,  near  Durham's  station,  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  by  and 
between  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  commanding  the  Confederate  Army, 
and  Major-General  William  T.  Sherman,  commanding  the  Army  of  the 
United  States,  both  present. 

"  I.  The  contending  armies  now  in  the  field  to  maintain  the  status  quo 
until  notice  is  given  by  the  commanding  general  of  either  one  to  his 
opponent,  and  reasonable  time,  say  forty-eight  hours,  allowed. 

"II.  The  Confederate  armies  now  ia  existence  to  be  disbanded,  and 
conducted  to  their  several  State  capitals,  there  to  deposit  their  arms  and 
public  property  in  the  State  Arsenal ;  and  each  officer  and  man  to  execute 
and  file  an  agreement  to  cease  from  acts  of  war,  and  to  abide  the  action  of 
both  State  and  Federal  authorities.  The  number  of  arms  and  munitions 
of  war  to  be  reported  to  the  Chief  of  Ordnance  at  Washington  City,  sub 
ject  to  the  future  action  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  in  the 


968  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

meantime  to  be  used  solely  to  maintain  peace  and  order  within  the  borders 
of  the  States  respectively. 

"III.  The  recognition,  by  the  Executive  of  the  United  States,  of  the 
several  State  governments,  on  their  officers  and  legislatures  taking  the 
oath  prescribed  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States;  and  where 
conflicting  State  governments  have  resulted  from  the  war,  the  legitimacy 
of  all  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

"  IY.  The  re-establishment  of  all  Federal  courts  in  the  several  States, 
with  powers  as  defined  by  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  Congress. 

"  V.  The  people  and  inhabitants  of  all  States  to  be  guaranteed,  so  far  as 
the  Executive  can,  their  political  rights  and  franchise,  as  well  as  their 
rights  of  person  and  property,  as  defined  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  the  States  respectively. 

"  VI.  The  Executive  authority  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
not  to  disturb  any  of  the  people  by  reason  of  the  late  war,  so  long  as  they 
live  in  peace  and  quiet,  abstain  from  acts  of  armed  hostility,  and  obey  laws 
in  existence  at  the  place  of  their  residence. 

"  VII.  In  general  terms,  it  is  announced  that  war  is  to  cease ;  a  general 
amnesty,  so  far  as  the  Executive  of  the  United  States  can  command,  on 
condition  of  the  disband ment  of  the  Confederate  armies,  the  distribution 
of  arms,  and  the  resumption  of  peaceful  pursuits  by  officers  and  men 
hitherto  composing  the  said  armies. 

"Not  being  fully  empowered  by  our  respective  principals  to  fulfil  these 
terms,  we  individually  and  officially  pledge  ourselves  to  promptly  obtain 
authority,  and  will  endeavor  to  carry  out  the  above  programme. 

"W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major- General, 
"Commanding  the  Army  of  the  United  States  in  North  Carolina. 

"  J.  E.  JOHNSTON,  General, 
"Commanding  Confederate  States  Army  in  North  Carolina.11 

The  same  evening,  Major  Hitchcock,  of  General  Sherman's  staff,  started 
for  Washington  with  despatches  to  the  President,  submitting  the  above 
terms  to  his  consideration.  They  were  received  at  a  cabinet  meeting  held 
on  the  evening  of  the  21st  of  April,  General  Grant  being  present,  and 
were  at  once  repudiated  ;  the  feeling  of  the  Government,  as  well  as  of  the 
higher  army  officers,  being,  at  that  time,  wholly  adverse  to  the  making  of 
any  concessions  to  the  Rebels  while  the  nation  was  thus  racked  with 
anguish  at  the  loss  of  the  President.  At  any  other  time,  they  might  have 
been  received  with  greater  favor;  for  though  they  were  drawn  too 
loosely,  and  placed  too  much  dependence  upon  the  good  faith  of  the  Rebel 
officers,  comparatively  few  of  whom  were  worthy  of  confidence,  while  they, 
rather  by  accident  than  design,  left  the  subject  of  slavery  untouched,  they 
were  not  amenable  to  the  severe  animadversions  bestowed  upon  them  by 
Secretary  Stanton  in  his  published  reasons  for  disregarding  the  truce. 


JOHNSTON  SURRENDERS   ON   SAME  TERMS   AS   LEE.          969 

General  Grant  volunteered  to  go  to  Raleigh,  bearing  the  despatch  com 
municating  their  rejection,  which  was  as  follows : 

0  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON  CITY,  April  1\st,  1865. 

"GENERAL:  —  The  memorandum  or  basis  agreed  upon  between 
General  Sherman  and  General  Johnston  having  been  submitted  to  the 
President,  is  disapproved.  You  will  give  notice  of  the  disapproval  to 
General  Sherman,  and  direct  him  to  resume  hostilities  at  the  earliest 
moment. 

"  The  instructions  given  to  you  by  the  late  President,  Abraham  Lin 
coln,  on  the  8d  of  March,  by  my  telegram,  of  that  date,  addressed  to  you, 
express  substantially  the  views  of  President  Andrew  Johnson,  and  will  be 
observed  by  General  Sherman.  A  copy  is  herewith  appended. 

"The  President  desires  that  you  proceed  immediately  to  the  headquar 
ters  of  General  Sherman,  and  direct  operations  against  the  enemy. 

"  Yours  truly, 

"  EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 
14  To  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL*  GRANT." 

General  Sherman — by  whose  dictation,  or  with  whose  assent,  they  had 
been  framed,  in  accordance  with  a  presumed  purpose  of  the  lately  mur 
dered  President — received  the  order  of  disapproval  with  commendable 
good  grace.  There  was  no  hesitancy,  no  murmuring,  nor  any  expression 
of  dissatisfaction. 

The  despatches  of  Secretary  Stanton  were  received  on  the  morning  of 
the  24th  of  April,  General  Grant  having  sent  them  on  in  advance  of  his 
own  arrival.  General  Sherman  instantly  gave  notice  to  General  Johnston, 
as  follows : 

"  You  will  take  notice  that  the  truce  or  suspension  of  hostilities  agreed 
to  between  us,  on  the  18th  inst.,  will  close  in  forty-eight  hours  after  this 
is  received  at  your  lines." 

At  the  same  time,  he  wrote  to  General  Johnston : 

"I  have  replies  from  Washington  to  my  communications  of  the  18th. 
I  am  instructed  to  limit  my  operations  to  your  immediate  command,  and 
not  attempt  civil  negotiations.  I  therefore  demand  the  surrender  of  your 
army,  on  the  same  terms  as  were  given  to  General  Lee,  at  Appomattox, 
Virginia,  on  the  9th  April  instant,  purely  and  simply." 

Within  an  hour  after  the  reception  of  General  Grant's  despatch,  a 
courier  was  riding  with  all  haste  toward  Durham's  station,  with  this 
notice  and  demand  for  General  Johnston.  Immediately  on  the  return  of 
the  messenger,  General  Sherman  issued  orders  to  his  troops  terminating 
the  truce  on  the  26th,  at  twelve  o'clock,  M.,  and  ordered  all  to  be  in  readi 
ness  to  march  at  that  time,  on  routes  previously  prescribed,  in  his  special 
field  orders  of  April  14th.  These  dispositions  were  already  made  when 


970  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

General  Grant  arrived  at  Raleigh.  He  then  informed  General  Sherman 
that  he  had  orders  from  the  President  to  direct  all  military  movements, 
and  General  Sherman  explained  to  him  the  exact  position  of  the  troops. 
General  Grant  was  so  well  satisfied  with  his  arrangements  that  he  decided 
at  once  not  to  interfere  with  them,  but  to  leave  their  execution  in  the 
hands  of  General  Sherman. 

As  for  General  Johnston,  he  was  powerless ;  in  his  rear  and  on  his 
right  flank  was  Stoneman,  with  a  cavalry  force,  who  had  destroyed  the 
railroad  betwen  his  position  and  Charlotte,  and  in  front  was  Sherman's 
army.  He  could  neither  fight  nor  retreat ;  and  it  is  but  fair  to  say,  that 
whatever  of  sinister  intent  there  may  have  been  on  the  part  of  Breckin- 
ridge,  in  the  suggestion  of  the  phraseology  of  the  "  memorandum,"  Gene 
ral  Johnston  stands  fully  exonerated  from  any  intention  of  a  wrong  or 
dishonorable  purpose ;  and  in  the  whole  matter  of  surrender,  as  well  as 
subsequently,  he  showed  himself  an  upright  and  honorable  man.  By  the 
rejection  of  the  "  memorandum,"  he  was  placed  in  a  position  in  which  he 
must  either  disperse  his  army,  or  surrender  it  on  the  terms  proposed.  On 
the  25th  of  April,  he  invited  General  Sherman  to  another  conference  with 
a  view  to  surrender.  It  was  now  the  province  of  General  Grant  to  take 
the  lead  in  the  negotiations,  but  he  preferred  that  the  entire  business 
should  be  consummated  by  General  Sherman.  At  his  suggestion,  General 
Sherman  accorded  General  Johnston  another  interview  at  twelve  M.  on  the 
26th,  the  time  designated  for  the  termination  of  the  truce.  At  this  con 
ference,  final  terms  were  soon  concluded,  and  the  second  great  army  of 
the  Rebels  was  surrendered  to  the  power  of  the  United  States  upon  the 
following  terms : 

"  Terms  of  a  military  convention  entered  into  this  twenty-sixth  day  of 
April,  1865,  at  Bennett's  house,  near  Durham's  station,  North  Carolina, 
between  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  commanding  the  Confederate  army, 
and  Major-General  W.  T.  Sherman,  commanding  the  United  States  army 
in  North  Carolina. 

"  All  acts  of  war  on  the  part  of  the  troops  under  General  Johnston's 
command,  to  cease  from  this  date.  All  arms  and  public  property  to  be 
deposited  at  Greensboro,  and  delivered  to  an  ordnance  officer  of  the 
United  States  army.  Rolls  of  all  officers  and  men  to  be  made  in  duplicate, 
one  copy  to  be  retained  by  the  commander  of  the  troops,  and  the  other  to 
be  given  to  an  officer  to  be  designated  by  General  Sherman.  Each  officer 
and  man  to  give  his  individual  obligation,  in  writing,  not  to  take  up  arms 
against  the  Government  of  the  United  States  until  properly  released  from 
this  obligation.  The  side-arms  of  officers  and  their  private  horses  and 
baggage  to  be  retained  by  them. 

"  This  being  done,  all  the  officers  and  men  will  be  permitted  to  return 
to  their  homes,  not  to  be  disturbed  by  the  United  States  authorities  so 


GENERAL  STONEMAN'S  EXPEDITION.  971 

long  as  they  observe  their  obligations  and  the  laws  in  force  where  they 
may  reside. 

"  W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major- General 
"  Commanding  the  Army  of  the  United  Stales  in  North  Carolina. 

"  J.  E.  JOHNSTON,  General, 

"  Commanding  Confederate  States  Army  in  North  Carolina. 
"Approved.     U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant- General. 
"  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  April  26,  1865." 

While  the  paroling  of  the  Rebel  troops  was  going  on,  General  Sherman, 
leaving  the  command  of  the  Union  army  in  the  hands  of  General  Scho- 
field,  made  a  flying  visit  to  Hilton  Head  and  Savannah,  to  direct  matters 
in  the  interior  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia.  While  at  Savannah,  he 
sent  supplies  to  Augusta  for  General  Wilson's  cavalry  force  and  perma 
nent  garrisons  to  that  place  and  Orangeburg,  South  Carolina.  About 
twenty  millions  of  dollars'  worth  of  property  was  surrendered  to  the 
Union  forces  at  Augusta. 

Before  leaving  Raleigh,  he  had  issued  his  special  field  orders  pro 
viding  for  the  future  disposition  of  the  vast  army  under  his  command. 
The  tenth  and  twenty-third  corps  were  to  remain  in  North  Carolina,  and 
Kilpatrick's  cavalry  division  also ;  while  the  two  brigades  of  Grover's 
division  were  to  be  sent  back  to  the  department  of  the  South.  General 
Stoneman's  cavalry  were  to  return  to  East  Tennessee,  and  Wilson's,  then 
in  Georgia,  to  the  Tennessee  river,  in  the  vicinity  of  Decatur,  Alabama. 
General  Howard's  army  of  the  Tennessee  was  to  march  for  Richmond  by 
way  of  Lewisburg,  and  Warrenton,  North  Carolina,  and  Petersburg. 
General  Slocum's  army  of  Georgia,  to  the  same  point,  by  way  of  Oxford, 
Boydton,  and  Nottoway  Court  House.  From  Richmond,  after  General 
Sherman's  return  from  the  South,  these  two  armies  marched  to  Washing 
ton,  where  they  were  reviewed  on  the  24th  of  May,  and  on  the  30th  of 
May,  General  Sherman  took  leave  of  his  army  in  a  very  touching  fare 
well  order,  and  it  was  soon  after  disbanded,  except  a  few  brigades. 

We  turn  now  to  the  movements  of  the  other  troops  in  General 
Sherman's  military  division  of  the  Mississippi,  not  under  his  immediate 
command. 

The  expedition  under  General  Stoneman,  from  East  Tennessee,  which 
General  Grant  had  directed  General  Thomas  to  send  out,  in  his  order  of 
January  31st,  did  not  get  off  until  the  20th  of  March,  moving  by  way  of 
Boone,  North  Carolina,  and  struck  the  railroad  at  Wytheville,  Chambers- 
burg,  and  Big  Lick.  The  force  striking  it  at  Big  Lick,  pushed  on  to 
within  a  few  miles  of  Lynchburg,  destroying  the  important  bridges,  while 
with  the  main  force  he  effectually  destroyed  it  between  New  river  and 
Big  Lick,  and  then  turned  for  Greensboro  on  the  North  Carolina  rail 
road  ;  struck  that  road  and  destroyed  the  bridges  between  Danville  and 


972  THE   CIVIL  WAR  iN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Greensboro  and  between  Greensboro  and  the  Yadkin,  together  with  the 
depots  and  supplies  along  it,  and  captured  four  hundred  prisoners.  At 
Salisbury  he  attacked  and  defeated  a  force  of  the  enemy  under  General 
Gardiner,  capturing  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery  and  one  thousand  three 
hundred  and  sixty-four  prisoners,  and  burned  large  amounts  of  army 
stores.  At  this  place  he  destroyed  fifteen  miles  of  railroad  and  the 
bridges  toward  Charlotte.  Thence  he  moved  toward  Slatersville,  and 
after  Johnston's  surrender  returned,  by  General  Sherman's  order,  to  East 
Tennessee. 

Soon  after  General  Sherman  commenced  his  march  from  Atlanta,  two 
expeditions,  one  from  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana,  and  one  from  Yicksburg, 
Mississippi,  were  started  by  General  Canby,  to  cut  the  enemy's  line  of 
communication  with  Mobile  and  detain  troops  in  that  field.  The  expedi 
tion  from  Vicksburg,  under  command  of  brevet  Brigadier-General  E.  D. 
Osband  (Colonel  Third  United  States  colored  cavalry),  captured,  on  the 
27th  of  November,  and  destroyed  the  Mississippi  Central  Railroad  bridge 
and  trestle-work  over  Big  Black  river,  near  Canton,  thirty  miles  of  the 
road  and  two  locomotives,  besides  large  amounts  of  stores.  The  expedi 
tion  from  Baton  Rouge  was  without  favorable  results. 

General  Canby,  who  had  been  directed,  in  January,  1865,  to  make 
preparations  for  a  movement  from  Mobile  bay  against  Mobile  and  the 
interior  of  Alabama,  commenced  his  movement  on  the  20th  of  March, 
1865.  The  sixteenth  corps,  Major-General  A.  J.  Smith  commanding, 
moved  from  Fort  Gaines  by  water  to  Fish  river ;  the  thirteenth  corps, 
under  Major-General  Gordon  Granger,  moved  from  Fort  Morgan  and 
joined  the  sixteenth  corps  on  Fish  river,  both  moving  thence  on  Spanish 
Fort  and  investing  it  on  the  27th ;  while  Major-General  Steele's  command 
moved  from  Pensacola,  cut  the  railroad  leading  from  Tensas  to  Mont 
gomery,  effected  a  junction  with  them,  and  partially  invested  Fort 
Blakely.  After  a  severe  bombardment  of  Spanish  Fort,  a  part  of  its  line 
was  carried  on  the  8th  of  April.  During  the  night  the  enemy  evacuated 
the  fort.  Fort  Blakely  was  carried  by  assault  on  the  9th,  and  over  three 
thousand  prisoners  captured ;  the  Union  loss  was  nearly  one  thousand. 
These  successes  practically  opened  to  them  the  Alabama  river,  and 
enabled  them  to  approach  Mobile  from  the  north.  On  the  night  of  the 
llth  the  city  was  evacuated,  and  was  taken  possession  of  by  the  Union 
forces  on  the  morning  of  the  12th  of  April. 

The  entire  loss  of  the  Rebels  in  this  siege  was  over  two  thousand  in 
killed  and  wounded,  and  four  thousand  prisoners,  about  one  hundred  and 
eighty  guns,  numerous  battle-flags,  and  large  quantities  of  ammunition 
and  supplies,  most  of  which,  however,  were  destroyed  soon  after  by  an 
incendiary  fire  which  reduced  one  third  of  the  city  to  ruins.  The  Union 
loss  was  about  twenty-five  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded ;  and  the  tor 
pedoes  in  the  bay  caused  the  destruction  of  eight  vessels  in  all,  two  of 


WILSON'S   CAVALRY   EXPEDITION.  973 

them  iron-clads,  one  a  light  armored  vessel,  called  at  the  West,  a  "  tin- 
clad,"  and  the  remainder  tugs  and  transports.  The  Rebel  iron-clads  and 
gunboats  fled  up  the  Tombigbee  river,  pursued  by  the  Octorara  and 
Winnebago,  and  those  of  them  not  previously  destroyed  were  surrendered, 
together  with  the  rest  of  the  Rebel  navy  in  the  waters  of  Alabama,  to  the 
Union  squadron  under  Admiral  Thatcher,  at  Nanna  Hubba  Bluff)  on  the 
Tombigbee,  on  the  9th  of  May. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  an  officer  of  the  Rebel  General  Richard  Taylor, 
who  commanded  the  Rebel  troops  between  the  Chattahoochie  and  the 
Mississippi,  arrived  at  General  Canby's  headquarters,  with  a  flag  of  truce, 
to  arrange  for  the  surrender  of  his  army.  The  negotiations  were  pro 
tracted,  for  some  cause,  until  the  4th  of  May,  when  the  surrender  took 
place  at  Citronelle,  Alabama.  About  twenty  thousand  troops  were  sur 
rendered  and  paroled  by  this  capitulation.  Forrest's,  Jeff.  Thompson's, 
Sam  Jones's,  and  all  the  other  regular  and  irregular  Rebel  commands, 
east  of  the  Mississippi,  came  in,  and  were  paroled  within  a  few  days  from 
this  time. 

The  cavalry  expedition  of  brevet  Major-General  Wilson,  which,  at 
General  Grant's  direction,  General  Thomas  had  sent  southward,  into  Ala 
bama  and  Georgia,  played  an  important  part  in  the  closing  scenes  of  the 
war.  Among  the  many  brilliant  exploits  of  that  arm  of  the  service,  there 
is  none  more  remarkable  for  daring,  skill,  or  admirable  management,  than 
this.  For  the  first  time  in  modern  history,  a  cavalry  force  unaccompanied 
by  infantry,  and  with  only  light  artillery,  attacked  and  carried  strongly 
fortified  towns,  defended  by  large  garrisons. 

The  narrative  of  General  Wilson  is  so  full  of  interest,  that  we  give 
portions  of  it,  as  describing  more  clearly  and  happily  than  can  be  done 
otherwise,  some  of  the  incidents  of  this  remarkable  expedition.  The  force 
with  which  he  began  the  march,  it  should  be  remarked,  was  about  thirteen 
thousand  five  hundred  men,  of  whom  fifteen  hundred  were  dismounted, 
and  a  part  of  the  others  but  indifferently  mounted  ;  though  all,  except  a 
few  hundred,  were  armed  with  the  formidable  Spencer  carbine,  and  had  a 
supply  of  the  fixed  metallic  cartridges.  A  light,  canvas  pontoon  train, 
of  thirty  boats,  with  fixtures  complete,  accompanied  the  expedition,  and 
the  entire  train  numbered  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  wagons. 

"At  daylight,  on  the  22d  of  March,  all  the  preliminary  arrangements 
having  been  perfected,  and  the  order  of  march  having  been  designated, 
the  movement  began. 

*  The  entire  valley  of  the  Tennessee,  having  been  devastated  by  two 
years  of  warfare,  was  quite  as  destitute  of  army  supplies  as  the  hill  coun 
try  south  of  it.  In  all  directions,  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  there 
was  almost  absolute  destitution.  It  was  therefore  necessary  to  scatter  the 
troops  over  a  wide  extent  of  country,  and  march  as  rapidly  as  circum 
stances  would  permit.  This  was  rendered  safe  by  the  fact  that  Forrest's 


974  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

forces  were,  at  that  time,  near  "West  Point,  Mississippi,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  southwest  of  Eastport,  while  Koddy's  occupied  Montevallo,  on 
the  Alabama  and  Tennessee  river  railroad,  nearly  the  same  distance  to  the 
southeast.  By  starting  on  diverging  roads,  the  enemy  was  left  in  doubt 
as  to  our  real  object,  and  compelled  to  watch  equally  Columbus,  Tusca- 
loosa,  and  Selma. 

"  Upton's  division,  followed  by  his  train,  marched  rapidly  by  the  most 
easterly  route,  passing  by  Barton's  station,  Throgmorton's  mills,  Kussell- 
ville,  Mount  Hope,  and  Jasper,  to  Sanders's  ferry,  on  the  west  fork  of  the 
Black  Warrior  river. 

"Long's  division  marched  by  the  way  of  Cherokee  station  and  Frank 
fort  ;  but  being  encumbered  by  the  pontoon  train,  and  having  mistaken 
the  road  by  which  it  should  have  ascended  the  mountain,  was  considerably 
delayed  in  reaching  Eussellville.  From  this  place,  it  marched  directly 
south,  by  the  Tuscaloosa  road,  till  it  crossed  Upper  Bear  creek ;  thence 
turned  to  the  eastward  by  the  head  of  Buttahatchie  creek,  crossed  Byler's 
road  near  Thorn  hill,  and  struck  Blackwater  creek,  about  twenty-five 
miles  from  Jasper.  The  crossing  of  the  last  mentioned  stream,  and  the 
road  for  six  miles  beyond,  were  as  bad  as  could  be,  but,  by  industry, 
every  thing  was  forced  through  to  Jasper,  and  the  ford  on  the  Warrior, 
with  but  little  loss  of  time. 

"  M'Cook's  division  pursued  the  same  route  to  Bear  creek  on  the  Tusca 
loosa  road,  but  instead  of  turning  to  the  eastward  at  that  place,  continued 
the  march  toward  Tuscaloosa  as  far  as  Eldridge,  and  thence  east  to 
Jasper. 

"  In  this  order,  the  different  divisions  arrived  at  and  crossed  the  two 
forks  of  the  Black  Warrior  river. 

"  The  ford  on  the  west  branch  was  extremely  difficult  of  approach,  as 
well  as  of  passage.  The  country  on  both  sides,  very  rugged  and  six  or 
seven  hundred  feet  above  the  bed  of  the  stream,  was  entirely  destitute  of 
forage ;  the  stream  itself  was  at  the  time  likely  to  become  entirely  im 
passable  by  the  rain  which  threatened  to  occur  at  any  moment.  I  had 
also  heard  at  Jasper,  on  the  27th,  that  a  part  of  Forrest's  force,  under 
Chalmers,  was  marching  by  the  way  of  Bridge ville  toward  Tuscaloosa,  and 
knew  that  if  the  true  direction  of  our  movement  had  been  discovered,  it 
would  be  but  a  short  time  till  the  balance  of  the  Eebel  cavalry  would 
push  in  the  same  direction.  I  therefore  directed  my  division  commanders 
to  replenish  the  haversacks,  see  that  the  pack  animals  were  fully  laden,  to 
leave  all  the  wagons  except  the  artillery,  and  march  with  the  greatest 
possible  rapidity,  via  Ely  ton,  to  Montevallo.  I  felt  confident  that  the 
enemy  would  not  relinquish  his  efforts  to  check  the  movement  of  the  troops 
in  the  hope  of  destroying  our  supply  train.  I  therefore  left  it  between 
the  two  streams,  with  instructions  to  push  on  as  far  as  Elyton,  where  it 
would  receive  further  orders.  By  great  energy  on  the  part  of  command- 


CAPTURE  OF  MONTEYALLO  AND  RANDOLPH.       975 

ing  officers  the  two  branches  of  the  Warrior  were  crossed,  each  division 
losing  a  few  horses  but  no  men. 

"At  Elyton,  on  the  evening  of  the  30th,  I  directed  General  McCook 
to  detach  Croxton's  brigade,  with  orders  to  move  on  Tuscaloosa  as  rapidly 
as  possible,  burn  the  public  stores,  military  school,  bridges,  foundries  and 
factories  at  that  place,  return  toward  the  main  column  by  the  way  of  the 
Centre ville  road,  and  rejoin  it  at  or  in  the  vicinity  of  Selma.  Beside 
covering  our  trains  and  inflicting  a  heavy  blow  upon  the  enemy,  I  hoped 
by  this  detachment  to  develop  any  movement  on  his  part  intended  to  in 
tercept  my  main  column. 

"General  Upton's  division  encountered  a  few  Rebel  cavalry  at  Elyton, 
but  pushed  them  rapidly  across  the  Cahawba  river  to  Monte vallo.  The 
Rebels  having  felled  trees  into  the  ford  and  otherwise  obstructed  it,  the 
railroad  bridge  near  Hillsboro  was  floored  over  by  General  Winslow. 
General  Upton  crossed  his  division  and  pushed  on  rapidly  to  Montevallo, 
where  he  arrived  late  on  the  evening  of  the  30th.  Long  and  McCook 
marched  by  the  same  route.  In  this  region  General  Upton's  division 
destroyed  the  Bed  Mountain,  Central,  Bibb  and  Columbiana  iron  works, 
Cahawba  rolling  mill,  five  collieries,  and  much  valuable  property.  All 
of  these  establishments  were  of  great  extent  and  in  full  operation.  I 
arrived  at  Montevallo  on  the  afternoon  of  March  31st,  where  I  found 
Upton's  division  ready  to  resume  the  march.  Directly  after,  the  enemy 
made  his  appearance  on  the  Selma  road.  By  my  direction  General  Upton 
moved  his  division  out  at  once,  General  Alexander's  brigade  in  advance. 
After  a  sharp  fight  and  a  handsome  charge,  General  Alexander  drove  the 
Rebel  cavalry,  a  part  of  Crossland's  Kentucky  brigade  and  Roddy's 
division,  rapidly  and  in  great  confusion  toward  Randolph.  The  enemy 
endeavoring  to  make  a  stand  at  a  creek  four  or  five  miles  south  of  Mon 
tevallo,  General  Upton  placed  in  position  and  opened  fire,  Rodney's  bat 
tery  I,  fourth  United  States  artillery,  and  pushing  Winslow's  brigade  to 
the  front,  they  again  beat  a  hasty  retreat,  closely  pursued  and  repeatedly 
charged  by  Winslow's  advance.  About  fifty  prisoners  were  taken, 
with  their  arms  and  accoutrements,  and  much  other  loose  materials  were 
abandoned.  The  gallantry  of  men  and  officers  had  been  most  conspicuous 
throughout  the  day,  and  had  resulted  already  in  the  establishment  of  a 
moral  supremacy  for  the  corps. 

"Upton's  division  bivouacked  fourteen  miles  south -of  Montevallo,  and 
at  dawn  of  the  next  day,  «April  1st,  pushed  forward  to  Randolph.  At 
this  point,  in  pursuance  of  the  order  of  march  for  the  day,  General  Upton 
turned  to  the  east  for  the  purpose  of  going  by  the  way  of  old  Maplesville, 
and  thence  by  the  old  Selma  road,  while  General  Long  was  instructed  to 
push  forward  on  the  new  road. 

"At  Randolph,  General  Upton  captured  a  Rebel  courier  just  from  Cen- 
treville,  and  from  his  person  took  two  despatches,  one  from  Brigadier- 


976  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

General  "W.  H.  Jackson,  commanding  one  of  Forrest's  divisions,  and  one 
from  Major  Anderson,  Forrest's  chief  of  staff.  From  the  first,  I  learned 
that  Forrest,  with  a  part  of  his  command,  was  in  my  front ;  this  had  also 
been  obtained  from  prisoners ;  that  Jackson,  with  his  division,  and  all  the 
wagons  and  artillery  of  the  Rebel  cavalry,  marching  from  Tuscaloosa,  via 
Trion,  toward  Centreville,  had  encamped  the  night  before  at  Hill's  plan 
tation,  three  miles  beyond  Scottsboro;  that  Croxton,  with  the  brigade 
detached  at  Elytown,  had  struck  Jackson's  rear-guard  at  Trion,  and  inter 
posed  himself  between  it  and  the  train ;  that  Jackson  had  discovered  this, 
and  intended  to  attack  Croxton  at  daylight,  April  1st.  I  learned  from  the 
other  despatch  that  Chalmers  had  also  arrived  at  Marion,  Alabama,  and 
had  been  ordered  to  cross  to  the  east  side  of  the  Cahawba,  near  that  place, 
for  the  purpose  of  joining  Forrest  in  my  front,  or  in  the  works  at  Selma. 
I  also  learned  that  a  force  of  dismounted  men  were  stationed  at  Centre 
ville,  with  orders  to  hold  the  bridge  over  the  Cahawba,  at  that  place,  as 
long  as  possible,  and  in  no  event  let  it  fall  into  our  hands. 

"  Shortly  after  the  interception  of  these  despatches,  I  received  a  despatch 
from  Croxton,  written  from  Trion  the  night  before,  informing  me  that  he 
had  struck  Jackson's  rear,  and  instead  of  pushing  on  toward  Tuscaloosa, 
as  he  was  ordered,  he  would  follow,  and  endeavor  to  bring  him  to  an  en 
gagement,  hoping  thereby  to  prevent  his  junction  with  Forrest. 

"  With  this  information  in  my  possession,  I  directed  McCook  to  strengthen 
the  battalion  previously  ordered  to  Centreville  by  a  regiment,  and  to  fol 
low  at  once  with  La  Grange's  entire  brigade,  leaving  all  pack  trains  and 
wagons  with  the  main  column,  so  that  he  could  march  with  the  utmost 
possible  celerity ;  and  after  seizing  the  Centreville  bridge,  and  leaving  it 
under  protection  of  a  sufficient  guard,  to  cross  the  Cahawba,  and  continue 
his  march,  by  the  Scottsboro  road,  toward  Trion.  His  orders  were  to 
attack  and  break  up  Jackson's  forces,  form  a  junction  with  Croxton,  if 
practicable,  and  rejoin  the  corps,  with  his  entire  division,  by  the  Centre 
ville  road  to  Selma.  Although  he  did  not  leave  Randolph  till  near  eleven 
o'clock  A.  M.,  and  the  distance  to  Scottsville  was  nearly  forty  miles,  I 
hoped,  by  this  movement,  to  do  more  than  secure  the  Centreville  bridge, 
and  prevent  Jackson  from  joining  the  force  in  front  of  the  main  column. 

"  Having  thus  taken  care  of  the  right  flank,  and  anticipated  Forrest  in 
his  intention  to  play  his  old  game  of  getting  upon  the  rear  of  his  opponent, 
I  gave  directions  to  Long  and  Upton  to  allow  him  no  rest,  but  push  him 
toward  Selma  with  the  utmost  spirit  and  rapidity.  These  officers  compre 
hended  the  situation,  pressed  forward  and  with  admirable  zeal  and  activity 
upon  the  roads  which  have  previously  been  indicated.  The  advance  of 
both  divisions  encountered  small  parties  of  the  enemy,  but  drove  them 
back  to  their  main  force  at  Ebenezer  church,  six  miles  north  of  Planters- 
ville.  Forrest  had  chosen  a  position  on  the  north  bank  of  Bogler's  creek, 
and  disposed  of  his  force  for  battle,  his  right  resting  on  Mulberry  creek, 


CROXTON'S  SEPARATE  EXPEDITION.  977 

and  his  left  on  a  high  wooded  ridge,  with  four  pieces  of  artillery  to  sweep 
the  Randolph  road,  upon  which  Long's  division  was  advancing,  and  two 
on  the  Maplesville  road.  He  had  under  his  command,  in  line,  Armstrong's 
brigade  of  Chalmers's  division,  Roddy's  division,  Crossland's  Kentucky 
brigade,  and  a  battalion  of  three  hundred  infantry,  just  arrived  from  Selma, 
in  all  about  five  thousand  men.  Part  of  his  front  was  covered  by  a  slash 
ing  of  pine  trees  and  rail  barricades. 

"As  soon  as  General  Long  discovered  the  enemy  in  strength  close  upon 
the  main  body,  he  reinforced  his  advance-guard  (a  battalion  of  the  seventy- 
second  Indiana  mounted  infantry)  by  the  balance  of  the  regiment,  dis 
mounted,  and  formed  it  on  the  left  of  the  road.  Pushing  it  forward,  the 
enemy  was  broken  and  driven  back.  At  this  juncture  he  ordered  for 
ward  four  companies  of  the  seventeenth  Indiana  mounted  infantry,  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Frank  White  commanding.  With  drawn  sabres  this 
gallant  battalion  drove  the  enemy  in  confusion  into  the  main  line,  dashed 
against  that,  broke  through  it,  rode  over  the  Rebel  guns,  crushing  the 
wheels  of  one  piece,  and  finally  turned  to  the  left,  and  cut  its  way  out, 
leaving  one  officer  and  sixteen  men  in  the  enemy's  hands,  either  killed  or 
wounded.  In  this  charge,  Captain  Taylor,  seventeenth  Indiana,  lost  his 
life,  after  having  led  his  men  into  the  very  midst  of  the  enemy,  and  en 
gaged  in  a  running  fight  of  two  hundred  yards  with  Forrest  in  person. 

"  General  Alexander's  brigade  had  the  advance  of  Upton's  division,  and 
when  within  three  miles  of  Ebenezer  church,  heard  the  firing  and  cheers 
of  Long's  men  on  the  right,  pushed  forward  at  the  trot,  and  soon  came 
upon  the  enemy.  General  Alexander  hastily  deployed  his  brigade,  mostly 
on  the  right  of  the  road,  with  the  intention  of  connecting  with  Long's  left, 
and  as  soon  as  every  thing  was  in  readiness,  pushed  forward  his  line,  dis 
mounted.  In  less  than  an  hour,  although  the  resistance  was  determined, 
the  position  was  carried  by  a  gallant  charge,  and  the  enemy  completely 
routed.  Alexander's  brigade  captured  two  guns  and  about  two  hundred 
prisoners,  while  one  gun  fell  into  the  hands  of  General  Long's  division. 

"  Winslow's  brigade  immediately  passed  to  the  front  and  took  up  the 
pursuit,  but  could  not  again  bring  the  Rebels  to  a  stand. 

"  The  whole  corps  bivouacked  at  sundown  about  Plantersville,  nineteen 
miles  from  Selma.  With  almost  constant  fighting,  the  enemy  had  been 
driven  since  morning  twenty-four  miles. 

"  At  daylight  of  the  2d,  Long's  division  took  the  advance,  closely  fol 
lowed  by  Upton's.  Having  obtained  a  well-drawn  sketch  and  complete 
description  of  the  defences  of  Selma,  I  directed  General  Long,  marching 
by  the  flanks  of  brigades,  to  approach  the  city,  and  cross  to  the  Summers- 
ville  road,  without  exposing  his  men,  and  to  develop  his  line  as  soon  as 
he  should  arrive  in  front  of  the  works.  General  Upton  was  directed  to 
move  on  the  Range  Line  road,  sending  a  squadron  on  the  Burnsville  road. 
Lieutenant  Rendelbrook,  with  a  battalion  of  the  fourth  United  States 
62 


978  ™E   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

cavalry,  was  instructed  to  move  down  the  railroad,  burning  stations* 
bridges,  and  trestle  works,  as  far  as  Burnsville.  By  rapid  marching, 
without  opposition,  the  troops  were  all  in  sight  of  the  town,  and  mostly 
in  position,  by  four  P.  M. 

"  As  I  approached  the  city,  I  perceived  that  my  information  was  gene 
rally  correct;  I  therefore  made  a  reconnoissance  of  the  works,  from  left 
to  right,  for  the  purpose  of  satisfying  myself  entirely  as  to  the  true  point 
of  attack,  and  the  probable  chances  of  success.  I  directed  General  Long 
to  assault  the  enemy's  works  by  moving  diagonally  across  the  road  upon 
which  his  troops  were  posted,  while  General  Upton,  at  his  own  request, 
with  a  picked  force  of  three  hundred  men,  was  directed  to  penetrate  the 
swamps  upon  his  left,  break  through  the  line  covered  by  it,  and  turn  the 
enemy's  right,  the  balance  of  his  division  to  conform  to  the  movement. 
The  signal  for  the  advance  was  to  be  the  discharge  of  a  single  gun  from 
Rodney's  battery,  to  be  given  as  soon  as  Upton's  turning  movement  had 
developed  itself. 

"  Before  this  plan  could  be  put  into  execution,  and  while  waiting  for  the 
signal  to  advance,  General  Long  was  informed  that  a  strong  force  of  Rebel 
cavalry  had  begun  skirmishing  with  his  rear,  and  threatened  a  general 
attack  upon  his  pack  train  and  led  horses.  He  had  left  a  force  of  six 
companies,  well  posted,  at  the  creek,  in  anticipation  of  this  movement, 
afterward  ascertained  to  have  been  made  by  Chalmers,  in  obedience  to  the 
instructions  of  Forrest.  This  force  was  at  Marion  the  day  before,  and 
was  expected  on  the  road  from  that  place.  Fearing  that  this  affair  might 
compromise  our  assault  upon  the  main  position,  General  Long  (having 
already  strengthened  the  rear  by  another  regiment),  with  admirable  judg 
ment,  determined  to  make  the  assault  at  once ;  and,  without  waiting  for 
the  signal,  gave  the  order  to  advance.  The  troops  dismounted,  sprang 
forward  with  confident  alacrity,  and  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes,  without 
ever  stopping,  wavering,  or  faltering,  had  swept  over  the  works,  and  driven 
the  Rebels  in  confusion  toward  the  city.  I  arrived  on  that  part  of  the 
field  just  after  the  works  were  carried,  at  once  notified  General  Upton  of 
the  success,  and  ordered  him  to  push  on  as  rapidly  as  possible,  directing 
Colonel  Minty  (now  in  command  of  the  second  division)  to  gather  his  men 
for  a  new  advance ;  ordered  Colonel  Vail,  commanding  the  seventeenth 
Indiana,  to  place  his  own  regiment,  and  the  fourth  United  States  cavalry, 
Lieutenant  O'Connel,  and  the  Board  of  Trade  battery,  Captain  Robinson 
commanding,  and  renewed  the  attack.  The  Rebels  had  occupied  a  new 
line,  but  partially  finished,  on  the  edge  of  the  city.  A  most  gallant 
charge,  by  the  fourth  United  States  cavalry,  was  repulsed,  but  rapidly 
reformed  on  the  left.  It  was  now  quite  dark.  Upton's  division  advanc 
ing  at  the  same  time,  a  new  charge  was  made  by  the  fourth  Ohio,  seven 
teenth  Indiana,  and  fourth  cavalry,  dismounted.  The  troops,  inspired  by 
the  wildest  enthusiasm,  swept  every  thing  before  them,  and  penetrated 


THE   BATTLE   AND   CAPTURE   OF   SELMA.  979 

the  city  in  all  directions.  During  the  first  part  of  the  action,  the  Chicago 
Board  of  Trade  battery  had  occupied  a  commanding  position,  and  steadily 
replied  to  the  enemy's  guns. 

"  I  regard  the  capture  of  Selma  as  the  most  remarkable  achievement  in 
the  history  of  modern  cavalry,  and  one  admirably  illustrative  of  its  new 
powers  and  tendencies.  That  it  may  be  fully  understood,  particular 
attention  is  invited  to  the  following  facts: 

"  The  fortifications  assaulted  and  carried,  consist  of  a  bastioned  line,  on 
a  radius  of  nearly  three  miles,  extending  from  the  Alabama  river  below 
to  the  same  above  the  city.  The  part  west  of  the  city  is  covered  by  a 
miry,  deep,  and  almost  impassable  creek ;  that  on  the  east  side,  by  a 
swamp,  extending  from  the  river  almost  to  the  Summerville  road,  and 
entirely  impracticable  for  mounted  men  at  all  times.  General  Upton 
ascertained,  by  a  personal  reconnoissance,  that  dismounted  men  might,  with 
great  difficulty,  work  through  it  on  the  left  of  the  Range  Line  road.  The 
profile  of  that  part  of  the  line  assaulted  is  as  follows :  height  of  parapet, 
six  to  eight  feet ;  thickness,  eight  feet ;  depth  of  ditch,  five  feet ;  width 
from  ten  to  fifteen  feet ;  height  of  stockade  on  the  glacis,  five  feet ;  sunk 
into  the  earth,  four  feet.  The  ground  over  which  the  troops  advanced  is 
an  open  field,  generally  level,  sloping  slightly  toward  the  works,  but 
intersected  by  one  ravine,  and  marshy  soil,  which  both  the  right  and  left 
of  Long's  line  experienced  some  difficulty  in  crossing.  The  distance 
which  the  troops  charged,  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire  of  artillery  and 
musketry,  was  six  hundred  yards.  Particular  attention  is  invited  to  that 
part  of  General  Long's  report  which  describes  the  assault.  He  states  that 
the  number  engaged  in  the  charge  was  one  thousand  five  hundred  and 
fifty  officers  and  men.  The  portion  of  the  line  assaulted  was  manned  by 
Armstrong's  brigade,  regarded  as  the  best  in  Forrest's  corps,  and  reported, 
by  him  at  more  than  one  thousand  five  hundred  men.  The  loss  from 
Long's  division  was  forty  killed,  two  hundred  wounded,  and  seven  miss 
ing.  General  Long  was  wounded  in  the  head,  Colonels  Miller  and 
MeCormick  in  the  leg,  and  Colonel  Briggs  in  the  breast. 

"  The  immediate  fruits  of  our  victory  were  thirty-one  field  guns  and 
one  thirty  pounder  Parrott,  which  had  been  used  against  us ;  two  thou 
sand  seven  hundred  prisoners,  including  one  hundred  and  fifty  officers ; 
a  number  of  colors,  and  immense  quantities  of  stores  of  every  kind. 
Generals  Forrest,  Armstrong,  Roddy  and  Adams  escaped,  with  a  number 
of  men,  under  cover  of  darkness,  either  by  the  Burnsville  and  river  road 
or  by  swimming  the  Alabama  river.  A  portion  of  Upton's  division 
pursued  on  the  Burnsville  road  until  long  after  midnight,  capturing  four 
guns  and  many  prisoners.  I  estimate  the  entire  garrison,  including  the 
militia  of  the  city  and  surrounding  country,  at  seven  thousand  men.  The 
entire  force  under  my  command,  engaged  and  in  supporting  distance,  was 
nine  thousand  men  and  eight  guns. 


980  THE  CIYIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

"As  soon  as  the  troops  could  be  assembled  and  got  into  camp,  I  assigned 
brevet  Brigadier-General  Winslow  to  the  command  of  the  city,  with 
orders  to  destroy  every  thing  that  could  possibly  benefit  the  Rebel  cause. 
I  directed  General  Upton  to  march  at  daylight,  with  his  division,  for  the 
purpose  of  driving  Chalmers  to  the  west  side  of  the  Cahawba,  to  open 
communication  with  McCook,  expected  from  Centre ville,  and,  in  conjunc 
tion  with  the  latter,  bring  in  the  train. 

"  The  capture  of  Selma  having  put  us  in  possession  of  the  enemy's 
greatest  depot  in  the  southwest,  was  a  vital  blow  to  their  cause,  and 
secured  to  us  the  certainty  of  going  in  whatever  direction  might  be  found 
most  advantageous.  I  gave  directions  to  Lieutenant  Heywood,  fourth 
Michigan  cavalry,  engineer  officer  on  my  staff,  to  employ  all  the  resources 
of  the  shops  in  the  city  in  the  construction  of  pontoons,  with  the  intention 
of  laying  a  bridge,  and  crossing  to  the  south  side  of  the  Alabama  river, 
as  soon  as  I  could  satisfy  myself  in  regard  to  General  Canby's  success  in 
the  operations  against  Mobile.  On  April  5th,  Upton  and  McCook  arrived 
with  the  train,  but  nothing  definite  had  been  heard  of  Croxton.  McCook 
had  been  entirely  successful  in  his  operations  against  Centreville,  but  on 
reaching  Scottsboro,  he  found  Jackson  well  posted,  with  a  force  he  thought 
too  strong  to  attack.  After  a  sharp  skirmish  he  retired  to  Centreville, 
burned  the  Scottsboro  cotton  factory  and  Cahawba  bridge,  and  returned 
toward  Selma,  satisfied  that  Croxton  had  taken  care  of  himself  and  gone 
in  a  new  direction. 

"  On  the  6th  of  April,  having  ordered  Major  Hubbard  to  lay  a  bridge 
over  the  Alabama  with  the  utmost  despatch,  I  went  to  Cahawba  to  see 
General  Forre*st,  who  had  agreed  to  meet  me  there,  under  a  flag  of  truce, 
for  the  purpose  of  arranging  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  I  was  not  long 
in  discovering  that  I  need  not  expect  liberality  in  this  matter,  and  that 
Forrest  hoped  to  recapture  the  men  of  his  command  in  my  possession. 
During  our  conversation,  he  informed  me  that  Croxton  had  had  an  en 
gagement  with  Wirt  Adams,  near  Bridgeville,  forty  miles  southwest  of 
Tuscaloosa,  two  days  before.  Thus  assured  of  Croxton's  success  and 
safety,  I  determined  to  lose  no  further  time  in  crossing  to  the  south  side 
of  the  Alabama.  I  had  also  satisfied  myself,  in  the  meantime,  that 
Canby  had  an  ample  force  to  take  Mobile  and  march  to  central  Alabama. 
I  therefore  returned  to  Selma,  and  urged  every  one  to  the  utmost  exer 
tions.  The  river  was  quite  full  and  rising,  the  weather  unsettled  and 
rainy ;  but  by  the  greatest  exertion,  night  and  day,  on  the  part  of  Major 
Hubbard  and  his  battalion,  General  Upton,  General  Alexander,  and  my 
own  staff,  the  bridge,  eight  hundred  and  seventy  feet  long,  was  constructed, 
and  the  command  all  crossed  by  daylight  of  the  10th.  So  swift  and  deep 
was  the  river,  that  the  bridge  was  swept  away  three  times.  General 
Alexander  narrow]y  escaped  with  his  life,  boats  were  capsized,  and  men 
precipitated  into  the  stream ;  but  the  operations  were  finally  determined 


BATTLE  AT  WEST  POINT,   GEORGIA.  981 

by  complete  success.  Before  leaving  the  city,  General  Winslow  destroyed 
the  arsenals,  foundries,  arms,  stores,  and  military  munitions  of  every  kind. 
The  enemy  had  previously  burned  twenty-five  thousand  bales  of  cotton. 

"  Having  the  entire  corps,  except  Croxton's  brigade,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river,  and  being  satisfied  that  the  Kebels  could  receive  no  advan 
tage  by  a  tempting  to  again  occupy  Selma,  so  thoroughly  had  every  thing 
in  it  beer  destroyed,  I  determined  to  move  by  the  way  of  Montgomery 
into  Georgia, 'and  after  breaking  up  railroads  and  destroying  stores  and 
army  supplies  in  that  State,  to  march  thence  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  the 
theatre  of  operations  in  North  Carolina  and  Virginia. 

"  Enough  horses  were  secured  at  Selma,  and  on  the  march  to  that  place, 
to  mount  all  our  dismounted  men.  In  order  to  disencumber  the  column 
of  every  unnecessary  impediment,  I  ordered  the  surplus  wagons  to  be 
destroyed,  and  all  of  the  bridge  train  except  enough  for  twelve  boats. 
The  main  object  for  which  the  latter  was  brought  had  been  secured  by 
our  passage  of  the  Alabama. 

"  I  also  directed  the  column  to  be  cleared  of  all  contraband  negroes, 
and  such  of  the  able-bodied  ones  as  were  able  to  enlist  to  be  organized 
into  regiments — one  to  each  division.  Efficient  officers  were  assigned  to 
these  commands,  and  great  pains  taken  to  prevent  their  becoming  bur 
densome.  How  well  they  succeeded  can  be  understood  from  the  fact  that, 
in  addition  to  subsisting  themselves  upon  the  country,  they  marched 
(upon  one  occasion)  forty -five  miles,  and  frequently  as  much  as  thirty- 
five  in  one  day. 

"  In  the  march  from  Selma,  La  Grange's  brigade,  of  McCook's  division, 
was  given  the  advance.  The  recent  rains  had  rendered  the  roads  quite 
muddy,  and  a  small  body  of  Eebel  calvary,  in  falling  back  before  La 
Grange,  destroyed  several  bridges,  so  that  our  progress  was  necessarily 
slow. 

"At  seven  A.M.,  April  12th,  the  advance-guard  reached  Montgomery,  and 
received  the  surrender  of  the  city  from  the  Mayor  and  Council.  General 
Adams,  with  a  small  force,  after  falling  back  before  us  to  the  city,  burned 
ninety  thousand  bales  of  cotton  stored  there,  and  continued  his  retreat  to 
Mount  Meigs,  on  the  Columbus  road.  Five  guns  and  large  quantities  of 
small  arms,  stores,  &c.,  were  left  in  our  hands  and  destroyed. 

"  General  McCook  assigned  Colonel  Cooper,  fourth  Kentucky  cavalry, 
to  the  command  of  the  city,  and  immediately  began  the  destruction  of  the 
public  stores.  Major  Weston,  of  the  fourth  Kentucky,  with  a  small  de 
tachment  of  his  regiment,  made  a  rapid  march  toward  Wetumpka,  swam 
the  Coosa  and  Tullapoosa  rivers,  and  captured  five  steamboats  and  their 
cargoes,  which  were  taken  to  Montgomery  and  destroyed.  Early  on  the 
14th  the  march  was  resumed.  I  instructed  brevet  Major-General  Upton 
to  move  with  his  own  division  directly  upon  Columbus,  and  to  order  La 
Grange,  with  his  brigade,  to  make  a  rapid  movement  upon  West  Point 


982  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

destroying  the  railroad  bridges  along  the  line  of  his  march.  I  hoped  to 
secure  a  crossing  of  the  Chattahoochie  at  one  or  the  other  of  these  places. 

"Minty  followed  Upton  by  the  way  of  Tuskegee.  McCook,  with  a 
part  of  his  division,  remained  a  few  hours  at  Montgomery,  to  complete 
the  destruction  of  public  stores.  Shortly  after  leaving  his  camp  near 
Montgomery,  La  Grange  struck  a  force  of  Rebels  under  Buford  and 
Clauton,  but  drove  them  in  confusion,  capturing  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  prisoners. 

"  About  two  P.  M.  of  the  16th,  General  Upton's  advance — a  part  of  Alex 
ander's  brigade — struck  the  enemy's  pickets  on  the  road,  and  drove  them 
rapidly  through  Girard  to  the  lower  bridge  over  the  Chattahoochie  at 
Columbus.  The  Rebels  hastily  set  fire  to  it,  and  thereby  prevented  its 
capture.  After  securing  a  position  on  the  lower  Montgomery  road,  General 
Upton  detached  a  force  to  push  around  to  the  bridge  at  the  factory,  throe 
miles  above  the  city.  He  then  made  a  reconnoissance  in  person,  and 
found  the  enemy  strongly  posted  in  a  line  of  works  covering  all  the 
bridges,  with  a  large  number  of  gun?  in  position  on  both  sides  of  the 
river.  He  had  already  determined  to  move  Winslow's  brigade  to  the 
Opelika  of  Summerville  road,  and  assault  the  works  on  that  side  without 
waiting  for  the  arrival  of  the  second  division. 

"  I  reached  the  head  of  Winslow's  brigade  of  the  fourth  division  at 
four  o'clock,  and  found  the  troops  marching  to  the  position  assigned  them 
by  General  Upton.  Through  an  accident,  Winslow  did  not  arrive  at  his 
position  till  after  dark ;  but  General  Upton  prepared  to  make  the  assault 
in  the  night,  and  coinciding  with  him  in  judgment,  I  ordered  the  attack. 

"  Three  hundred  men  of  the  third  Iowa  cavalry,  Colonel  Noble  com 
manding,  were  dismounted ;  and  after  a  slight  skirmish,  moved  forward, 
and  formed  across  the  road,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery.  The  fourth 
Iowa  and  tenth  Missouri  were  held  in  readiness  to  support  the  assaulting 
party.  At  half  past  eight  P.  M.,  just  as  the  troops  were  ready,  the  enemy, 
at  a  short  distance,  opened  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry,  and  with  a  four  gun 
battery  began  throwing  canister  and  grape.  Generals  Upton  and  Winslow 
in  person  directed  the  movement,  the  troops  dashed  forward,  opened  a 
withering  fire*  from  their  Spencers,  pushed  through  a  slashing  abatis, 
and  pressed  the  Rebel  line  back  to  their  works,  supposed,  at  first,  to  be  the 
main  line.  During  all  this  time  the  Rebel  guns  threw  out  a  perfect  storm 
of  canister  and  grape,  but  without  avail. 

"General  Upton  sent  two  companies  of  the  tenth  Missouri,  Captain 
Glassen  commanding,  to  follow  up  the  success  of  the  dismounted  men  and 
get  possession  of  the  bridge.  They  passed  through  the  inner  line  ot 
works,  and  under  cover  of  darkness,  before  the  Rebels  knew  it,  had 
reached  the  bridge  leading  into  Columbus. 

"  As  soon  as  every  thing  could  be  got  up  to  the  position  occupied  by 
the  dismounted  men,  General  Upton  pressed  forward  again,  swept  away 


"1 

LA  GRANGE,   GRIFFIN,   AND   FORSYTE   CAPTURED.  983 

all  opposition,  took  possession  of  the  fort  and  railroad  bridges,  and 
stationed  guards  throughout  the  city. 

"  Twelve  hundred  prisoners,  fifty -two  field  guns  in  position  for  uso 
against  us,  and  large  quantities  of  arms  and  stores,  fell  into  our  hands.  Our 
loss  was  only  twenty-five  killed  and  wounded.  Colonel  C.  A.  L.  La/nar 
of  General  Cobb's  staff;  formerly  owner  of  the  "Wanderer"  (slave-trader)] 
was  killed. 

"The  splendid  gallantry  and  steadiness  of  General  Upton,  brevet 
Brigadier-General  Winslow,  and  all  the  officers  and  men  engaged  in  the 
first  attack  is  worthy  of  the  highest  commendation.  The  Rebel  force 
was  over  three  thousand  men.  They  could  not  believe  they  had  been 
dislodged  from  their  strong  fortifications  by  an  attack  of  three  hundred 
men. 

"  After  much  sharp  skirmishing  and  hard  marching,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  fourteen  wagons  and  a  number  of  prisoners,  La  Grange's 
advance  reached  the  vicinity  of  West  Point  at  ten  A.  M.,  April  16th,  with 
Beck's  eighteenth  Indiana  battery,  and  the  second  and  fourth  Indiana  cavalry. 
The  enemy  were  kept  occupied  till  the  arrival  of  the  balance  of  the  brigade. 
Having  thoroughly  reconnoitered  the  ground,  detachments  of  the  first 
Wisconsin,  second  Indiana,  and  seventh  Kentucky  cavalry  dismounted, 
and  prepared  to  assault  Fort  Tyler,  covering  the  bridge.  Colonel  La 
Grange  describes  it  as  a  remarkably  strong  bastioned  earthwork,  thirty- 
five  yards  square,  surrounded  by  a  ditch  twelve  feet  wide  and  ten  feet 
deep,  situated  on  a  commanding  eminence,  protected  by  an  imperfect 
abatis,  and  mounting  two  thirty -two  pounders,  and  two  field  guns. 

"  At  one  P.  M.  the  charge  was  sounded,  and  the  brave  detachment  on 
the  three  sides  of  the  work  rushed  forward  to  the  assault,  drove  the  Rebel 
skirmishers  into  the  fort,  and  followed,  under  a  withering  fire  of  musketry 
and  grape,  to  the  edge  of  the  ditch.  This  was  found  impassable,  but  with 
out  falling  back,  Colonel  La  Grange  posted  sharpshooters  to  keep  down 
the  enemy,  and  organized  parties  to  gather  material  for  the  bridges.  As 
soon  as  this  had  been  done  he  sounded  the  charge  again  ;  the  detach 
ments  sprang  forward,  laid  the  bridges,  and  rushed  over  the  parapet  into 
the  work,  capturing  the  entire  garrison — in  all,  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  men.  General  Tyler,  its  commanding  officer,  with  eighteen  men  and 
officers,  were  killed,  and  twenty-eight  severely  wounded.  Simultaneously 
with  the  advance  upon  the  fort,  the  fourth  Indiana  dashed  through  the 
town,  secured  both  bridges  over  the  Chattahoochie,  scattering  a  superior 
force  of  cavalry  which  had  just  arrived,  and  burned  five  engines  and 
trains.  Colonel  La  Grange  highly  commends  the  accuracy  and  steadiness 
of  Captain  Beck,  in  the  use  of  his  artillery. 

"  Colonel  La  Grange  destroyed  at  this  place  two  bridges,  nineteen 
locomotives,  and  two  hundred  and  forty-five  cars  loaded  with  quartermaster's, 
commissary,  and  ordnance  stores.  Before  leaving  he  established  a  hospital ; 


984  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

for  the  wounded  of  both  sides,  and  left  with  the  major  an  ample  supply 
of  stores  to  provide  for  all  their  wants. 

"  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  17th,  he  resumed  his  march  toward 
Macon,  passing  through  La  Grange,  Griffin,  and  Forsyth,  and  breaking 
the  railroads  at  those  places.  He  would  have  reached  his  destination  by 
noon  of  the  20th,  but  for  delay  caused  by  an  order  to  wait  for  the  fourth 
Kentucky  cavalry,  which  had  gone  through  Columbus. 

"The  afternoon  of  the  17th,  I  directed  Colonel  Minty  to  resume  his 
march  with  his  division  on  the  Thomaston  road  toward  Macon,  and  to 
send  a  detachment  forward  that  night,  to  seize  the  double  bridges  over 
Flint  river.  Captain  Van  Atwerp,  of  my  staff,  accompanied  this  party. 
He  speaks  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  dash  with  which  Captain  Hudson, 
fourth  Michigan  cavalry,  discharged  the  duties  assigned  him.  By  seven 
A.  M.  the  next  day,  he  had  reached  the  bridges,  fifty  miles  from  Columbus, 
scattered  the  party  defending  them,  and  took  forty  prisoners. 

"  Before  leaving  Columbus,  General  Winslow  destroyed  the  Rebel  ram 
Jackson,  nearly  ready  for  sea,  mounting  six  seven  inch  guns,  burned 
fifteen  locomotives,  two  hundred  and  fifty  cars,  the  railroad  bridge  and 
foot  bridges,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  thousand  bales  of  cotton,  four  cotton 
factories,  the  navy  yard,  foundry,  armory,  sword  and  pistol  factory,  ac 
coutrement  shops,  three  paper  mills,  over  a  hundred  thousand  rounds  of 
artillery  ammunition,  beside  immense  stores,  of  which  no  account  could 
be  taken.  The  Rebels  abandoned  and  burned  the  gunboat  Chattahoochie, 
twelve  miles  below  Columbus.  On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  the  whole 
command  resumed  the  march  on  the  route  pursued  by  the  second  division. 
On  the  evening  of  the  20th,  when  within  twenty  miles  of  Macon,  the 
advanced  guard,  composed  of  the  seventeenth  Indiana  mounted  infantry, 
Colonel  White  commanding,  encountered  about  two  hundred  Rebel 
cavalry  on  the  road,  but  drove  them  rapidly  back  toward  the  city,  and 
saved  the  Echconnes  and  Tobesapke  bridges." 

On  the  20th  of  April,  Colonel  White,  commanding  General  Wilson's 
advance,  was  met,  about  thirteen  miles  from  Macon,  Georgia,  by  a  flag  of 
truce,  bearing  a  despatch  from  the  Rebel  General  Howell  Cobb,  covering 
one  from  General  Beauregard,  announcing  that  an  armistice  had  been 
concluded  between  General  Johnston  and  General  Sherman,  and  that  hos 
tilities  were  to  cease  between  the  contending  parties  during  the  armistice. 
This1  despatch  was  sent  at  once  to  General  Wilson.  Although  General 
Wilson  did  not  give  full  credence  to  this  report,  he  proceeded  at  once,  as 
rapidly  as  possible,  to  the  front ;  intending  to  halt  his  forces  at  the  defences 
of  the  city,  while  he  had  an  interview  in  person  with  General  Cobb.  But 
before  he  could  reach  Macon,  his  advance  column  had  dashed  into  the 
city  and  received  its  surrender,  after  a  slight  show  of  resistance  on  the 
part  of  the  garrison.  General  Cobb  protested  against  this  attack,  which 
he  professed  to  regard  as  a  violation  of  the  armistice ;  but  as  General 


CROXTON'S  OPERATIONS.  985 

Wilson  had  not  been  able  to  communicate  with  his  subordinate  officers, 
and  had,  meantime,  no  evidence  that  this  was  any  thing  more  than  a  ruse 
of  the  enemy,  there  had  been  clearly  no  violation  of  the  armistice.  He 
telegraphed,  after  an  interview  with  General  Cobb,  to  General  Sherman, 
in  cypher,  holding,  meantime,  the  city  and  Rebel  forces  there  as  prisoners. 
He  received  no  reply  to  his  despatch,  but  the  next  day,  April  21st,  a  des 
patch  came  to  hand,  professing  to  be  a  copy  of  General  Sherman's  telegram 
to  him,  communicated  through  Generals  Johnston  and  Cobb,  desiring  him 
to  desist  from  farther  acts  of  war  and  devastation  for  a  few  days,  as  an 
armistice  had  been  agreed  upon.  Being  satisfied  that  this  was  substan 
tially  authentic,  General  Wilson  suspended  operations  until  he  should 
receive  orders  to  renew  them,  holding  Macon,  meantime.  General  Cobb 
furnished  him  with  forage  and  supplies,  in  order  to  prevent  th«  necessity 
of  foraging.  On  the  30th  of  April,  he  received  notice  of  the  final  capitula 
tion  of  all  the  armies  east  of  the  Chattahoochie,  and  the  next  day,  by  the 
hands  of  Colonel  Woodhull,  the  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  annulling 
the  first  armistice,  directing  the  resumption  of  hostilities  and  the  capture 
of  the  Rebel  chiefs. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  General  Croxton,  with  his  brigade,  of  whom 
General  Wilson  had  last  heard  through  Forrest,  arrived  at  Forsyth, 
Georgia,  and  the  next  day  reached  Macon. 

After  having  skirmished  with  Jackson's  force,  estimated  correctly  at 
twenty-six  hundred  men,  near  Trion,  on  the  morning  of  April  2d,  he 
determined  to  effect  by  strategy  what  he  could  not  expect  to  do  by  fight 
ing,  having  with  him  only  eleven  hundred  men.  He  therefore  marched 
rapidly  toward  Johnston's  ferry,  on  the  Black  Warrior  river,  forty  miles 
above  Tuscaloosa,  threw  Jackson  completely  off  his  guard  by  a  simulated 
flight,  crossed  his  brigade  to  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and  turned  toward 
Northport,  where  he  arrived  at  nine  P.  M.,  April  4th.  About  midnight 
learning  that  his  presence  must  become  known,  he  surprised  the  force 
stationed  on  the  bridge,  and  crossed  into  Tuscaloosa.  He  captured  three 
guns,  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners,  and,  after  daylight,  scattered  the 
militia  and  State  cadets,  destroyed  the  military  school,  the  stores,  and 
public  works.  He  remained  at  that  place  until  the  5th,  trying  to  commu 
nicate  with  General  McCook,  or  to  hear  from  General  Wilson,  but  without 
success.  Knowing  that  Jackson  and  Chalmers  were  both  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Cahawba,  he  thought  it  too  hazardous  to  attempt  a  march  by 
the  way  of  Centre ville,  and  therefore  decided  to  move  toward  Eutaw,  in 
the  hope  of  crossing  the  Warrior  lower  down,  and  breaking  the  railroad 
between  Selma  and  Demopolis.  Accordingly  he  abandoned  Tuscaloosa, 
burned  the  bridge  across  the  Black  Warrior,  and  struck  off  to  the  south 
east.  When  within  seven  miles  of  Eutaw,  he  heard  of  the  arrival  at  that 
place  of  Wirt  Adams's  division  of  cavalry,  numbering  twenty-six  hundred 
men.  Fearing  to  risk  an  engagement  with  a  superior  force,  backed  by 


986  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

the  militia,  he  countermarched,  and  moved  again  in  the  direction  of 
Tuscaloosa ;  leaving  it  to  the  right,  passed  on  through  Jasper,  recrossed 
the  west  fork  of  the  Warrior  river  at  Hadley's  mill,  marched  nearly  due 
east  by  the  way  of  Mount  Penson  and  Trussville,  crossed  the  Coosa  at 
True's  and  Collin's  ferries,  and  marched  to  Talladega.  Near  this  place  he 
met  and  scattered  a  force  of  Kebels,  under  General  Hill ;  capturing  one 
hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  and  one  gun,  and  moved  on  toward  Blue 
mountain,  the  terminus  of  the  Alabama  and  Tennessee  railroad.  After 
destroying  all  the  iron  works  and  factories  left  by  us  in  northern 
Alabama  and  Georgia,  he  continued  his  march  by  Carrolton,  Newnan  and 
Forsyth,  to  Macon.  He  had  no  knowledge  of  General  Wilson's  move 
ments,  except  what  he  got  from  rumor,  but  fully  expected  to  form  a 
junction  with  him  at  Macon,  or  at  Augusta. 

General  Wilson,  having  distributed  his  troops  so  as  to  garrison  the 
important  points  captured,  and  receive  the  surrender  of  the  Eebel  forces, 
now  devoted  his  entire  energies  to  capturing  the  Kebel  President  Jeff 
Davis  and  his  attendants.  Mr.  Davis  had  left  Eichmond  on  the  2d  of 
April,  and  reached  Danville  the  next  morning,  where  he  had  endeavored 
to  cheer  the  sinking  spirits  of  the  Eebels,  by  assuring  them  that  tho 
evacuation  of  Eichmond  and  Petersburg  was  only  an  act  of  military 
strategy,  and  that  now  General  Lee  could  act  more  vigorously  than 
before,  not  having  a  large  city  to  protect.  The  news  of  Lee's  surrendei 
reached  him  on  the  evening  of  April  9th,  and,  at  daylight  the  following 
morning,  he  left  in  a  private  conveyance  for  Greensboro,  N.  C.,  where  he 
lingered  for  several  days,  in  the  hope  of  securing  an  amnesty  through  the 
negotiations  of  Johnston  and  Sherman.  While  here,  he  organized  an 
escort  of  three  thousand  cavalry,  under  Generals  Wade  Hampton  and 
Dibbrel,  and  moved  southward  with  this  escort  and  his  family  and  staff, 
and  a  considerable  amount  of  gold,  hoping  to  escape  from  the  Florida 
coast  to  Cuba.  The  cavalry,  however,  soon  tired  of  escorting  him,  and 
demanding  their  pay  from  the  gold  he  had  with  him,,  deserted  almost  as 
soon  as  they  received  it.  On  the  2d  of  May,  he  was  traced  a  short 
distance  from  Augusta,  Georgia,  and  three  days  later  at  Powellton. 

General  Wilson's  cavalry  were  soon  on  his  trail,  and  two  regiments, 
moving  by  different  routes,  hunted  him  down  at  Irwinsville,  Georgia,  and 
on  the  morning  of  May  llth,  Lieu  tenant- Colonel  Pritchard,  of  the  fourth 
Michigan  cavalry,  surprised  and  captured  Davis,  his  wife,  and  her  sister 
and  brother ;  the  late  Eebel  Postmaster-General,  Mr.  Eeagan ;  Davis's 
private  secretary,  Colonel  Harrison,  and  other  members  of  his  staff,  with  a 
train  of  five  wagons  and  three  ambulances.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Harden, 
commanding  the  first  Wisconsin  cavalry,  came  up  just  before  the  capture, 
and  supposing  the  fourth  Michigan  to  be  Davis's  escort,  commenced  firing 
upon  them,  and  near  fifteen  minutes  elapsed  before  the  mistake  was  dis 
covered.  Meantime,  Pritchard  had  effected  the  capture.  He  reports  that 


RESULTS  OF  WILSON'S  CAMPAIGN.  98t 

Davis  was  brought  to  the  door  of  his  tent  by  his  wife,  clad  in  a  loose 
dressing-gown,  with  his  wife's  water-proof  cloak  buckled  around  him,  a 
shawl  over  his  head,  and  a  bucket  on  his  arm,  and  Mrs.  Davis  requested 
the  guard  "  to  allow  her  poor  old  mother  to  go  to  the  spring  and  get  some 
water  ;"  the  guard,  however,  having  caught  a  glimpse  of  his  boots,  instantly 
suspected  his  sex,  and  arrested  him,  though  not  without  some  resistance 
on  his  part.  He  brandished  a  bowie  knife,  and  showed  fight,  but  yielded 
when  the  guard  presented  a  revolver.  He  subsequently  expressed  great 
indignation  at  the  energy  with  which  he  was  pursued,  and  said  he  "  had 
believed  the  United  States  Government  was  too  magnanimous  to  hunt 
down  women  and  children."  He  was  brought  under  strong  guard  to 
Macon,  and  thence  sent  to  Hilton  Head,  where  he  was  put  on  board  a 
government  war  steamer,  and  on  arriving  at  Hampton  roads,  transferred 
to  a  strong  casemate  in  Fortress  Monroe,  in  which  fortress  he  still  remains 
(December  1865),  and  though  strictly  guarded,  is  treated  with  a  humanity 
which  affords  a  striking  contrast  to  the  atrocious  cruelties  inflicted  by  his 
sanction  on  the  Union  soldiers,  officers  and  civilians,  who  were  so  unfor 
tunate  as  to  be  captured  and  imprisoned  while  he  was  in  power.  Alex 
ander  H.  Stephens,  the  Kebel  Vice  President,  Mr.  Mallory,  the  Rebel 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  B.  H.  Hill,  Rebel  Senator  from  Georgia,  were 
also  arrested  by  General  Upton's  division,  of  General  Wilson's  command, 
and  sent  north  in  accordance  with  the  instructions  of  the  Secretary  of 
War. 

General  Wilson  then  sums  up  the  achievements  of  his  troops  in  this 
great  expedition : 

"Since  leaving  the  Tennessee  river,  the  troops  under  my  command 
have  marched  an  average  of  five  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  in  twenty- 
eight  days,  captured  five  fortified  cities,  twenty-two  stands  of  colors,  two 
hundred  and  eighty-eight  pieces  of  artillery,  and  six  thousand  eight  hun 
dred  and  twenty  prisoners,  including  five  arsenals ;  have  captured  and 
destroyed  two  gunboats,  ninety-nine  thousand  stands  of  small  arms,  seven 
iron  works,  seven  foundries,  seven  machine  shops,  two  rolling  mills,  five 
collieries,  thirteen  factories,  four  nitre  works,  one  military  university, 
three  Rebel  arsenals  and  contents,  one  navy  yard  and  contents,  one  powder 
magazine  and  contents,  one  naval  armory  and  contents,  five  steamboats, 
thirty-five  locomotives,  five  hundred  and  sixty-five  cars,  three  railroad 
bridges,  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  thousand  bales  of  cotton,  and  im 
mense  quantities  of  quartermaster  and  commissary  and  ordnance  stores, 
of  which  no  account  could  be  taken,  and  have  paroled  fifty-nine  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  seventy-eight  prisoners,  including  six  thousand  one 
hundred  and  thirty-four  commissioned  officers.  Our  total  loss  was  thirteen 
officers  and  eighty-six  men  killed,  thirty  officers  and  five  hundred  and  fifty- 
nine  men  wounded,  and  seven  officers  and  twenty-one  men  missing." 

He  adds  that,  when  he  left  the  Tennessee  river,  fifteen  hundred  of  hia 


988  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

men  were  not  mounted,  and  many  others  but  indifferently  so,  but  that  on 
arriving  at  Macon,  every  man  was  well  mounted,  and  the  command  sup 
plied  with  all  the  surplus  animals  that  could  be  desired ;  having,  as  he  says 
elsewhere,  twenty-two  thousand  horses  and  mules  to  be  supplied  with 
forage  on  reaching  that  city. 

There  now  remained  only  the  Trans-Mississippi  Rebel  army,  under 
General  E.  Kirby  Smith,  yet  in  arms  against  the  United  States ;  all  the 
others  had  surrendered.  As  Smith,  in  a  proclamation  dated  April 
21st,  1865,  had  defied  the  United  States  Government,  and  manifested  a 
determination  to  continue  hostilities,  General  Sheridan  was  sent  at  once 
with  a  sufficient  force  to  Texas,  to  subdue  this  last  remnant  of  a  Rebel 
army ;  but  before  his  arrival  there,  General  Smith,  finding  his  army  de 
serting  him,  changed  his  views,  and  on  the  26th  of  May,  sent  Generals 
Buckner,  Brent  and  Carter  to  surrender  his  entire  force  to  General  Canby 
at  New  Orleans,  and  subsequently  ratified  the  surrender  with  his  own  sig 
nature  at  Galveston.  He  was  guilty  of  bad  faith,  however,  in  disbanding 
most  of  his  army,  and  permitting  an  indiscriminate  plunder  of  public 
property,  pending  his  surrender ;  and  he  and  General  Magruder  escaped 
into  Mexico.  Sheridan's  force  was  retained  on  the  Rio  Grande  in  con 
sequence  of  the  disturbed  condition  of  affairs  there,  and  the  escape  of 
many  of  the  late  Rebel  soldiers  and  officers  into  Mexico,  carrying  with 
them  arms  and  other  property  rightfully  belonging  to  the  United  States ; 
but  after  some  months  the  greater  part  of  it  was  withdrawn. 

Thus  closed  the  struggle  of  four  years,  and  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  again  held  sway  over  its  entire  territory,  and  had  repos 
sessed  itself  of  all  the  property,  the  forts  and  places  belonging  to  the 
nation. 


FINANCES   OF  THE  WAR.  989 


CHAPTER   LXXIIL 

FINANCES    OF    THE   WAR — BANKRUPTCY    OP   THE    GOVERNMENT    AT    THR     BEGINNING     OP     THK 
WAR — UNPROMISING     STATE     OP     AFFAIRS    WHEN    MR.  CHASE  BECAME    SECRETARY    OP  THE 

TREASURY — HIS  MEASURES THE  CONFIDENCE  OF  CAPITALISTS  AND  THE  PEOPLE  SECURED 

THE  FIRST  SEVEN-THIRTIES THE  FIVE-TWENTY  BONDS — LARGE  AMOUNT  ABSORBED BOND8 

OF   1881 COMPOUND   INTEREST  NOTES TEN-FORTIES — THE    SEVEN-THIRTIES  OF  1864  AND 

1865 — THEIR  IMMENSE  SALE THE  EARLY  GOLD  DEMAND  NOTES — THE  LEGAL  TENDER  NOTES 

FRACTIONAL  CURRENCY CERTIFICATES  OF  INDEBTEDNESS — NO  PORTION  OF  THE  DEBT  NE 
GOTIATED,  OR  ITS  PRINCIPAL  OR  INTEREST  MADE    PAYABLE    ABROAD,  YET    FIVE    HUNDRED 

MILLIONS    HELD    AS    AN    INVESTMENT     IN    EUROPE — STATISTICAL   TABLE    OF    THE     DEBT 

TAXATION CUSTOMS INTERNAL  REVENUE INCOME  TAX WILLINGNESS  OF  THE  PEOPLE  TO 

BE  TAXED AMOUNT  OF  REVENUE  COLLECTED NECESSITY  THAT  THE  GOVERNMENT  SHOULD 

CONTROL  THE  ISSUE  OF  PAPER  MONEY THE  NATIONAL  BANKING  SYSTEM NUMBER  OF  NA 
TIONAL  BANKS  AT  DIFFERENT  DATES SUSPENSION  OF  SPECIE  PAYMENT  AND  RISE  OF  GOLD 

ITS  FLUCTUATIONS  IN  THREE  YEARS COMPARISON  OF  OUR  NATIONAL  DEBT  AND  THAT  OF1 

GREAT  BRITAIN  IN  1815 PROBABLE  TIME  OF  PAYMENT  OF  THE  DEBT THE    REBEL    DEBT 

BEBEL  LOSSES  OF  SLAVE  PROPERTY LOSSES  BY  CAVALRY  EXPEDITIONS  AND  RAIDS UNION 

LOSSES  BY  RAIDS  AND  BY  REBEL  PRIVATEERS — GRANTS  MADE  BY  THE  STATE  LEGISLATURES, 

COUNTIES,  TOWNS,  CITIES,  AND  WARDS,  FOR    BOUNTIES  AND  AID    OF  SOLDIERS*  FAMILIES 

INDIVIDUAL    GIFTS    FOR    THESE    AND    KINDRED    PURPOSES — THE    CONTRIBUTION'S    FOR    TUB 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED THE  UNITED  STATES*  SANITARY  COMMISSION THE  WESTERN  SANITARY 

COMMISSION THE  CHRISTIAN  COMMISSION THE  FREEDMEN's  AID  COMMISSION THE  UNION 

COMMISSION — OTHER  DONATIONS THE  EFFECT  OF  THIS  LIBERALITY  ON  THE  NATION. 

THE  administration  of  Mr.  Buchanan  had  been  as  complete  a  failure  in 
its  financial  management,  as  in  every  other  department  of  its  policy. 
Howell  Cobb,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  during  the  greater  part  of  his 
term,  and  subseqaently,  as  we  have  seen,  a  Rebel  general,  had  entered 
upon  his  position  in  a  time  of  high  financial  prosperity  in  the  country — a 
period  of  peace.  The  small  debt  of  the  nation  was  quoted  at  sixteen  or 
seventeen  per  cent,  above  par,  and  at  that  price  he  bought  up  a  portion 
of  it  before  it  was  due;  but  so  miserable  was  his  management,  either  from 
utter  incapacity  to  comprehend  financial  matters,  or  from  a  determination 
to  cripple  the  government  he  intended  to  betray,  that,  at  the  end  of  three 
and  a  half  years,  he  had  increased  the  national  debt  by  forty  millions  of 
dollars,  and  had  succeeded  in  so  depreciating  the  national  credit,  that 
when  he  resigned,  in  order  to  join  the  Rebels,  his  successor,  General  John 
A.  Dix,  one  of  the  ablest  financiers  of  the  nation,  could  not  obtain  an 
offer  of  more  than  eighty-eight  cents  on  the  dollar  for  a  loan  of  twelve 
millions,  and  could  not  dispose  of  the  whole  even  at  that  price. 

When  Salmon  P.  Chase  entered  upon  his  duties  as  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  in  March  1861,  the  prospect  before  him  was  one  from  which 
most  men  would  have  shrunk  in  utter  dismay.  The  treasury  was  bank 
rupt  ;  the  national  credit  sunk  so  low  that  any  prominent  merchant  or 


990  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

banker  could  borrow  on  far  better  terms  than  the  government.  A  war 
was  pending,  which  must  consume  a  vast  amount  of  money.  American 
bankers  and  capitalists  were  shy  of  government  securities,  and  the  English 
capitalists  notified  him  in  advance  that  it  would  be  useless  for  him  to 
apply  to  them  for  money,  for  they  could  not  lend. 

Money  must  be  had,  however,  and  in  the  interim  of  the  session  of 
Congress,  which  alone  could  levy  taxes,  he  was  compelled  to  resort  to  a 
loan  on  the  best  terms  which  he  could  obtain.  On  the  2d  of  April,  1861, 
he  offered  in  the  New  York  market  a  loan  of  ten  millions  of  dollars, 
twenty  year  bonds,  with  six  per  cent,  interest.  Bids  were  received  for 
only  three  millions  ninety-nine  thousand  dollars,  at  an  average  discount 
of  5.98  per  cent.  On  the  25th  of  May,  forty  days  after  the  proclamation 
of  war,  he  was  compelled  to  dispose  of  the  remainder  of  this  loan  at  an 
average  discount  of  14.65  per  cent.  On  the  17th  of  July,  he  disposed  of 
a  further  twenty-year  loan  of  fifty  millions,  also  six  per  cent,  bonds,  at 
a  discount  of  10.67  per  cent. 

By  this  time,  however,  the  capitalists  and  bankers  had  begun  to  respect 
the  ability  and  resolute  management  of  Mr.  Chase,  as  a  financier,   and 
when,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  summer,  he  came  into  the  market  with  his 
first  issue  of  three  years'  treasury  notes,  bearing  7  rV  per  cent,  interest, 
and  convertible  at  the  end  of  that  time  into  twenty  years  six  per  cent, 
bonds,  he  disposed  of  one  hundred  and  forty  millions  of  them,  at  an  average 
discount  of  less  than  three  per  cent.     From  this  time  forward,  there  was 
no  discount  beyond  a  simple  broker's  commission,  varying  from  one  half 
to  three  fourths  of  one  per  cent.,  paid  on  the  placing  of  government  securi 
ties.     A  loan  of  five  hundred  and  eleven  millions,  at  six  per  cent,  interest 
in  bonds  redeemable  after  five,  and  payable  in  twenty  years,  known  as 
five-twenty  bonds,  was  disposed  of  in  a  little  more  than  a  year,  at  par,  by 
Messrs.  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.,  of  Philadelphia,   by  an  extensive  system  of 
agencies  and  advertising.     The  people  of  the  country,  not  the  capitalists, 
purchased  these  bonds,  as  they  did,  subsequently,  other  government  loans 
of  still  larger  amounts.     Seventy-five  millions  of  twenty  years  six   per 
cent,  bonds  were  next  offered  and  taken,  at  a  premium  of  about  four  per 
cent.,  and  five  per  cent,  loans,  in  the  shape  of  compound  interest  treasury 
notes  of  one  and  two  years,  and  simple  interest  bonds,  redeemable  in  ten, 
and  payable  after  forty  years,  were  issued  at  par,  to  the  extent  of  some 
what  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  millions,  and  six  per  cent,  com 
pound  interest  notes  at  six  per  cent.,  due  at  the  end  of  three  years,  to  the 
extent  of  over  seventeen  millions.     All  these  loans  were  gold-bearing, 
i.  e.,  the  interest  was  payable  in  gold.     As  gold  had  risen  in  price  to  one 
hundred,  one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  even,  for  a  single  day,  one  hundred 
and  eighty-five  per  cent,  premium,  the  interest  became  very  large  on  the 
bonds,  and  they  were  regarded  as  a  very  desirable  investment,  and  rose 
to  a  premium  o*  from  fourteen  to  seventeen  per  cent.     The  Secretary  of 


MR.   CHASE'S  MEASURES.  991 

the  Treasury  next  put  upon  the  market  (the  demands  of  the  war  being 
still  very  heavy,  far  beyond  the  amount  which  could  be  raised  by  taxa 
tion)  a  new  description  of  three-year  treasury  notes,  pay  ing  seven  and  three 
tenths  interest  in  legal  tender,  and  redeemable  at  the  end  of  three  years  in 
five-twenty  six  per  cent,  bonds.  Of  these  three  series,  bearing  date  at  dif 
ferent  times,  and  amounting  in  all  to  eight  hundred  and  thirty  millions  of 
dollars,  have  been  issued,  almost  exclusively  to  citizens  of  the  United 
States.  Certificates  of  indebtedness  issued  for  one  year  and  bearing 
interest  at  six  per  cent.,  were  also  paid  to  the  government  creditors  in 
considerable  amounts.  In  1864,  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  millions  of 
those  were  outstanding,  but  they  have  been  rapidly  reduced  from  the 
avails  of  the  treasury  notes,  and  on  the  31st  of  October,  1865,  somewhat 
less  than  fifty-six  millions  of  dollars,  payable  in  1866,  were  all  that  were 
yet  unpaid. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  war,  sixty  millions  of  demand  notes,  redeem 
able  in  coin,  without  interest,  were  issued  by  the  Government;  but  as 
these  were  receivable  for  custom  duties,  they  were  all  called  in  and  can 
celled  before  the  close  of  1864.  By  the  act  of  February,  1862,  and  sub 
sequent  acts,  the  issue  of  legal  tender  demand  notes  was  authorized,  and 
about  four  hundred  and  fifty  millions  were  issued  of  all  denominations. 
Of  these,  on  the  31st  of  October,  1865,  a  little  more  than  four  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  millions  were  still  outstanding.  There  have  been  in  all 
nearly  fifty  millions  of  fractional  currency  issued,  though  never  much  more 
than  half  of  that  amount  in  circulation  at  one  time.  The  amount  of  this 
in  circulation  now  is  somewhat  larger  than  a  year  ago,  being,  October 
31st,  1865,  a  trifle  over  twenty-six  millions. 

No  portion  of  this  immense  debt,  amounting,  on  the  31st  of  October, 
1865,  to  twenty-eight  hundred  and  eight  millions  five  hundred  and  forty- 
nine  thousand  four  hundred  and  thirty -eight  dollars  has  been  issued  as  a 
foreign  loan,  or  the  principal  or  interest  made  payable  abroad.  The 
several  Secretaries  of  the  Treasury  have  been  authorized  to  negotiate 
portions  of  it  abroad;  but  they  have  always  refrained,  and  wisely,  from 
seeking  foreign  creditors,  believing  that  it  would  tend  far  more  to  the 
permanence  and  stability  of  free  institutions  to  have  it  distributed  among 
the  people  of  the  United  States.  The  twenty-year  bonds,  the  five-twenties, 
and  the  later  seven-thirties,  have,  however,  been  largely  purchased  by 
foreign  capitalists  for  investment,  and  are  regularly  called  at  the  stock 
boards  of  London,  Paris,  Frankfort,  Hamburg,  Berlin,  and  Vienna.  It 
is  believed  that  more  than  five  hundred  millions  of  these  loans  are  held 
in  Europe.  The  accompanying  table  shows  the  character  of  the  debt,  the 
interest  it  carries,  and  the  amount  at  different  periods.  (See  next  page.) 

The  value  of  these  loans  and  the  facility  with,  which  they  could  be 
placed,  depended  very  much  upon  the  willingness  of  the  people  to  bear 
severe  taxation,  by  which  the  interest  could  be  paid,  and  the  ordinary 


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THE   AMOUNT   OF   REVENUE   COLLECTED.  993 

expenses  of  the  Government  borne.  In  this  respect,  the  disposition  of 
the  nation  has  been  such  as  to  astonish  the  world.  During  the  existence 
of  the  nation,  with  the  exception  of  a  moderate  direct  tax  for  a  few  years 
after  the  war  of  1812,  there  had  been  no  direct  taxation  by  the  Govern- 
ment  of  the  United  States,  and  never  any  income  tax;  but  directly  after 
the  commencement  of  the  war,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present,  the 
people  have  been  far  more  willing  to  be  taxed  than  their  representatives 
in  Congress  were  to  tax  them.  The  tariff  was  changed  so  as  to  make  the 
duties  on  almost  every  article  of  import  as  heavy  as  could  be  borne,  and 
the  internal  revenue  bills  taxed  every  article  of  manufacture  and  every 
luxury ;  demanded  a  license  for  almost  every  employment,  and  laid  a  tax 
upon  the  income  of  every  citizen  of  five  per  cent,  upon  all  incomes  of 
over  six  hundred  dollars,  seven  and  a  half  per  cent,  on  all  above  five 
thousand,  and  ten  per  cent,  on  all  incomes  exceeding  ten  thousand  dollars 
per  annum.  This  taxation,  after  several  modifications,  has  been  so  regu 
lated  that  the  revenue  from  the  business  of  1864:  will,  probably,  with  the 
customs,  amount  to  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  dollars,  and 
that  for  the  year  1865,  to  a  considerably  larger  sum.  This  not  only 
defrays  the  current  expenditure  of  the  year  and  the  interest  of  the  debt, 
but  will  leave  seventy-five  to  a  hundred  millions  to  be  applied  as  a  sinking 
fund  for  the  liquidation  of  the  principal  of  the  debt. 

It  soon  became  evident  that  the  circulation  of  paper  money  must  be 
controlled  by  the  Government.  The  demand  and  legal  tender  notes  did, 
indeed,  for  the  time,  furnish  the  greater  part  of  the  circulating  medium  of 
the  nation,  though  local  banks  and  bankers,  not  under  the  control  of  the 
national  government,  sought  to  push  their  own  notes  into  circulation  as 
far  as  possible ;  but  these  treasury  notes  were,  from  their  nature,  liable  to 
the  objection  of  being  too  abundant  when  their  plentifulness  only  served 
to  inflate  prices,  and  insufficient  when,  as  in  the  case  of  a  reduction  of  the 
national  debt,  a  large  amount  of  currency  was  needed.  If  the  currency 
were  to  be  left,  aside  from  this  fluctuating  amount,  to  the  mercy  of  specu 
lators  and  bankers  wholly  irresponsible  to  the  national  government,  the 
national  credit  would  suffer,  the  prices  of  every  article  required  would  be 
enormously  and  indefinitely  enhanced,  while  the  ruin  which  would  in 
evitably  follow  from  the  overthrow  of  a  system  so  monstrous,  and  reared 
on  so  uncertain  a  basis,  would  prove  frightfully  destructive  to  the  national 
prosperity. 

The  only  means  of  controlling  and  overcoming  this  difficulty  seemed 
to  Secretary  Chase  to  be,  the  organization  of  a  national  banking  system, 
which  should  be  based  on  the  government  securities,  and  should  embody 
the  best  features  of  the  New  York  free  banking  system,  together  with 
others  which  should  render  it  more  safe  to  the  bill  holder,  while  they  pro 
tected,  at  the  same  time,  the  rights  of  the  depositor  ;  and  the  establishment 
of  these  banks  to  be  speedily  followed  by  such  measures  of  taxation  and 
63 


994  THE   CIVIL  WAR   IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

repression  of  the  circulation  of  the  local  banks  as  should  compel  them 
either  to  come  into  the  national  system,  or  to  cease  to  be  banks  of  circu 
lation. 

The  success  of  this  system  has  surpassed  even  the  largest  anticipations 
of  its  friends.  Though  vehemently  opposed  at  first  by  the  local  banks 
and  their  friends,  it  has  triumphed  over  all  opposition,  and  is  to-day  the 
prevalent  system  of  banking  in  the  United  States.  Ere  long  the  banks 
chartered  under  State  authority  must  all  come  into  this  system,  or  cease 
to  be  banks  of  issue.  The  rapidity  of  the  organization  or  conversion  of 
these  banks  is  best  illustrated  by  the  following  table : 

Date.                                   No.  of  banks.  Aggregate  capital 

Dec.  11,  1863,     .     .    .;?<4*   152  $18,000,000 

Nov.  25, 1864,     .    .-4-*<-  584  108,964,000 

June  24,  1865,  ....     1,334  320,924,601 

Oct.  31, 1865,      ....  1,601  425,000,000 

Of  these  sixteen  hundred  and  one  banks,  six  hundred  and  seventy-nine 
were  original  organizations,  and  nine  hundred  and  twenty-two  conversions 
from  State  institutions.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  number  of  State 
banks  and  banking  associations  in  the  United  States,  in  January,  1861, 
just  before  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  was  sixteen  hundred  and  one, 
precisely  the  number  of  national  banks  on  the  31st  of  October,  1865,  and 
their  capital  was  four  hundred  and  twenty-nine  million  five  hundred  and 
ninety-three  thousand  dollars,  differing  very  slightly  from  that  of  the 
national  banks. 

The  banks  throughout  the  northern  States  suspended  specie  payments 
ibout  the  first  of  January,  1862.  As  a  consequence  of  this  suspension, 
and  the  increased  amount  of  currency  in  circulation,  the  currency  soon 
aegan  to  depreciate,  or,  as  it  was  generally  said,  gold  was  enhanced  in 
value.  The  increase  of  the  national  debt,  as  the  war  progressed,  the 
occurrence  of  disasters  to  the  national  cause,  unfortunate  experiments  in 
financial  legislation,  the  existence  of  cliques  commanding  large  amounts 
of  capital,  and  sometimes  connected  with  foreign  banking  houses  in  the 
Rebel  interest,  and  the  resort  to  all  means,  legitimate  and  illegitimate,  to 
raise  distrust  in  regard  to  the  national  solvency,  all  served  to  enhance  the 
price  of  gold,  and  to  produce  those  extraordinary  fluctuatioos  in  its  market 
value,  which  greatly  deranged  prices,  and  brought  ruin  to  thousands, 
\tnile  they  made  the  fortunes  of  hundreds. 

The  expansions  and  contractions  of  the  currency,  to  which,  for  a  long 
time,  these  fluctuations  in  the  price  of  gold  were  attributed,  had,  it  is  now 
conceded,  little  or  nothing  to  do  with  it. 

A  brief  sketch  of  these  fluctuations  may  be  interesting.  On  the  2d  of 
January,  1862,  gold  was  two  per  cent,  premium.  During  the  year  1862, 


. 

SUSPENSION  OF  SPECIE  PAYMENTS.  99* 

it  gradually  advanced  to  about  thirty  two,  rising  once  to  thirty-seven,  and, 
subsequently,  falling  to  twenty-nine.  January  2,  1868,  it  was  thirty -five, 
in  February  it  was  seventy-one,  in  April,  it  fell  back  to  forty-six,  and 
during  the  next  two  months,  it  ranged  from  forty -four  to  fifty  ;  in  June,  it 
fell  to  forty,  and  in  August,  to  twenty-two;  slowly  increasing  again,  it 
touched  fifty-seven  in  October,  and  ranged  in  the  neighborhood  of  fifty 
for  the  remaining  months  of  the  year.  January  2,  1864,  it  stood  at  fifty- 
two  ;  but  advanced  to  sixty  on  the  18th,  where  it  stood,  with  little  varia 
tion,  for  two  months,  when  it  began  a  rapid  advance,  reaching  eighty- 
three  in  the  latter  part  of  April ;  and,  after  a  slight  fall,  rose  to  ninety -four 
on  the  30th  of  May;  to  ninety-nine  on  the  10th  of  June;  to  one  hundred 
and  thirty  on  the  22d;  and  to  one  hundred  and  eighty  on  the  1st  of  July. 
On  the  llth  of  July,  it  touched  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  premium. 
From  this  point  it  receded  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven,  at  which 
point  it  remained  throughout  most  of  August,  but  fell  on  the  30th  of  that 
month  to  one  hundred  and  thirty-one ;  on  the  27th  of  September  to  ninety- 
four  ;  and  on  the  1st  of  October  to  eighty-nine — a  reduction  of  nearly  one 
Hundred  per  cent,  in  eighty  days.  During  October,  it  commenced  rising 
again,  and,  on  the  1st  of  November,  stood  at  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  ; 
and  on  the  9th,  at  one  hundred  and  fifty-four.  For  the  remainder  of  the 
/•ear,  its  fluctuations  were  very  violent,  often  rising  or  falling  ten  or 
fifteen  per  cent,  in  a  single  day.  On  the  31st  of  December,  1864,  it  stood 
at  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven,  and  varied  very  little  from  that  point 
for  several  weeks,  but  Sherman's  victories  in  March,  caused  it  to  fall  with 
great  rapidity.  On  the  21st  of  March,  it  stood  at  fifty-three ;  and  on  the 
5th  of  April,  after  the  evacuation  of  Richmond,  it  fell  to  forty -six.  From 
this  point  it  declined  steadily,  till  it  was  below  thirty,  and  then  rallied 
again ;  on  the  first  of  August,  1865,  it  was  forty-five,  and  ranged  from 
*brty-three  to  forty-eight  from  that  time  to  the  close  of  the  year. 

The  national  debt,  large  and  burdensome  as  it  is,  compares  favorably, 
m  every  respect,  with  that  of  Great  Britain  in  1815,  at  the  close  of  the 
Napoleonic  wars.  At  that  time  her  debt  was  four  thousand  one  hundred 
and  eighty -three  millions  of  dollars,  or  nearly  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  dollars  per  head  to  her  population  of  eighteen  millions,  while  her 
valuation  in  1821,  six  years  later,  was  but  ten  thousand  six  hundred  and 
ninety-eight  millions,  six  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  property  of  the 
United  States  in  1860,  deducting  the  valuation  of  the  slaves,  was  reported 
in  the  census  (though  this  estimate  has  since  been  demonstrated  to  have 
been  far  below  the  truth)  as  fourteen  thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  millions  five  hundred  and  twenty-three  thousand  six  hundred  ancl 
seventy-six  dollars,  and  the  debt  was  but  eighty-one  dollars  and  forty- 
Ihree  cents  per  head.  Yet  the  debt  of  Great  Britain,  far  from  crushing  her 
energies,  has  only  stimulated  her  people  to  greater  enterprise,  and  now,  with 
her  debt  reduced  only  two  or  three  hundred  millions  of  dollars,  she  has  a 


996  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

valuation  of  about  eighty-five  thousand  millions  of  dollars,  or  more  than 
eight  times  the  amount  of  forty  years  ago.  She  has,  it  is  true,  immense 
resources  in  her  commerce,  manufactures,  and  mines  of  coal,  copper,  iron, 
and  tin  ;  but  in  none  of  these  respects  has  she  greater  advantages,  either 
present  or  prospective,  than  the  United  States ;  while  the  vast  mineral 
wealth  of  this  country  in  gold,  silver,  quicksilver,  petroleum,  and  other 
products,  far  surpasses  that  of  Great  Britain  or  any  other  country  in  the 
world ;  and  her  agricultural  staples  of  grain,  maize,  butter,  cheese,  beef, 
cotton,  and  wool,  open  to  her  the  markets  of  all  nations.  The  com 
merce  of  the  United  States,  which  suffered  severely  during  the  war  from 
the  devastations  of  the  Anglo-Rebel  privateers,  is  fast  recovering  from  its 
depression,  and  will  soon  greatly  exceed  its  former  status,  and  it  will  not 
be  long  ere  no  sea  on  the  globe  shall  rest  unvexed  by  American  keels  ; 
no  waters  but  shall  be  whitened  by  its  sails.  With  its  abundant  ports  on 
both  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  shores,  it  cannot  fail  to  become  the  leading 
commercial  nation  of  the  globe,  the  common  carrier  for  all  nations.  If 
there  should  be  no  foreign  wars  to  derange  its  finances,  and  increase  its 
indebtedness,  the  year  of  our  Lord  1900  will  undoubtedly  see  the  nation 
free  from  its  burden  of  debt. 

The  destruction  of  property  by  the  war,  and  the  expenditures  of  the 
Rebel  government  during  its  four  years'  struggle,  should,  in  justice,  be 
reckoned  as  a  part  of  the  losses  of  property  by  the  nation,  or  at  least  by 
a  section  of  it.  The  Rebel  debt,  according  to  their  own  statement,  in 
January,  1865,  was  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  dol 
lars,  and  this*  after  it  had  been  reduced  by  a  scaling  process,  which  had 
cut  down  the  value  of  their  notes  aud  bonds  more  than  one  half.  Besides 
this,  they  had  two  foreign  loans,  amounting  to  about  fifteen  millions  in 
gold,  which  were  partially  secured  by  cotton  already  shipped.  This  debt, 
incurred  mostly  to  their  own  citizens,  is  justly  and  rightfully  repudiated 
by  their  complete  defeat  and  surrender,  and  constitutes  an  actual  destruo 
tion  to  nearly  the  full  amount,  of  the  property  of  southern  citizens,  the 
result  of  their  mad  attempt  to  overthrow  the  government  of  the  United 
States.  Add  to  this,  the  slave  property  emancipated  in  consequence  of 
the  war,  and  which  in  1860,  was  valued  by  the  marshals  at  one  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  seventy-six  millions,  four  'hundred  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars;  and  add,  still  further,  the  property  destroyed  by  the 
Union  armies  and  cavalry  expeditions  in  the  insurgent  States,  including 
vessels,  houses,  public  buildings,  manufactures,  arms  and  munitions  of 
war,  wagons,  cattle,  horses,  mules,  sheep,  hogs  and  poultry,  clothing,  cot 
ton,  tobacco,  breadstuff's,  forage,  etc.,  and  the  vast  quantities  destroyed 
by  the  Rebels  themselves  to  prevent  its  falling  into  Union  hands,  and 
you  have  a  sum  exceeding  one  thousand  millions  more,  the  destruc 
tion  of  the  last  eight  months  of  the  war  being  more  than  five  hundred 
millions. 


r 

UNION   LOSSES   BY  RAIDS.  997 

Large  amounts  of  property,  though  little  as  compared  with  this,  was  de 
stroyed  or  carried  away  by  the  Rebels,  in  their  incursions  into  Kentucky, 
Missouri,  Kansas,  Indiana,  Ohio,  West  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Penn 
sylvania,  and,  as  we  have  shown  elsewhere,  the  losses  inflicted  by  the 
Anglo- Rebel  privateers  were  of  very  considerable  magnitude. 

Taking  the  whole  amount  of  these  various  losses,  together  with  the 
national  debt,  and  the  aggregate  destruction  of  values  (of  which,  how 
ever,  a  very  considerable  portion  was  expended  in  the  maintenance  of 
the  more  than  two  millions  of  men  placed  in  the  field  by  both  sides),  was 
not  far  from  eight  thousand  millions  of  dollars. 

There  was  a  class  of  expenditures  made  in  consequence  of  the  war, 
upon  which,  however,  we  can  look  with  far  greater  complacency  than 
upon  the  sad  and  ruinous  waste  of  war,  since  it  was  for  the  most  part  the 
free  gift  of  patriotic  and  loyal  citizens.  When  the  several  calls  were 
made  for  troops  by  the  General  Government,  the  Staie  legislatures  voted, 
almost  unanimously,  liberal  bounties,  in  addition  to  those  offered  by  the 
national  authorities,  and,  in  many  instances,  further  stimulated  enlistments 
by  providing  for  the  families  of  volunteers.  Counties,  and  often  cities, 
towns,  and  wards,  also  aided  in  this  work  to  a  vast  amount  in  the  aggre 
gate.  Municipalities,  also,  in  many  instances,  granted  large  sums  for 
hand-money,  for  raising  and  equipping  regiments,  and,  in  some  instances, 
for  local  or  harbor  defences.  The  aggregate  of  these  appropriations  is 
known  to  have  considerably  exceeded  two  hundred  millions. 

The  sums  contributed  by  individuals  for  the  same  or  similar  objects, 
are  less  easily  ascertained.  In  the  case  of  the  Union  Defence  fund  in  New 
York,  or  the  great  contribution  in  Philadelphia,  they  reached  the  amount 
of  five  or  six  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  in  single  instances  they 
amounted  to  from  ten  to  fifty  thousand  dollars.  In  addition  to  bounties, 
and  aid  for  soldiers'  families,  one  citizen  gave  to  his  country  a  vessel  for 
a  war  steamer,  then  valued  at  eight  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Others 
gave  their  commissions,  or  salaries  for  services  rendered  the  Government, 
to  the  amount  of  many  thousand  dollars.  The  heirs  of  one  man  of 
wealth,  following  out  the  wishes  of  their  deceased  relative,  gave  one  million 
of  dollars  to  found  a  Home  for  disabled  soldiers,  and  others  contributed 
their  tens  and  hundreds  of  thousands  to  found  homes  for  the  children  of 
deceased  or  disabled  soldiers,  or  scholarships  where  young  soldiers,  or  the 
children  of  the  older  ones,  might  obtain  a  collegiate  education. 

Still  more  remarkable  was  the  beneficence  flowing  from  thousands  and 
tens  of  thousands  of  small  rills,  which  in  the  aggregate  made  up  the  over 
flowing  stream  of  charity  for  the  brave  men  who  had  fought  the  nation's 
battles,  and  who  smitten  by  malaria  in  the  pestilential  swamps  of  the 
South,  or  wounded  in  the  deadly  strife,  needed  tender  nursing,  and  the 
abundant  delicacies  to  tempt  the  fickle  appetite  or  administer  to  the 
enfeebled  body  strength  and  healing  The  Government,  through  it* 


998  THE   CIYIL   WAR  IN  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Medical  Bureau,  endeavored  to  provide  medicines  and  plain  food  for  the 
-  sick;  but  it  was  not  always  possible,  especially  on  a  rapid  march,  or  in 
the  event  of  an  unexpected  battle,  to  provide  even  these ;  and  there  was  still 
need  of  articles  not  provided  by  the  diet  tables  of  the  Bureau,  as  well  as 
of  hospital  furniture  and  clothing,  beyond  what  the  Department  could 
furnish. 

The  scurvy,  too,  was  to  be  provided  against,  and  that  direful  evil  which 
has  more  than  once  wrought  such  destruction  in  large  armies,  presented 
once  and  again  its  fearful  symptoms,  in  the  Union  armies,  only  to  be  beaten 
back  by  the  free  use  of  vegetable  food,  and  sub-acids,  furnished  by  the 
watchful  care  of  the  self-constituted  guardians  of  the  soldier's  welfare. 
The  discharged  soldier  who  had  left  the  hospital  faint,  weak,  and  unfit 
for  travel,  yet  homeless  and  shelterless,  was  also  to  be  cared  for  and  pro 
tected  from  the  harpies,  who  would  prey  upon  the  unwary;  the  wages, 
bounty,  back  pay,  and  pensions  of  the  weak  and  disabled,  to  be  collected  ; 
and  the  watching,  waiting,  and  suffering  ones,  who,  at  home,  looked  anx 
iously  for  intelligence  of  the  condition  of  the  sick  or  wounded  husband, 
father,  or  brother,  to  be  cheered  by  tidings  of  his  convalescence ;  or,  alas, 
sometimes  saddened  by  the  intelligence  of  his  death. 

This  work  was  undertaken  spontaneously  in  all  parts  of  the  country, 
by  individuals  and  associations  whose  hearts  prompted  them  to  these 
noble  deeds;  but  with  so  many  irresponsible  parties,  many  of  them  unex 
perienced,  there  was  some  clashing  of  interests  and  of  labors;  and  while 
the  intentions  of  all  parties  were  pure  and  praiseworthy,  the  zeal  with 
which  their  duties  were  performed,  was  not  always  according  to  knowl 
edge.  Yet  a  vast  amount  of  good  was  accomplished  by  these  earnest 
laborers.  The  hospitals  were  visited  constantly  and  with  untiring  inter 
est,  and  the  sick  and  wounded  received  the  ministrations  of  fair,  highly 
educated  and  delicately  reared  women,  who,  moved  to  heroic  deeds  by 
their  sympathy  for  the  brave  souls  who  had  hazarded  all  for  their  country, 
gave  themselves  wholly  to  the  work  of  caring  for  them ;  and  following  in 
the  wake  of  the  armies,  brought  food  and  cordials  and  medicine  to  the 
wounded  and  dying  on  the  battle-field,  as  well  as  those  gentle  ministrations 
which  so  often  aided  powerfully  in  their  recovery.  The  scorching  sun 
of  a  semi-tropical  clime,  and  the  icy  cold  of  the  winters  in  the  mountain 
ous  regions  of  Virginia,  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  and  Missouri,  were  alike 
braved  by  these  noble  women,  who,  in  numerous  instances,  sacrificed  their 
own  lives  in  the  effort  to  save  those  of  their  brave  defenders. 

But  as  the  war  progressed,  the  necessity  of  gathering  these  diverse  and 
somewhat  intermittent  efforts,  into  one  common  organization,  grew  more 
and  more  evident,  and  the  Sanitary  Commission, organized  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war,  for  the  systematic  accomplishment  of  these  and  other  measures  of 
benefit  to  the  soldiers  and  sailors,  gradually  drew  the  smaller  associations, 
as  well  as  many  of  the  individual  workers,  into  its  own  more  comprehensive 


TUE  SANITARY  COMMISSION.  999 

organization.  Operating  upon  the  loyal  masses  through  its  branches,  and 
the  twelve  thousand  auxiliary  Ladies'  Aid  or  Soldiers'  Aid  Societies^ 
scattered  through  every  county  and  town  of  the  loyal  North,  it  reached 
the  soldier  in  the  camp,  in  the  field,  or  in  the  hospital,  ascertained  his  con 
dition  and  needs,  and  the  attention  he  received,  supplemented  with  a  liberal 
though  not  too  lavish  hand,  the  supplies  allowed  him  by  the  Government, 
received  him,  when  discharged  from  the  hospital,  into  its  "  Homes,"  until 
his  health  was  so  fully  restored,  as  to  enable  him  to  return  to  his  home* 
collected  for  him,  without  charge,  arrears  of  pay  and  bounties,  and  pro 
tected  him  from  being  fleeced  by  sharpers.  Its  agents  and  directors 
marched  with  the  armies  in  the  field,  and  ministered  to  the  wounded  on 
the  battle-ground,  and  to  the  sick  in  the  field  hospitals.  Its  Hospital 
Directory  recorded  the  names  of  every  one  of  the  sick  and  wounded  sol 
diers  in  the  general,  post,  and  field  hospitals,  and  gave  a  brief  history  of 
the  progress  and  termination  of  each  case,  so  far  as  possible,  and  this 
information  was  freely  at  the  service  of  any  friend,  who  would  inquire  for 
it,  either  in  person  or  by  letter.  They  also  furnished,  so  far  as  practicable, 
employment  to  the  soldiers  after  the  war,  and  procured,  without  charge, 
pensions  for  the  families  of  those  who  had  fallen  in  battle.  In  these 
various  ways,  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission  disbursed  in  money 
and  supplies,  about  seventeen  millions  of  dollars. 

The  Western  Sanitary  Commission,  a  smaller,  but  exceedingly  efficient 
organization,  having  its  headquarters  at  St.  Louis,  operated  mainly  on 
the  Mississippi  river  and  its  tributaries,  and  rendered,  most  efficient  aid 
to  the  suffering  soldiers  in  the  West.  It  also  took  under  its  care  the 
freedmen  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  and  for  many  mouths  gave  aid  and 
shelter,  and  help  also,  to  the  white  refugees  from  the  South.  It  expended, 
in  money  and  supplies,  between  three  and  four  millions  of  dollars. 

There  was  a  necessity  also,  for  attention  to  the  moral  and  intellectual 
welfare  of  the  soldiers,  and  this,  together  with  liberal  supplies  of  physical 
comforts,  was  provided  for  by  the  United  States  Christian  Commission, 
an  organization  having  its  headquarters  in  Philadelphia,  but  with 
branches  and  auxiliaries  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  It  sought  to  supply 
the  religious  and  intellectual  wants  of  the  soldiers,  by  its  chapels  and 
chapel-tents,  in  which  preaching  and  other  religious  services  were  held ; 
by  its  supplies  of  bibles,  testaments,  hymn-books,  libraries  newspapers, 
and  magazines,  in  field,  camp,  post,  and  hospital ;  and  also  ministered  to 
the  sick  and  wounded,  aiding  in  all  enterprises  to  promote  their  comfort 
and  welfare.  About  four  and  a  half  mill  ions  of  dollars  have  been  expended 
by  this  Commission. 

The  wants  of  the  freedmen,  many  of  whom  came  into  the  Union  lines 
in  a  condition  of  great  destitution,  and  who  were  in  pressing  need  of 
clothing,  instruction,  and  the  necessary  implements  for  obtaining  a  liveli 
hood,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  charitable,  and  numerous  Freedmen's 


1000  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Aid  Societies  were  organized  throughout  the  country,  to  furnish  them 
with  teachers  and  with  whatever  else  they  needed.  Near  the  close  of  the 
war,  these  several  societies  were  consolidated  into  one  organization,  the 
Freedmen's  Aid  Commission,  co-operating  with  the  Freedmen's  Bureau 
of  the  Government ;  and  in  December,  1865,  this  organization  fused  with 
the  American  Union  Commission,  and  the  two  henceforth  form  a  single 
Commission,  having  for  its  object  the  promotion  of  the  interest  of  both 
the  freedmen  and  the  white  refugees. 

The  American  Union  Commission  had,  previous  to  this  consolidation, 
been  actively  engaged  in  the  work  of  aiding,  instructing,  and  endeavor 
ing  to  elevate  the  moral  and  intellectual  nature  of  the  whites  who  had 
fled  from  the  South,  and  who  were  in  great  destitution  and  suffering. 

The  love  for  the  brave  defenders  of  the  Union,  and  the  spirit  of 
patriotism  and  loyalty  which  the  war  evoked,  has  led  to  great  efforts  to 
hallow  and  beautify  the  places  where  the  sons  of  the  nation,  dead  on  the 
field  of  battle,  are  laid.  At  Gettysburg,  at  Antietam,  at  Ball's  Bluff;  at 
Chattanooga,  at  Perry  ville,  and  at  Stone  river,  cemeteries  of  considerable 
extent  have  been  laid  out,  and  the  dead  heroes  have  been  laid  there  with 
all  tenderness  and  love.  The  several  States  have  borne  their  respective 
shares  of  the  expense  of  these  hallowed  spots.  But  most  sacred  of  all,  his 
been  that  spot  where,  amid  the  horrors  of  cold,  of  nakedness,  and  of  starva 
tion,  worse  crowded  than  were  the  victims  of  the  Black  Hole  of  Calcutta, 
the  brave  but  hapless  sons  of  the  Union  who  had  the  misfortune  to  fall  into 
Rebel  hands,  fourteen  thousand  in  number,  welcomed  death  as  the  release 
from  the  brutal  inhumanity  of  their  jailors.  At  Andersonville,  so  soon 
as  access  could  be  obtained  to  that  vile  lazar-house,  a  cemetery  was  laid 
out,  and  the  graves,  so  far  as  could  be  ascertained,  each  received  its  head 
board,  with  the  name  of  the  quiet  sleeper  below.  In  this  work  of  love 
and  reverence,  woman's  hands  assisted,  and  she*  who  had  been  the 
soldiers'  tenderest  and  most  thoughtful  friend  in  life,  wept  over  the  graves 
of  those  whose  fate  had  been  so  cruel  and  inhuman. 

The  philanthropy  evoked  by  the  war  in  other  directions,  has  been 
noble  and  large-handed.  The  famine-stricken  operatives  of  Lancashire, 
of  Ireland,  and  of  the  manufacturing  districts  of  France,  have  received 
from  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  food  to  the  value  of  half  a  million 
of  dollars ;  colleges  have  been  founded  or  endowed  with  nearly  ten 
millions  of  dollars,  on  the  principle  that  a  general  diffusion  of  intelli 
gence  is  the  best  safeguard  against  anarchy  and  rebellion  ;  libraries, 
museums  and  scientific  institutions  have  had  their  funds  largely  increased  ; 
twelve  millions  of  dollars  have  been  expended  in  relieving  churches 
from  debt,  or  erecting  new  church  edifices ;  orphan  asylums  and  homes 
for  disabled  and  infirm  soldiers  have  been  established  and  supplied  with 

*  Miss  Clara  H.  Barton,  of  Washington. 


EFFECTS   OF  ITS  LIBERALITY.  1001 

ample  endowments,  and  the  treasuries  of  every  organization  of  Christian 
benevolence  have  been  kept  full  to  the  overflowing,  although  they  have 
greatly  enlarged  their  operations.  The  nation  had  become  during  the 
long  years  of  peace,  like  Great  Britain,  a  nation  of  shopkeepers,  but  the 
rough  hand  of  war  has  stripped  the  covering  of  selfishness  from  it,  and 
has  elevated  and  sublimated  the  motives  and  temper  of  the  people  in  such 
a  way  as  a  century  of  peace  could  never  have  done. 


1002  THE  CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER  LXXIY. 

REVIEW    OF    THE    WAR. 

THE  narrative  of  the  progress  of  the  war  given  in  the  preceding  pages 
has  necessarily  confined  itself  to  its  battles  and  minor  engagements ; 
describing  incidentally  the  tactics  of  particular  battles  or  campaigns,  but 
devoting  less  attention  to  the  strategetic  plans  which  prompted  and 
guided  its  leading  movements.  It  may  be  well  to  notice  the  principal 
campaigns  of  the  war,  and  show  how  far  they  were  the  developments  of  a 
predetermined  plan  or  plans  of  operations,  having  in  view,  as  their  grand 
purpose,  the  overthrow  of  the  Rebellion. 

In  the  movements  of  the  summer  and  early  autumn  of  1861,  it  would 
be  difficult  to  discover  any  well  defined  plan  of  strategy.  With  the 
exception  of  the  short,  and,  as  compared  with  the  late  war,  inconsiderable 
campaigns  of  the  Mexican  war,  the  country  had  been  at  peace  for  nearly 
fifty  years,  and  its  citizens,  devoted  to  the  arts  of  peace,  were  wholly  un 
skilled  in  the  exercises  and  discipline  of  the  camp  or  battle-field. 
Assembling  from  motives  of  the  highest  patriotism,  at  the  President's  call, 
they  reached  the  heights  around  Washington  with  the  fewest  possible 
ideas  of  military  life  and  its  duties,  and  required,  to  fit  them  for  efficient 
service,  a  training  of  some  months,  a  longer  period  than  that  for  which 
they  had  enlisted.  The  venerable  Lieutenant-General,  bending  under  the 
weight  of  three  score  and  fifteen  years,  and  infirm  with  the  wounds  of  his 
earlier  victories,  found  himself  called  upon  to  plan  the  campaigns  of  a  war 
vastly  exceeding,  in  extent  and  the  number  of  its  troops,  any  conflict 
with  which  he  had  been  familiar  in  his  more  vigorous  days,  and  this 
almost  wholly  with  raw  and  undisciplined  troops,  and  surrounded  by 
spies,  who  communicated  his  plans  to  the  enemy  as  fast  as  they  were 
formed.  Some  weeks  were,  of  course,  consumed  in  reducing  the  chaotic 
mass  to  order,  in  arranging  in  regiments,  brigades,  and  divisions,  the 
brave  but  unorganized  troops  which  poured,  day  after  day,  into  the 
Capital,  and  the  other  principal  points  of  rendezvous.  Commanders  were 
to  be  selected  for  the  brigades  and  divisions ;  a  delicate  task,  when  hardly 
one  of  those  who  were  placed  in  command  had  ever  led  any  thing  more 
than  a  company,  or  at  most,  a  battalion,  into  battle.  The  Quartermaster- 
General's,  Commissary-General's,  and  Surgeon-General's  bureaus  were  to 
be  reorganized  and  fitted  for  their  greatly  increased  spheres  of  action. 
While  this  work  was  going  on,  and  before  the  organization  of  the  army 
was  any  thing  like  complete ;  when  not  one  man  in  fifty  knew  his  brigade 
commaDder  by  sight,  and  not  one  in  five  hundred  his  division  commander, 


REVIEW   OF  THE   WAR.  1003 

a  popular  clamor  of  "On  to  Richmond"  was  raised,  which  became,  with 
each  succeeding  day,  louder  and  more  persistent.  General  Scott  had  at 
first  devised  other  plans  for  a  campaign,  rightly  deeming  Richmond  not 
the  first  objective  in  the  war.  But  his  plans  were  constantly  exposod  to 
the  enemy,  and  at  last  he  consented  to  a  movement  for  which  the  troops 
were  in  no  respect  prepared.  Two  battles  had  been  fought  in  Western 
Virginia,  and  both  had  been  successful,  the  second  resulting  in  the  sur 
render  of  the  Confederate  force  to  General  McClellan,  who  commanded 
the  Union  troops.  These  two  actions,  of  no  great  magnitude,  had  given 
to  the  Union  troops  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  who  were,  as  yet, 
wholly  without  experience,  an  overweening  confidence  in  their  ability  to 
defeat  the  Confederates  without  difficulty,  and  they  were  "eager  for  the 
advance.  On  the  21st  of  July,  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  was  fought,  and 
though  the  Union  troops  did  better  than  raw  troops  could  be  expected  to 
do,  and  up  to  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  possessed  the  advantage,  which 
they  would  have  maintained,  had  not  a  large  reinforcement  from 
Johnston's  force,  under  command  of  General  E.  Kirby  Smith,  come  up  at 
the  critical  moment ;  yet  the  disgraceful  panic  and  rout  which  followed 
was  evidence  enough  of  the  lack  of  discipline  and  training  among  them. 

Most  of  the  other  fighting  of  the  year  1861  was  desultory  in  its  charac 
ter  ;  and  though  some  of  it  was  creditable  to  the  troops  engaged,  and 
gave  evidence  of  minor  strategic  plans,  still  the  commanding  officers  had 
not,  as  yet,  any  well  considered  or  comprehensive  plan  for  the  manage 
ment  of  the  war.  The  movements  in  Missouri,  before  and  after  the 
appointment  of  General  Fremont  to  the  command  of  the  Western  Depart 
ment,  indicated  a  purpose  to  drive  the  Confederates  out  of  the  State,  but 
hardly  any  thing  beyond.  The  occupation  of  Cairo,  urged  by  western 
men  because  it  was  a  point  of  importance ;  the  subsequent  seizure  of 
Paducah  and  Smithland  by  General  Grant,  and  the  attack  on  Belmon^ 
were  hardly  more  than  isolated  operations  having  reference  to  a  possible 
future  movement,  but  one  not,  as  yet,  fully  digested.  Nor  was  the 
miserable  disaster  at  Ball's  Bluff,  nor  the  affair  at  Dranesville,  of  much 
greater  moment  in  a  strategic  point  of  view. 

After  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  General  McClellan,  became  the  active — as 
he  was,  after  November  1st,  the  actual — general-in-chief  of  the  army. 
He  possessed  rare  talent  for  organizing  and  disciplining  an  army,  and 
for  several  months  his  attention  was  bestowed  almost  exclusively  upon 
this  necessary  work.  In  the  autumn,  the  general  plan  of  operations 
known,  subsequently,  as  the  "Anaconda  System,"  was  broached.  It  was 
said  to  have  originated  with  General  Scott,  but  met  the  approval  of 
General  McClellan.  The  features  of  the  plan  were  the  encircling  the 
entire  insurgent  States  by  a  cordon  of  posts  and  armies,  those  on  the  coast 
to  be  wrenched  from  their  possession  by  joint  land  and  naval  expeditions, 
and  the  interior  ones  by  a  forward  movement  and  intrenchments  by  the 


1004  THE   CIVIL   WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

armies  of  the  Union.  This  cordon  was  to  be  contracted  gradually,  till  the 
[Rebellion  was  completely  crushed  by  it,  and  the  insurgent  armies  com 
pelled,  by  the  cutting  off  of  their  supplies,  to  yield  to  avoid  starvation. 
So  vast  was  the  territory  to  be  thus  encircled,  that  it  was  impossible  to 
raise  armies  large  enough  to  accomplish  the  work  effectively.  Yet  upon 
this  theory  hinged  all  the  operations  of  the  succeeding  two  or  three  years. 

The  first  fruits  of  this  system,  were  the  fitting  out  of  expeditions  to 
capture  Forts  Hatteras  and  Clark,  on  the  North  Carolina  coast,  and  Forts 
Beauregard  and  Walker,  defending  the  fine  harbor  of  Port  Eoyal,  both  of 
which  proved  successful  during  the  autumn.  The  Burnside  expedition, 
which  had  for  its  object  the  capture  of  Eoanoke  island,  Plymouth,  New- 
bern,  and  Fort  Macon ;  and  the  New  Orleans  expedition  of  Farragut  and 
General  Butler,  both  initiated  during  the  autumn,  though  not  carried  to  a 
successful  termination  till  the  next  year,  belonged  to  the  same  system. 
Key  West  and  Fort  Pickens,  Florida,  had  been  held  from  the  beginning 
of  the  war,  and  the  occupation  of  the  Atlantic  coast  of  Georgia  and  Florida 
was  to  be  accomplished  by  a  subordinate  expedition,  to  be  fitted  out  from 
Hilton  Head.  All  of  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coast,  then,  was  provided  for 
in  the  contemplated  movements,  except  the  four  prominent  ports  of 
Wilmington,  Charleston,  Savannah,  and  Mobile.  The  blockade  of  these 
ports  was  maintained,  though  not  with  any  great  strictness,  and  the 
blockade  runners  managed,  in  spite  of  the  utmost  efforts  of  the  blockading 
squadrons,  to  run  into  them  with  an  annoy  ing  frequency. 

In  the  interior,  the  anaconda  movement,  though  as  yet  not  very  formid 
able,  yet  promised  fairly.  General  Halleck,  who  had  succeeded  General 
Fremont  in  command  of  the  Western  Department,  had  his  armies  in  three 
columns,  in  connection  with  the  upper  Mississippi  squadron,  preparing  to 
move  forward  over  a  line  more  than  three  hundred  miles  in  breadth,  from 
the  Mississippi  river  on  the  west  to  eastern  Kentucky  on  the  east,  under 
command  of  his  faithful  lieutenants,  Grant,  Buell,  and  Thomas,  with  Flag- 
Officer  Foote  in  command  of  the  naval  force. 

In  the  East,  there  seemed  a  reluctance  on  the  part  of  the  general -in- 
chief  to  move  forward.  Until  November  or  December  the  large  force  under 
his  command  were  not  perhaps  sufficiently  organized  or  trained,  to  be 
regarded  as  in  fighting  condition.  After  that  time  the  condition  of  the 
roads  was  made  the  excuse  for  delay,  though  hardly  a  sufficient  one,  for 
the  enemy,  in  greatly  inferior  numbers,  lay  less  than  thirty  miles  distant,  a 
part  of  them,  indeed,  within  less  than  ten  miles,  yet  there  was  no  forward 
movement.  The  order  for  an  advance  on  the  22d  of  February,  1862,  was 
given  by  the  President,  but  no  advance  was  made  till  the  8th  of  March, 
when  it  was  ascertained  that  the  Confederates  had  abandoned  their  camps 
at  Manassas  Junction  and  its  vicinity,  and  moved  southward  toward  the 
Rapidan.  The  lower  Potomac  had  been  blockaded,  by  the  Confederates 
through  the  autumn  and  winter,  and  though  the  Union  forces  held 


REVIEW   OF  THE  WAR.  1005 

Fortress  Monroe,  Hampton,  and  Newport  News,  they  had  not  been  able 
to  gain  any  further  foothold  on  the  adjacent  coasts.  Maryland  was,  as  yet, 
in  some  portions,  quasi  rebellious  and  was  held  by  Union  troops  near 
Baltimore  and  on  the  Eastern  Shore. 

Returning  from  the  fruitless  march  to  Manassas,  General  McClellan 
embarked  his  main  army  on  transports  to  descend  the  Potomac  and 
Chesapeake  bay  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and  the  Peninsula.  A  garrison  was  left 
for  Washington.  A  small  corps  with  General  Banks  in  the  Shenandoah 
valley,  and  another,  under  McDowell,  marched  toward  Fredericksburg,  to 
menace  Richmond  from  the  north,  while  a  considerable  body  of  troops 
from  the  west,  under  the  command  of  General  Fremont,  in  the  Moun 
tain  Department  of  Western  Virginia,  threatened  the  communications  with 
that  city  from  the  west. 

The  plan  for  the  capture  of  the  Confederate  capital  seemed  to  be  judi 
cious  and  well  arranged,  and  high  hopes  were  entertained  of  its  success. 
Yet  the  campaigns  which  followed  during  the  spring  and  summer  proved 
complete  failures,  from  several  causes.     General  McClellan  took  with  him 
to  the  Peninsula,  about  one  hundred  and  ten  thousand  men,  and  found  at 
Yorktown,  to  which  he  presently  advanced,  some  not  very  strong  earth 
works,  garrisoned  by  a  Confederate  force  not  exceeding,  at  first,  twenty  thou 
sand  men.     It  would  not  have  been  difficult  to  have  carried  the  position 
by  assault,  and  then  a  rapid  march  on  Richmond  would  have  found  it  com- 
paratively  weak,  and  it  would  have  fallen  an  easy  prey  to  the  captor. 
But  he  preferred  the  slower  operations  of  the  siege,  and  the  Confederate 
General  Johnston  had  thus  the  opportunity  to  collect  his  forces  for  its 
defence,  and  the  protection  and   fortifications  of  Richmond,  which  had 
been  confided  to  General  Lee.     A  month  was  consumed  in  the  siege,  and 
then  Johnston  finding  that  the  place  would  soon  be  untenable,  evacuated 
it,  and  retreated  to  Williamsburg.     Here,  on  the  5th  of  May,  a  battle 
occurred  between  the  Union  and  Confederate  forces,  in  which  from  the 
want  of  proper  reconnoissance  in  the  beginning,  the  Union  troops  were 
caught  in  a  slaughter  pen,  where  they  experienced  fearful  loss.     The  fol 
lowing  morning,  the  Confederates  had  retreated  toward  Richmond,  leaving, 
however,  a  considerable  force  near  West  Point,  Virginia,  who  fought,  on 
the  7th,  a  severe  battle  with  the  Union  troops  of  Franklin's  division.   The 
pursuit  of  the  .Confederates,  toward  Richmond,  was  conducted  verv  lei 
surely,  three  weeks  having  elapsed  before  the  Chickahominy  was  crossed, 
though,  in  that  malarious  region,  sickness  was  making  sad  havoc  with  the 
Union  army.     On  the  30th  of  May,  a  small  force  having  been  thrown 
across  the  Chickahominy  two  days  before,  the  Confederates  came  out  of 
Richmond,  and  attacked  them.     The   first   day,  the   Union   forces  were 
repulsed  and  forced  back  with  heavy  loss,  but  reinforcements  having  come 
over  in  the  evening,  they  assumed  the  offensive  the  next  day,  and  drove 
the  Confederates  within  two   miles   of  Richmond,  wounding   Johnston 


1006  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

severely,  and,  it  was  subsequently  ascertained,  could  have  entered  that  city, 
had  they  not  been  recalled  by  General  McClellan.  For  nearly  four  weeks 
more,  General  McClellan  continued  to  fortify  the  banks  of  the  Chicka- 
hominy  and  to  strengthen  his  position.  Mr  an  while,  in  other  portions  of 
Virginia,  important  movements  were  taking  place.  General  Banks,  in  the 
lower  Sheuandoah  valley,  had  driven  the  small  Rebel  force  before  him,  and 
ascended  the  valley  as  far  as  New  Market,  but  subsequently  fell  back  to 
Strasburg  and  Front  Royal.  Here,  on  the  23d  of  May,  he  was  attacked  by 
"  Stonewall "  Jackson  with  a  large  force,  and  compelled  to  make  a  hasty, 
though  skilful  retreat  to  Martinsburg,  and  Williamsport  on  the  Potomac. 
The  object  of  this  expedition  of  Jackson  was  not  so  much  to  punish 
Banks,  as  to  create  a  panic  in  Washington,  and  compel  the  withdrawal  of 
McDowell's  and  Fremont's  forces  from  their  position,  which  threatened, 
and  endangered  Richmond.  It  produced  its  intended  effect.  McDowell 
and  Fremont  were  both  ordered  to  go  instantly  in  pursuit  of  Jackson. 
They  did  so,  McDowell  sending  Shields,  and  Fremont  going  in  person, 
came  upon  his  rear  near  Front  Royal,  and  followed  him  in  his  masterly 
retreat  up  the  Shenandoah  valley,  where  twice  he  paused  to  fight  them 
and  secure  the  safety  of  his  trains,  and  the  battles  both  being  indecisive, 
he  withdrew  and  made  good  his  escape,  having  delayed  an  attack  on  Rich 
mond  till  Lee  was  largely  reinforced  and  having  recruited  his  own  corps 
much  beyond  its  losses,  on  his  rapid  march.  General  McClellan's  army 
at  this  time  numbered  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  thousand  men,  but 
thirty-eight  thousand  were  sick,  wounded,  or  deserters,  and  but  one  hun 
dred  and  twenty  thousand  effective.  He  had  in  some  way  gained  the 
impression,  since  proved  to  be  erroneous,  that  Lee's  army  greatly  outnum 
bered  his,  and  that,  aside  from  Jackson's  force,  which  he  estimated  at  fifty 
thousand,  Lee  had  two  hundred  thousand  effective  troops  in  Richmond 
and  its  vicinity.  In  fact,  the  Confederate  army  in  and  about  Richmond, 
at  this  time,  exclusive  of  Jackson's  corps,  did  not  much  if  at  all  exceed 
fifty  thousand  effectives,  to  which,  on  his  return,  in  the  latter  part  of  June, 
Jackson  added  about  forty  thousand  more.  But,  fully  impressed  with  this 
belief,  General  McClellan,  instead  of  using  his  fine  army  to  carry  Rich 
mond  by  assault,  suffered  it  to  lie  idle  in  those  malarious  swamps,  and 
constantly  importuned  the  Government  to  send  him  more  troops,  a  matter 
of  impossibility  to  them,  beyond  the  few  who  could  be  spared  from 
McDowell's  corps,  who  were  sent  promptly.  After  wasting  much  valua 
ble  time  in  these  useless  complaints  and  importunities,  he,  on  the  eve  of 
Jackson's  return,  fought  two  battles,  in  the  second  of  which  Jackson  par 
ticipated,  employing  less  .than  half  his  force  in  either,  and  when  his  troops 
were  defeated  in  the  second,  put  in  execution  a  plan  he  had  for  some  time 
contemplated,  of  raising  the  siege  of  Richmond,  and  retreating  with  his 
army  across  the  Peninsula  to  Harrison's  Landing,  fifteen  miles  by  land 
from  Richmond.  The  retreat  was  conducted  with  skill,  but  vast  quanti- 


REVIEW   OF  THE   WAU.  1007 

ties  of  stores  were  sacrificed,  very  many  of  the  wounded  left  in  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,  and  a  number  of  severe  battles  fought,  before  the  Union 
army  could  gain  its  new  position,  where  it  was  covered  by  the  gunboats. 
The  loss  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  in  these  seven  days  of  fighting  and 
retreating,  in  killed,  wounded,  sick,  stragglers,  and  deserters,  did  not  fall 
below  thirty  thousand  men. 

The  new  position  was  not  less  sickly  than  the  old,  and  though  General 
McCiellan  received  a  large  part  of  Burnside's  corps  as  reinforcements,  he 
did  not  deem  them  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  attack  Richmond,  and  called 
for  more.  General  Halleck,  who  had  been,  meantime,  appointed  general- 
in-chief,  finally  ordered  him  to  remove  his  army  to  Aquia  Creek  and 
Alexandria,  where  their  services  were  needed.  General  McCiellan  pro 
tested,  but,  after  some  weeks'  delay,  finally  embarked  with  his  army. 

Meanwhile,  after  Jackson's  escape  from  pursuit,  the  Government  decided 
to  consolidate  Fremont's,  Banks',  and  McDowell's  corps,  or  rather  the 
remaining  fragments  of  them,  with  Bayard's  cavalry  and  some  new 
recruits,  into  the  army  of  Virginia,  under  the  command  of  Major-General 
Pope,  and  this  army,  numbering  not  more  than  forty  thousand  troops,  was 
sent  forward  to  threaten  Richmond  from  the  north,  and  thus,  by  diverting 
Lee's  attention,  to  give  General  McCiellan  a  better  opportunity  to  capture 
Richmond.  General  Pope  issued  a  somewhat  grandiloquent  proclamation 
to  his  troops  on  taking  command,  but  his  handling  of  the  troops  was 
remarkably  skilful  and  able.  He  advanced  to  the  Rappahannock,  and 
threatened  Lee's  communications,  but  soon  found  that  the  Confederate 
general,  entertaining  no  fears  of  an  attack  by  General  McCiellan  upon 
Richmond,  was  marching  with  his  whole  force,  of  between  ninety  thousand 
and  one  hundred  thousand  men,  upon  him.  The  delay  in  the  embarkation 
of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  from  which  alone  he  could  receive  any  con 
siderable  reinforcements,  compelled  him  to  fight,  with  his  greatly  inferior 
force,  a  series  of  retreating  battles,  while  with  so  great  disparity  of  force, 
there  was  danger  of  his  losing  his  trains,  or  being  surrounded  and  com 
pelled  to  surrender.  The  retreat  was  a  masterly  one,  and  though  his 
losses  were  heavy,  and  he  was  not  so  well  supported  as  he  should  have 
been  by  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  he  succeeded  in  bringing  his  wearied 
and  half-starved,  but  not  demoralized  heroes  into  the  fortifications  around 
Washington,  in  perfect  order.  Lee,  having  succeeded  in  pushing  Pope's 
army  out  of  his  track,  moved,  by  way  of  Leesburg,  into  Maryland,  in 
tending  to  carry  the  war,  which  had  hitherto,  on  his  part,  been  defensive, 
into  the  Northern  States. 

The  army  of  the  Potomac  having  reached  Alexandria  in  the  last 
of  August,  was  ready,  in  connection  with  the  remainder  of  the  army  of 
Virginia,  to  pursue  the  invader,  and  the  whole  force,  being  put  un-lor 
the  command  of  General  McCiellan,  marched  northward.   Harper's  Ferry 
was  shamefully  surrendered  to  the  Confederate  General  Hill  by  it.s  gar 


1008  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED   STATES. 

rison,  but  the  pursuing  army  overtook  a  part  of  the  invaders  at  South 
mountain,  on  the  14th  of  September,  and  after  a  severe  battle,  drove  them 
over  the  mountain.  On  the  17th,  a  severe  battle,  the  bloodiest  of  the  war 
thus  far,  was  fought  on  the  banks  of  Antietam  creek.  It  was  indecisive, 
though  the  advantage  was  slightly  on  the  side  of  the  Union  army,  which 
was,  moreover,  within  reach  of  large  reinforcements.  On  the  morrow, 
Lee  could  not,  and  McClellan  would  not  renew  the  battle,  and  on  the  day 
following,  Lee  withdrew  across  the  Potomac,  and  made  his  way  leisurely 
toward  the  Eapidan.  General  McClellan  followed  very  slowly,  and  it  was 
nearly  three  weeks  before  his  army  had  wholly  crossed  the  Potomac. 
His  delays  occasioned  much  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  the  Government, 
and  on  the  7th  of  November  he  was  removed  from  command,  and  General 
Burnside  appointed  his  successor.  The  selection  was  unfortunate,  for 
General  Burnside,  though  an  excellent  corps  commander,  and  a  man  of 
great  moral  worth,  was  not  so  pre-eminent  above  the  other  corps  com 
manders  of  the  army,  that  they  would  receive  his  promotion  without 
jealousy.  He  accepted  the  command  with  great  reluctance,  and  moved 
forward,  embarrassed  and  delayed  from  the  first  by  jealousies,  bickerings, 
and  misunderstandings,  and  having  determined  to  fight  the  Confederate 
army  at  Fredericksburg,  crossed  the  Rappahannock-  on  the  12th  of  De 
cember,  and  on  the  13th,  fought  the  disastrous  battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
in  which  his  troops  were  hurled  repeatedly  against  the  massive  walls  of 
the  Rebel  defences,  with  no  other  result  than  their  slaughter  in  fearful 
numbers,  and  were  finally  withdrawn  across  the  Rappahannock  to  Fal« 
mouth. 

The  gloominess  of  this  picture  of  the  results  of  the  war  in  the  East,  is 
somewhat  relieved  by  the  larger  measure  of  su-ccess  which  had  attended 
the  Union  armies  in  the  West.  The  armies  of  the  Western  Department 
moved  forward  early  in  the  year,  in  their  work  of  forcing  back  the  Rebel 
lion  from  Kentucky,  which  its  waves  had  partially  overflowed,  and  from 
Tennessee,  which  was  completely  submerged  by  it.  The  left  wing  of  the 
grand  army,  under  General  Thomas,  moved  first,  repulsing  the  Rebels  at 
Camp  Wildcat,  and  on  the  19th  and  20th  of  January,  defeating  and  rout 
ing  their  forces  at  Lagan's  Cross  Roads  and  Mill  Spring,  under  Zollicoffer 
and  Crittenden,  the  first  of  these  commanders  being  slain  in  the  battle. 
The  right  wing,  under  Grant,  and  the  naval  force,  under  Flag-Officer 
Foote,  moved  next,  capturing  Fort  Henry,  on  the  Tennessee,  after  a  brief 
action;  compelling  the  "unconditional  surrender"  of  Fort  Donelson,  on 
the  Cumberland,  with  its  garrison  of  thirteen  thousand  men,  after  a  four 
days' siege;  flanking  Columbus,  Kentucky,  where  the  Confederate  General 
Polk  had  fortified  himself  till  the  place  was  a  complete  Gibraltar,  and  also 
rendering  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky,  where  the  Confederate  commander- 
in-chief,  General  Albert  Sydney  Johnson,  had  gathered  his  principal 
army,  untenable.  As  Polk  retreated  down  the  Mississippi,  the  squadron, 


REVIEW    OF  THE  WAR  1009 

under  Flag-Officer  Foote,  pursued,  and  laid  siege  to  Island  Number  Ten, 
where  he  again  took  possession  of  strong  works ;  while  Buell,  with  the 
centre  of  the  western  army,  pursued  Johnston,  who  fled  to  and  through 
Nashville,  at  whose  gates  Grant  was  already  demanding  admittance.  The 
Confederate  army  found  no  resting  place  in  Middle  Tennessee,  but  passed 
on  to  Corinth,  Mississippi,  a  point  which,  from  its  railroad  connections, 
possessed  great  strategic  importance.  Thitherward  the  grand  army  fol 
lowed,  the  right  wing,  still  under  command  of  Grant  (now  major-general, 
for  his  brilliant  victory  at  Fort  Donelson),  was  in  the  advance,  and 
ascending  the  Tennessee,  disembarked  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  near  Shiloh 
church,  about  twenty  miles  from  Corinth.  BuelPs  army  and  Thomaafc 
followed,  marching  across  the  country,  and  greatly  delayed  by  the  very 
heavy  condition  of  the  roads.  Johnston,  the  Confederate  general,  a  very 
able  commander,  had  collected  the  fragments  of  his  army  at  Corinth,  and 
gathered  there  a  large  body  of  new  troops,  and  as  his  force  largely  out 
numbered  Grant's,  he  resolved  to  attack  him  before  Buell  and  Thomas 
could  come  up,  and  having  crushed  his  army,  repeat  the  operation  with 
Buell  when  he  came  up.  Buell  was,  however,  nearer  than  he  supposed, 
and  the  delay  of  one  or  two  days,  in  consequence  of  the  badness  of  the 
roads,  rendered  his  skilfully  planned  attack  a  failure.  His  first  onset  was, 
however,  successful ;  approaching  cautiously,  and  under  the  cover  of  a 
heavy  fog,  he  struck  the  left  flank  of  Grant's  army  on  the  morning  of  the 
6th  of  April,  and  capturing  a  part  of  Prentiss's  division,  rolled  up  the 
left  wing,  and  drove  that  and  the  centre  back  from  their  camps  toward 
the  river.  There  was  severe  fighting  through  the  day,  and  a  part  of  the 
Union  troops  stood  their  ground  manfully,  while  others  fled  and  skulked; 
but  when  the  Rebel  force  had  driven  them  within  half  a  mile  of  the  river, 
and  were  exulting  in  their  victory,  they  came  within  range  of  the  Union 
gunboats,  which  opened  a  most  destructive  fire  upon  them,  and  the  Union 
troops  rallying  and  massing  their  artillery,  returned  to  the  charge,  and 
forced  the  Confederates  back  in  turn.  During  the  night,  a  part  of  Buell's 
troops  and  other  reinforcements  were  brought  up,  and  in  the  morning, 
Grant  assumed  the  offensive,  and  drove  the  Confederate  army  back  toward 
Corinth.  Their  commander,  Johnston,  was  killed  in  the  "first  day's  fight, 
and  General  Beauregard  had  taken  his  place. 

General  Halleck  now  took  command  in  person,  and  after  a  siege  of 
several  weeks,  Beauregard  evacuated  Corinth  as  a  matter  of  strategy,  in 
ter-ding  to  compel  a  distribution  of  Halleck's  army,  which  could  not,  in 
consequence  of  the  unhealthiness  of  Corinth,  be  long  retained  in  that 
vicinity,  and  then  it  was  his  purpose  to  strike  them  at  one  or  more  points 
above  Corinth,  and  defeating  them  in  detail,  repossess  Middle  Tennessee. 
This  plan  was  frustrated  by  the  order  of  Jefferson  Davis,  relieving  Beau- 
regard  from  command,  and  appointing  Braxton  Bragg  his  successor. 
Corinth  was  not  long  occupied,  however,  by  any  large  body  of  troops. 
64 


1010  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

The  command  of  General  Grant,  under  the  name  of  the  army  of  the  Ten 
nessee,  was  stationed  near  the  Mississippi,  where  Island  Number  Ten,  and 
Forts  Wright  and  Pillow  having  been  reduced,  the  Kebel  fleet  destroyed, 
and  Memphis  surrendered,  the  Union  troops  held  with  but  little  opposition, 
the  whole  of  West  Tennessee.  General  Buell's  army,  with  which 
Thomas's  had  been  consolidated,  now  called  the  "  Army  of  the  Ohio,"  was 
stationed  along  the  line  of  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad,  occupying 
Huntsville,  and  the  towns  east  as  far  as  Stevenson.  A  part  of  the  Kebel 
forces,  under  Van  Dorn  and  Sterling  Price,  made  a  desperate  effort  to  regain 
luka  and  Corinth  in  September,  and  the  early  part  of  October,  but  were 
defeated  and  routed  with  terrible  loss  by  General  Grant's  army,  and 
especially  by  the  corps  of  Kosecrans,  and  McPherson's  division.  In  Sep 
tember,  Bragg  resolved  to  make  the  effort  to  regain  Middle  Tennessee, 
cut  Buell's  communications,  and  lay  Kentucky  under  tribute,  and  perhaps 
capture  Louisville  and  Cincinnati.  Sending  his  able  lieutenant,  E.  Kirby 
Smith,  in  advance — who  passed  through  the  Blue  Grass  region,  established 
a  pretended  Confederate  government  at  Frankfort,  plundered  Lexington, 
Winchester,  Georgetown,  and  Cynthiana,  and  then  threatened  Cincinnati — 
General  Bragg  followed,  and  approached  Nashville,  but  was  compelled  to 
forego  his  siege  of  it  by  the  closeness  of  Buell's  pursuit.  The  Confederate 
force  pushed  on  to  Kentucky,  doing  a  vast  deal  of  mischief  and  compelling 
the  smaller  garrisons  of  the  towns  in  their  way  to  surrender.  Buell  pursued 
as  rapidly  as  he  could,  but  never  overtook  the  Confederates,  and  finally 
passed  on  to  Louisville.  Bragg  now  turned  back,  to  return  with  his 
plunder  to  Tennessee,  and  Buell  again  pursued,  and  at  Perryville,  Kentucky, 
pressed  him  so  closely  that  he  was  compelled  to  give  battle  in  order  to 
give  his  trains  time  to  escape.  The  battle  was  severe,  but  indecisive,  and 
Bragg  returned  to  Middle  Tennessee,  without  further  annoyance,  while 
Buell  fell  back  to  Louisville,  where  he  was  relieved  of  command,  and 
General  Rosecrans  appointed  his  successor.  The  new  commander  soon 
moved  with  his  army  to  Nashville,  and  at  the  close  of  the  year,  marched 
upon  Murfreesboro,  where  Bragg  held  a  strong  position,  and  near  that 
town,  the  battles  of  Stone  river  were  fought,  and  though  at  the  first  Rose 
crans'  right  win'g  was  crushed  and  his  centre  partially  driven  back,  yet 
the  sturdy  valor  of  his  troops  enabled  him  to  reform  them  in  a  new  and 
impregnable  position,  and  on  the  third  day  of  the  battle,  to  visit  Bragg's 
right  wing  with  such  terrible  destruction,  that  his  army  hastily  withdrew 
from  Murfreesboro,  and  retreated  toward  Shelby ville. 

The  programme  of  the  coast  expeditions  devised  in  the  closing  months 
of  1861,  had  been  successfully  carried  out.  Roanoke  island,  Newbern, 
Plymouth,  Washington,  North  Carolina,  Beaufort,  North  Carolina,  More- 
head  City,  and  Fort  Macon,  surrendered  to  the  Union  troops,  and  while 
an  assault  on  the  Confederates  on  James  island,  one  of  the  outer  defences 
of  Charleston,  had  been  badly  managed,  and  proved  unsuccessful,  Fort 


REVIEW   OF  THE    WAR.  1011 

Pulaski,  below  Savannah,  had  been  reduced  by  General  Gillmore  by  a 
bombardment,  at  a  range  hitherto  considered  impossible. 

The  greatest  exhibition  of  naval  prowess  of  the  year,  and  one  of  the 
greatest  of  modern  times,  was  the  naval  battle  on  the  24th  of  April,  near 
Forts  St.  Philip  and  Jackson,  on  the  Mississippi,  seventy  miles  below  New 
Orleans.  After  six  days'  bombardment  of  the  forts  by  his  squadron,  of 
seventeen  gunboats  and  about  twenty  mortar  scho"oners,  Flag-Officer  Far- 
ragut  resolved  to  run  past  them,  though  in  so  doing  he  must  encounter  a 
boom  and  chain  stretched  across  the  river,  floating  torpedoes,  and  fire 
rafts,  sent  down  by  the  Rebels  for  the  destruction  of  his  fleet,  and  the 
Confederate  squadron,  about  equal  in  numbers  to  his  own,  and  several  of 
its  vessels  iron -clad.  The  battle  was  one  of  terrific  grandeur  and  severity ; 
but,  at  its  close,  thirteen  of  the  Rebel  vessels  were  sunk  or  destroyed, 
including  their  most  formidable  iron -clad  ram,  the  Manassas,  while  Far- 
ragut  had  lost  but  one  vessel,  though  two  others  were  partially  disabled. 
Pursuing  his  way  up  the  Mississippi,  New  Orleans  surrendered  to  his 
squadron,  and  a  day  or  two  later  the  forts  also  capitulated.  He  ascended 
the  Mississippi  above  Yicksburg,  and,  after  an  interview  with  Flag-Officer 
Davis,  returned.  Late  in  the  year  he  captured  Galveston,  Texas,  but  it 
was  retaken  by  the  Confederates  on  the  1st  of  January,  1863,  and  two  of 
the  Union  vessels  and  many  brave  men  lost  in  the  conflict.  Arkansas 
had  been  the  scene  of  several  desperate  battles,  in  which,  however,  the 
Union  troops  had  been  uniformly  successful.  The  year  1863  opened  with 
better  auspices.  The  Union  army  was  greatly  enlarged,  and  more  vigorous 
measures  for  the  prosecution  of  the  war  resolved  upon,  and  though  the 
anaconda  theory  still  held  sway  over  the  Government,  there  seemed  a 
better  prospect  of  success  than  at  any  time  before. 

In  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  after  making  a  plan  for  another  flanking 
movement  against  Lee's  army,  which  was  thwarted  by  the  intrigues  of 
some  of  his  jealous  subordinates,  General  Burnside  offered  the  Govern 
ment  the  alternative  of  sanctioning  his  removal  of  several  of  the  corps 
and  division  commanders  or  relieving  him  of  the  command,  and  the  latter 
alternative  having  been  accepted,  General  Hooker  was  appointed  to  the 
command.  Hooker  greatly  improved  the  morale,  and  discipline  of  the 
army ;  organized,  for  the  first  time  in  its  history,  a  really  efficient  cavalry 
corps,  and  planned  a  movement  very  similar  to  Burnside's  to  turn  Lee's 
left  flank  at  Chancellorsville,  while  at  the  same  time  he  demonstrated  on 
his  right  at  Fredericksburg,  and  sent  Stoneman  with  his  cavalry  to  cut 
his  communications  with  Richmond  in  rear.  The  plan  was  admirably 
conceived  ;  but  Lee  was  fertile  in  resources,  and  met  it  by  a  counter-flank 
movement,  sending  "  Stonewall"  Jackson  to  pass  around  Hooker's  right 
flank  near  Wilderness  church,  and  roll  up  his  right  wing,  crowding  his 
centre  from  the  Chancellorsville  road  toward  the  Rappahannock.  This 
movement  proved  successful,  the  eleventh  corps,  which  formed  the  right 


1012  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE  UNITED   STATES. 

wing,  being  partially  panic-stricken,  and  the  whole  line  forced  back  and 
away  from  the  Chancellorsville  road,  so  that  Lee's  army  could  pass  and 
repass ;  and  Hooker's  sixth  corps,  commanded  by  the  lamented  Sedgwick, 
after  carrying  Fredericksburg  by  assault,  were  compelled  to  fight  the 
whole  of  one  day  with  Lee's  entire  army.  Hooker  finally  returned  across 
the  Rappahannock  after  sustaining  heavy  losses,  and  without  the  gain  of 
a  foot  of  land.  His  cavalry  had  performed  a  successful  raid,  destroying 
a  large  amount  of  Confederate  property,  and  penetrating  within  two  miles 
of  Richmond,  but  they  were  too  late  to  be  of  any  service  to  the  Union 
army  in  the  battle. 

Flushed  with  his  success,  Lee  determined  to  try  again  the  experiment 
of  invading  the  northern  States,  and,  early  in  June,  commenced  moving 
northward  for  that  purpose.  Hooker  kept  informed  of  his  progress,  and 
moving  on  interior  lines,  and  having  a  strong  cavalry  force,  he  could,  and 
did,  crowd  him  west  of  the  Bull  Kun  range,  and  compel  him  to  cross  the 
Potomac  high  up.  All  along  his  route,  Hooker's  cavalry  harassed  and 
annoyed  him  constantly.  At  last,  it  became  evident  that  the  two  armies 
would  come  in  collision  at  or  near  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania.  General 
Hooker  was  relieved  of  his  command  on  the  27th  of  June,  and  General 
Meade  appointed  his  successor ;  and,  on  the  1st  of  July,  the  great  battle 
commenced,  and  lasted  for  three  days.  The  first  day,  the  Rebels  were 
partially  successful ;  but  on  the  second  and  third  days,  though  fighting 
with  the  utmost  desperation,  they  were  repulsed  at  all  points,  and  finally 
compelled  to  retreat  toward  the  Potomac,  having  suffered  a  loss  of  nearly 
or  quite  one  third  of  their  entire  army  of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
thousand  men.  The  pursuit  on  the  part  of  General  Meade  was  not  so 
prompt,  resolute,  and  persistent  as  it  should  have  been,  and,  except  a 
skirmish  at  Falling  Waters,  Lee  was  permitted  to  retire  in  safety  to  his 
former  position  on  the  Rapidan.  Once  during  the  autumn,  an  effort  was 
made  by  each  side  to  break  the  other's  lines  and  sever  the  connection  of 
their  two  wings,  but  in  both  cases  it  proved  futile. 

On  the  coast,  aside  from  some  slight  affairs  in  North  Carolina,  there  had 
been  an  attempt  to  pass  Fort  Sumter  and  capture  Charleston,  by  Rear- 
Admiral  Dupont,  in  April,  which  proved  a  failure,  and  the  occupation  of 
Morris  Island,  the  substantial  reduction  of  Fort  Sumter,  the  two  bloody 
assaults,  the  siege  and  evacuation  of  Fort  Wagner,  and  the  bombardment 
of  Charleston,  by  General  Gillmore,  in  the  summer.  This  campaign  was 
brilliantry  conducted,  but  it  is  a  question  if  it  was  not  a  serious  mistake. 
James  island  was  at  the  time  weakly  defended ;  it  was  more  accessible 
than  Morris  island,  and  once  captured,  Charleston  was  at  the  mercy  of  its 
captor,  and  must  have  surrendered,  while  from  its  batteries,  opposite 
Charleston,  all  the  forts  of  the  harbor  were  seen  in  reverse,  and  the  city 
once  taken,  must  have  surrendered  at  discretion.  It  was  found  impossible, 
even  after  Sumter  was  only  a  heap  of  ruins,  to  move  up  the  bay  to  assail 


REVIEW  OF  THE  WAR  1013 

Charleston  with  the  iron-clads,  and  General  Gillmore  was  obliged  to  con 
tent  himself  with  a  bombardment  of  the  city,  five  miles  distant.  This  was 
quite  destructive,  but  the  stubborn  garrison  would  not  surrender. 

In  the  West,  Grant,  after  the  unfortunate  attack  of  Sherman  upon 
Chickasaw  Bluffs,  a  part  of  the  defences  of  Vicksburg,  just  at  the  close  of 
1862  (an  unfortunate  attack,  because,  through  the  cowardice  of  one  of 
Grant's  officers  in  command  at  Holly  Springs,  that  great  depot  of  supplies 
for  Grant's  army  was  captured  by  the  Rebels,  and  Grant  was  thus  pre 
vented  from  co-operating  with  Sherman),  the  important  post  of  Arkansas 
was  captured  by  McClernand  and  Sherman,  and  the  returning  troops  were 
landed  at  Milliken's  Bend,  where,  and  at  Young's  Point,  Grant  tasked  his 
ingenuity  to  find  a  successful  plan  of  operations  against  Vicksburg.  At 
length,  canals,  passes,  and  attempts  to  enter  the  Yazoo,  or  its  tributaries, 
higher  up,  having  all  failed,  General  Grant  determined  to  run  some  of 
the  gunboats  and  a  number  of  transports  past  Vicksburg,  and  marching 
his  men  down  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  to  cross  at  Briansburg, 
thirty  miles  below  Vicksburg,  and  moving  first  upon  the  capital  of  the 
State,  approach  the  city  from  the  east.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  in  history.  Fighting  six  important  battles 
in  seventeen  days,  and  defeating  the  enemy  in  each  he  sat  down  before 
Vicksburg,  on  the  18th  of  May,  assaulted  the  city  on  the  19th  and  22d, 
but  without  success,  besieged  it  with  great  vigor  till  the  4th  of  July,  and 
at  last  compelled  its  surrender  with  thirty  thousand  prisoners,  and  nearly 
four  hundred  guns.  Port  Hudson  followed  four  days  later,  after  a  some 
what  shorter  siege  by  General  Banks,  and  by  the  9th  of  July  the  Missis 
sippi  was  once  more  open  to  navigation  along  its  whole  extent.  Arkansas 
was,  during  the  spring  and  summer,  almost  wholly  cleared  of  Confederate 
troops,  either  as  armies  or  garrisons.  Rosecrans,  after  the  battle  of  Stone 
river,  remained  for  some  months  at  Murfreesboro,  recruiting  his  army, 
improving  his  cavalry,  and  preparing  for  another  campaign.  Early  in 
June,  he  began  to  advance,  drove  Bragg's  army  out  of  the  passes  of  the 
mountains,  through  Shelbyville,  Decatur,  and  Tullahoma,  toward  Chat 
tanooga.  He  then  commenced  repairing  thoroughly  the  railroads  and 
bridges  leading  to  Chattanooga,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  August  was 
ready  to  move  forward.  Chattanooga  was  too  strongly  fortified  to  be  taken 
by  any  other  than  a  flanking  movement,  and,  therefore,  moving  his  army 
by  the  right  flank,  he  sent  the  three  corps  to  cross  Lookout  mountain,  by 
three  passes,  more  than  forty  miles  apart,  and  thence  to  ascend  McLamore's 
cove  from  the  south,  and  thus  compel  its  evacuation.  The  plan  succeeded, 
Bragg  evacuated  the  city,  and  the  Union  troops  occupied  it,  but  Bragg 
having  been  largely  reinforced  from  Virginia,  resolved  to  attack  Rose 
crans'  corps  separately,  before  they  could  form  a  junction,  and  having 
defeated  them,  regain  possession  of  Chattanooga.  Rosecrans  comprehend 
ing  his  intention,  succeeded,  by  almost  superhuman  exertions,  in  bring- 


1014  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

ing  the  three  corps  together  in  McLamore's  cove,  and  there,  on  the  19th 
and  20th  of  September,  occurred  the  terribly  destructive  battle  of  Cliicka- 
mauga.  On  the  first  day,  the  Union  forces  held  their  ground,  though 
opposed  by  a  largely  superior  force,  and  the  fighting,  though  severe,  was 
indecisive;  but  on  the  second  day,  an  unfortunate  misunderstanding  of 
an  order  left  a  gap  between  two  divisions,  of  which  the  Confederates 
promptly  took  advantage,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  the  army,  includ 
ing  General  Kosecrans  and  Generals  Crittenden  and  McCook,  corps  com 
manders,  were  cut  off  from  the  remainder  of  the  army,  and  being  unable 
to  force  their  way  through,  were  compelled  to  fall  back  to  Chattanooga. 
The  Confederates  now  hurled  themselves  against  the  remainder  of  the 
army,  commanded  by  General  Thomas,  in  full  confidence  that  with  their 
superior  force  they  should  easily  capture  his  small  force,  but  the  sturdy  hero, 
setting  his  back  against  the  mountains,  fought  them  all  day,  and  at  last, 
bringing  up  his  reserves,  drove  them  back  in  a  final  conflict,  and  having 
witnessed  their  repulse,  withdrew  his  little  army  to  Rossville,  where,  the 
next  morning,  he  drew  them  up  in  line  of  battle  and  awaited  in  vain,  an 
attack,  all  the  next  day. 

But  though  Chattanooga  was  saved,  by  this  desperate  fighting,  from 
again  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Confederates,  the  condition  of  the  troops 
which  held  it  was,  for  the  next  two  months,  precarious.  They  had  been 
compelled,  from  want  of  sufficient  force,  to  relinquish  a  position  west  of 
the  city,  which  commanded  the  Tennessee  river,  and  the  Confederates  had 
at  once  occupied  it.  A  part  of  the  railroad  to  Nashville  was  also  in  posses 
sion  of  Bragg's  troops,  who  had  captured  a  portion  of  their  train ;  they 
were  compelled  to  haul  their  supplies  sixty  miles  over  the  worst  roads  in 
the  world,  and  were  in  serious  danger  of  starvation,  while  their  animals 
were  perishing  for  want  of  forage.  Two  corps  were  sent  to  them  from  the 
army  of  the  Potomac ;  and  two,  constituting  the  army  of  the  Tennessee, 
now  commanded  by  General  Sherman,  from  the  Mississippi.  General 
Kosecrans  was  relieved  from  his  command,  General  Thomas  appointed 
commander  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  General  Grant  was  made 
general  of  the  grand  military  division  of  the  Mississippi,  and  took  com 
mand,  in  person,  at  Chattanooga.  The  battle  of  Wauhatchie,  in  October, 
restored  the  Tennessee  river  to  the  Union  troops,  and  reduced  the  trans 
portation  by  wagons  to  ten  miles.  General  Grant  had  brought  his  large 
army  into  working  order,  when  Bragg,  who  had  just  despatched  twenty 
thousand  of  his  troops  to  besiege  Knoxville,  which  had  been  occupied  by 
Burnside  since  early  in  September,  haughtily  demanded  the  removal  of 
the  non-combatants  from  Chattanooga,  as  he  was  about  to  bombard  the 
city.  Grant  replied  by  sending  Hooker  to  drive  the  Confederates  from 
Lookout  mountain,  and  fight  the  battle  "  above  the  clouds ;"  suggesting  to 
Thomas  the  seizure  of  Orchard  Knob ;  directing  Sherman  to  demonstrate 
strongly  and  persistently  against  Fort  Buckner,  and  the  cavalry  to  cut  the 


REVIEW   OF  THE  WAR.  1015 

railroads  above  and  east  of  Chattanooga ;  and  when  Sherman's  demon 
stration  had  drawn  the  Confederate  troops  from  Forts  Bragg  and  Breckin- 
ridge,  hurling  the  fourth  corps  like  a  thunderbolt  upon  Fort  Bragg,  and 
driving  the  enemy  from  every  part  of  Mission  Ridge,  and  the  next  day 
over  Pigeon  mountain,  till  they  took  refuge  in  the  fastnesses  of  the 
Chattooga  or  Rocky  Faced  Ridge.  There  had  been  no  more  complete 
and  signal  victory  during  the  war. 

The  year  1863  closed  amid  brighter  prospects,  and  better  hopes  for 
success,  but  the  "  anaconda  "  policy  was  losing  favor,  from  its  immense 
cost  of  money  and  men,  and  its  meagre  results.  As  yet,  Tennessee  and 
Arkansas  were  the  only  States  wholly  rescued  from  the  Confederates,  and 
even  these  were  held  by  a  frail  tenure.  Portions  of  Virginia,  North 
Carolina,  Georgia,  Florida,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana  were, 
indeed,  held,  but  the  Government  was  only  secure  of  these  while  they  were 
actually  occupied  by  its  troops,  and  the  Confederates  had  not  yet  relin 
quished  their  expeditions,  yearly  or  oftener,  into  Missouri,  Kentucky,  Mary 
land,  and  Pennsylvania.  General  Grant,  whose  brilliant  victories  had  made 
his  opinion  of  great  value  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  conduct  of  the 
war,  was  understood  to  be  strongly  opposed  to  the  anaconda  system,  and 
in  favor  of  a  policy  of  concentration  ;  striking  directly  at  the  vital  seats  of 
power  in  the  Confederacy,  and  compelling  the  insurgents  to  bring  their 
troops  from  all  points  for  the  defence  of  these.  Crushing  blows  upon 
these  large  armies  would,  he  contended,  cripple  the  Confederate  govern 
ment  so  much  as  to  lead  to  its  speedy  overthrow. 

Still,  the  advocates  of  the  old  policy,  who  had  hopes  of  benefit  from  it, 
were  strong  enough  to  compel  the  Government  to  fit  out  two  expeditions 
in  furtherance  of  it,  in  1864.  One  that,  terminating  in  the  battle  of 
Olustee,  Florida,  had  for  its  object  not  only  the  crushing  in  the  folds  of 
the  anaconda  all  the  Rebels  in  Florida,  but  coralling  their  cattle  in  the 
same  capacious  receptacle.  The  expedition  was  initiated  and  ordered  at 
the  instance  of  some  ambitious  politicians,  and  proved  a  most  cruel  and 
disastrous  failure.  The  other,  the  stupendous  and  disgraceful  blunder  of 
the  Red  river  expedition,  was  ordered  by  the  Government,  on  the  decep 
tive  and  false  representations  of  men  interested  in  cotton  speculations,  and 
who  sought  to  make  of  the  national  army  a  guard  and  safe-conduct  for 
their  successful  transmission  of  cotton  purchased  from  Rebel  owners. 
The  advance  of  this  great  army  into  the  heart  of  the  cotton  region  of 
Louisiana;  its  trains,  transports,  and  gunboats  laden  with  cotton;  the 
bickerings  among  its  officers;  its  badly  managed  battles,  and  its  hasty  re 
treat,  with  the  sacrifice  of  some  of  its  transports,  gunboats,  and  its  wounded 
men,  all  constituted  a  record  which,  for  the  honor  of  the  country,  we  re 
joice  to  say,  has  had  no  parallel  in  its  history.  The  expedition  of 
General  Sherman  into  the  heart  of  Mississippi  and  Alabama,  in  February, 
1864,  did  not  belong  to  this  policy.  It  was  rather  a  recounoissance  in 


1016  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

force  into  the  enemy's  country  ;  and  if,  owing  to  the  untoward  circum 
stances  which  prevented  the  junction  of  the  cavalry  with  it,  it  did  not 
accomplish  all  that  was  expected  from  it,  it  was  the  precursor  of  other  and 
more  successful  advances  of  the  movable  column  in  the  heart  of  the 
enemy's  country.  With  the  promotion  of  Grant  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant- 
General  and  the  virtual  command  of  all  the  armies  of  the  Union,  and  that 
of  Sherman  to  the  command  of  the  military  division  of  the  Mississippi,  in 
the  spring  of  1864,  ended  all  new  enterprises  under  the  old  policy,  and 
the  adoption,  henceforth,  of  the  policy  of  concentration.  Henceforth,  the 
destruction  or  capitulation  of  the  great  armies  of  the  Confederacy  was  the 
one  object  sought.  The  armies  of  the  east  were  concentrated  on  Rich 
mond  and  Petersburg,  in  order  to  hold  Lee's  army  there  until,  by  sturdy 
and  oft  repeated  blows,  it  could  be  brought  to  surrender ;  and  Richmond, 
though  the  Rebel  capital,  was  held  to  be  of  less  importance  than  the  army 
which  defended  it.  Sherman's  objective  was  Johnston's  army,  and  the 
auxiliary  forces  which,  from  time  to  time,  reinforced  it.  These  he  sought 
with  the  most  indefatigable  energy,  and  finally,  having  shattered  them  by 
his  heavy  blows  and  his  matchless  strategy,  swept  through  the  States  of 
Georgia,  South  Carolina,  and  North  Carolina,  drawing  them  after  him, 
until  they  had  collected  in  sufficient  force  for  him  to  strike  them  the  final 
blows  which  led  to  their  capitulation.  Grant  had  requested  Sherman  to 
move  as  nearly  as  possible  simultaneously  with  him ;  and  while  the 
Lieutenant-General  broke  camp  on  the  Rapidan,  on  the  fifth  of  May, 
Sherman  followed  his  example  on  the  7th.  The  two  campaigns  which 
followed,  in  Virginia  and  Georgia,  were  terribly  destructive  of  human 
life,  but  every  blow  told  on  the  final  result. 

The  fearful  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  where,  amid  the  low  tangled 
undergrowth,  the  use  of  artillery  was  impossible,  and  the  men  of  the  two 
armies  fought  hand  to  hand  for  days ;  the  successive  movements  of  the 
Union  army  by  the  left  flank,  to  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  to  the  North 
Anna,  to  Cold  Harbor,  to  Mechanicsville,  to  the  Chickahominy,  each  met 
promptty  by  counter-movements  on  the  part  of  Lee,  and  each  attended 
with  a  more  terrible  slaughter  than  has  marked  any  series  of  battles  in 
modern  times,  were  yet  necessary  portions  of  the  plan  of  operations  by 
which  the  Lieutenant-General  had  undertaken  to  break  the  power  of  the 
'Rebellion.  He  was  criticised,  by  those  who  supposed  Richmpnd  to  be  the 
sole  end  and  aim  of  the  Union  army,  for  attacking  Lee  on  the  Rapidan, 
and  driving  or  pressing  him  southward,  when,  it  was  said,  he  might  have 
reached  his  final  position  on  the  James  more  easily,  by  embarking  hia 
troops  and  commencing  his  warfare  there,  and  thus  have  avoided  the 
terrible  slaughter  of  the  May  battles ;  but  it  was  Lee's  army,  not  Rich 
mond,  which  was  Grant's  objective,  and  it  was  his  plan  to  find  the  enemy 
and  strike  him  blow  after  blow,  till  he  compelled  him  to  yield,  whether 


REVIEW   OF  THE  WAR.  1017 

the  point  where  he  yielded  was  at  Richmond  or  in  Florida.  By  pursuing 
this  policy  he  effectually  protected  the  Union  capital  from  invasion. 

After  crossing  the  James  with  the  greater  portion  of  his  army, 
Grant,  who  had  already  crippled  Lee's  strength  in  men  greatly  by  the 
losses  he  had  inflicted  (for  though  Grant's  losses  in  these  battles  were 
heavier  than  Lee's,  he  could  replace  his  men,  which  Lee  could  not,  to  any 
considerable  extent),  commenced  harassing  his  enemy  by  his  constant 
activity,  striking  sometimes  the  right,  sometimes  the  left  flank;  sometimes 
both  simultaneously,  and  always  moving  upon  the  point  where  he  was 
least  expected ;  now  sending  his  cavalry  to  cut  Lee's  communications, 
anon  pushing  forward  his  infantry  to  feel  for  them  ;  seizing  and  fortifying 
one  railroad,  which  he  had  snatched  from  Lee,  only  to  make  it  the  base 
for  reaching  forward  for  another ;  exploding  a  mine  under  his  forts, 
and  when  that  failed  of  expected  success,  from  the  mismanagement  of 
some  of  his  subordinates,  pushing  his  cavalry  suddenly  up  to  the  inner 
lines  of  the  Richmond  fortifications ;  and  all  the  while  holding,  as  in  a 
vice,  Lee's  troops,  so  that  he  could  not  send  the  needful  aid  to  Johnston 
or  Hood. 

The  pressure  upon  the  throat  of  the  Rebellion  began  to  be  so  severe  as 
to  be  intolerable,  but  in  vain  Lee  tried  to  shake  it  off.  In  despair  he 
took  advantage  of  a  brief  lull  in  Grant's  activity,  to  send  a  few  troops  to 
join  the  irregular  bands  of  northern  and  northwestern  Virginia,  in  a 
raid  upon  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  to  threaten  Washington,  Baltimore, 
and  Philadelphia,  in  the  hope  that,  alarmed  for  the  safety  of  the  capital 
and  the  northern  cities,  Grant  might  relax  his  hold ;  but  he  had  mistaken 
his  man.  Grant  sent  the  nineteenth  corps,  just  ordered  on  from  the  De 
partment  of  the  Gulf,  to  the  Shenandoah  valley,  and  reinforced  it  tem 
porarily  with  the  sixth  corps,  which  he  could  well  spare,  and  as  soon  as 
practicable  nominated  Sheridan  for  the  command  of  the  army  of  the  Shen 
andoah  ;  but  he,  himself,  did  not  relax  the  pressure  upon  Lee's  lines  for 
an  hour.  Sheridan,  after  thoroughly  reconnoitering  his  field,  struck 
Early's  army  a  succession  of  fearful  blows,  sending  him  "  whirling'1 
through  Winchester,  on  the  19th  of  September;  driving  him  out  of  his 
strong  position  on  Fisher's  Hill,  on  the  22d ;  pressing  his  pursuit  up  the 
valley,  till  Early's  men  were  fain  to  take  to  the  mountains ;  routing  and 
forcing  him  back  on  the  8th  and  12th  of  October ;  when,  reinforced,  he 
ao-ain  ventured  into  battle  with  him,  and  on  the  19th  of  October,  sending 
him  back  in  utter  confusion,  retreating  twenty-six  miles  at  night  from  the 
camp  where,  in  the  morning,  he  had  fairly  won  a  victory.  Early  completely 
discomfitted,  Sheridan  desolated,  as  with  the  besom  of  destruction,  the 
fertile  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  the  adjacent  Luray  and  Little  Fort 
valleys,  the  inhabitants  of  all  of  which  had  sustained  and  encouraged  the 
guerrillas  in  their  acts  of  plundering  and  murdering  unarmed  Union  men. 

Lee  found  that  this  attempt  to  shake  off  his  persistent  adversary  did 


1018  THE   CIYIL  WAR  IN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 

not  succeed.  He  had,  indeed,  plundered  a  part  of  Maryland  and  southern 
Pennsylvania;  had  burned  Chambersburg ;  and  had  brought  off  a  large 
number  of  horses  and  cattle  ;  but  what  had  he  gained  ?  E  well's  corps,  or 
so  much  of  it  as  Early  had  taken  north,  was  almost  destroyed,  and  the  small 
remainder  thoroughly  demoralized.  He  had  lost  some  hundred  cannon 
and  thousands  of  small  arms,  the  latter  a  very  severe  loss,  as  he  could 
not  replace  them ;  the  plunder  Early  brought  into  Virginia  had  most 
of  it  been  recaptured,  and  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  his  principal 
dependence  for  supplies,  had  been  thoroughly  stripped  of  its  horses, 
cattle,  and  grain. 

Every  battle  (and  the  battles  were  frequent),  but  diminished  his 
strength,  even  though  he  might  be  successful  in  repulsing  the  attacks  of 
the  Union  troops,  and  when,  on  the  15th  of  January,  after  one  unsuccessful 
attack,  Grant  had  found  the  men  who  could  carry  Fort  Fisher  by  assault, 
and  thus  hermetically  seal  the  port  of  Wilmington,  on  which  he  was 
largely  dependent  for  arms  and  munitions  of  war,  brought  in  by  the 
blockade  runners,  the  Eebel  general  felt  that  the  end  was  approaching. 
He  notified  the  Rebel  government  that  unless  extraordinary  measures 
were  adopted,  he  could  not  hold  out  six  months.  The  measures  proposed 
were,  forced  levies  of  men,  supplies,  and  money,  and  the  arming  of  the 
negroes ;  but  the  delay  had  already  been  fatal,  and  the  proposed  measures 
were  resolved  upon  too  late  to  be  of  service.  Once  more  he  succeeded  in 
repulsing  (February  4-6)  Grant's  efforts  to  reach  the  Southside  railroad; 
once  more  he  seized  a  favorable  opportunity  (March  25)  to  gain  possession 
of  a  Union  stronghold  (Fort  Stedman),  only,  however,  to  be  driven  from 
it  with  terrible  loss,  and  his  right  pushed  back,  till  the  coveted  railroad 
was  almost  within  reach ;  and  then  came  the  end. 

The  left  and  left-centre  of  Grant's  army,  making  a  grand  left  wheel, 
swung  round  upon  Dinwiddie  Court  House,  Hatcher's  Run,  Quaker  Road, 
and  the  Five  Forks,  and,  after  four  days  of  hard  fighting,  isolated  and 
routed  the  Confederate  troops  from  all  their  strong  positions,  and  drove 
them  westward  thoroughly,  demoralized  ;  and,  on  the  ensuing  morning, 
the  right  and  right-centre  flung  themselves  with  great  fury  upon  the 
strong  defensive  works  of  Petersburg,  breached  and  seized  them,  and 
reaching  the  Southside  railroad,  tore  it  up  effectually.  Lee  had  now  no 
alternative;  Richmond  and  Petersburg  must  both  be  evacuated  instantly, 
and  a  desperate  effort  made  to  reach  Danville.  But  here  Grant  had  out- 
generalled  him  ;  from  Knoxville,  a  strong  cavalry  force,  under  General 
Stoneman,  was  proceeding  eastward  to  check  his  retreat  in  that  direction, 
and  Sherman's  great  army  was  capable  of  preventing  his  progress  south 
ward.  The  struggle  which  followed,  though  sharp,  was  short ;  the  pursuit 
was  commenced  on  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  April,  and  after  skirmishing 
at  various  points,  and  severe  battles  at  Deatonsville,  Farmville,  the  high 
bridge  over  the  Appomattox,  and  Appomattox  Court  House,  Lee  surren- 


REVIEW   OF  THE   WAR.  1019 

dered  the  remainder  of  his  army,  and  one  of  the  two  great  objects  of  the 
long  campaign  was  gained. 

Sherman's  career  in  the  accomplishment  of  his  share  of  the  work  was 
more  brilliant,  though,  perhaps,  no  more  sure  of  ultimate  success.  Break 
ing  camp  on  the  7th  of  May,  1864,  he  found  Johnston  occupying  an 
almost  impregnable  position  at  Buzzard  Roost  Gap,  in  the  Chattooga, 
or  Rocky  Faced  Ridge,  with  his  rear  resting  on  Dalton.  Leaving  Thomas 
to  demonstrate  on  this,  he  moved  by  the  right  flank  on  Resaca,  some 
miles  below,  and  compelled  Johnston  to  fall  back  to  save  this  important 
position,  though  not  without  severe  fighting  ;  he  repeated  the  same  move 
ment  on  Kingston,  to  compel  the  evacuation  of  Resaca,  and  giving  him 
no  rest  till  he  had  crossed  the  Etowah,  and  fallen  back  to  Allatoona  Pass, 
he  directed  his  own  march  on  Dallas.  Threatening  thereby  the  railroad 
nearer  the  Chattahoochie,  after  two  sharp  battles  near  Dallas,  and  a  series 
of  actions  (one  a  somewhat  disastrous  assault)  at  Kenesaw  and  Little  Kene- 
saw  mountains,  he  again  flanked  and  drove  the  Rebels  from  their  position 
to  and  across  the  Chattahoochie,  and,  meantime,  maintained  his  railroad 
communications  to  Chattanooga.  Crossing  the  Chattahoochie,  he  drew 
nigh  to  the  Rebel  stronghold  of  Atlanta,  which  Hood,  who  had  superseded 
Johnston,  "  thanked  God  could  not  be  flanked."  After  three  severe  bat 
tles,  in  which  Hood  lost  very  heavily,  and  Sherman's  ablest  lieutenant, 
General  McPherson,  was  killed,  he  attempted  to  reach  the  communications 
of  Atlanta  from  below,  by  extending  his  right  flank;  but  failing  of  suc 
cess  in  this,  as  well  as  in  his  cavalry  movements  for  the  same  purpose,  he 
apparently  raised  the  siege  of  the  city,  and,  sending  his  reserves  to  the 
banks  of  the  Chattahoochie,  moved  south  with  his  main  army,  and 
destroying  the  railroad  from  Rough  and  Ready  to  Jonesboro,  and  defeat 
ing  the  two  corps  Hood  had  sent  to  fight  him,  compelled  the  Confederate 
general  to  abandon  Atlanta. 

Removing  the  inhabitants  from  the  city,  and  making  it  a  military  post, 
he  brought  thither  large  quantities  of  supplies,  and  when  Hood,  recover 
ing  from  his  defeat,  sought  to  destroy  his  communications  with  Chatta 
nooga  and  capture  his  garrisons,  he  pursued  him  as  far  as  Gaylesville; 
Alabama;  defeating  him  at  Allatoona  Pass,  and  driving  him  well  west 
ward  ;  then  sending  Schofield's  and  Stanley's  corps  to  General  Thomas, 
at  Nashville,  and  ordering  other  troops  to  his  support,  he  left  him  to  take 
care  of  Hood,  and  himself  returned,  with*  four  corps,  to  Atlanta,  from 
whence,  on  the  14th  of  November,  he  set  out,  after  destroying  the  rail 
road  behind  him,  and  dismantling  and  partly  demolishing  Atlanta,  for  the 
sea  coast,  with  a  force  of  sixty  thousand  men.  The  distance  was  two  hun 
dred  and  ninety  miles,  and  the  march  of  a  movable  column  of  this  size, 
without  a  base,  for  that  distance,  through  the  heart  of  an  enemy's  country 
was  an  enterprise  unprecedented  in  history.  It  was  safely  accomplished, 
however,  with  very  slight  loss,  and  no  serious  fighting,  and  in  thirty  days 


1020  THE   CIVIL  WAR  IN   THE  UNITED  STATES. 

the  coast  was  reached  at  Savannah,  Fort  McAllister  carried  by  assault, 
and,  a  week  later,  Savannah  evacuated  and  surrendered. 

Meanwhile,  Hood  had  advanced  northward  toward  Nashville  ;  Schofield, 
who  was  at  Pulaski  with  an  inferior  force,  skilfully  opposing  and  delaying 
his  advance,  yet  luring  him  on  ;  resisting  him  at  Columbia  and  Duck 
river  with  great  tenacity ;  fighting  a  very  severe  battle  with  him  at 
Franklin,  where  Hood  lost  thirteen  generals,  and  finally  falling  back  by 
a  night  march  to  Nashville,  which  Hood,  following,  attempted  to  invest. 
After  a  fortnight,  General  Thomas,  coming  out  of  the  city,  completely 
defeated  and  routed  Hood  in  a  two  days'  battle,  and  pursued  him  for  thir 
teen  days,  till  his  army,  which,  all  but  a  small  rear-guard,  was  a  mere 
disorganized  mob,  had  made  its  escape  across  the  Tennessee. 

Sherman  remained  for  a  month  at  Savannah,  recruiting  and  supplying 
his  troops,  arranging  for  the  future  condition  and  comfort  of  the  freed- 
men,  and  preparing  for  a  still  more  gigantic  enterprise  with  his  fine  army. 
About  the  middle  of  January,  he  moved  northward  with  his  army,  in  two 
columns,  Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  four  hundred  miles  distant,  being  his  objective. 
By  a  series  of  feints,  he  deceived  the  Confederate  forces  at  Augusta,  Charles 
ton,  Columbia,  and  elsewhere,  in  regard  to  his  plans,  and  avoided  them  while 
he  prevented  their  junction;  captured  Orangeburg,  Columbia,  and  Winns- 
boro,  and  compelled  the  evacuation  of  Charleston,  which  the  Union  armies 
had  so  long  labored  in  vain  to  conquer ;  occupied  Cheraw  and  Fayette- 
ville,  fought  and  defeated  a  part  of  the  Confederate  army,  now  again  under 
the  command  of  Johnston,  at  Averysboro,  and  the  whole  of  it  at  Benton- 
ville,  and  reached  Goldsboro  on  the  24th  of  March,  near 'which  town  he 
was  joined  by  Schofield  and  Terry,  who  had  captured  Wilmington. 
Kemaining  here  till  the  10th  of  April,  to  refit  and  supply  his  troops,  he 
moved  forward  again  that  day,  and  entered  Smithfield  on  the  llth,  and 
Raleigh  on  the  12th  ;  and  the  news  of  Lee's  surrender  reaching  him  there, 
he  pushed  on,  determined  to  overtake  and  capture  Johnston's  forces.  On 
the  14th,  overtures  were  made  by  Johnston  for  surrender,  and  after  two 
interviews,  on  the  17th  and  18th,  a  memorandum  was  drawn  up  between 
the  two  generals,  in  regard  to  the  surrender  of  the  entire  Confederate 
army  in  the  field,  and  sent  to  Washington  for  approval.  Being  rejected 
there,  the  surrender  of  Johnston  was  arranged,  on  the  26th  of  April,  on 
the  same  terms  as  Lee  had  received.  Meantime,  Mobile  (the  defences  at 
the  mouth  of  its  bay  having  been  captured  in  August,  1854,  by  the  squad 
ron  of  Rear,  now  Yice-Admiral  Farragut  and  General  Gordon  Granger's 
corps,  in  a  most  remarkable  naval  battle)  was  besieged  in  the  latter  part 
of  March,  1865,  by  General  Canby's  army  and  Rear- Admiral  Thatcher's 
squadron,  and  after  a  siege  of  somewhat  more  than  two  weeks,  Spanish 
Fort  was  captured,  Fort  Blakely  carried  by  assault,  and  the  city  evacuated 
and  surrendered.  Shortly  after,  General  Richard  Taylor,  who  commanded 
the  remaining  Rebel  troops  in  Alabama,  and  Admiral  Farrand,  who  com- 


REVIEW   OF  THE   WAR.  1021 

manded  the  Rebel  squadron,  signified  their  desire  to  surrender.  Terms 
were  granted  them  similar  to  those  accorded  to  Lee  and  Johnston.  Major- 
General  Wilson,  commanding  the  cavalry  corps  of  Thomas's  army,  hud, 
in  March,  moved  with  a  force  of  thirteen  thousand  five  hundred  cavalry, 
through  Central  Alabama  and  Georgia,  capturing  Selrna,  Montgomery, 
Griffin,  Columbus,  West  Point  and  Macon,  the  whole  campaign  forming 
the  most  brilliant  cavalry  campaign  in  history;  and  on  the  10th  of  May, 
a  detachment  of  his  troops  arrested  the  Rebel  President,  Jefferson  Davis, 
who  was  endeavoring  to  escape  from  the  country. 

There  remained,  at  this  time,  but  one  more  Rebel  army  in  existence, 
that  of  General  E.  Kirby  Smith,  in  Texas ;  and  on  the  26th  of  May,  this, 
together  with  the  Rebel  naval  squadron  in  the  waters  of  that  State  and 
the  Red  river,  also  surrendered. 

A  large  part  of  the  army  of  the  Union  was  now  mustered  out  of  ser 
vice,  not  more  than  two  hundred  thousand  troops  being  still  in  the  service 
on  the  1st  of  August,  1865,  and  the  number  being  still  further  reduced  by 
the  1st  of  September.  The  army  was  reorganized,  and  the  entire  country 
laid  out  in  five  grand  military  divisions — the  Atlantic,  the  Mississippi, 
the  Gulf,  the  Tennessee,  and  the  Pacific — under  the  command  of  Generals 
Meade,  Sherman,  Sheridan,  Thomas,  and  Halleck  ;  each  subdivided  into 
two  or  more  departments  (there  were  eighteen  departments  in  all),  over 
which  able  generals  were  appointed. 

Thus  closed  a  war,  which,  extended  over  a  period  of  four  years,  had 
caused  a  more  lavish  expenditure  of  money,  and  had  called  into  the  field 
larger  forces,  than  any  war  of  modern  times.  The  fighting  had  been 
desperate  on  both  sides,  and  officers  and  soldiers  had  exhibited  a  courage 
and  prowess  equal  to  any  on  record.  The  war  commenced  with  slavery 
in  the  ascendant,  the  great  southern  staple  ruling  the  commercial  world, 
the  South  boastful  and  defiant,  and  the  governments  of  Europe  predicting 
the  speedy  downfall  of  the  American  Republic,  and  its  division  into  a 
number  of  petty  states.  It  closed,  with  slavery  effectually  annihilated, 
the  nations  of  the  world  freed  from  their  thraldom  to  the  southern  staple, 
the  South  humbled,  and  though  somewhat  sullen,  yet  improving  in  tem 
per,  and  the  European  governments  ready  to  acknowledge  the  power  of 
republican  institutions  to  pass  through  an  ordeal  which  would  have  in- 
volved  any  government  in  Europe  in  ruin. 


AGENTS    WABIT 


WE  desire  that  every  family  in  the  United  States  should  be 
supplied  with  the  ataiidard  History  of  the  War.  It  is  better 
adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  people  than  any  other  work  on  the 
subject.  It  imparts  a  vast  amount  of  information,  and  is  &fair 
and  impartial  record  of  events,  entirely  divested  of  political 
bias.  Not  a  sentence  was  put  in  type  for  months  after  the  close 
of  the  war,  thus  affording  to  the  Author  full,  reliable  and  official 
data  for  the  basis  of  the  work. 

THE  SECOND  CANVASS. 

We  are  satisfied  that  the  second  Canvass  will  in  many  places 
be  more  successful  than  the  first ;  for,  after  this  work  has  been 
distributed  through  the  country,  the  public  will  have  an  oppor 
tunity  to  compare  it  with  other  Histories,  and  finding  it  so  much 
more  reliable,  especially,  than  the  first  volume  of  the  two  volume 
Histories,  that  were  so  extensively  circulated  during  the  war,  that 
they  will  lay  these  inferior  works  aside  as  unreliable  and  worth 
less,  and  secure  this  great  History.  We  want  reliable  Agents  to 
Canvass  every  county,  township,  and  village,  for  this  and  other 
popular  works,  to  whom  the  most  liberal  commission  will  be  given. 
Send  for  Circulars  and  see  our  terms.  Address  as  follows : 

For  the  New  England  States,  Canada  East  and  the  British  Pro 
vinces, 

JONES  BROTHERS  &  CO., 

Boston,  Massachusetts. 

For  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  Delaware,  Maryland, 
Virginia,  Western  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Florida,  California,  and  Canada  West, 

JONES  BROTHERS  &  CO., 

Philadelphia,  Penn'a 

For  Ohio,  Indiana,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  and  Alabama, 

JONES  BROTHERS  &  CO., 

Cincinnati,   Ohio. 

For  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Iowa,  and  Northern  Illinois, 

ZEIGLER,  McCURDY  &  CO., 

Chicago,  Illinois. 

For  Southern  Illinois,  Missouri,  Kansas,  Arkansas,  Mississippi, 
Louisiana,  Texas,  Nebraska,  and  all  territory  West, 

ZEIGLER,  McCURDY  &  CO., 

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AGENTS  WANTED 

FOB 

THE  SECRET  SERVICE, 

THE    FIELD, 

THE   DUNGEON,  AND 

THE   ESCAPE. 

BY   ALBERT   D.   KIOHARDSOK 

(Special  War  Correspondent  of  the  N.  Y.  Tribune.) 


The  most  thrillingly  interesting  and  exciting  book 
of  Army  experience  ever  published. 

Abounding  in  personal  adventures,  deeds  of  noble  daring, 
anecdotes,  touching  incidents,  ingenious  stratagems,  life  in 
camp  and  bivouac,  &c.  More  absorbing  in  interest  and  re 
plete  with  useful  information  than  any  Historical  work 
extant. 

Embracing  Mr.  Richardson's  unparalleled  experience  for  four 
years ;  travelling  through  the  South  in  the  secret  service  of  the 
"  Tribune"  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  with  our  armies  and  fleets, 
both  East  and  West,  during  the  first  two  years  of  the  Rebellion ; 
his  thrilling  capture  ;  his  confinement  for  twenty  months  in  seven 
different  rebel  prisons  ;  his  escape,  and  almost  miraculous  journey 
by  night  of  nearly  400  miles.  It  abounds  in  stirring  events,  and 
contains  more  of  the  fact,  incident,  and  romance  of  the  war  than 
any  other  work  published. 

HORACE  GREELEY  says: 

"  A  great  many  books  will  yet  be  written  concerning  this  War,  in  addi 
tion  to  the  many  already  in  print;  but  not  one  of  them  will  give  within  a 
similar  compass  a  clearer,  fuller,  more  readable  account,  entirely  from  personal 
observation,  of  the  nature,  animus,  purposes,  tendencies,  and  instrumentalities 
of  the  Slaveholders'  Rebellion  than  does  the  unpretending  narrative  of  Mr. 
Richardson." 

Disabled  officers  and   soldiers,  teachers,  and  energetic  young 
men,  in  want  of  profitable  employment,  will  find  this  a  rare 
chance  to  make  money.     For  proof  of  the  above  send  for  Circu 
lars  and  see  our  terms. 
ADDRESS 

JONES,  BROTHERS  &  CO,  Publishers 

Philadelphia,  Pa,  j  Cincinnati,  Ohio  |  or  Boston,  Mass, 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

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Berkeley 


